Nation: I woke up to a dragon in the fog

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In college my photography Professor always told me to see what no one else does, to look in the opposite direction of all the gazes and today at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship shindig that’s what I did thanks to a dragon in the fog who reminded me what photography was all about.
In college my photography Professor always told me to see what no one else does, to look in the opposite direction of all the gazes and today at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship shindig that’s what I did thanks to a dragon in the fog who reminded me what photography was all about.
That’s my buddy Jon, he runs the B.A.S.S. Nation stuff, he’s a big tough guy, was the lead singer in a band in college that played gigs behind chicken wire, dude is tough but in all the years I’ve been coming to this Nation Championship gig I’ve NEVER seen him make it through the event without crying AT LEAST several times. Trust me when I say this, Jon cares deeply about the NATION, he came out of it, there is no one on this planet that cares more. It’s my belief that those who run other sports gigs need to cry some at their events, maybe they’ll start caring more about their gig as well.
That’s my buddy Jon, he runs the B.A.S.S. Nation stuff, he’s a big tough guy, was the lead singer in a band in college that played gigs behind chicken wire, dude is tough but in all the years I’ve been coming to this Nation Championship gig I’ve NEVER seen him make it through the event without crying AT LEAST several times. Trust me when I say this, Jon cares deeply about the NATION, he came out of it, there is no one on this planet that cares more. It’s my belief that those who run other sports gigs need to cry some at their events, maybe they’ll start caring more about their gig as well.
I love this part of it all, this United Nation of Bass Fishing thing, to be honest I don’t know what nation the first two flags are for, I recognize England, but a quick story: On registration night I stood in line, gave out hats and shook the hands of all the competitors, at one point we had a bit of a traffic jam at the table I was at. In front of me stood anglers all in a line beginning with Mexico then South Africa followed by Ohio, Portugal, Maine, Italy … and Jersey. I’ve been at international events with competitors from all over the place, nothing like what happened at registration ever happened to me at any event before. As they all tried to communicate with each other I just stood there and smiled (had Jon been there with me I know he would have started crying).
I love this part of it all, this United Nation of Bass Fishing thing, to be honest I don’t know what nation the first two flags are for, I recognize England, but a quick story: On registration night I stood in line, gave out hats and shook the hands of all the competitors, at one point we had a bit of a traffic jam at the table I was at. In front of me stood anglers all in a line beginning with Mexico then South Africa followed by Ohio, Portugal, Maine, Italy … and Jersey. I’ve been at international events with competitors from all over the place, nothing like what happened at registration ever happened to me at any event before. As they all tried to communicate with each other I just stood there and smiled (had Jon been there with me I know he would have started crying).
God bless America and that flag and all it stands for, for the beauty, for the warts, for the yelling and hugging, for the freedom it gives all of us to be individuals, but also allow us to be We The People. As a writer I have to tell you that in my opinion there has never been three words strung together better that these two sets: We The People … and In The Beginning … Heaven and Earth in just six words.
God bless America and that flag and all it stands for, for the beauty, for the warts, for the yelling and hugging, for the freedom it gives all of us to be individuals, but also allow us to be We The People. As a writer I have to tell you that in my opinion there has never been three words strung together better that these two sets: We The People … and In The Beginning … Heaven and Earth in just six words.
This poor lady is going to shoot me for this photo but as I watched her I was moved deeply by the emotion I saw through the lens. She stood straight as a rail, her hand never left her heart, her eyes never wandered from the American Flag that flew overhead and as the National Anthem played, the instrumental version of it, I watched her mouth every single word of the anthem. Kneel all you want, lock arms all you want, I will NEVER forget the moment I watched this woman’s patriotism and love of the country. Who ever you are Ma’am, thank you, and God Bless.
This poor lady is going to shoot me for this photo but as I watched her I was moved deeply by the emotion I saw through the lens. She stood straight as a rail, her hand never left her heart, her eyes never wandered from the American Flag that flew overhead and as the National Anthem played, the instrumental version of it, I watched her mouth every single word of the anthem. Kneel all you want, lock arms all you want, I will NEVER forget the moment I watched this woman’s patriotism and love of the country. Who ever you are Ma’am, thank you, and God Bless.
Dudes … yum, just flat out yum … and then they poured melted cheese on it … OMG.
Dudes … yum, just flat out yum … and then they poured melted cheese on it … OMG.
…and then The Show began…
…and then The Show began…
…and the relatives took over. Hey anglers, just remember it’s a game of one but it takes a bunch more folks than one to get here, shout out to the entire team who keep the boat afloat.
…and the relatives took over. Hey anglers, just remember it’s a game of one but it takes a bunch more folks than one to get here, shout out to the entire team who keep the boat afloat.
Meet Retired Major Jeff Thompson, joined the Marines in 1969, retired in 1993 in between his full tour he was a pilot, a flight instructor, squadron leader and a test pilot of the Harrier jet. Years of “G” forces and hard landings have taken their toll for this PVA Vet contender. Major Thompson please know this, not one damn thing we do would be possible without the men and women. Who like you, have sacrificed your body for our freedom. I/WE SALUTE YOU SIR.
Meet Retired Major Jeff Thompson, joined the Marines in 1969, retired in 1993 in between his full tour he was a pilot, a flight instructor, squadron leader and a test pilot of the Harrier jet. Years of “G” forces and hard landings have taken their toll for this PVA Vet contender. Major Thompson please know this, not one damn thing we do would be possible without the men and women. Who like you, have sacrificed your body for our freedom. I/WE SALUTE YOU SIR.
They come to our shores, they come to our lakes and parking lot weigh-ins and it gives them joy to be here, makes me happy to have the chance to meet and talk with them even though they we don’t speak the same language … until we smile.
They come to our shores, they come to our lakes and parking lot weigh-ins and it gives them joy to be here, makes me happy to have the chance to meet and talk with them even though they we don’t speak the same language … until we smile.
They look up to us, they look up to the family that the B.A.S.S. Nation is, that the B.A.S.S. Nation represents and they bring to us … treasure ... and …
They look up to us, they look up to the family that the B.A.S.S. Nation is, that the B.A.S.S. Nation represents and they bring to us … treasure … and …
…our future. Out there in the crowd sits us in a decade or two. This morning I woke up to a dragon in the fog, this afternoon I saw two children from Mexico sit and watch an event with two children from America. I watched them giggle. I watched them oh and ah the fish, I watched them by simply … children. Not kids from different countries but just KIDS. And for those four young children, and for your young children or grandchildren there is this from the children’s storybook Giraffes Can’t Dance “We all can dance if we find the music that we love.” Today the song was fishing. Tomorrow will be about…
…our future. Out there in the crowd sits us in a decade or two. This morning I woke up to a dragon in the fog, this afternoon I saw two children from Mexico sit and watch an event with two children from America. I watched them giggle. I watched them oh and ah the fish, I watched them by simply … children. Not kids from different countries but just KIDS. And for those four young children, and for your young children or grandchildren there is this from the children’s storybook Giraffes Can’t Dance “We all can dance if we find the music that we love.” Today the song was fishing. Tomorrow will be about…
…this. Who will win, who from this nation, who from all those other nations here will win. Who will be number…
…this. Who will win, who from this nation, who from all those other nations here will win. Who will be number…