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| Magazine Archives : Oct/Nov 2005 |
Ask Angus
By Angus the Dog
2005 Nov (Vol. 7, No. 6)
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| Illustration by Jim Brown |
Fishing is not a sport. Why does your magazine pretend that it is?
-- Adam Spielvogel, Los Angelas, California
Adam,
Balls do not a sport make, my friend, and neither does a scoreboard, locker-room shenanigans or tight shorts. I even consulted Webster, who affirms that a sport is: “any activity or experience that gives enjoyment or recreation; pastime; diversion.”
Somehow I get the feeling you don’t buy this all-inclusive definition. So, allow me to point out that most people think competition a key component of sport—fishing is nothing if not competitive. In addition to the thousands of tournaments—from the high-stakes FLW and its $500,000 prize to the Jackson Hole One Fly, which raises funds for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation—that convene on rivers and lakes in every state, fishing is the ultimate test between humans and nature, requiring strategy, technique, skill and luck. It just so happens that one team has legs and the other fins.
Like Pedro Martinez knowing what to throw on a 3-2 count, Brett Favre timing a perfect touchdown pass or Lance Armstrong planning when to make his break from the peloton, an angler must determine the right fly or lure or bait to cast at the crucial moment. Imitate nature perfectly and sometimes you get a strike. Then you must hook and fight the fish. Still not convinced of fishing’s sport cred? Consider that large saltwater species like blackfin tuna or marlin can weigh well over 300 pounds (trophies upwards of 700 pounds) and take anywhere from 45 minutes to 24 hours to reel in. Landing these fish requires strength endurance, and commitment—characteristics essential to success in all sports.
In case you’re still skeptical, I’ll throw you a couple more stats and call it good. As Michelle Barnes, vice president of marketing at the Outdoor Industry Association notes: “Fishing is consistently the most popular activity in the United States.” Exactly how popular? Last year 80 million Americans (16 years and older) fished and approximately 28 million of them were women (imagine that, a sport that lets women compete with the men!). More Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined. So all told, Hooked isn’t pretending anything. We are covering the largest sport in the country, along with a whole bunch of other outdoor sports, and none have balls. Much like me.
Woof,
Angus
Editorial Dog
Last Updated: Feb 24th, 2006 - 14:18:11
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