All will be competing for one of the most important titles in competitive fishing, while their sport enjoys some major-league exposure (the Games will air on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC July 20-23).

"It's really big-time exposure for the athletes," Thliveros said. "The Great Outdoor Games is one of ESPN's premier events, and for bass fishing to be a part of it is great."

"The Games are so much fun - more fun than any tournament we fish," Klein said. "Probably the most special thing about going to the Games is all of the other events that are taking place while we're there. I'm an outdoor enthusiast, so I'm interested in the dog trials, the log rolling, the wood chopping, the shooting events and the archery.

"It's just a fun time."

Clark Wendlandt competed in both of the previous Great Outdoor Games and medaled last year. "It's really a treat to be invited to the Games," he said. "Part of it is the fact that they are held in upstate New York where the fishing is so good. You can catch a lot of fish there in some beautiful scenery.

"Plus, you don't have the pressure that you have in a B.A.S.S. event where you feel like you have to do well. You want to do well, though, because it's an honor to win a medal in the Games."

Ken Christ, who heads south to Lay Lake in Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the 32nd annual Classic after his visit to Lake Placid, is the only amateur among the star-studded pro field.

"I'm really look forward to it," he said. "It's going to be a treat to get to fish with some of the legends."

As the two-time winner, it seems logical that Peter Thliveros would be favored to pull off a Great Outdoor Games three-peat. But the Florida pro doesn't feel like he owns any advantage entering the competition.

"I don't think the other guys took it as seriously as I did the first two years, but that's changed," he explained. "Now that there's been a lot of publicity associated with it, they're starting to see how big it is.

"Kevin (VanDam) takes nothing lightly when it comes to fishing. And I know from talking to them that Gary Klein and Clark Wendlandt are both frothing at the mouth about this event."

Thliveros caught his winning batch of bass both years from a small grassbed in Middle Saranac Lake. Does that mean he will be able to claim the fishing rights to that spot this year?

"Are you kidding?" he said. "There's nothing sacred. I'll have to fight for everything that I get this year. That goes without saying."

Klein insists that having past experience on the chain of lakes provides little advantage for him.

"I'm competing against nine other guys that all have the ability to win," he said. "It's anybody's game."

The anglers will compete in a two-day elimination format tournament with the goal of catching the five heaviest bass each day. The top five performers in the opening round move on to the finals, where they all start from zero in the weight department.

The crystal-clear waters of the Saranac chain is home to an impressive population of both smallmouth and largemouth bass that receive little fishing pressure during the year. That translates into plenty of action for the Great Outdoor Games participants.

Reigning CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic champion Kevin VanDam and four-time Classic winner Rick Clunn will be attending the ESPY Awards this evening as nominees for Best Outdoors Athlete. The ESPY Awards will air live from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET. After the awards, VanDam and Clunn will return to compete in the ESPN Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.

On July 11-14, top outdoor athletes from 39 states, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada and New Zealand will gather at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid, N.Y. to compete in the world championship of outdoor sports.

The event features one-of-a-kind, head-to-head competition in timber and target events, sporting dogs, and fishing. While entertaining large crowds on site, the ESPN Great Outdoor Games also draws a worldwide television audience airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports beginning July 20.