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For immediate release:
HITE RIDING HIGH INTO
CHICAGO FOR 2000 CLASSIC
Defending
Champion Mined Classic Gold Throughout Year
CHICAGO, Ill. Davy Hite, the talented 34-year-old pro from the aptly
named town of Prosperity, SC, has been as much businessman as bass angler
since winning the 1999 BASS Masters Classic® in New Orleans. Like those
champions before him, Hite allowed his fishing to suffer as he mined the
riches that await the winner of the most important title in professional
fishing.
With an automatic berth in the 2000 Classic in the Windy City and the
opportunity to capitalize on the promotional value of his Classic crown in
every corner of the country, Hite made the conscious decision to
concentrate more on making money off of the water instead of on it. As a
result, the past 12 months have been one big, lucrative whirlwind tour.
"That bye into the next Classic was very important," Hite said
recently.
"There's no way that winning the Classic can't take away from your fishing
some. And I've made the decision that I am going to try and do as many
seminars as I can for myself and for my sponsors financially, and to
promote Davy Hite. Because, if you're fortunate enough to win the Classic,
you've got to make that hay while the sun shines."
"Winning the Classic has been more than I imagined as far as all the
support I've gotten, all the congratulations I've gotten. I still go
places, and here it is June after I won last July, and people say
congratulations on the great win. So, that's still in the front of
everybody's mind it seems like."
Hite burst onto the BASSMASTER pro scene seven years ago and steadily
climbed to the top. He qualified for the Top 150 circuit in his first year
of Invitational action. He then went on to win a couple of Top 150
tournaments and qualify for several Classics before winning the coveted
B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year title in 1997. In 1996, Hite came within a
pound of winning the Classic -- an experience he was determined not to
repeat three years later.
In terms of tournament success, the 1999-2000 BASSMASTER season is one that
he won't recall fondly.
"This, tournament-wise, has been my worst year, Hite stated. "And
people
say, What's happening to him? I haven't also forgotten how to catch fish,
but it really shows that it doesn't have much to do with luck. It has a lot
to do with hard work and focus."
"I guess I was foolish enough to think that I can go do all this
(promotional work and public appearances) and be sidetracked, and all of a
sudden show up at a tournament and get my mind on things. But it has really
shown me how much different your performance is when you're focused on what
you're doing and when you're not. It's absolutely incredible."
Fresh off a top-5 performance in a recent national tournament, Hite is
excited about competing in the BASS Masters Classic. The bigger the stage,
the better he likes his chances. And he believes he will be among the
favorites for the $100,000 top prize.
"It blows my mind to know that we're going into a great city like Chicago
with me as the defending champion," Hite admitted. "It's going
to be a
great event."
During the week of July 17-22, the Windy City will host the biggest
celebration of the sport of fishing. On Wednesday, Jackson Lake Park will
be the site of the Kids Klassic contest (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and a Meet the
Pros Autograph session (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.).
McCormick Place will host the highly popular Classic Outdoor Show, which
attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually. This year's show is being
held in conjunction with the American Sportfishing Association's annual
ICAST trade show -- meaning that Classic visitors will enjoy a rare
opportunity to get a glimpse of all the new fishing and boating products
that will go on the market in 2001.
For the second consecutive year, local and visiting fishing fans will also
be treated to an extra day of show attendance on Sunday after the Classic
competition has concluded. The show opens on Thursday and runs through
Sunday.
Soldier Field will host the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Classic
weigh-ins and the annual BASSMASTER CastingKids national finals, sponsored
by Chevy Trucks and Zebco, on Friday.
In addition, country music star Trisha Yearwood will perform a free concert
immediately after the 2000 BASS Masters Classic champion is crowned on
Saturday.
Sponsors of the 2000 BASS Masters Classic include: Ranger Boats,
RangerTrail Trailers, Mercury Outboard, Chevrolet Trucks, ACDelco
Batteries, Worldwaters.com, Humminbird Electronics, Zercom Marine, Pennzoil
Marine, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, First USA Visa Card, MotorGuide
Trolling Motors, Gore-Tex Outerwear, GMAC Insurance, the State of Illinois
and the City of Chicago.
For more information contact:
George McNeilly, B.A.S.S. Communications (334) 272-9530
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