Entry 190-3
The Tiger Woods Of Bass Fishing – Kevin VanDam
Part 3: Press Room Interview
Editor’s Note:The last person to weigh in at the 2007 Bassmaster Classic was Kevin VanDam. Boyd Duckett posted the leading weight, and the world waited to see if VanDam, the Tiger Woods of bass fishing, could pull off another win. But when the fish hit the scales, Duckett’s weight held, and he became the 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion. After the weigh-in, the competitors went to the press room where media representatives interviewed the top-four contenders.
Question for Skeet Reese: Skeet, how do you feel about coming in 2nd in the Bassmaster Classic?
Reese: When you put yourself in contention to win a tournament, whether it’s an Open event or the Bassmaster Classic, you don’t fish for 2nd place. Tournament fishing’s no different from any other sport. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing golf, baseball or football. You play to win. I was really excited about putting myself in contention to fish the final day. I was looking forward to going head-to-head with Kevin VanDam. He’s the man! He’s the No.1 angler in the sport of bass fishing. I felt that if I could beat Kevin VanDam, I’d beat the best there was in bass fishing.
Press: And, you did.
Reese: Yeah, I did. I’ve had a lot of little battles with Kevin, and more times than not, he gets me. But 2nd place hurts. It does! As a fisherman, you don’t get that many opportunities to win a Bassmaster Classic, unless you’re Kevin VanDam. I’ve made the top-10 and had some success in the Classic, but I also know this was a golden opportunity for me this week to win the "Big One." I can’t say I let it slip away, because like Kevin, I fished to the best of my ability this week. I fished to my strengths, I did well, and I have no regrets. Boyd (Duckett) flat out beat me and the rest of the contestants. When he caught that 6-1/2-pounder on Lay Lake in this Classic, things were definitely going his way, and I’m happy for him. But I do hope that his boat sinks in the next tournament (grin)!
Question: Kevin, how disappointed are you at not having won the 2007 Bassmasters Classic?
VanDam: I’ll be real honest with you. I’m definitely disappointed, but I haven’t left anything on the lake. I believe I’ve fished to the best of my ability every hour I’ve been on the water. I feel like I made pretty good adjustments to the changing conditions we had on the lake. If there’s one day I wish I could fish over again, it would be the first day. I should have been a little more hard-headed and stuck to the pattern I thought would win. But I believe I fished pretty well. I only lost one bass during the entire tournament. I know that lost fish will always cost you. But everyone sitting here in this final four also lost fish this week. That will just happen. Lay Lake’s a great lake. I love fishing here in Alabama. I love to fish the Tennessee River and the Coosa River in Alabama. I’d love to have the Classic here in Alabama every year.
Next: Kevin’s Gear
Contents:
- Part 1: The Boat Yard Interview
- Part 2: Where Did They Go?
- Part 3: Press Room Interview
- Part 4: Kevin’s Gear
- Part 5: Treasure on the First Day
