HEY, Rock WAS a ladies man!!! Don't you dare tell me otherwise! LOL
OK, here's the real story about good 'ole Roland for any who are interested.
I sometimes subcontract for another guide, Pete, who owns a bigger outfit just south of P'burgh. He's been in business for over 26 years, so he has a bigger client base. Anyway....one early September morning, just before the 1st ever Pro tourney on Champlain, the '97 (if I recall correctly) BASS tourney out of Mallets bay in Burlington VT. Well, the guides were all picking up their clients at the lodge when up pulls this full size rig with decals decked out and a big old Triton in tow. Out jumps Roland and walks over to Pete and more or less demands, "I need a guide....TODAY!"
Pete told him we were booked in full and had nobody available and to try in a few days. Roland was insistent and wanted somebody. Then he says, "Do you know WHO I AM?"
Pete was awesome, "YUP, and I don't CARE either. THESE customers paid good money and come back every year. You won't get any better treatment then they get!"
So Roland then asked if he could at least follow a few of the boats to see what kind of pattern we were on.
Pete gave up and said the if the clients didn't mind, he didn't care.
Now the clients, unlike the guides, WERE starstruck. I mean, hey, THIS was Roland MARTIN!!! SURE they said. Roland thanked them and promised to send them each a few Spiderline Mitchell rod combos when he got back to FL.
So Roland got on a winning pattern.
I helped with the weigh in on the last day and after Roland weighed in, I went to ask him a quick question and to make sure he remembered his obligation. He wouldn't even turn around. No grant you, there were a lot of people wanting his time as he was leading the tourney. But I looked right at him and said, "Excuse me, Mr Martin?"
He just turned and walked away as if to say, "I have won, I don't need you people anymore."
So I shot out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "HEY ROLAND, How many times did you throw the HELICOPTER lure this week?????" LOL
If looks could kill, I'd have been blown into FL strain largemouth chum! But I got my point across, and all the reporters and other anglers, had to turn away as they snickered. I think Larry Nixon was one. He had to go behind the trailer to laugh.
And NO, Roland never did send the clients anything in return.
Since then, nobody up here will have anything to do with him. When he came back for the next BASS and then the FLW two years ago, he started telling local tackle shop owners he was going to buy some lake front and start his own guide service up here. Since his ex-wife owns the one AND the marina on the big O.
He didn't plan on paying his guides much since they would have the "honor" or working for him. Well, one outspoken lady that owns a tackle store I know, blasted him. She said, "You go ahead and open your guide service. Even IF you DID pay your guides TWICE what they get now, NOBODY around here will work for you!"
His plan faded like his career has.
So that's the real story, with some stuff you probably didn't hear in any magazines or on any shows.
I only have 3 other pros I openly don't like, but I won't get into it.
