Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk AL Fishing Talk Ike

Originally posted by Clem:
He'll be here in Alabama at Pickwick and Guntersville lakes this year if you'd like to meet him.

I'll be glad to introduce you so you could curb-stomp him yourself. He'd probably be glad to accommodate you after signing autographs for the kids who like him.

He wears his emotions on his sleeve. He does some stupid stuff, too. But he's a good guy and does more things behind the scenes, without any desire for anyone knowing, than people know.

There are far worse azzholes on the tour than Ike, trust me.

Originally posted by Clem:
There are far worse azzholes on the tour than Ike, trust me.

Ryan Foster

Make A Wish people, here's my wish. We don't need you.
No offense.
My wish is that long past us, out there in the future, no child will ever tell whoever is me when me is gone, this: "My lungs don't work."
Ryan Foster, 14 years old, from upstate New York, has Cystic Fibrosis.
I will NEVER write that sentence again.
Ryan is NOT Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis is NOT Ryan. We are not what we suffer from or suffer with. We are children young, we are children old.
We are just people.
Leave the labels for products, stuff.
Look at Ryan and see this, a cute young child with shaggy black hair, oversized T-shirt, scuffed sneakers and backpack.
And a love of fishing. A love of fishing, and a dream. To meet Ike. Bass pro Mike Iaconelli.
In the tunnels of the arena of the Classic, a dream came true.
Ryan meet Ike. Ike meet Ryan.
In the tunnels of the arena of the Classic, a moment in time will live forever in a young child's mind.
And for Ike.
Ryan went with Iaconelli right into the television interview room, and then across the hall into the Media Room.
Let me explain how big this was to Ryan, before this, out in the parking lot Ryan got a glimpse of Ike DRIVING BY in his boat on the way to the Bassmaster stage.
A GLIMPSE.
Ryan told me, "It was the coolest thing EVER."
At that moment it was.
Cooler things were about to happen, in a tunnel of the Classic arena.
Ike: "So Ryan, I hear you like to fish."
Ryan: "Yes."
Ike has his arm around Ryan's shoulder, Ryan is looking up at him, both his tiny hands are clasped close to his chest, Ryan is frozen. Frozen in the moment, frozen in time, frozen from the problems.
Ike: "Would you like to go fishing with me."
Ryan carries with him a fishing pole where ever he goes, "Especially if I find out there is water nearby."
Ryan is the child within every pro out on the stage.
Then the child looks at his aunt and uncle who brought him to his dream, looks up at Ike, and turns and looks at me, the question in his eyes, "Is This True?"
In a tunnel of the Classic arena, I nod my head ... yes. And a tear drop hits the reporter's notebook in my hand.
Ryan, get your fishing pole ready buddy. You're going fishing with Mike Iaconelli!
When I was asking Iaconelli if he would take Ryan fishing, before I was even done with the question, Mike said this, "Done."
Done.
One word, the result, will be remembered forever.
By Ryan.
By Ike.
By me.
This September, off Montauk, as part of the ESPNOutdoors Saltwater Series, Ryan, will step on a boat and go fishing out at sea.
With Michael Iaconelli.
With the man he hoped just to see.
For that one day, his day of dreams, Ryan, will be just a child with a fishing pole.
And with nothing else.