little story

[barchief]

Jason mentioned in the "7" thread that he had been here since '01, and that got me to thinking...

I too have been here since the early days... had to be 2000 or 2001, and have seen many members come and go.

There were guys that left because they couldn't take a joke, and there were guys that left because they didn't agree with a decision that was made, and I am not just talking about guys in the LA board. There have been members that have left, and it has brought tears to my eyes to know that they left, and I know that Al felt the same way about some of them. (Scwildbill, Crazy Elvis, Spetro, just to name a couple)

What everyone needs to understand is that this is a BUSINESS for Al, and he has to do whatever he feels like he needs to do to keep that business running.

Do I wish things could have been handled differently? of course. Do I wish that everyone could get in a circle and sing Kum-ba-ya, maybe not... but such is the case when you have grown men and egos involved.

I would still drop everything that I am doing and help out any of you guys on here that I can, even the ones that decide to leave. Once I make friends, I usually make those friends for life.

I guess the point is that I have been here long enough to see many BBC members come and go, but BBC will still be here years from now. Hopefully some of our peeps will decide that this is home and come back.

I'll step down from my soapbox now.

[RogerR]

[Javarude]

[Alan S]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by barchief &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> and it has brought tears to my eyes to know that they left, and I know that Al felt the same way about some of them. (Scwildbill, Crazy Elvis, Spetro, just to name a couple)</td></tr></table>

I remember those days, too.

But your right. This is Al's bread and butter. I try to abide by the rules because they still have some great people here.

[Bayoubandit]

[Bradrodfish]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by barchief &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Jason mentioned in the "7" thread that he had been here since '01, and that got me to thinking...

I too have been here since the early days... had to be 2000 or 2001, and have seen many members come and go.

There were guys that left because they couldn't take a joke, and there were guys that left because they didn't agree with a decision that was made, and I am not just talking about guys in the LA board. There have been members that have left, and it has brought tears to my eyes to know that they left, and I know that Al felt the same way about some of them. (Scwildbill, Crazy Elvis, Spetro, just to name a couple)

What everyone needs to understand is that this is a BUSINESS for Al, and he has to do whatever he feels like he needs to do to keep that business running.

Do I wish things could have been handled differently? of course. Do I wish that everyone could get in a circle and sing Kum-ba-ya, maybe not... but such is the case when you have grown men and egos involved.

I would still drop everything that I am doing and help out any of you guys on here that I can, even the ones that decide to leave. Once I make friends, I usually make those friends for life.

I guess the point is that I have been here long enough to see many BBC members come and go, but BBC will still be here years from now. Hopefully some of our peeps will decide that this is home and come back.

I'll step down from my soapbox now.
</td></tr></table>

[Skeet22]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by barchief &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Jason mentioned in the "7" thread that he had been here since '01, and that got me to thinking...

I too have been here since the early days... had to be 2000 or 2001, and have seen many members come and go.

There were guys that left because they couldn't take a joke, and there were guys that left because they didn't agree with a decision that was made, and I am not just talking about guys in the LA board. There have been members that have left, and it has <u>brought tears to my eyes </u><u></u>to know that they left, and I know that Al felt the same way about some of them. (Scwildbill, Crazy Elvis, Spetro, just to name a couple)

What everyone needs to understand is that this is a BUSINESS for Al, and he has to do whatever he feels like he needs to do to keep that business running.

Do I wish things could have been handled differently? of course. Do I wish that everyone could get in a circle and sing Kum-ba-ya, maybe not... but such is the case when you have grown men and egos involved.

I would still drop everything that I am doing and help out any of you guys on here that I can, even the ones that decide to leave. Once I make friends, I usually make those friends for life.

I guess the point is that I have been here long enough to see many BBC members come and go, but BBC will still be here years from now. Hopefully some of our peeps will decide that this is home and come back.

I'll step down from my soapbox now.
</td></tr></table>

What??

[barchief]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Skeet22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

What??

</td></tr></table>

Yup.. no shame in my game!

That's what happens when you been around here as long as I have... It's hard to explain how you can care about people that you have never met before. I didn't even start hanging out in here (the LA boards) until about 2 years ago. Before that, I was a regular in the Lounge, and there are people in there that I feel as though I have known them all my life.

Most of the regulars had a "wake up call" of sorts a few years back when Don Applegarth (Basshawk87) died. That was when most of us realized that this was more than just an internet forum. It was a family (completely dysfunctional of course), but a family none the less.

For those of you that didn't know Don, he was a moderator on BBC, a writer for Yamamoto baits, and one HELLUVA fisherman.

Here is a thread with some of Don's best tips and techniques... check it out when you get a chance.

http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=169143

[Skeet22]

Sorry about that..Did not realize a death was involved. I understand where your coming from just giving you a hard time.

[barchief]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Skeet22 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Sorry about that..Did not realize a death was involved. I understand where your coming from just giving you a hard time.

</td></tr></table>

no sweat brother! you still my boy Blue!

[Rebel1]

Yep, a lot of you haven't been around here as long some of us here. This is a great place to meet great people. I have met folks thru here that I now consider life long friends and talk to them more than friends, and some family, that I grew up with. We have even seen friends from pass on, like Don and Arthur Trim. I think sometimes we do lose track of that. Myself, I am moving on from the past.

[Alan S]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by barchief &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
For those of you that didn't know Don, he was a moderator on BBC, a writer for Yamamoto baits, and one HELLUVA fisherman.</td></tr></table>

And you forgot just a great human being. He had a kind word for everybody. He ALWAYS took time to expain methods or baits for the rookies.

We miss you, Don.

[Al from Canada]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Alan S &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

And you forgot just a great human being. He had a kind word for everybody. He ALWAYS took time to expain methods or baits for the rookies.

We miss you, Don. </td></tr></table>

Don was definitely a class act! I had the privilege of knowing him and having spent some time with him. Definitely good memories.