Out-Cast
A behind-the-scenes reflection of the FLW Tour event on Lake Murray from ‘FLW Outdoors’ TV personality Keith Lebowitz
What I love most about the sport of bass fishing is that there is no discrimination, no gender gaps to hurdle anymore and no cultural biases to deal with. Heck, if you’re at least 16 years old, you can fish the circuit no matter who you are.
With that being said, there is something noticeably different about Wal-Mart FLW Tour co-angler Robert Blosser that makes him stand out from the rest of the crowd. The reason is simple: Unlike the other 199 co-anglers at each event, Blosser has to battle something much more difficult than just the fickle nature of fishing. You see, Blosser has Multiple Sclerosis. In fact, more than 27 years ago, doctors told Blosser that he had a little less than a year left before walking would be impossible.
“It was pretty grim. I thought I was gonna die,” said Blosser. “I was preparing for life in a wheelchair.”
That was 1979. Fast forward to the year 2006, and Blosser is not only still moving forward with the enthusiasm of a teenager but thriving on the tour as well. He’s still walking, and even though he continues to show small signs of MS, it’s a far cry from a doctor’s less-than-fateful diagnosis 27 years ago.
“I hold no hard feelings against the doctors,” Blosser said. “They made their diagnosis, and I proved them wrong.”
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that forms on the nerve fibers of the brain, essentially limiting the capacity of brain-wave information that travels to the affected area of the body. A wave that should tell Blosser’s right leg to move in a normal motion cannot be transmitted properly because of scar tissue or lesions that block the information from making the full connection with that particular part of the body.
But don’t even think of telling Blosser that he shouldn’t be out on the water standing for eight straight hours on his constantly nagging right leg. Because, quite frankly, he’ll have none of it.
“The leg does get sore, and come weigh-in time it’s tough,” said Blosser. “But there is nowhere else that I would rather be than in the outdoors.”
Sure, Blosser has had some tough moments to overcome over the years. But don’t ever try to tell him it’s crazy for somebody with his physical limitations to be casting endlessly out on the water until it’s time to head into the weigh-in tent. Don’t waste your time. He simply won’t listen. And the reason is simple: Blosser has a dream that one day he will become a champion.
“I was close to winning the co-angler title at Beaver Lake last year, and I really believe I can win an event in 2006,” he said. “My goals are to make it to the FLW Tour Championship and win that co-angler title.”
I asked Blosser one time what he would do if he were to qualify for the FLW Tour on the pro side. His reaction said it all.
“I would have to give it a shot. You only live once, and to not fully pursue a dream you have would be nuts,” he said. “So, yes, I would go for it.”
At first glance, if you don’t know Blosser, you may feel sorry for him. Don’t. But if you do have some time and you see Blosser gainfully heading off the weigh-in stage, do walk up to him and strike up a conversation. I did. And it was an extraordinary experience as I realized just how deep his unrelenting passion is for the sport of bass fishing. It was then that I realized that Blosser is right where he wants to be. Where he needs to be.
And whether Blosser ultimately succeeds or fails to hoist a first-place trophy over his head someday in the future, this much is certain: Blosser is already a champion.
Whether he knows it or not.
(Editor’s note: Keith Lebowitz’s experience as a sports reporter and sports show anchor is considerable. He’s been acknowledged with industry awards numerous times: a 2001 honor from The Associated Press for the Fox Sports Net show “Southwest Sports Report,” a 1996 Emmy winner in the Los Angeles area for outstanding sports reporting on KTTV Fox Television, a 1990 Golden Mike Award for best sportscast at KCSN in Los Angeles and honors for his work as a reporter in 1999 for the Emmy Award-winning “Season of Speed” at KTVT CBS 11 in Dallas. He has interviewed many of the greats including Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Troy Aikman. Currently, Lebowitz is host of FLW Outdoors Television on FSN).
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