Van Dam Proves, Again, He’s a Step Above at the 40th Bassmaster Classic
gengberg February 22nd, 2010
VanDam proves, again, he’s a step above BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Throughout the third day of the 40th Bassmaster Classic, the worn-out media wags tucked away in the bowels of the civic arena sat watching a giant screen showing … curling.
Forty-two pound stones on ice. Women in tight pants gently sliding rocks sprouting handles. We’re awaiting the “Chicks of Curling” calendar that is sure to be a huge seller in parts of ice-locked Canada. (Note: Media consensus is the Canadian stone-slider is quite attractive.)
We laughed and “oohed” and “ahhed” at some of the action. Someone likened it to chess. Another said it often came down to the last slide. Blocking, sweeping, knocking away stones … even with seemingly unattainable shots (slides?).
“Nobody can make that shot,” said one writer after Canada had dotted the bull’s eye (is that it?) with five stones in the area. “I don’t even know curling and I know that much.” (She did make a nice shot, though.)
But beside the flatscreen locked into the Olympic feed from Vancouver was a giant screen showing Lay Lake. Boat positions of many of the Classic anglers dotted the map. Live blog feeds came in from the lake via ESPN Outdoors on-water correspondents and photographers. Other info trickled in, some reliable and some not, via cell phones and text messages.
Two big events featured the top athletes in the world in the respective sports. One was being played out on ice in frigid (balmy?) Vancouver along with snowboarders, skiers and other cold-weather sports. The other was played out on Lay Lake with a few warm clothes, sunshine, boats and fans hoot-hooting at fish being caught from chilly waters.
As the final estimates rolled in from the lake via ESPN Outdoors blog, two-time champion Kevin VanDam was believed to have about 49 pounds. Those pursuing him included Alabama favorite Russ Lane, Jeff Kriet of Oklahoma, Todd Faircloth of Texas 
and Mike Iaconelli of New Jersey.
When it was over, VanDam had secured his third title. Only one other man, Rick Clunn of Missouri, has more. Could VanDam match Clunn’s four championships? Without a doubt. To say he has at least 10 solid years left, if not more should he decide to pursue competitive fishing that long, would give VanDam the chance to achieve things few if any anglers ever have done.
Four Classic titles, or more, are within reach. All-time wins are attainable, at 19, because VanDam now has 17. He already is the all-time money-leader. He has five Angler of the Year titles and, possibly, could eclipse the record of nine. He has won Top 150s, Elite Series, E-50s, Majors and just about anything BASS has presented to fish.
Comparisons to other sluggers are easy to make. When VanDam walked in on Day 1 with 19 pounds, 8 ounces, it would have been comparable to Jack Nicklaus shooting 4-under on the first day of the U.S. Open. When he stumbled on Day 2, it was like Roger Federer dropping a set midway through Wimbledon.
When VanDam and Lane came out trading punches on Day 3, while Kriet and Faircloth stumbled, it was the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. weaving through the crowd out of the Talladega tri-oval. High-line through turns one and two, growling down the backstretch as the throng of thousands roared, his black Chevy grill menacing going into three and then …
And then Lane trying to hold off the charge. Kreit looking to “jack one” to surge. Faircloth trying to create a mess of his own. All the while VanDam rapid-fires his Strike King baits trying to trigger strikes, coming off Turn 4 into the tri-oval screaming toward the finish line.
I’ve watched both, Earnhardt and VanDam, and they’re linked by several similarities including relentless determination, fierce competitiveness, uncanny skills and the ability to create doubt. Doubt in the minds of their competitors. Doubt that even their best effort on the best days might not be good enough, and they wonder how to throw up roadblocks.
“He’s doing it to us again,” a Classic competitor said Sunday afternoon. “He’s just rubbing our faces in it. I’m tired of it.”
Sounds like some of the NASCAR guys discussing Earnhardt before his untimely death a decade ago. Sounds like some of the NBA players when Jordan was in his prime.
Just like Earnhardt, Federer and Jordan, VanDam keeps on chugging along. Until he retires the only way to stop him, like the others, is to beat him when he stumbles.
But he doesn’t stumble often.
- Alan Clemons
