ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 18, 1996 TAG: 9603180092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
It was the big one that got away. Exactly how it got away is what's in dispute.
Lynchburg angler David Dudley was in ninth place and in the running for the $70,000 first prize after three days of the $475,000 BASSMaster Mega Bucks tournament, held March 4-10 in Texas. Besides a minimum of $10,000 for finishing among the top 10, Dudley would have been guaranteed at least 90 points in the Angler of the Year standings. The points would have made him a virtual lock to qualify for the BASS Masters Classic for the second consecutive year, a huge feat for a 20-year-old, second-year pro.
But after weighing in on the third day of the tournament, the shot at the big one - the big money and points payoff - got away from Dudley. He was accused of asking for and receiving information about fishing areas on Richland-Chambers Reservoir. He subsequently failed a 21/2-hour polygraph test and was disqualified from the tournament. It was the second time he has been disqualified from a B.A.S.S.-sanctioned event - the first was for unsportsmanlike conduct in a federation tournament last year.
Despite the results of the polygraph test and an eyewitness account, Dudley denied any wrongdoing, and, with the help of his father, James Dudley, hired a lawyer in Corsicana, Texas, to look into the matter.
B.A.S.S. stands by the results of the polygraph, and tournament director Dewey Kendrick pointed out that all anglers, including Dudley, sign a release form stating they will abide by all tournament rules, including results of polygraph tests. Kendrick also said he made it clear before the tournament that anglers should be aware of Rule No.3 in the rulebook: ``During the official practice and during the tournament, the competitor may not have the assistance or advice of anyone for the purposes of locating or catching bass.''
Kendrick said he was aware legal action might be taken by the Dudleys, but he also said B.A.S.S. never has reversed a disqualification decision in his 12 years with the organization.
As far as Kendrick is concerned, the incident is closed.
``I doubt if David intentionally got this information to cheat,'' he said. ``But he did get the information, and hopefully, he'll learn from this mistake.''
Kendrick said he was told by a tackle store owner in the Corsicana area that Dudley had been in his shop asking for information about where to catch fish on Richland-Chambers Reservoir, where the first three days of the tournament were held. The tackle store owner recognized Dudley at the third-day weigh-in and reported his claim to Kendrick.
``I didn't take the man's word for it,'' Kendrick said. ``But because of his protest, I had a man come in to give David a polygraph. There were three very pertinent and distinct questions, and David failed all three. Because of that, I disqualified David.''
The Dudley family vehemently denies David had any improper contact with the tackle dealer. The Dudleys did not want to comment on the situation, other than to issue this statement through their lawyer: ``These were false accusations against David. David was falsely accused, and the lawyer is taking care of the situation, and his name [will] be cleared.''
Kendrick said the Dudleys' reaction didn't surprise him.
``If it was my son or daughter and they told me something different had happened, I'd believe them, and I'd fight for them, too,'' Kendrick said.
As for David Dudley's future as a professional angler, the Dudleys are worried about the impact the disqualification might have on his budding career. He dropped from 17th to 41st in the points standings, with the top 25 qualifying for the Classic. In a sport where sponsorship and image are everything, missing fishing's biggest tournament isn't likely to have a positive impact on an angler's career.
``That will hurt him, as far as the Classic goes,'' Kendrick said of the loss in points. ``Mathematically, he has a chance, but not the chance he had.''
The MegaBucks tournament, which attracted about 7,000 spectators at the final weigh-in, was won by Jeff Magee of Florence, Miss. Veteran B.A.S.S. pro Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Mo., was second.
On Wednesday, Dudley begins his long-shot run at making the Classic cut as he competes in the BASS Master Top 100 at Lake Murray near Columbia, S.C. The final Top 100 tournament will be held in May in Gadsden, Ala.
David and James Dudley are attempting to make the Classic, but by different routes. In April, James Dudley will be Virginia's representative in the Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship on the Mississippi River near Quincy, Ill. A good showing there would earn him a berth in the Classic, set for Aug.5-7 in Birmingham, Ala.
Kendrick said the best thing for David Dudley to do is forget the Mega Bucks tournament and focus on fishing.
``It can mess David up in the head and affect his future performance, or he can say he messed up and learn a lesson and continue his career,'' Kendrick said.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: BILL COCHRAN. B.A.S.S. tournament director Deweyby CNBKendrick (left) shares the weigh-in stage with Lynchburg's David
Dudley during a happier occasion at Virginia's Kerr Reservoir.
color.