Picks wrap-up
The heady year of FLW prognostication and FLW Fishing Challenge competition came to an end last month with the conclusion of the FLW Championship. In a bit of unfinished business, we’re handing out the awards to the top pros and pundits as well as offering each of them their parting shots for the season.
Thanks again to everyone who played along in the 2003 FLW Fishing Challenge. We hope you had fun, and we’ll see you next season.
And the awards go to
2003 Prognosticator of the Year: Clark Wendlandt (5,369 points)
2003 Pro of the Year: Clark Wendlandt
2003 Pundit of the Year: Dave Washburn (5,326)
2003 Overall Team Champions: Pundits (21,071) def. Pros (20,461)
Congrats to Clark, Dave and the Pundit team – all worthy champions, to be sure.
FLW Championship winners
Pros: Randy Blaukat (916)
Pundits: Jeff Schroeder (909)
Team: Pundits (3,563) def. Pros (3,561)
Pundits’ take
Jeff Schroeder
Editor, FLWOutdoors.com
Previous tournament score (James River): 909
Final yearly total: 5,212 (sixth place)
Okay, I admit to finishing an unimpressive sixth out of all eight pros and pundits in overall score for the year, but there is one figure that I’d like my compadres in this punditry racket to remember: three. That’s how many tournaments I won on the pundit side. Several others won two, and another collected his token one. But no one else, save yours truly, scored his team’s highest total as many as three times in 2003.
And that, friends, is what this competition is all about: winning, pure and simple. Just ask Vince Lombardi. You can come at me all you want with petty complaints like “Jeff’s not helping my team” or “Jeff’s cheating” or “Jeff’s girlfriend is prettier than mine,” but all I have to say in response to that kind of nonsense is “three.” Read `em and weep, boys. Nobody remembers second place. …
At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Sixth place, for crying out loud!
Next year I’m coming up with a better way to rig this competition.
Rob Newell
Contributing editor, FLW Outdoors
Previous tournament score: 891
Final yearly total: 5,239 (fifth)
Editor’s note: Despite repeated attempts, Newell refused to return phone calls regarding his picks this season. He did, however, respond with a brief e-mail and had this to say: “I’ve got nothing to say about the whipping I took in the picks this year. You are welcome to kick me while I’m down.”
Consider yourself kicked, Rob.
Dave Washburn
Executive editor, FLW Outdoors
Previous tournament score: 887
Final yearly total: 5,326 (second)
Well, well, well. What a season it has been.
I’d like to congratulate Clark Wendlandt on his victory in the overall Prognosticator of the Year race. Scoring 5,369 points out of a possible 6,930 is something to be proud of. If only I had scored 43 points more, I’d be wearing Clark’s crown, as I would have surely won the tiebreaker – whatever that might be. But, alas, I have to settle for second.
I can, however, gloat about leading my fellow pundits to a 610-point victory over the pros. As self-appointed team captain, I led the pundits with an overall score of 5,326 points followed closely by Gary Mortenson, who was just 32 points back. Rob Newell and Jeff Schroeder brought up the rear of the unstoppable pundit machine, trailing by 87 and 114 points, respectively. Despite his less-than-stellar overall performance, Jeff did manage to lead the pundits in three of our five victories over the pros. Congrats, Jeff! Next year, pick up the pace a bit and we will win all seven events.
Rob, the only way you are going to get off the “Back Deck” is to step up your game a bit. My guess is that you over analyzed the “Deal,” and that’s why you were “All Shook Up” all season. You even had to share your only victory with Gary. That’s sad, Rob, just plain sad. Maybe you should take a few lessons from Randy Blaukat and just go with your gut. Then again, maybe not.
Gary, sorry about your luck. Finishing second by 32 points is even harder to swallow than 43 points, but you are living proof that consistency pays off. By keeping your scores in the 700s, you almost pulled it off. Heck, your second-lowest score of the season even earned you your only solo victory among the pundits. Maybe next year you will be back on top. Until then, no recounts.
As for myself, I led the pundits on two occasions, one of which was a crushing 866-point effort on Lake Murray that topped the closest pro by 110 points, too. I finished second in the overall and among the pundits once and third among the pundits three times. Beaver was my downfall, but next year I’m gunning for gold. I’ll see you in Birmingham, Clark.
Good fishing, everyone!
Gary Mortenson
Editor, FLWOutdoors.com
Previous tournament score: 876
Final yearly total: 5,294 (third)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Despite a late-season surge, I – 2002 defending Pundit Champion – was unable to parlay my vast punditry skills into a year-end victory this season over the likes of Clark “Clean Shoes” Wendlandt (pro and overall winner) and Dave “Mr. Bass Fishing Magazine” Washburn (pundit winner).
To put this into perspective, I fell short of Washburn’s total by a measly 32 points and finished 75 points behind Wendlandt. Oh, it was so close. In fact, had one angler – who shall go nameless at this point – managed just a top-100 finish in an FLW tournament earlier this season like he was supposed to, this contest wouldn’t have even been close.
But let’s give credit where credit is due. Washburn still managed to beat out his fellow beat writers despite his penchant for picking anglers who failed even to register for certain FLW events. Wendlandt, on the other hand, had to overcome the stinging playoff defeat of his favorite Dallas Stars team during the most crucial part of the punditry season. To his credit, even though Wendlandt was forced to watch the New Jersey Devils raise the Stanley Cup, he still managed to corral his emotions and take care of business.
But like any tragic ending, hope springs eternal, my friends. I will emphatically state for the record that I will be hoisting the 2004 trophy during next year’s award banquet. Why is this? The reasons are simple. For starters, I, unlike most of my counterparts, know what it takes to win. In fact, I’m as hungry as ever for my second title. Secondly, my sports therapist informed me that I will be free from a variety of nagging injuries that plagued me throughout much of the 2003 season. And, finally, I have developed a very sophisticated spreadsheet listing all of the names of anglers who have failed me over the years. Trust me, I will not make the same mistake twice.
Pros’ take
Randy Blaukat
FLW pro, Lamar, Mo.
Previous tournament score: 916
Final yearly total: 4,891 (eighth)
First of all, I’d like to congratulate Jeff on his three victories this season. Although he and I finished last in our respective year-end races, we racked up a total of five impressive wins including the one that really counts: the FLW Championship.
Looking back over the season, my selection of Toshinari Namiki in many of my picks (including both of my wins) was a work of genius. I replaced Takahiro Omori with Namiki at midseason due to the fact Takahiro was totally focused on BASS this season. If I would have seen this coming sooner, I think I might have set a record that would stand for years in Punditville.
I knew my main competition before the start of the season would be Clark, not because he has that much of a better grasp of the talent out there than anyone else, but for the fact that he takes the picks as seriously as the FLW events themselves. He does Internet research on his picks and even calls potential picks on the phone to check on their emotional state before each tournament. Despite all this effort, Clark still fell victim to them same fate as many of the pundits did at Richmond: conservative picking.
If Namiki was my ace in the hole, I think my habit of picking the underdog was my downfall. Just call it part of my personality. Like many of the fans out there, we are tired of seeing the same anglers hog all the money out there. We like to see it passed around to all of those struggling anglers who have to mow grass to put gas in their boats.
Now, back to basking in the glow of the most important pundit / pro victory of all time.
Koby Kreiger
FLW pro, Okeechobee, Fla.
Previous tournament score: 899
Final yearly total: 5,242 (fourth)
Editor’s note: While he also submitted no official comment, Kreiger wanted to thank his family, friends, sponsors, his director, the producers, the Academy and “all the little people” for supporting him during his two victories this season. Said Kreiger: “You really like me!”
Clark Wendlandt, 2003 Picks champion
FLW pro, Cedar Park, Texas
Previous tournament score: 883
Final yearly total: 5,369 (first)
To all pros and pundits,
I will make my victory speech short but sweet.
This year’s thrashing of all FLW prognosticators was as predictable as me picking myself in the top five of every tournament this year. When it comes to making predictions, I will win again next year. I am pretty sure that I have gotten into your heads.
Schroeder, Mortenson and Newell, you obviously got so caught up in talking trash that you forget to make sensible picks. Washburn and Kreiger, you’re just far too nice. Blaukat, you redefined the length in “long shot” to be the distance from the U.S. to Japan. You have to walk a fine line, and next year the results will be no different.
I enjoyed it, guys, and, Swindle, if you need some extra points next year, maybe you should consult my daughter Emily.
I am excited about next year. Throw out the new format and let the games begin!
Gerald Swindle
FLW pro, Warrior, Ala.
Previous tournament score: 863
Final yearly total: 4,959 (seventh)
Editor’s note: Swindle also declined official comment, but we have it off the record that he’s grateful to Emily Wendlandt, Clark’s 9-year-old daughter, who pinch hit for him at Beaver Lake and salvaged his pride by winning his only tournament for him this year.