Anyone catch TC on ESPN's Loudmouth this past Saturday? I've read some
other places about his interview and wanted to hear more.
Jack

~~
Jack Dalzell
http://www.jdbass.com
~~

uscgret

TC said he never cheated..The boys on BFHP have convicted him...TC
claims he doesn't know why he was banned for life, he did say he was
DQ'd for leaving the site of his co-angler when he went to the bathroom
at the weigh in site plus he did admit to bad mouthing FLW

joshuall

Jack,

I saw the entire interview and I don't know anything about the
truthfullness of all the rumors, but I have to tell you he didn't sound
credible to me. He indicated he was banned for just what AJ said. He just
didn't sound credible to me and his story didn't either. I won't speculate
on what may or may not happened, but just based on the interview I have a
few doubts and here's why:

1- Most every guy I know who bass fishes would love to give the pros a
shot. and I'm sure those fortunates who get the shot make one hell of a
sacrifice. We all know the time sacrifices, the travel, the expense these
guys incurr. It seems to me having paid that price TC's story that he spoke
with one atty who told him there was nothing he could do was . . .limp at
best. Any good lawyer will tell you THERE'S PLENTY that could be done. For
instance . . . there's negligence by commission and by Omission. FLW's
refusal to disclose has defamed this man and he's incurred significant
financial damages. He was hotter than fire until this occurred. Remaining
closed lipped and allowing unfounded rumors to ruin his reputation is the
stuff lible and defamation lawsuits are made of. He either visited the
stupidest lawyer in his home town or is lying.

2- I'm a professional investigator and a number of years ago when I
worked in downtown Chicago a party to a fraud/scam ratted out a player who
happened to be working for me. It involved several hundred thousand dollars.
After I cooled down and the indignation left, I called the accused into my
office (it was an issue of kickbacks) and confronted him with some pretty
solid evidence. He looked me cooly in the eye and said "I didn't do anything
wrong."
I thought two things to myself. At the end of the day . . . after all
I'd done to achieve what I had professionally, if someone accused me of
taking kickbacks, I'd have hit the ceiling and before I came back down I'd
have an atty. But this boy just sat there staring at me. A day later when I
called him in to tell him he was fired. . . after all he did to get where he
was at.. . . he simply said ok, cleaned out his office and left. Not even
the threat of a lawyer. And that's just what this boy did. Cleaned out his
office and offered a weak explanation of what went down.

3- Why not dispell the multitudinous rumors that have circulated since
the event? If what he said was the real etiology of all his problems, all he
had to do was name the boat partner he left and ask him to step forward. He
indicated on the show that there was a camera boat with him on that day.
Does it make sense to anyone that FLW would can one of their rising stars
just for his taking a crap in the woods someplace. Disqualify him from that
tourney maybe, but banned from all tourneys for life ? I don't think so.
And he claims to have bad mouthed FLW in contradiction of the rules. So
let's hear from the people he spoke to or what it was that was so dastardly
that FLW again felt impelled to can this guy, not call him in and chew him
out. Not put him on probation etc. Just flippin can em for all time ? Sounds
lame to me.

I dont know if it was fish in barrels, fish in his shorts whatever . .
.., but the story he told on Loudmouth didn't seem to hold water. He sure
seemed like a nice enough guy. Maybe he is telling the truth and needs to
see another atty. But he sure came across as less than truthful to me. Lots
of body language there too, but that may have been just the result of
sitting on a hot seat in front of the cameras. Just MHO.

--
God Bless America

Josh The Bad Bear

joe z

Jack,

I saw the entire interview and I don't know anything about the
truthfullness of all the rumors, but I have to tell you he didn't sound
credible to me. He indicated he was banned for just what AJ said. He just
didn't sound credible to me and his story didn't either. I won't speculate
on what may or may not happened, but just based on the interview I have a
few doubts and here's why:
Snipped>

Thanks Josh,
I tried to tape it BUT forgot to turn on the digital cable box. And before
the comediennes get in the act, no my VCR does not flash 12:00 all the time.
;-) Sounds like a pretty good read of the situation. Joe Z.

andrew kidd

I took one look at him saying he had done nothing wrong, and felt this guy
is hiding something... I hate to make quick judgements of people, but this
guy did NOTHING to convince me they didn't have some reason to kick his butt
out... As Josh says, a guy wrongly convicted will usually take a much
stronger approach. Very weak...and very guilty "looking"....

Would anybody who saw the interview like to defend him?
--
Andrew Kidd

pat_ri

I saw the interview and Tony stated that FLW didn't give a reason they just
gave him the rule number that he violated. (don't remember) I believe that
it had to due with sportsmanship though. I can't believe they wouldn't give
him the specific reason he was banned. If that was me I would have caused a
stink so not to ruin my reputation and I am just an average recreational
fisherman.

go-bassn

He knows what he did & so do alot of people; Think about this - if he's
p.o.ed at FLW & banned for life, he may have heard of a certain other
circuit...pretty good money there too. Wonder why he hasn't joined that one
lol...

Nuff said.

Warren

pat_ri

I never heard of the guy before I was just watching ESPN on Saturday.

Josh,
Thanks for the info, I wanted to catch the show, but was busy. I
have heard all the rumors on BFHP and wanted to hear this ng's version.
It sounds the same as BFHP's. I do have a friend that works for FLW and
he won't comment on the situation, other than to say that FLW has never
given a lifetime ban for leaving your partner (one day tournament bans,
yes) and he also stated that some of what we are hearing is true.
Whatever this means......
I do understand why (if the rumors are true) FLW would keep it
quiet. I think that a scandal of this magnitude would be
counterproductive for Bass Tournament fishing. TC won 9 tournaments
(including the All-American)in 31 starts (29%), made $176,198, had 15
top tens in 31 starts (48%), all since he burst onto the scene in 2000.
In 2002 Savahnah division (5 tournaments total), he won 3 tournaments,
got 2nd in another and finished 35 in the 5th. What is more amazing is,
he won big bass 3 times (only 5 tournaments) and made almost $15,000!!!
Because of these accomplishments, I thought this guy was "RoboBasser".
IF the allegations were true, the "average joe" would figure that
it's just a bunch of cheating 'bubbas' and our sport would lose
credibility.
Jack
~~
Jack Dalzell
http://www.jdbass.com
~~

ratman

I saw it , and my guess would be that after Flw dq'd him for the
"bathroom" incedent (which he actually admitted) he still got p.o. &
said some things that he shouldn't have said. All this he probably told
his atty. & in turn his atty said that he no case. IMHO GUILTY AS
CHARGED