One of the latest adds for Surefire Flashlight, tells of Craig Bodington,veteran of 50 or so African Safaris,whos ass was saved from raverness Lion (and surely other unseen flesh eating creatures of the night) while packing meat out,...by stinging them with a surefire. ....Take note Simba, Your not getting this proud part of the Colonel to share with your Pride!

here is what is believed to be a photo of the unfortunate guy soon after the paramedics started work on him:

http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2005/12/07/imageROM80112071711.jpg

Here is the poor guy the morning after the incident,in the recovery room,the effects are still noticable:

http://animals.timduru.org/dirlist/lions/lion%20sleep1%208-29.jpg

just hope the Doc does not use a Surefire to check his pupils.

One has to wonder how much Bodington was paid for that!

Don't knock the General. For enough money, I would swear up and down that I shot one out of my .375 H&H when I ran out of bullets.

No different than Shaq shilling for Icy Hot or those redneck race car drivers covered head to foot with ads.

The flashlight is darn good, but pricey.

I thought this was interesting. I added the bold highlights.


-------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2004
Contact: Kadra Pattison
1-800-828-8809 ext. 2226
e-mail: ekreis@surefire.com

Renowned Outdoor Author Joins SureFire

Craig Boddington, a widely read hunting authority and author of 18 big game hunting books, has joined SureFire as the director of outdoor market development. Boddington will help SureFire market its illumination tools and assist in promoting the SureFire brand among America's 18 million licensed hunters.

"Craig Boddington's reputation in the hunting world is unparalleled. Craig's level of credibility and depth of understanding of the outdoor market will allow SureFire to bring our brand to the forefront of the hunting market," said SureFire vice president of corporate development Cameron Hopkins. "Of course Craig will continue his freelance writing career with Petersen's Hunting, Guns & Ammo and other publications where readers have enjoyed his stories of high-adventure hunting for nearly a quarter of a century," Hopkins added.

The rest of the press release is here:
http://www.surefire.com/surefire/press_center/pdf/Craig%20Boddington.pdf
-------------------------------------------

-Bob F.

Yeah, I saw those ads too. Guess we don't need a big bore any more. I'm just glad that I have a Surefire.
Peter.

Indeed Craig has a level of something ,I just dont think it is credibility.

Sean

quote:

Indeed Craig has a level of something ,I just dont think it is credibility.

Jealousy is such an ugly emotion.

i dunno about craig, but a streamlight kept one lion away from us while we were leopard hunting. He was coming in and was only about 25 yds away when we heard him cough. We shinned the light on him, and he didn't like it to much, but after 5 or 10 minutes (hours?) moved off. letting us know verbally that he prefered the dark

Curious if the likes of a Jack O'Conner ever shilled for a company, kinda doubt it, though I'm sure he was approached.

Sure was comforting having a kell light on a three hour walk down a road in Zim that was known to be used by a man eating lion.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by JoeR:
Curious if the likes of a Jack O'Conner ever shilled for a company, kinda doubt it, though I'm sure he was approached.

Ever heard of a little known company called Winchester?

I only write for a hobby, but I am reasonably well connected. Many writers (I will go all out and say John Wooters would be one of them) really think this kind of thing is not in the best interests of the writing industry.

I like Craig's writing. Unlike some, he actually kills stuff. But if he is going to be on the paid staff of a supplier company, he should stop writing. By the way, he isn't the only doing this - just the most famous. (Actually, one who recently did this no longer does.)

But one thing that does kind of bug me - many of you think every time a writer plugs a product, he does so only because he is on a free trip, gets free stuff, etc. I often mention products in my stories, not because I am "shilling" but because I think they are good products. You won't find me talking about BSA scopes, but you will find me talking about the products that I like - and buy with my own money.

Most writers write because they love to write and they don't mind not hunting in Africa every year. But perhaps some rub elbows with the well heeled and decide writing just doesn't bring in the quid. Who knows?

I know this: the writing industry would be much better off if every writer came clean about what he/she got for free, to include products and hunts. Lacking that, the credibility gap will continue to widen.

One more thing: Boddington is now retired as a Colonel.

Well said, John, good insight into the writing business. I just think folks should take a lot of this stuff with a grain of salt and move on.

We are all (one would think) grown adults here and come to the realization that were it not for all of these sponsors, we wouldn't enjoy (at least I do) the shows on tv. I have no doubt that one of those super lights could have saved his bacon, hell I know a couple of guys over "in the sand" that "wouldn't leave home without them" so to speak. Not all of these guys prostitute their principles wholesale. jorge

Whatever happened there will be a hundred stories written about it!

Has anyone seen the "Tracks Across Africa" show with Mr. Bodddington? Surefire is the sponsor. They also have Cameron Hopkins who also has something to do with Surefire. A pretty good show none the less.

Telly

He is a GREAT writer and Surefire is a GREAT product !! For me it's a perfect marriage.

In his case I will have done the same, and in the shoes of the commercial manager of Surefire also I will have done the same.

What's the problem with some of you folk's??
Live and let live....

L

It seems to me that Craig Boddington has spent many years getting to where he is, and that is the pinnacle of his career. He has name recognition, hunting experience, knowledge of firearms, and a "sufficient" skill to write about all of it for the masses hungry for stories of the wild places. He's doing what he loves to do and getting paid for it. What the hell's wrong with that? Nobody makes me read his stuff, watch his DVD's, or use the damn flashlight. Jim Schockey is also a jet setting hunter and a pretty good writer. Of course his angle is doing everything with a muzzleloader, modern abomination that they are. He helped make Tony Knight a lot of money, but old Jim has just swithched to Thompson Center and Tony has moved on to other things as well. Give the guy a break. Think of all that crap on the outdoor channel by comparison. Ninety percent of it is enough to gag a maggot.

dbltap has it right.

"Jealousy is such an ugly emotion"

The reaction expressed by many here is just amazing. I would be thrilled to be paid for talking about my adventures (or misadventures).

The truth is no one really cares about some stove up old guy limping out accross the mopane. No one would pay a nickle for me to plug their Wackum Killum Onshot Hugebore. Hell, I am thrilled with my free hat from Luepold.

We like to read about the adventures of "Craig", or "Cindy" or Jack O'. They have earned their niche. I believe they have paid their dues.

Get over it

Some of you people here are really pathetic!! Mr. Boddington is actually able to talk the talk and walk the walk. That's more than I can say for those of you that just talk the crap!! Having a "well known" person on a Companies marketing staff has been going on for eons now. Just makes good business sense. Do some of you live in a cave or what?? I for one appreciate all these Companies being successful and continuing to offer up more and better products we sportsman can use. Mr. B has a "whole lot" more creditability than some of the "jealous" ones on here. As someone else said, get over it!!

Larry S.

I haven't read the story, but everybody has to make their nut somehow. Being a sales person is at least as honorably as being an attorney, my line of work before retirement.

Boddington has a basis for speaking on Surefire lights as a military member and a hunter. My sons introduced me to them by putting them on their deployment "Need to Have" lists. I used them on my last trip and was very pleased with them. I wish Boddington good luck and good hunting. Kudude

PS: I suspicion that Boddington's response to this is something along the lines of, "Simper Fi, Mac!"

Forgot to mention I own a Sure Fire and love it

Here is one issue perhaps none of you thought about...

Craig says on his website that he is so impressed by Surefire that he is not afraid to engage in a paid endorsement. Okay, fine. What does that say about all the other products that he plugs in his articles? That they are not as inspiring as the flashlight? Great products, but not worthy of a professional endorsement? I am sure other suppliers are thrilled.

Gentlemen,

Again, an amusing thread was started, and it seems it did not take our resident trouble makers to start attacking a man they have never met.

I can only attribute this to either jealousy or an enormous chip on the shoulder.

I am getting a number of PMs asking me to ban some members.

I hate to do that.

And at the same time I would ask all of you to refrain from personal attacks. Because those who continue making personal attacks on others WILL be banned. And they will NOT be allowed back on AR.

I have made exceptions before, where certain members have been banned and then were allowed back. I can see that policy does not seem to work, as the bad apples will always remain bad.

And frankly, I cannot see any reason why we should tolerate them.

If you have a different point of view, you are welcome to post it, you can say whatever you wish about the subject in discussion, without going out of your way to attack either the poster or another individual who has absolutely nothing to do with you!

Saeed

I have a hard time believing that you are now banning anoying members. A few years ago you prided yourself on the fact that you would not censor the material on this sight. Banning someone is censorship taken to the higest level.

What happened to the days when you let the members work things out and left all the censorship and banning to the childern-run websites like HA?

Jason

what is wrong with the products that Craig endorses anyway? Everthing he pushes weather paid for or not are of the highest quality! Half his luck to be paid to be able to do this. There is so much "tall poppy syndrome" here that it is not funny. Good luck to the guy. Unless you have used the so called promoted products, and then found them to be less than satisfactory, should you be complaining of being mislead.

Should we understand that the only reliable salesman for a product is one that has never used it for its intended purpose? We could then get great testimonials like, "I don't have a drivers license and have never driven a car but I believe that this is the best car ever made!", or, "I have never fired a rifle, either accidently or on purpose, but believe me, a push-feed action is not nearly as good as a controlled round feeding action when going after Cape Buffalo. I know this because a guy, who also has never shot a rifle, is a member of the AR forum and he told me."

I quite like my Surefire, an L2 model (I think?) with a low powered beam option and a higher powered beam option. I wish it had a "spot" option however as well. I use it everyday and carry it for work with the lanquard around my neck and the torch in my breast pocket.

Most of these writers shill for one product or another. But what is wrong with that if the product is actually worthwhile?

People can make their own minds up if they have one, what to buy or not to buy.

I will admit it, I am jealous of Boddington and many others. I wish I could do what they do and do it as well as they do. Craig is a very good writer. Like all of us, he is making a living. We all wish we could do it like he does (I do anyway). He is a good writer. I have found that yes, he does mention products, but most of his writing he does in a blananced way. He does not seem to pull the punches like many other outdoor writers that definitely are pushign the sponsors products. If the product he uses works in a particular situation, I am glad he tells us so maybe we can be prepared with it some day. On the other hand if it does not work, he is one of the few who mention that so we can avoid that product.

Again, we all have to make a living. I think Craig does it in a very professional way. I look forward to seeing much more of his writing.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
Saeed

I have a hard time believing that you are now banning anoying members. A few years ago you prided yourself on the fact that you would not censor the material on this sight. Banning someone is censorship taken to the higest level.

What happened to the days when you let the members work things out and left all the censorship and banning to the childern-run websites like HA?

Jason

Jason,

My policy has not changed, as long as I am dealing with gentlemen.

When some starts behaving like a child, then they have no place on AR.

People are free to discuss any subject they wish, they can agree or disagree, I have absolutely no problem with that. But, we should never loose respect for others on the forums. Personal attacks and name calling have will have to stop.

Sorry, but this is the only way it is going to be.

quote:

illumination tools

Are they also 'mil spec' and 'safari grade' ?

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
......

Most of these writers shill for one product or another. But what is wrong with that if the product is actually worthwhile?

People can make their own minds up if they have one, what to buy or not to buy.

I think the problem is that people will actually buy something based on the recommendation of someone famous that they admire.

When these people are being paid to say how great something is their recommendation should be weighed with that thought in mind.

I remember how, when I was very young, I didn't think I could ever play Baseball without a Rico Petrocelli mitt. I hope I have learned something in the intervening years.

You learned you couldn't play baseball even with a Rico Petrocelli mitt?

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
You learned you couldn't play baseball even with a Rico Petrocelli mitt?

Actually I never learned that. It may have been true but I never learned it.

I hope that wasn't taken as the kind of personal attack that will get me banned.

"One more thing: Boddington is now retired as a Colonel."

I thought he made O-7. He must be retired with the permanent rank of COL.

By the way, Boddington is a good man and we should be grateful he's on our side.

It's the best light. And I'm not being paid to endorse it.

I own one and its a great light to own..
I also think Craig is a great writer who has to make a living too.. What's wrong with someone who is in the industry promoting a product that he/she uses, and then in turn, gets paid by the company to promote the product?? I see it as a win win situation for both the product company because they get their product out to more people and potential costumers, and the writer makes a little more money in the process...

http://www.base24.com/FAO/Lion_torch.jpg....Nice try Simba, but you cant hold a flame to the Colonel. You really need to find another more surefire method.

What exactly did Boddingtondo to the lion with the Surefire?

Girls, girls, Let's reel in the envy banner!

"DID YOU SEE WHAT SHE WAS WEARING? I WOUDN'T WEAR THAT, EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD IT!" The grapes that are out of reach are always sour anyway, so you don't want them!

My grandfather told me when I was little kid, "If you want to be a happy man, decide what you like most to do, and then find a way to make a liveing doing it!" It seems, unlike most here, (myself included) haven't been able to do that, and resent the fact that Boddington has!

Sounds like a "little bitch" back stabbing to me! I wish some one would pay for a buffalo hunt for me, but nobody give a shit if I like a product or not! However, why would I look down on CB for accepting help in return for his endorsement?

Get a life guys!