This is as difficult as it sounds: wrap your arms and legs around a slippery, shape-changing object much larger than yourself and hang on until time is up. Not unlike, we imagine, riding a bull. A greased bull at that.
All eyes will be on the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers as they ride it out for top-12 positions this week at the AutoZone Sooner Run out of Muskogee, Okla.
The bubble riders for the 12 postseason slots are Gary Klein of Texas, in the 12th-place hot seat with 1,511 points. Just one point above Klein is Bill Lowen of Ohio with 1,512. Just below Klein is Dave Wolak of North Carolina with 1,508 points.
Much of the focus will be on the top 37. That’s because the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race determines not only the 12 candidates for the July postseason, but also the 37 pros who will make the 2011 Bassmaster Classic roster from the Elite ranks.
To qualify for a Classic berth through the Elite Series, an angler must end up in the top 36. If the defending champ happens to be within the top 36 (as is almost certain this season), then the 37th pro will be tapped for a Classic spot.
Riding smack on the Classic bubble going into the Oklahoma event are rookie Cliff Crochet of Louisiana and Californian Jared Lintner. Crochet sits in 38th place with 1,319 points. Lintner is only one tick behind with 1,318 points. Then there’s the legendary Denny Brauer with 1,306 points, and his fellow Missouri pro, Mark Tucker, in 41st place with 1,299 points.
Most vulnerable to being bucked off the bubble, thus out of the Classic 37 is Kelly Jordon with just 35 points more than Crochet. But, with 320 points going to a wire-to-wire winner, almost anything could happen.
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