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Hi, my name is Billy Blackwell, better known from this time forth as “Jacques Cousteau “ for my underwater adventures, which I have received my nomination for the Hammer Award.

On the 1 ^st day of our 2 day tournament at Miller’s Ferry I was racing to secure my spot to fill my live well with a limit,

I noted that the water was extremely choppy, but this didn’t concern me till I saw this very high wave approaching my boat. I was trying to decide whether I wished to go airborne or visit the underwater world ( of “Jacques Cousteau “ ). I have heard the saying “ he who hesitates will lose”. Well I hesitated just a bit too long and the wall of water decided for me. Up over my bow it came with such force it ripped my GPS from the boat and nearly took my head off while removing my face mask and hat from my head. I at this point remembered this same type of even occurring at another tournament. Guess lightening ( water ) can strike twice in same spot ( to the same person ). To add insult to injury ( figuratively speaking ) I caught no keeper fish that day. I ended up going home without catching a fish on Sunday also because this same wall of water had made my trolling motor inoperative. It is for this that I received my nomination for the Hammer Award.

*** update. It seems as though Billy " J.C. " Blackwell, not to be outdone by " Sarg "seemed to have forgotten to put his plug in and then tried to cover up his error when asked about it ( jumped into the water ) saying he was attempting to remove something from the prop, however the sound of the bilge pump coming on gave him away.Ironically Billy originally received his nomination te same tournament as when Sarg left his plug out. The water temperature for Billy's entry into the water was about 50 degrees warmer than when Sarg's boat filled with water.