Have you guys who don't like Brandon Palaniuk met him, or talked with him in person. Maybe you would have a different opion. As far as the fair haired boy...Bass may look to those who have a lot to offer the sport...well spoken, not a loud mouth, seems to be family oriented, and he works hard at the craft. He's only been on one cover of Bass Masters that I have seen....some of the others seem to have the edge on being fair haired. The whole Bassmasters is getting just a little too WWF for me anyway. I just love fishing and would like to see more of the tournament conducted as they were a few years back. Those tournaments on blind lakes showed who the real fishermen were.