You've read the Brushpile for some time now, and look at you...you're ok.  Outside of that nervous tick, some abdominal spasms and a bit of nausea, you're just fine.  This week Keith Nighswonger descends on the unsuspecting people of Florida, to give us his first hand account of the 2006 Bassmaster Classic.  This week's Brushpiles will have a definite Classic tilt to them and we bet you will find them interesting.  By his own admission, Nighswonger is off to find the stories that you won't read about anywhere else.  If you go to the Classic, you may not see him, but rest assured he will be watching you.  There is no telling where he will show up, so be on your best behavior...... You've been warned! 

2/24/06 BASS Class II-You may recall some weeks back that I covered a story regarding BASS' "under stealth" Pro Bass Angler workshop that took place in Little Rock, Arkansas.  At the time I praised BASS and JM Medias for providing pro anglers with what amounted to a "continuing education" course in how to sell yourself to potential sponsors.  I felt then and feel now that with the amount of expense being requested from today's tour pros that it was about time that a pro organization stepped forward and began to help build these anglers into the professionals they will have to be if they will truly take this sport to the next level.  In fact, in that very R.A.N.T. I believe I called out another organization to step forward and help its anglers, and was abruptly sent a rate sheet for photographs and apparently removed from the "cool guys only" press release list.

Well, apparently, BASS has done it again and yesterday conducted it's 2nd BASS Class, this time a crash course in media relations and featured BASS Director of Communications George McNeilly and Former White House Press Secretary, Jody Powell.  The essence of the workshop which was attended by over 70 BASS Elite Pros was how to build bridges with local and national media.

McNeilly stated, "this is going to be an ongoing process.  We feel that the anglers have made a tremendous commitment to this new series, and we want to give them every opportunity to be successful.

New Deals-Spotted with new wrapped boat deals this week at the Classic include, Scott Rook-Alltel and Brent Chapman GE