Time on their side

The Team Timex stable of all-stars and up-and-comers looks capable of dishing out a licking of its own on this year’s Wal-Mart FLW Tour

When Larry Gilbert and Robert Wilson, account managers for Timex Corporation, set out to assemble their cast of characters for Team Timex 2001, they looked for pro anglers who would not only represent Timex well, but who would also have a legitimate shot at making the podium on the final day of each and every FLW tournament this year.

And did they reel them in. The five pros who make up the team have a combined 45 top-10 tournament finishes on the Operation Bass tournament circuit.

We begin with Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., the savvy veteran of Team Timex. A constant threat to win any given tournament, at 42 years old he happens to be the eldest member of the team.

“Tommy’s kind of like the old-timer of the guys,” said Gilbert.

“I’ve got a lot of experience,” Biffle said. “I’ve probably been fishing a lot more than the other guys. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. But I’m just now getting into what I think is my prime because you build up so much knowledge over the years.”

With that experience comes the dubious distinction of having more second-place finishes in the FLW Championship (three) than anyone else. While this might seem a frustrating mark for Biffle, it actually shows just how good a fisherman he really is. Plus, he holds the record for most top-five appearances in the championship, with three.

Marty Stone of Linden, N.C., isn’t just one of the nicest guys on tour; he’s a killer fisherman, too. Stone, who made the move to Timex this year, has nine top-10 finishes under his belt and a boatload of winnings.

Said Gilbert, “Not only is he a premier fisherman, he’s one of the greatest guys you’ll ever meet. He’s salt of the earth.”

Stone sees his role as the guy who can win on a national level. It’s true, no matter where the tournament or how strong the field of competitors, it seems Stone is always hovering in contention. Last season alone he compiled three FLW top-five finishes, with a runner-up finish at Biloxi, Miss.

David Walker’s middle name should be Consistency. The Cannon, Ky., native has amassed no fewer than 23 tournament top-10 finishes over his five-year Operation Bass career. His ability to catch fish consistently and place high led him to the 1999 Angler of the Year award, which was no small factor in his sponsorship agreement with Team Timex.

“I guess you could say I hold (the team) all together,” he explained. “I’m not a guy who wins a lot of tournaments, but I’m the guy you can depend on to go out there and do well on a consistent basis. I just try to do the best I can every time.”

The fastest-rising star on Team Timex – possibly in all of pro bass fishing – is Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla. With just two full years on the FLW Tour, the 25-year-old has already compiled an enviable career: six top-10 finishes and the 1999 Co-angler of the Year title. Last season he won the second tournament of the year (in Biloxi), his first win competing as a pro, and he made the semifinals at the FLW Championship.

And, oh yeah, he’s the son of fishing legend Roland Martin.

Another up-and-comer on the team is Eric Holt. From Galena, Mo., Holt put his name on the map with a second-place finish at the 1999 FLW Championship in Wagoner, Okla. Timex is excited about the potential of Holt’s fishing ability and marketability.

“We were real fortunate to get Eric on the team,” said Gilbert. “He’s like (2000 Angler of the Year) Clark Wendlandt: young, smart, aggressive and a real nice guy.”

Said Holt, “I’m not a guy with a lot of God-given talent, but, boy, I sure do fish hard. I’m just a an old boy out there doing what I love.”

That’s what team sponsorship means to these and all the pro anglers on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour: being able to do what you love and make a living doing it. The formation of pro teams backed by high-profile corporate sponsors hasn’t only increased exposure for the sponsors, it has opened the door for many pros to get a good foothold on the tour and make a go of it.

“It was important for me to get involved with Timex this early in my career,” said Martin. “It has really propelled me.”

Holt says his disappointing 120th-place finish in the 2000 standings would have been frustrating if not for the backing of Team Timex.

“Last year, I had a horrible year,” he explained. “But being involved with Timex softened the blow. The FLW really does make a lot of kids dreams come true, like mine.”

For the fishing pros of Team Timex, acquiring major corporate sponsorship from a company that produces watches was a natural fit. After all, every minute they’re late for weigh-in is a 1-pound penalty.

“They understand how fishermen can help out at Timex,” said Martin. “Anybody fishing a bass tournament needs a dependable watch, and they’re just a great, dependable product.”

“When they pay you to promote a product you actually use and believe in, that’s what makes it easy,” said Walker.

The Team Timex pros’ promotional duties vary. They work the crowd at the FLW Family Fun Zone and host fan contests. They give seminars, host kids camps and attend trade shows.

“But it’s about more than just fishing seminars,” Gilbert said. “These guys really care about their community, and that’s important. At events, we’re bringing in people that might not have been around fishing much before.”

While all the FLW pro teams have been built on the model of the NASCAR pro teams, Stone points out one key difference.

“We, as a group, are accessible,” he said. “If you ever go to a NASCAR event, it’s a rare thing that you’re going to get Jeff Gordon’s autograph. We’re out there mingling with the fans. If you ever wanted Tommy Biffle’s autograph, you can get it. The biggest compliment anyone can ever pay you is to ask you personally for your autograph. And that’s what this sport is about: making impressions. NASCAR will never be as accessible as we are as a group of fishermen.”

For Timex, it also means five of the world’s elite bass anglers driving around the country 225 days a year showcasing the distinctive black-and-gold race-detailed Team Timex Ranger boat, which they each tow from tournament to tournament. And that’s not a bad deal, as far as Walker’s concerned.

“Those boats fit really well,” he said, grinning. “I like those colors.”

Beyond boat colors, everyone on Team Timex is nothing short of thrilled about what the watch company’s sponsorship means to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and the sport of bass fishing as a whole.

“Timex has the fishermen in mind. It’s a perfect fit,” said Stone. “Corporate America as a whole is starting to understand how big fishing is. The key is we’re 44 million (anglers) strong in America. I’m betting my career it’s only going to get bigger and better.”

Walker agreed. “I think it’s going to be a snowball effect. Once these companies get in there and get involved, it’s only going to create more interest. At this point, the genie’s out of the bottle. There’s no stopping (the FLW) now.”

And there may be no stopping Team Timex. Watch out for these guys on the 2001 FLW Tour because, as Stone pointed out, “We have some really good promoters – and fishermen – on this team. Looking at our careers from a historical perspective, I’ll tell you the guys on this team will be in the top 10 a time or two before the year is over with.”