I was vacationing in the Florida Keys — actually enjoying my 13th wedding anniversary and my beautiful wife’s 50th birthday — when I got the text.
Mark Zona was leaving Bassmaster LIVE.
I barely answered at all.
It wasn’t because I was enjoying the lobster too much or the tiki bar at our hotel. I just honestly didn’t know what to say.
As much as anyone at B.A.S.S., Zona — seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever called him Mark — has been a friend to me.
When my favorite football team wins a big game, I get a text from Zona that’s basically a long-distance fist bump. When I write a heartfelt column about difficult things going on in my life, I get a text from Zona saying, “Don’t worry, hoss, I got your back.”
Back in 2019 when the whole fishing world was choosing sides in a nasty series of events, Zona took the time to write me and tell me he was staying with B.A.S.S. and how he looked forward to working with people like me. Can you believe that?
Every one of those aforementioned texts led to fairly long conversations. But the one on Aug. 20 giving me the heads-up about his departure drew just a few words through tears that I knew would only get worse if I tried to call or spend much time answering back. I still haven’t to this day.
I honestly just don’t want to believe a guy like Zona — a true oxymoron in today’s world, combining all the elements of a superstar with the characteristics of that buddy you’ve known for years — is moving on to the well-earned next chapter of his life.
Oh, let’s not get too sappy about it. He’s still around, and he’ll still be the same old Zona. He’s promised to text me out of the blue now and then to catch up and make me look good in front of whoever’s in the boat with me.
There’s also as much talent still on the Bassmaster LIVE roster as has ever been assembled for a broadcast team, with Tommy Sanders, Dave Mercer, Davy Hite, Ronnie Moore, Mike Suchan and the occasional guest stars they bring on set.
But there’ll never be another Zona.
In sports terms, he was to pro fishing what Vin Scully was to baseball, what Keith Jackson was to college football, what Al Michaels was to pro football. I’d say he was one for up-and-coming pro fishing announcers to emulate. But the truth is, he did things that just can’t be taught. Things he was born to do.
As people turn on Bassmaster LIVE next year and miss Zona’s insightful commentary, I hope they’ll appreciate him for who he really is.
If it seemed at times like he was talking directly to you — not only as a viewer, but as a fellow angler — it’s because that’s exactly what he was doing.
Despite his wealth of knowledge about the sport, I’ve never heard him talk down to anyone. He’s one of the biggest names in fishing. But when it comes time for a conversation, he’s like that super-cool guy who always seems to be hanging out at the marina.
He talked to our viewers like they were in the studio with him, and he thought of you all as his friends.
For as long as I’m alive, I’ll always think of him as my friend too.