By Alan McGuckin
VanDam Stole the Stage to Express his Heart for Make-A Wish®
If somehow you found yourself brushing your teeth next to Kevin VanDam, you can be certain hed try to finish faster, and have his shining brighter than yours.
VanDam is a tenacious competitor. Which is what makes his heartfelt stealing of B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercers microphone to talk about his experiences with Make-A-Wish, moments after finishing a disheartening 63rd in the Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair - his home lake - even more impressive.
In the wake of defeat and disappointment, VanDam brought the equivalent of a 25-pound bag of class and compassion to the stage following Day 2 of competition at the Plano Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair.
He also brought 15-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient Max Venchus to the weigh-in platform, and introduced to him fans in attendance at St. Clairs Metropark.
You know the funny thing is, Make-A-Wish is supposed to be about the kids, and making them feel good, but every time Ive participated in one, it always seems like its me that gets as much out of it as the kids, VanDam told fans over the microphone.
Max Venchus is still taking treatments for leukemia, but wears a grin wider than the rear beam of VanDams Nitro boat, and fishes nearly everyday in ponds around his Chicago area home. No surprise, like KVD, he says shallow crankbaits are among his favorite lures of all time.
Backstage, VanDam, who is always tugged at for time and attention from media and sponsors, no matter how high or low his place on the leaderboard, continued to make Max top priority and reminisce about the day they spent on the water a while back.
The waves are what I remember most, grinned Max. Yea, Im not gonna lie, I took you to Traverse City because I really wanted you to have the chance to catch some big smallmouth but the wind blew so hard that day it got kinda hairy, remembers VanDam.