If you read the daily sports pages then you know that virtually every sport except bowling is going through an image nightmare. The latest in a long line of summer sports scandals is the fact that the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots have been caught cheating and their coach has been fined $500,000 and the team a high draft choice next year. Compared to other sports today, bowling is an angelic sport.
Bowling is one of the few sports where women have a chance of beating male rivals because timing is more important than power and precision is more important than a big hook ball. In addition, some bowling formats provide female bowlers with a more even playing field since anyone can win in one-game matches. Still, no one imagined that a young lady who stands only five-feet-four and weighs just 115 pounds could beat fellow Professional Bowlers Association male members not once but twice.
New WTBA ruling may open door for pba players to qualify for Team USA
Christine Brennan, highly respected weekly columnist for USA Today, said it best with this quote after covering the U.S. Women's Open at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno: "These bowlers are not running, they're not jumping, but in the terms of the mental fatigue that can occur as well as the physical prowess necessary to compete for five straight hours, this is not your mother's or father's bowling – this is a whole different animal." And I'm here to tell you that changes are happening fast on virtually every bowling front.
As a bowling writer, I must laud the USBC head honchos who were savvy enough to recognize the outstanding communications personnel at USBC headquarters. One of the most strategic moves by the USBC was the addition of Tom Clark (pictured right), a former sports reporter for USA Today. Clark, who has an unbelievable passion for bowling, occupies the role of USBC Chief Officer of Marketing and Communications.
John Jowdy (pictured right) has been the master of throwing strikes since his fast-pitch mound feats in San Antonio and it carried over once he took up bowling. Matter of fact, one week in his native San Antonio, this extraordinary man pitched a no-hit softball game on a Monday, two days later rolled a 300 game during a money match, and two days after that came within two inches of carding a hole-in-one while playing golf.
Doesn't it make sense that the USBC and BPAA should support those who support bowling? That question was raised during a press conference held in conjunction with the recent U.S. Women's Open in Reno. The tournament, of course, was staged inside the National Bowling Stadium, whereas the press conference—arranged by P.R. whiz Joan Romeo—was held in the office of Jennifer Cunningham, Director of Sales and Marketing for Circus Circus Reno, an MGM Mirage Property.
Over the past 30 plus years, the one thing I had against most TV bowling announcers was the fact they would not arrive at the tournament site until just before the position round match so they could be introduced to the paying spectators. Most of the time they would have seen only one of maybe up to 48 games that decided the final five for the telecast the next day. Then the announcers would go on the air and talk about things that led up to the telecast like they had been there all week.
This is the story of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, presented by the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) and the PBA (Professional Bowlers Assn.). The action takes place from Aug. 13-18 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno. The plot (a.k.a. tournament format) starts out as a mystery, but as the tournament progresses, it makes a lot of sense. In fact, you could even say that the format, devised of television, was brilliant.
But the answer to a $500,000 question may ride with ESPN Ratings By Dick Evans
In this gambling Mecca you can bet on almost anything except the 132 contestants in the U. S. Women's Open being contested in the still awesome National Bowling Stadium, which was opened in 1995. Halfway through the 32 games of qualifying the betting favorites would be the old pros from the old Professional Women's Bowling Association - Kelly Kulick ended Tuesday's round in first place with Michelle Feldman in third and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard in fourth. It would be throwing your money away betting against any of them making the Open cut.
Diehard bowling fans have missed the women's pro tour, which has been dormant for four long years. That includes me and a couple of my longtime colleagues, Hall of Fame writers Dick Evans and John Jowdy. The three of us would get together whenever the old PWBA (Professional Women's Bowling Assn.) Tour was in Southern California, Las Vegas or Reno. Remember when Sam's Town Hotel, Casino & Bowling Center was the PWBA's umbrella sponsor?
While surfing the World Wide Web recently, I came across a March 2007 Golf Digest Feature article by golfing great Jack Nicklaus and his "state of the game" thoughts about golf. Although many in the world of bowling may be tiring of the constant golf to bowling comparisons, while reading Nicklaus' commentary I could not help but realize the similarities and challenges the two activities have in common.
They should make a movie about living and working and betting and bowling in The Orleans during the NABI Tournament and not missing the hot Las Vegas air. They have made movies about Tom Hanks living in an airport and a pregnant girl surviving in a Wal-Mart. But how about living in a Las Vegas hotel without breathing a breath of fresh air for almost nine days?
Columbia 300 All-American Team Includes bowlers from Pa. (2), Utah, N.C. and Okla.
17-year-old Tyler Barker from Magna, Utah, was just selected as the winner of the 2007 Columbia 300 John Jowdy Scholarship Award and will receive a $500 college scholarship from Columbia each year that he maintains at least a C-plus average in college. Joining Barker on the All-Columbia Team are: Jacob Greene of Oilton, Okla., Matthew Ernst of Raeford, N.C., Regina Brinza of Greensburg, Pa., and Steven Iacovino of Norristown, Pa.
On occasion, amateurs take half-court basketball shots for prizes, or get to run the bases before a big game, but never will you see amateurs running up against pros in these sports. Unfortunately, the way bowling competition is structured and the ease at which amateurs can topple pins with little or no expertise, the opportunity for persons of limited talent to win against professionals is brushed off by the USBC as "...no big deal."
I had the honor to draw up the rules and to bring the Miami bowling proprietors and Dade County School System leaders together to approve a new revolutionary bowling program in 1965. It flourished in Miami and produced such early sensations as Roger Dalkin and Paula Sperber-Carter and slowly spread across the state as a fun club sport. However, it took until 2003 before bowling was recognized by the Florida High School Athletic Association and that recognition has done wonders for the image of bowling as a genuine and fiercely competitive sport.
One of the great mysteries of the bowling industry is the oversight of our industry leaders to take advantage of the dedicated and grassroots members of our own community. A perfect example of this is the promotional genius and expertise of Joan Romeo. Joan has been involved with amateur and professional bowling for thirty years or so; beginning around the time her daughters Robin and Tori began their professional bowling careers. Anyone that knows her will agree that she is one of most tireless, diligent, and creative individuals in the sport.
For years, the 2007 Flowers for the Living honoree has had one of the most unenviable jobs in sports. On June 26, during the 2007 International Bowl Expo, the tables were turned in Las Vegas when all the kudos he earned for doing that job so well and under the most trying conditions netted Len Nicholson (on the right) the ‘Flowers’ award. It is an honor presented to someone in bowling who is admired, respected and, indeed, loved.
Is industry missing the boat by promoting stars from other sports?
I belong to a tennis club and always can depend on the players to remark about my Sunday tennis columns in the Daytona Beach News Journal. They normally will add an apology that goes something like this: “I used to bowl when I lived up north but have no more interest so I don’t read your bowling columns in The News-Journal." But strange things happened after my column about Don Carter and the bowling icons who have died – Dick Weber, Joe Norris and Earl Anthony.
The old imagination takes over my brain when I think about the 2007 International Bowl Expo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino/Convention Center in Las Vegas June 24-29. Since the days of my youth, I have liked to emulate the old radio program "Let's Pretend" and basically think in outer space. Many times people think I am not only a dreamer but a candidate for the nut house. Nevertheless, here are things that have run through my mind as I think about attending the BPAA Convention in Las Vegas.
Many times in life I see both good and bad in things and sometimes vacillate and wonder about a possible gray area rather than just a black or white perception. My gut reaction when I read last weekend that Sim Dysart, an amateur bowler from Maine, had won $150,000 in the $250,000 Bowling Shootout at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas was one of delight for the 63-year-old retired Naval officer. But then I got to thinking and decided I wasn't happy what his victory was going to do for bowling's image.
If you read the daily sports pages then you know that virtually every sport except bowling is going through an image nightmare. The latest in a long line of summer sports scandals is the fact that the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots have been caught cheating and their coach has been fined $500,000 and the team a high draft choice next year. Compared to other sports today, bowling is an angelic sport. 
Bowling is one of the few sports where women have a chance of beating male rivals because timing is more important than power and precision is more important than a big hook ball. In addition, some bowling formats provide female bowlers with a more even playing field since anyone can win in one-game matches. Still, no one imagined that a young lady who stands only five-feet-four and weighs just 115 pounds could beat fellow Professional Bowlers Association male members not once but twice.
As a bowling writer, I must laud the USBC head honchos who were savvy enough to recognize the outstanding communications personnel at USBC headquarters. One of the most strategic moves by the USBC was the addition of Tom Clark (pictured right), a former sports reporter for USA Today. Clark, who has an unbelievable passion for bowling, occupies the role of USBC Chief Officer of Marketing and Communications. 
Doesn't it make sense that the USBC and BPAA should support those who support bowling? 
This is the story of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, presented by the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) and the PBA (Professional Bowlers Assn.). The action takes place from Aug. 13-18 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno. The plot (a.k.a. tournament format) starts out as a mystery, but as the tournament progresses, it makes a lot of sense. In fact, you could even say that the format, devised of television, was brilliant. 
While surfing the World Wide Web recently, I came across a March 2007 Golf Digest Feature article by golfing great Jack Nicklaus and his "state of the game" thoughts about golf. 
On occasion, amateurs take half-court basketball shots for prizes, or get to run the bases before a big game, but never will you see amateurs running up against pros in these sports.
For years, the 2007 Flowers for the Living honoree has had one of the most unenviable jobs in sports. On June 26, during the 2007 International Bowl Expo, the tables were turned in Las Vegas when all the kudos he earned for doing that job so well and under the most trying conditions netted Len Nicholson (on the right) the ‘Flowers’ award. It is an honor presented to someone in bowling who is admired, respected and, indeed, loved.