Well, 1999 is a year of the past: Y2K didnt crash my computer, and I didnt need one candle or bottle of water to survive the New Year! Y2K, what a joke. The sad part is that so many people bought off on the hype. It has to be the biggest story as well as the biggest non-happening of the year 1999.
Some other things happened throughout 1999 that got me thinking, and I thought I would jot down a few here—sort of a continuation of my last column. Just my thoughts and opinions, and I'll leave it up to you whether you agree or disagree.
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During 1999, I watched Dale Eagle several times, and I have to admit I was not too fond of his on-lane antics. It's one thing to have a good time and be loose, but jumping on ball returns and screeching and flapping your arms isn't my idea of sportsmanship or professionalism. But, after reading Dick Evans' story in the February 2000 issue of Bowling Digest, I have more respect for Eagle. I, too, know what it was like returning from Vietnam.
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Pitcher John Burkett is quite the bowler, having logged about a half-dozen perfect games. He will have competed in the Brunswick ProSource Don Carter Classic in Dallas by the time you read this column. Let's hope he did better at bowling than he did for the Texas Rangers. (Burkett finished 32nd and earned $1,040. —Ed.)
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There are seemingly thousands of bowling web sites on the Internet. Some are excellent, and others leave a lot to be desired. I think if you are going to have a web site, you should keep it current. Some of the sites have really old news. Is that an oxymoron?
I can understand how a person with a personal web page could get behind, but there is no excuse for the bowling integers, ball manufacturers, and the professional side of the house for having old news. There it is again!
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Veteran bowling writers voted Marion Ladewig as the top woman bowler of the 20th century. Well, nobody asked me. Although Ladewig's record is outstanding, I would have cast my vote for Lisa Wagner. Maybe that's why I wasn't asked.
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Marshall Holman has done a great job broadcasting the PBA. However, I find myself missing the Bo Burtonisms—neat little words like "lane lubricity" and the ball lacking the "impetus" at the end. What a silver-tongued devil he was.
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Elaine Hagin and Hazel McLeary will be inducted into the WIBC Hall of Fame in May in Reno, Nev.—two wonderful and deserving women.
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I'm going to miss Mark Williams on the PBA Tour. His retirement wasn't a complete surprise to me since he indicated that at a southwest regional event in my city. I hope he continues the regional events. He has represented himself, the sport of bowling, and the state of Texas like a true professional.
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I guess when you write a column and you have been involved in the sport of bowling as long as I have, people tend to think you're some sort of expert on most everything. I get a lot of E-mail asking me what is the best spare ball. Personally, I don't believe in changing balls to convert spares, and I have taken my own unofficial poll of bowlers who like to switch. I have found that the (league) bowlers who switch balls miss more than the bowlers who use the same ball.
As I said, it's unofficial. You try it. See what results you get.
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I recently was asked what was one of my biggest bowling thrills. At first, I thought of personal goals like my first 700 series. I bowled it in the ABC Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was very sick and had an infection in my ring finger and wasn't sure I could bowl at all. Not wanting to leave my doubles partner in a lurch, I bowled: shot a 709 and suddenly felt a whole lot better.
But, the truth is my biggest bowling thrills were meeting Dick Weber, Bill Lillard, and Ernie Schlegel. Attending Schlegel's ABC Hall of Fame induction was great. I think bowling needs more Ernie Schlegels.
Being the only bowling writer to cover the induction of the late Billy Welu into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame was a big thrill. I met Lillard for the first time at that event and found him to be a wonderful gentleman with a deep love for our sport.
Sitting beside Dick Weber each day for a week at my first BWAA convention was an absolute delight. Many people will tell me, "Well, you didn't know so-and-so," when I say Weber is bowling's greatest ambassador. They may be right, I don't know "so-and-so," but I got a lot of insight into a remarkable man, and I'll always be grateful for that week.
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I'm glad 1999 is over, and I'm glad Y2K was a non-event. Now, we simply have to determine if 2000 or 2001 starts the new millennium. I'll let you decide that, too.
See you on the lanes.
Don Wright is a member of the Bowling Writers Association of America. Visit Don's web site.