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Odds and ends on the 2002 Classic
One of the most delightful surprises among the line-up for this year's CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic July 25-27 in Birmingham is the return of veteran pro and former Classic champion Tommy Martin.

At 61, the Hemphill, Texas, pro maybe one of the sport's elder statesmen (only Roland Martin is older among the Classic pros - by eight months), he remains among the hardest-working and most popular anglers on the CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail.

Although Martin has qualified for an impressive 19 Classic appearances, this will be his first since the 1995 event.

"That probably makes this Classic more satisfying," Martin said recently. "I wanted to fish 20 of them by the time I quit. But that won't be anytime soon.

"I won't quit bass fishing or competing in B.A.S.S. tournaments until my health gets to the point that I don't feel like I can be competitive. Or until I just don't have the enthusiasm and the motivation that I think is necessary to compete against the level of competition that we have out here. When that day comes, I'll just put my rods up and go fishing for fun.

"But right now, I am as enthusiastic as I've ever been. I'm motivated and I'm in good health for 61 years of age. I can out-fish a lot of young guys. So I feel like I'm still in the game. I know I'm not at the top of my game, but I still can be competitive."

At this point in his career, Martin admits that fishing success isn't the all-consuming proposition that it once represented. After five B.A.S.S. victories, 44 top-10 finishes and more than $600,000 in earnings, his high-school-age boys (Blake and Brian) are now his priority.

"Last year was my worst year ever in 28 or 29 years on the B.A.S.S. tour," Martin said. "I didn't do well at all. This year, I've come back and had a good year.

"I know I can do it. I've just never let my mind work against me to the degree that I get a negative attitude or a defeatist attitude, and think I can't catch fish. Because I know I can. I know the level of competition, these young guys have learned a whole lot of stuff that we learned the hard way - the Roland Martins and Larry Nixons and myself and (Rick) Clunn, and so many of the other guys who have been around forever and ever.

"I think a lot of the young guys have certainly learned some things from us, but they brought some things of their own to the table. I mean, a lot of those guys are sharper than a tack, and, boy, they're hungry, too. They want to beat you. They're tough to beat, but I know our level of competition right now is way better than it was, say, in 1975. It's a lot deeper. There's more good fishermen out there. That's one reason why I really enjoy competing in these tournaments."

On and off of the water, Tommy Martin has long been one of the sport's best ambassadors.

Former Classic winner Larry Nixon, who Martin convinced to gamble on a pro career in 1974, admits he's in awe of his older friend's ability and longevity.
"I marvel at his ability to stay out there," Nixon said. "He practices as hard as anybody. He's in good health and great shape. He's a big plus for this sport. His sponsors ought to be real proud of him."

LUCY IN THE BOW: BASSMASTER Central Open competitor Lucy Mize is profiled in the June issue of "Field and Stream" as one of the country's most successful female pros. The 40-year-old Arkansas angler is the highest-placing woman in B.A.S.S. history.

She also might be the busiest. When not fishing, Mize's full-time job is operating a tax-preparation business. She's also a volunteer firefighter, fishing guide and runs the family farm with husband Jimmy (a 2002 Classic qualifier in his own right).

PRO BIRTHDAYS: Texan Harold Allen was 57 June 2. Michael Iaconelli of New Jersey and Missouri pro Chad Brauer will be 30 on June 17 and 19, respectively.

IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO: Accomplished Florida pro Shaw Grigsby says he would have either stayed in the family pest control business or become a fishing guide. "Maybe even a saltwater guide," he says. "I get a lot of enjoyment poling other people around and watching them catch fish."

THEY SAID IT. "Believe it or not, I don't have a contract with any of our pros. We have a handshake. I believe that if you've got to have some memorandum to understand what the arrangement is or a notarized contract to do business with someone, you're in business with the wrong person, if you can't do business by handshake." - Triton Boats owner Earl Bentz on his approach to sponsoring pros.