I apologize for not posting yesterday; a good buddy of mine just found out his wife has been cheating on him so I've been by his side helping him through this difficult time. I'm a bit hungover and still smell like Bath & Body Works lotion.
Anyway, I've been helping my mom clean her house and stumbled upon some old photo albums...thought this would be a good oppurtunity to keep this thread going with a "Get to Know Your Tournament Directors" post. So for those that haven't met me, here's a quick snapshot of how I became such a douchebag.
I was born September 1, 1973 in Saigon, Vietnam. I was always told I come from a good pedigree of names; my grandfather was the equivalent to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court back in Vietnam and later served as an advisor to the President before Ho Chi Minh and the communist took over the country. My parents were always in the political limelight so paraded me around town fully dressed in traditional **** garments. Here's a pic of me at 18 months
Even back then I always carried a gangsta wad and made it rain everywhere I went. We were evacuated to Thailand shortly before all hell broke loose from the Vietnam War and eventually moved to Hawaii when I was 2 yrs old. Nobody in my family fishes or can even comprehend the sport, so I always wondered where my attraction to fishing came from. Dad told me when I was two years old he sat me down on a bench next to a koi pond and not seconds later I jumped into the water trying to grab the first fish that swam by...and it was all downhill from there.
Since my dad was in the oil and gas business we eventually moved to Houston in 1978. He tried to get me involved in other sports like soccer and tennis, but I always found my way to the water. I found this early pic dated 1980 - I was 7 yrs old and bank fishing like a true brokedick.
As I grew older, I remember getting more excited looking at a new Bass Pro Shops catalog than my dad's Playboys; and if I brought home good grades all I wanted was for my dad to take me fishing. Trip after trip he'd wake up at dark thirty with me already sitting in the living room couch with my pole and tackle box eagerly ready to go. I fished with a Zebco 202 forever until I finally saved up enough money to buy my first real combo; it was an All Star WR1 with a Quantum reel. I think the rod was $90 and the reel was $60...back in 1988 that was a lot of money for a combo, but since I was sure I'd make it to the Bassmaster Classic one day it was money well spent. I thought twice about posting this pic, but if you can't make fun of yourself who can you make fun of? Circa 1988 @ 15 yrs old...Justin Bieber ain't got crap on me.
Check out all the delicious basses on the floor and the pimpin' All Star Rods cap...made in Houston and 97% IM6 graphite baby! And yes, those shorts are hot pink. But Ocean Pacific ho shorts were cool and the gayness was offset by the OG trophy hunter shirt complete with sponsor patches. Unfortunately, a couple months later I got my first taste of a titty and ended up with a stinky finger so quit bass fishing altogether until I eventually made it to Austin in 2005. If only I would've stayed with it you guys might be watching me weigh in next weekend at the Classic!
So there you have it, a cool story brah and the Hong edition of "Get to Know Your Tournament Directors".
27 days and counting.