IF YOU’RE A sports fan, you know that statistics tell a story that cannot be told with even the purplest of prose or the highest of hyperbole. Sometimes, it takes raw numbers to properly capture an athlete’s performance and to explain how far, how fast or how deep that person’s accomplishments go.
In the world of competitive bass fishing, Rick Clunn’s numbers are staggering. They tell the story of an athlete who has gone as far, as fast, as deep and as high as anyone in history … but don’t take my word for it.
Look at the numbers.
A Classic Career
The foundation of Clunn’s legacy was built on the biggest stage in bass fishing: the Bassmaster Classic. He qualified for his first championship as a rookie in 1974, and that started a string that would not end until 2001 after 28 consecutive appearances. The next-longest streak is 24 (Kevin VanDam).
To put it in perspective, let’s look
