Texas Transplant
Well-Known Member
Okay, here is the inside scoop, by your unofficial NTOWS Sideline Reporter.
The 'pre-show' was supposed to start around 2:30PM with live entertainment at the coliseium. Headed out about 2:00PM, and was in an almost packed house at about 2:40PM with the band a blaring. Nice entertainment, but loud.
If you arrived after about 3:00PM, there was trouble getting a seat. And no, the coliseium was not FULL. The upper deck was curtained off, and several areas (like behind the jumbotron), were roped off also. Probably between 9-12,000 in attendance.
After the show went off stage, they did some announcements and such, and then did the Fish Fishburne intro. On TV, there was only a brief glimpse of it, but it played out on the screens in the building. They called on him twice, and he didn't show up. Then they show him on the side of the road (supposedly broken down), hitching a ride. The Orange County Chopper guys came up (all three - Mikey, Paul Jr. and Paul Sr.), gave fish an OCC red pullover hat to wear, and put him on the back of Paul Sr.'s bike. They then made the grand entrance. Not a bad touch for those in the stands.
Weigh in commenced just a little past 3:40PM in the afternoon. Kevin VanDam was one of the first to weigh in. At first, I thought that was a bad sign, but they wanted his name up on the leader board for maximum effect (after all, they know approximately how much everyone has).
In the meantime, they drew for the Abu Garcia 'Cast for a Million' competition. A teenage gal (about 16), who has never fished was the lucky contestant. Took her back stage to let her choose a weapon, and to practice. The deal was that you were supposed to get one chance at casting to a 12" target from 60'. What we/you weren't told, was that it was a giant inflatable bass. When inflated, it pobably stood 20-30 feet in the air. The target was a bucket painted red, in the bass's mouth. it was up in the air at least 25 feet. Virtually a certainy that nobody was going to hit it. Consolation was $500.00. A pretty 'cheap' promotion, in my view.
So, for the next 2 1/2 hours, we proceeded through the weigh in till we got to the Super Six. Setting up the Super Six took about 10-15 minutes.
The Super Six weigh-in went on TV, just about how it went in person. However, VanDam's entrance for the 'hot seat' as the leader, was done twice. They did it, then had to have Kevin go back down and do it again.
But here's the real deal.
How many of you thought that you were watching a live weigh in (meaning, as it happened)? You weren't. Taka was crowned about 6:15PM or so. I left the coliseium going to the house, at about 6:40PM - after they gave away the boat.
By the way, you wouldn't believe the number of people that left immediately after Taka was crowned, fully well knowing that you HAD TO BE IN THE COLISEIUM to win the boat. They drew a name, and she was a no-show. Then they drew again, and a Federation Angler from Charlotte won. Nice.
I had a great time over the weekend at the show and the weigh in (even though I was there almost 4 hours). Enjoyed meeting Mac, Mini and Sue; and of course the pro's.
Other than our NTOWS bretheren, the three I enjoyed talking with the most (in no order) were: Woo Daves, Rick Clunn and Ray Scott. I was most impressed that both Rick and Ray (I feel like I'm on a first name basis with them now - at least from my end!), both thanked me for being a Federation Angler and the work that the Federation does. Very sincere.
Can't wait for it to return here. Nothing but really great comments from most of the pro's on their experience here. Very complimentary towards Charlotte, the people, and how they were treated by the community.
Tex
The 'pre-show' was supposed to start around 2:30PM with live entertainment at the coliseium. Headed out about 2:00PM, and was in an almost packed house at about 2:40PM with the band a blaring. Nice entertainment, but loud.
If you arrived after about 3:00PM, there was trouble getting a seat. And no, the coliseium was not FULL. The upper deck was curtained off, and several areas (like behind the jumbotron), were roped off also. Probably between 9-12,000 in attendance.
After the show went off stage, they did some announcements and such, and then did the Fish Fishburne intro. On TV, there was only a brief glimpse of it, but it played out on the screens in the building. They called on him twice, and he didn't show up. Then they show him on the side of the road (supposedly broken down), hitching a ride. The Orange County Chopper guys came up (all three - Mikey, Paul Jr. and Paul Sr.), gave fish an OCC red pullover hat to wear, and put him on the back of Paul Sr.'s bike. They then made the grand entrance. Not a bad touch for those in the stands.
Weigh in commenced just a little past 3:40PM in the afternoon. Kevin VanDam was one of the first to weigh in. At first, I thought that was a bad sign, but they wanted his name up on the leader board for maximum effect (after all, they know approximately how much everyone has).
In the meantime, they drew for the Abu Garcia 'Cast for a Million' competition. A teenage gal (about 16), who has never fished was the lucky contestant. Took her back stage to let her choose a weapon, and to practice. The deal was that you were supposed to get one chance at casting to a 12" target from 60'. What we/you weren't told, was that it was a giant inflatable bass. When inflated, it pobably stood 20-30 feet in the air. The target was a bucket painted red, in the bass's mouth. it was up in the air at least 25 feet. Virtually a certainy that nobody was going to hit it. Consolation was $500.00. A pretty 'cheap' promotion, in my view.
So, for the next 2 1/2 hours, we proceeded through the weigh in till we got to the Super Six. Setting up the Super Six took about 10-15 minutes.
The Super Six weigh-in went on TV, just about how it went in person. However, VanDam's entrance for the 'hot seat' as the leader, was done twice. They did it, then had to have Kevin go back down and do it again.
But here's the real deal.
How many of you thought that you were watching a live weigh in (meaning, as it happened)? You weren't. Taka was crowned about 6:15PM or so. I left the coliseium going to the house, at about 6:40PM - after they gave away the boat.
By the way, you wouldn't believe the number of people that left immediately after Taka was crowned, fully well knowing that you HAD TO BE IN THE COLISEIUM to win the boat. They drew a name, and she was a no-show. Then they drew again, and a Federation Angler from Charlotte won. Nice.
I had a great time over the weekend at the show and the weigh in (even though I was there almost 4 hours). Enjoyed meeting Mac, Mini and Sue; and of course the pro's.
Other than our NTOWS bretheren, the three I enjoyed talking with the most (in no order) were: Woo Daves, Rick Clunn and Ray Scott. I was most impressed that both Rick and Ray (I feel like I'm on a first name basis with them now - at least from my end!), both thanked me for being a Federation Angler and the work that the Federation does. Very sincere.
Can't wait for it to return here. Nothing but really great comments from most of the pro's on their experience here. Very complimentary towards Charlotte, the people, and how they were treated by the community.
Tex
