Once upon a time...
A few guys decided to start building boats. They had a novel idea. Instead of putting the emphasis on smoke, mirrors, marketing and bull$@&!!, they put their effort into designing a product that performed. A boat hull that out turned, out rode, and was safer, and even faster than most of it's peers. They dressed their hull with fit and finish details that set the standard in the industry, and topped it off with deeper, glossier, smoother gelcoat than any other bass boat of the day. This boat was a champion.
Then, these same guys decided to let the product speak for itself. Instead of giving away free boats to prostaff, and putting glossy ads in every bass fishing publication they could find, they taught their pros how to make their boat do turns a jet ski would envy. They sold their product by putting butts in seats. "Sell a test drive, and you have sold a boat" was the plan.
It worked.
They created a loyal, some would even say rabid, following. This following became a family. They celebrated this family with a homecoming event for their kids every fall, drawing hundreds of boats back to Mecca, Northern Arkansas.
Time marches on, people move in and out, some skilled in business, and honest, and others who made poor choices. Those poor choices came home to roost, and soon the family is hurt, wondering what will become of their Champion.
The design lineage and BS free philosophy are too good to let go though, and some new family members lift the Champ from a near knockout blow. It is a long fight, going many rounds, and the Volunteer State boys fought it well and hard, working with the goal of bringing the brusied, but still standing Champ back to it's former glory.
Greed takes it's toll on our nation's economy, and the Volunteers have the rug pulled out from under them. The Champ goes down for the count.
The legacy is plundered, and the former Champ, now a redheaded step child, is reduced to simply a donor in the gene pool of boat designs. Can't beat em? Steal what brought The Champ to the big dance.
The no BS, put butts in the seat, build a better product and let it sell itself dream is gone.
Thank you to John Storie, Bill Pace, Bruce Benton, Dave Shlick, Kelly Power, Don Wood, Stephanie Dinkins, and all the other Mountian Home and Murfreesboro folks who sweat, itched, bled, and worked their butts off to make a living and build something more than just a boat. You made a Champion.
Modified by bassin butch at 9:33 PM 5/18/2011
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Well said
