Several months ago, I wrote a column questioning the status of amateur bowlers who earned their livelihood through bowling skills, yet maintained amateur status.

Bowling may be the only sport that affords this absurd situation. I contend that bowlers who earn a living at the game should be considered professionals. To corroborate this statement: How do they document earnings on their income tax returns?

I have no qualms or reservations regarding their earning capacity. However, I am perplexed and bothered by their utter disregard for the PBA. They are the stars of the future—replacements for the Roths, Holmans, and other headliners who inspired the bowling youth of America.

My reference to the so-called stars center around players who dominate amateur tournaments in this country and across the world—namely, performers like Pat Healey, Chris Barnes, Robert Smith, Tim Mack, and Canadian superstar Bill Rowe. Also included in this group is Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi, who has established residence in Detroit because, as he has openly stated, "The money you can make in bowling in the United States is so good!" Need more be said?

Several others—Kurt Pilon, Rudy Kasimakis, Sean Swanson, Lonnie Waliczek, and Brian Kreutzer and a number of other top-flight amateurs—have confined their activities to bowling tournaments in the United States, principally megabuck contests like the High Roller, Super Hoinke, and the International Eliminator. Three other outstanding players, Mike Neumann, John Gaines, and Brad Angelo perform on TEAM USA.

With the exception of Kreutzer, a winner of the $100,000 top prize at the Eliminator, none of the aforementioned American bowlers has ever succeeded in carting off top prizes in the megabuck tournaments. Finland’s Koivuniemi captured the $100,000 Super Hoinke jewel in 1997, confirming his belief that bowlers can earn a comfortable living as amateurs in the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."

Paul Renteria, a former PBA player, did the unthinkable, capturing the High Roller twice. His lack of success in PBA competition, particularly his inability to nab a title, made him eligible to perform in this tournament. Although High Roller rules accept former PBA players, they do not accept applications of any PBA titleholder, including Purvis Granger, a former eight-year PBA member.

Kasimakis, better known as "Rudy Revs," tested the PBA waters on several occasions but had little or no success. Yet, "Revs" remains one of the most formidable players in the amateur ranks.

TEAM USA’s Mike Neumann also took a plunge at the PBA several years ago with limited success. It has been Mike’s lifelong dream to bowl for TEAM USA. Prior to rule changes for TEAM USA tryouts, Neumann could not afford the time to qualify for the team, bowling weekends to earn a living. Now that the New Yorker has made the team, he undoubtedly will maintain his amateur status for at least a year.

Although the main event is the primary goal for every bowler, it is, by no means, the only manner for lining one’s pockets. And, despite most of the aforementioned never having succeeded in capturing the big prize in megabuck tournaments, they were absolutely dominant in sweepers and brackets. It was the norm, not the unusual, for players like Healey, Barnes, Kasimakis, Smith, Neumann, and Kreutzer to emerge with $15,000 to $60,000 profit by virtue of their superior skills in sweepers and brackets.

But lo and behold, my hopes and wishes have come to pass. One by one, outstanding amateur players have made their move to the big show. First Waliczek and then Swanson decided to turn professional. A few months later, Healey, Barnes, and Smith made their commitment to the PBA. In fact, Barnes, the number one ranked amateur, conceded his position as the top banana on TEAM USA to join the pro ranks. Furthermore, "Rudy Revs" informed me that he, too, would join the PBA this year.

These dramatic moves by the top amateurs may be the result of a decision made by High Roller officials whereby the perpetual winners in sweepers would be restricted for reentries in sweepers. This unexpected rule alteration dramatically inhibits the chances for continued dominance by superstars.

Although I have no concrete evidence for my assertion, I assume that High Roller officials exercised sound judgement in this strategic shift, a move that may have been necessitated by decreasing entries in the lucrative sweepers.

Although Dave Husted, Chris Warren, Mark Roth, and Marshall Holman have curtailed their bowling activities, the PBA continues to feature Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Brian Voss, Pete Weber, Mike Aulby, Del Ballard Jr., Jason Couch, Dave D’Entrement, Steve Hoskins, Bob Learn, David Ozio, John Mazza, Amleto Monacelli, Johnny Petraglia, Randy Pedersen, Ernie Schlegel, Wayne Webb, Mark Williams, and others too numerous to mention.

Moreover, Tim Criss has emerged as a star, and newcomers Waliczek, Swanson, and Anthony Lombardo have pumped fresh blood into the pro ranks.

Hundreds of amateurs will hail the departure of the aforementioned top-ranked players from the nonprofessional ranks, but fortunately, with the additional membership of Healey, Barnes, Smith and others, the PBA star shines brighter than ever!

PBA Hall of Famer John Jowdy is immediate past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America.