Ike loses Ranger as a sponsor?

[grab the net]

Here's the statement from Ranger president Randy Hopper.

"Based on a series of events that occurred during the recent Bassmaster Classic competition, Ranger Boats is withdrawing its sponsorship and affiliation with Mike Iaconelli. We do not believe that Mike's conduct during the tournament appropriately represents the deep-seated values on which our company was built and continues to operate.

"Ranger further acknowledges Iaconelli's impressive angling achievements as well as his commitment to promoting the sport of fishing. His efforts to encourage others through the platform of fishing are a credit to his many accomplishments. While we regret his actions leading to this decision, we wish Mike well in future ventures.

The consequence of his actions and reality are starting to catch up to him. I think this incident at the classic was just the last straw.

[Mark Christianson]

I am sure more actions will be following.

What a dufus.

[Gus]

I don't really follow the sport but could you give a shorthand version of what he did? It sounds interesting. Thanks much.

[Wayne Ek]

OUCH, I wonder if there will be a domino effect to this one, with his other sponsor's dropping him. Anything from Pure Fishing yet?

[cjac]

Cliff notes version:

Had some issues with his livewells (operator error?) and had two dead fish. Called it in to the tourney directors, was cussing a bit as well, returned a dead bass to the lake (legal in BASSMASTERS from what I have read), and proceeded to bend up his stern light pole and throw it in the water, with the flag on it as well.

Picture John McEnroe in a Ranger, Billy Martin and his tirades at home plate......that's a fair comparison.

[blakjack23]

Gus, this is off of Bassmasters site....

"This rule infraction, though, wasn't exactly an accident. ESPN television crews videoed Iaconelli in an angry tirade after finding that a portion of his fish had died. The tirade, according to Weldon "used very profane language in front of spectators. He removed a running light, which is part of our safety equipment and destroyed it."

[Duffman]

As Earl would say "That's Karma!"

[blakjack23]

Here is Ikes response to everything....

"I want to publicly apologize to anyone I have offended by my actions and words during the 2006 Bassmaster Classic. I am a very passionate and emotional person. After finding all of my fish dead or dying, I handled the crisis in the wrong way. I am human, and I made a mistake. I will be sure to be more careful with my words and actions in the future.

I want to ensure everyone that my frustrations and anger were in no way purposely directed toward damaging safety equipment or degrading the American Flag. I love this country and I love everything that the flag stands for. I totally support our American troops.

By quoting the famous American president JFK, he said that "When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters--one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity." In the spirit of this statement I feel it necessary to take this opportunity to speak out on two issues.

The first is the accountability and standard to by which BASS tournament officials make rulings and decisions. There are two parts to this:

First, after finding all of my fish dead or dying, I immediately called one of the official tournament directors. I was informed by a B.A.S.S. official that there was no dead fish culling rule in BASS and it was ok to cull a dead fish. Fortunately, I was able to revive all but two fish and did not have to cull a dead fish. But I later found out that they had given me the wrong information and it was indeed illegal to cull a dead fish.

Second, after being informed that I was disqualified under the sportsmanship rule, I highly disagreed with the decision. I immediately inquired about the appeals process and I was told by BASS officials that there was no appeal process to the ruling. No appeal process? So there is no way to protest a decision made by one mans opinion to a situation. The sportsmanship rule is a gray rule and I do not believe that I deserved to have my days catch disqualified. Was I the first angler ever to use profanity during an event? No. Was I even the first angler to ever damage a light pole during an event? No. Was I being made an example. Possibly, but there is no way to determine this without a formal process of appeal. In a high stakes true professional sport there needs to be a more accurate form of rules and judgments and a rational determination of those rules and judgments.

The second issue that this incident brought up is being forced to use other sponsors equipment and boats. If I was in my own boat during the 2006 Classic there is no way my fish would have died in the live well. It is amazing that in the biggest most prestigious event in the world, we are forced to use equipment and boats other than our own. Until we are able to use our own boats and equipment during all of the events we fish in, these event will never be true professional events.

In closing I'd like to thank my sponsors and fans for sticking by me. I will be looking ahead to moving forward with the rest of the season.

"

[Alphid]

I will put my money on Ike fishing in the FLW next year instead of BASS. The ESPN/BASS dump is getting to be too much about money and sponsorship and less about the fishing.

[Slyster]

I like him.. no matter how this plays out.. but geeze I hope he learns his lesson and shapes up.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Did they all have to use Tritons in the Bassmaster?? If so I agree that it is stupid that you can't use your own boat for the biggest event in Bass fishing.

I would have been very upset to find my fish dead or dying in my livewell.

Its getting to be a little much with the whole sponsership deal. Just because everyone is using a triton doesn't make me want to go out and by one.

I think the whole situation sucks for Ike, but he let his emotions win. Again they were fishing for $500,000.

[blakjack23]

Pike, yes, they all used Tritons in the Classic.

Ike may be a loudmouth and do some stupid stuff but I still get a kick out of seeing him breakdance on the boat.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I kind of saw this going this way.. and I would be surprised if this wasn't just the beginning. This is his second disqual from the classic. And he had another this year I think he was disqualified from as well. He needs to grow up.

to answer a question above.. yes, all anglers were forced to fish from Triton boats with Merc outboards and MoterGuide T-moters..I think they all had Lowrance eletronics as well.

HOw do you think they come up with a purse of $500,000 for the winner.. I think 1.7 mill total in prize money?

[Slyster]

Sponsership works! I already had decided to get an inflatable PDF, but now I am thinking of getting one of those red 'tournament model' Mustang inflatable life jackets they all wore!

[RandyFish]

Good grief.

Ike throws a hissy fit, scrapping a light with a flag on it ... and then turns around and evokes patriotism to tells us how much he loves the flag and our troops...C'mon, just say that you screwed up.

His point about using unfamiliar boats is interesting, however...I was not aware of that element....

Of course, Ike is playing under the same rules (goofy as they are) as everyone else, and no one else out there had that degree of a meltdown.

He should just grow up a bit, stand up even more, take the static -- and then keep fishing hard. He's good enough to put this in the past.

[JPSavage]

Good Gracious folks:.......Why don't we just get Dennis Rodman on the tour, or Howard Sterns, maybe Michael Jackson...Give me a break!...If you make the big bucks, you are an example to our youth, like it or not...Grow up at least a little IKE!

[OnTheWater]

I agree, he went overboard, and probably a little bit more for show. Hopefully he learned his lesson on this one, because I think he is a great ambassador for the sport. He creates some excitement on tv; which makes it easier for people who don't fish to get interested in the sport. For instance, it would have been nice to have seen some of ike's excitement in Luke Clausen during his lame celebration. That certainly would have helped my friends(non-fishermen) stay more interested.

[bassin]

I don't agrree with the part about fishing in a boat he isnt familiar with. BASS always uses Tritons for the top guys, on the last day. He fished out of one when he won the classic, and he fished out of one at last years classic in Pitt. He was introduced this past weekend too as one of the members of the new Toyota team. I wonder if he will remain part of that?

[HawgTide]

The whole thing about using the same boats started with the idea of putting all the anglers in the same boats so no one had an advantage. This started a long time ago when they use to not tell them where they were going, and they could only bring X amount of gear. It's now obviously a sponsorship thing, and I don't have a problem with it. Ike did not have the aerator on, and that is Tournament 101, so he can blame it on Triton, but it's talk. Any Triton owners out there want to chime in on any special secrets to turning the Aerators on? He turned it on pretty quickly when he saw the water not moving, so I think he knew how.

[SluggoMaster]

I have a Triton. It works great when you actually push the button to turn it on, and there is an indicator light that is very visible even in bright sunlight.

[Deitz Dittrich]

HT- I have a Triton and its got a very confusing livewell system... its got the one button that can toggle... I cant figgure it out!.. it says, Recirc/Off/Pump....

him blaming that it wasn't his boat is the biggest "whatever" I have heard lately.. if he would have had that switch pointed either way those fish would have been fine!

[cjac]

Yeah, and it was so hot there that weekend!!! I can see how the livewells were such a challenge!

It's what we here at my work call a "ID-10-T" error!!

[fishin58]

I think a boat sponsor will snatch Ike up quick, they will just have to teach him how to use the livewell The BASS is all about big money. hey what about cool hand luke and his mom were they too cool to get excited about winning the biggest event in fishing. Also did ya notice the good ol boys of the south gave him a luke warm reception, if it was one of the ol boys the place goes nuts? Sorry about the puns but they worked.

[Captain B.R.K]

Quote:

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I like him.. no matter how this plays out.. but geeze I hope he learns his lesson and shapes up.

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Though he is a bit on the LOUD side, how many anglers do you kow that can do cart-wheels or round abouts in a boat without falling out. That is real skill, catching bass is like a walk in the park