The panic over the potential cancellation of a hot dog eating contest dominated my social media scrolling more than the Astros game at Minute Maid, despite nearly 40,000 fans on hand for an Independence Day game.
Who doesn’t love a good “Is it a sport?” debate?
The late Scott Kaiser, a good friend and early mentor, taught me that if you can’t interview the winner, it isn’t a sport.
Cars, horses, dogs? Nah.
While they are interesting competitions — and in the cases of car and horse racing, involve outstanding athletes — they’re not sports.
Also golf, like pool, darts, and Cornhole, is a skills competition, a game, but not a sport. Still, it is OK for said competitions to be covered in the sports section.
Hence, stories about Joey Chestnut, the GOAT of eating contests, have been given space in your favorite family newspaper many times.
While his disgusting gorging is impressive — two years ago, dude set a record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, and he once ate 241 chicken wings in 30 minutes — eating is not a sport.
So, the question is fishing a sport is moot. Doesn’t matter.
When I heard that a local high school team recently won the state bass fishing title, I was appalled that these young champions had not been recognized as other athletes are.
The Magnolia Bassdawgs — William Bates, Cason Carlson, Cole Divin, Hunter Matthews, Grant Morgan and Kole Weir — brought in 73.52 pounds of fish in two days to bring home the team crown.
Brooks Leonard and Stran Stevens of Magnolia West High School bested College Park’s Connor Clardy and Jack Combrink by three pounds to claim the individual boat honor (two men per boat) and a $7,500 scholarship for each.
I’m embarrassed to say I had never heard of the Texas High School Bass Association, a nonprofit organization that has been responsible for these events for 10 years.
The association says it has some 400 schools and 3,800 high schools spread amongst its nine divisions across the state. The Houston division is comprised of 37 schools.
THSBA awarded $75,000 in scholarships at its state championship event at Sam Rayburn Lake in May.
“The work they do is amazing,” said Derek Morgan, whose son Grant was on the winning Magnolia High squad. “It is serious competition with a lot at stake.”
There is more at stake than trophies. Grant, who just finished his junior year, has drawn interest from 17 colleges with fishing teams.
The 18-year-old, who played almost every sport before he joined the high school fishing team, plans to turn pro after college.
Yes, there are college fishing competitions.
“I’ve been fishing pretty much before I could walk,” Grant said. “When I’m talking to somebody at a restaurant and tell ‘em I’m on the fishing team they’re like ‘What’s a fishing team? ’
“It’s insane what’s happening with what they’re doing, how big it is and the support we get from sponsors, but most people don’t know about it.”
Grant says even his classmates are surprised that there is a school team. They find out when the Bassdawgs win events and make the in-school announcements.
Maybe the state championship will help with that.
Grant recognized that his chances of making it to the NFL as a cornerback or receiver were long. Not that becoming a professional fisherman is easy, but it is where his heart is.
Despite not being a fisherman, home state bias struck immediately when I saw that there isn’t a Texas school listed in a Wikipedia entry citing the “historically most successful college bass fishing teams.”
We’re better than that.
The NCAA hasn’t sanctioned the sport, which is a positive, as those athletes have been able to utilize sponsorships that were previously not allowed in recognized sports.
With new NIL rules, perhaps that will change. On the high school level, the scholarship awards for winning are certainly against UIL rules.
Derek Morgan says boat owners donate their boats to the high school competitions so kids who want to compete are able to participate.
“If you want to fish, there is a boat for you,” he said.
How can you not love this?
Grant found out about the high school team from his mother, who saw a social media post.
Side note: The kid took time out from pond fishing Thursday afternoon to go fishing for the correct spelling of his mother’s name, so we’ll assume he got it right.
Then again, fishing isn’t easy.
“There are so many variables to getting it done and that’s one of the things I love about it,” Grant said. “It takes a lot of work to be good.”
He says his teammates have put in the work.
Derek Morgan put a fishing rod in his son’s hand as the little one was learning walk. Now, he has a young athlete in the family with fishing tales.
Including the one about the best fisherman in the family.
Dad wouldn’t answer the question. The kid did.
“I’m more skilled-based with it,” Grant said laughing.
So, are you saying you are a better than your dad?
“I would say so.”
Whether it is sport, game or competition, Grant Morgan is winning.
