Good people and football

Thanks to some great work by the local police and the lake police, Cal’s boat was found on a sandbar at the upper end of the lake.

Before we get into anything else, I’d like to say a few words to Ed Roberts from Clarksville, Tenn. He posted a message offering to donate a few rods and reels to Cal after the unfortunate incident last week.

As nice as that offer is, Ed, things have changed since last week. Thanks to some great work by the local police and the lake police, Cal’s boat was found on a sandbar at the upper end of the lake. I guess someone wanted to fish out of it for a week but didn’t want to return it.

I would encourage you to give your extra stuff to kids who need it to go fishing, the ones that can’t fish without it. It’ll give them a wholesome opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise have.

Last week when I was talking about crime and the fishing community I mentioned that most people were the kind of people who do the right thing. Ed Roberts is exactly that kind of person. He’s the kind of guy I was writing about, although I’ve never met him. He understands the gift of giving. It’s not so much about fishing as it is about doing the right thing. That’s as good as it gets in my book.

Thanks, Ed.

The same general kind of thinking applies to Cal’s football team. The Guntersville Wildcats had a great season. They had a solid record in the Youth Football League and won their first playoff game last Saturday. Two more wins and it’ll be on to the local Super Bowl.

Our fate this year is in our own hands. We don’t have to hope one team wins, or another team loses. In the sports world, that’s known as controlling your own destiny. I don’t know any competitive person who doesn’t think that’s the way it should be.

As a father, and supporter of the team, I can’t help but take pride in that. More importantly, however, is the fact that the young men who play on the team, and the cheerleaders who fire up the crowd, are doing the right things. They are the next generation of Americans. They are not a part of the problem. They are a part of the solution.

And so, while I stand by what I said last week about how we all need to be careful, I’m also saying that overall our society is in pretty good shape. I see youngsters doing the right things and I see parents supporting them, not only with money but with time and effort, too. There are exceptions but they are exceptions.

Thanksgiving will be here in about a month. Now’s the time for all of us to think about these things. While we’re being careful, we also need to be positive. I refuse to think that the negative will overtake the good. That’s not going to happen. We’re not going to let it.

Next week I’ll give you a little sneak peek at what’s going on in Guntersville as we get ready for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. 

Chris Lane’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on www.twitter.com/ChrisLaneFish and www.facebook.com/chrislanefishing or visit his website, www.chrislanefishing.com.