LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, announced today it had renewed for two years its sponsorship of professional fisherman Scott Rook on the national 2007 Bassmaster Tournament Trail.
Rook enters the new season with momentum built from his Bassmaster Legends championship on the Arkansas River in August 2006.
"Scott is a tremendous ambassador for Alltel," said Randy Wilbourn, senior vice president of corporate communications for Alltel. "He has not only enjoyed great success and consistency in an increasingly popular sport, he is among the most respected and well-liked individuals on the sport fishing scene."
The sponsorship features a custom Alltel-branded 2007 Ranger Z21 Comanche bass boat, built at Ranger Boats in Flippin, Ark., along with a branded truck, tournament attire and Alltel wireless voice and data services for Rook. Terms of the two-year agreement were not disclosed.
Rook, of Little Rock, will begin the 2007 season at the Battle on the Border on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas, on March 6-8. That will be the first of 14 tournaments, which will include a return to the Bassmaster Legends on the Arkansas River on Aug. 21-23.
Rook, who turned professional in 1999, placed second in the 2001 Bassmaster Classic and is a five-time Classic qualifier. He also has 14 top-10 and 30 top-20 finishes in his career, and he has finished in the money in two-thirds of his professional career events.
"It's an honor to represent Alltel again, and I'm looking forward to meeting its customers on the circuit and in other special events during the year," Rook said. "With the Legends win and other success, last year was a lot of fun, and we hope to have even more fun this year."
Building off the 2006 success, including regular exposure on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, Rook and Alltel are poised for an even higher profile in 2007 and 2008.
"Scott has proven himself among bass fishing's elite." said Jerry McKinnis, host of the The Fishin' Hole, ESPN's longest running outdoor television program. "This continues to be a great opportunity for Scott, Alltel and the entire sport of professional bass fishing."
