Yes, they're BOTH in the business to make money,.......always have been. That's never been questioned. I totally agree with DRP,...ESPN/BASS has been playing "catch-up" ever since the FLW came on to the scene. I have worked several FLW Family Fun Zones and been involved with BOTH trails, and the FLW by far, is leading the way as far as growing the sport and bringing in the non-endemic sponsor money. Irwin is a billionaire and he's a very shrewd business man. He's the one calling the shots and making the final decisions for the FLW. When you have a spear head like that,..things can happen much faster! ESPN/BASS aren't nearly as fast as the FLW when it comes to getting things done and making changes. They're both fine organizations,......but given the growth of the sport over the past 5 years and the way we're headed now,...it's clearly evindent in my mind anyway, that Irwin and Co. are the real leaders in this whole thing, and ESPN/BASS are making their current decisions based on the FLW's proven successes!!
It should be VERY interesting to see what happens with BASS if and when Ray Scott comes back. But I only see that as a "figure head/spokesman" position.......ESPN will still be calling the shots........Ray will just call out weights!! LOL
IMHO anyway........only time will tell!
Mac