If it's less than 10,000 times you're not paying attention.
American Racing Wheels ATX have been in the sport for a little while, six anglers on their team and have received little love from the fishing world press.
Why is that?
Here we have a truly non endemic company stepping to the plate and putting together a team on both circuits and the only press they seem to get is on Terry Brown's wired 2fish (ATX is an advertiser). Swindel, Walker, Myers, Howell, Jimmy Bell and now Billy Mcdonald are all sponsored by ATX but you'd never know if it were up to the circuits.
Could it be that is an angler deal and not a deal set up by the circuit(s)?
Is the sport heading in that direction? If a guy brings a sponsor to the table and BASS or FLW don't get any benefit from it they don't get any love?
Granted we have moved away from the "gotta fish out of our boat mentality" on the final day from BASS (still waiting on that FLW) and at least a guy can wear what he wants when he walks across the stage (err..... again FLW) but to not show some love for a major us company stepping up and supporting the sport seems a bit shallow.
Sure both the tours have to spend their energy promoting those that fill their coffers, but how about a shout out on how slick an angler's rig looks rollin' on some nice rims?
The reality is, that it is up to ATX to decide how much they can spend on advertising/sponsorships and then where they will invest it. I BASS/FLW just gave away air time to the pros individual sponsors, then why would anyone sponsor the tour? It is up to ATX and their pro staff to get the word out and gain exposure.
ReplyDeleteMaybe ATX could hold a draw at every weigh-in for a set of rims for the winner of the draw? That might get them spoken about. Just a thought...
Chad