| Rogers, Arkansas - Brent Chapman is a tour veteran. The Kansas pro has been a member of the SKEETER Boats / Yamaha Pro Team for over nine years. This week at the Santee Cooper Bassmaster Elite Series stop, Chapman’s relationship with SKEETER and Yamaha has come to an end. The BASS ZONE reported at Lake Amistad there was going to be a big change for a touring pro but, the BZ did not mention the name of the pro out of respect for the pro and the companies involved. This week, the winner of the 2005 Busch Shootout will sport a new boat colors under the GE wrap, the red and black of Triton and Mercury. In an exclusive interview with the BASS ZONE, Brent Chapman talks about the change from SKEETER / Yamaha to Triton / Mercury.
NOTE: The interview with Brent Chapman took place prior to the Bassmaster Elite Series Santee Cooper event. The BASS ZONE was ready to publish the interview during the Santee event but, we were asked by Chapman's agent not to publish this story until the official GE press release was distributed. The BASS ZONE did not publish the interview during the Santee event out of respect for Brent Chapman. While the BASS ZONE was on location at Beaver Lake at the day three weigh-in, the official release was distributed. Other bass fishing news sources published the official release but, only one on-line bass fishing magazine has the interview with Brent, the BASS ZONE.
BZ: Brent, we now know there is a big change for you and your boat and outboard sponsor, why don't you talk about the move from SKEETER / Yamaha to Triton / Mercury.
BC: Well, it's one of those things, I had an opportunity, a great opportunity to work with Triton and Mercury and we felt like it's time to make the change. I’m looking forward to having a long relationship with Triton and Mercury. Everything at SKEETER and Yamaha has been great; they've always been great people. Like I said though, it was time for a change.
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| BZ: Why the switch?
BC: It was one of those things, working with GE; GE is my number one sponsor now. You know, aligning myself with the companies that could help promote GE was what I wanted to do. The opportunities to help promote GE through Triton and Mercury are much better. |
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BZ: What influence did your sponsor, GE, have on this decision?
BC: They didn't have any influence at all. It was my decision.
BZ: Were there any other boat companies beside Triton that were in the running for Brent Chapman's services?
BC: No, I didn't look for any other boat or motor companies; I wanted to be associated with Triton and Mercury. I feel like they're going to be a great company to work with and like I said I look forward to a long relationship with them and I think it will be a great opportunity for GE as well.
BZ: Did Triton approach you?
BC: No.
BZ: So you approached Triton?
BC: Yes.
BZ: How long have you been working on the Triton / Mercury deal?
BC: It all started at the Classic this year.
BZ: Did you make the change due to the alignment that Triton and Mercury has with BASS, with Triton / Mercury being the primary boat and motor sponsor?
BC: That was a big part of it. That was where I really had to look at the future of the sport and see where it is going. It only makes sense to align yourself with those sponsors.
BZ: How many years were you part of the Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Team?
BC: Nine years.
BZ: That's a long time, was it tough for you to leave?
BC: Oh yeah, it was very tough to leave. I see when people change career paths or change employers; I've never understood how people do that. There were some emotions there when I was cleaning out my boat and going a different way. At the same time, it was tough, but the same time exciting. You know it's a different chapter.
BZ What is your relationship like with Skeeter once the separation took place?
BC: Well everything's good. They wished me well; you know, they've been very professional about it, wished me well. I feel the same to them. I have no hard feelings; I don't think they have any hard feelings. They understand it's business. There is definitely the business side of everything. I think everyone is still a big family; it's just that it was time for me to take a different road, I guess you could say.
BZ: I understand that you have an agent. Why does a professional bass angler need an agent?
BC: Because they understand the marketing of our sport, especially the cross marketing with outside the industry companies like GE. They're better at selling what I have to offer. My job is to catch fish, his job is to sell the package and actually be the go between between myself and GE or other companies as far as helping to facilitate everything. The biggest part of what my agent has done is to help facilitate what I'm doing, what GE is doing and what we are going to do together.
BZ: Your agent, for the most part, did he construct the GE deal?
BC: Yes. He's been great. He's been a huge help. We've only got so much time. He has the time to put in the hours to get GE everything that they needed just to get this deal together.
BZ: The official announcement concerning your boat and power source change is going to be made during the week of the Santee Cooper event, but many of pros have already seen you in a Triton at this week, what has been the response internally amongst your peers?
BC: Most of response I've gotten has been from other Triton/Mercury guys. I've really been impressed from that aspect. Everybody is like: “welcome to the family,” “congratulations,” “good job,” “you'll be very happy” and “welcome to the family.” That's been the biggest response I've had so far. John Crews came up to me today and he said he did a double take on the water just because nobody knew about it. He saw the GE wrap going down the lake. When it went by he couldn't tell what boat it was, but he saw the motor difference and he was kind of shocked at first, but it was just because he didn't know.
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BZ: Is your deal with GE and Triton a multiple year deal?
BC: With GE it's one; with Triton it's multiple years.
BZ: One item that people have communicated is that every deal with Triton is primarily done with a handshake, is that how it was done with you? |
BC: Yes, definitely. I'm very impressed with how they have done business so far.
BZ: What other involvement will you have with the GE sponsorship. In other words, are there going to be any extra-curricular activities on your behalf while working with GE?
BC: Yes, definitely. GE didn't get into the sport just to have a GE wrapped bass boat. I'm really looking forward to the opportunities I'm going to have this year. I will get the opportunity to interact with some of GE’s major customers and with GE employees. We're probably doing some cross marketing events through several home improvements stores this year. Yes, there are going to be many neat opportunities across the country to promote the GE brand. There even could be a mix with some NASCAR events as well.
BZ: Let's switch gears for a moment. I want to get a couple comments from you. Since you are one of several two-tour pros, what do you think about the difference now between the BASS Elite Series and the FLW tour? What is your personal opinion about each of the tours so far season to date?
BC: I look at it from a standpoint of when it comes to Brent Chapman as a professional angler. My job as a professional angler is to promote my sponsors. The only way you can really do that is through the Elite Series. But on the other hand, FLW has a wonderful circuit as well. They've put on a really good show. They run some really good tournaments. And their payouts are incredible.
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BZ: What is it like fishing both tours?
BC: It's tough. If it wasn't for my family traveling with me I would guarantee at this point I wouldn't be doing both. It's just very tough. I don't know why it's tougher this year than in the past, just because in all reality at this time of the year we haven't fished any more tournaments that what we had last year. Probably the toughest part for my wife and I is that we have two kids now. Last year we only had one, now we have two. I have a nine month old daughter as well, so, having two kids on the road and getting them used to it. That's probably making it the toughest. It's just getting the kids into the routine and being able to fit in the fishing side of it as well with the family. |
BZ: Wrapping it up, the first two Elite Series events have been tough on you, what do you foresee with the season continuing, getting away from spawn and pre-spawn conditions, is that going to play more into your strengths?
BC: Yeah definitely, I mean that's been the toughest thing for me right now. These first two tournaments have probably been at one of my toughest times of the year to fish, right in the middle of that spawn. There's a point in the spawn when the fish really shut down and really don't tape a whole lot. Amistad necessarily wasn't that, Rayburn was definitely that. Unfortunately that looks like how this one is going to play out too. The good thing is that with BASS having 11 events, a person can make up a lot of ground in a short amount of time. I'm not where I would like to be in the standings after two tournaments, but I've got nine left. I can definitely make up the ground and hopefully put myself in position to make the Classic.
NOTE: Brent Chapman's sponsorship with GE is tied to the GE Sealants & Adhesives business unit. GE Sealants and Adhesives business unit is a relatively new business unit, established as a result of GE Silicones’ acquisition of Macklanburg-Duncan’s adhesives and sealants business. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, manufacturing is conducted at GE Silicones’ Waterford, NY and Canadian facilities. Production also encompasses former Macklanburg-Duncan manufacturing facilities in New Smyrna Beach, FL; Euless, TX; and Las Vegas, NV.*
As first announced by GE Silicones in January 2000, this business unit allows GE Silicones to broaden its current business in both consumer “do-it-yourself” (DIY) and professional construction segments. Richard C. Brown, President & General Manager explains, “The addition of new products, brands, and manufacturing capabilities allows GE to offer a complete line of caulks, sealants and adhesives," as well as new relationships with distributors and customers.*
*Information Source - www.gesealants.com |
