I just finished watching the Professional Women’s Bowling Association U. S. Open and the Lady Ebonite Classic, and have to say they were extremely dull.
Everyone who has ever read one of my columns knows that I am not a fan of the hollering and yelling that is being done during the PBA events, but for heaven’s sake, pump some life into the PWBA!
Like my feelings regarding the hollering and yelling, everyone knows I am a big fan of Leanne Barrette, and, of course, I was disappointed to see her suffer with back problems in the Lady Ebonite Classic. But across the board, that was a dull tournament.
None of the women scored well, and Lisa Wagner and Jan Schmidt tried their best to make excuses for the long conditions and that the players had to slow their ball speed and throw a tighter line. Ho-hum, so went the telecast.
Add to that the total lack of excitement, or personality, from Kim Adler, and it isn’t any wonder that bowling is having a hard time selling its product to television. In the first match of the Lady Ebonite, Anne Marie Duggan and Marianne DiRupo were not having a stellar performance, but at least they were having fun. Adler looked like she was going through root canal.
PWBA needs to take a look at its television image. It isn’t much more exciting than golf.
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In Bowlers Journal International (BJI), Jim Dressel writes: "If Willie Mays shows up at a MLB ballpark, does he have to pay to get in? No. Yet many PBA Hall of Famers have to pay to watch a PBA tournament." He points out that veteran scribe Joe Lyou pointed this out. That quite simply amazes me.
Imagine hosting a PBA event, and the great Dick Weber comes to watch Pete, and he’s met at the door and told that he can’t come in without paying.
Image. It’s everything.
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While absorbing all the great news in BJI, I came across this quote in Dan Herbst column, Inside the Tour: "There is a little more personality out there today," confirms 11-time winner Randy Pedersen. "I remember watching the NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics in the mid-1980s. You didn’t see any taunting or any of the stuff that you see now. It’s a sign of the times where guys aren’t afraid to show their emotions or let their personalities come out."
Wow. That’s from the same guy that had very little good to say about Ernie Schlegel when he showed his emotions and personality in beating Pedersen. I remember quite a different tone.
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I have to comment on Brian Boghosian winning the ABC Masters. I listened throughout the telecast to Marshall Holman make excuses why the professional bowlers were unable to beat this "professional amateur." The bottom line was that Boghosian simply out-bowled them.
I have always defended the PBA, and I admire the players' abilities, but let’s face it: On any given day anybody can beat you.
The so-called "professional amateur" is just that because the money is better. I don’t think they work any less. In fact, they probably have to work harder without the sponsorships, ball reps, and perks the PBA has.
Regardless, the Masters invites amateurs, and six have won the event. Stop whining and just do it.
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Finally, here are a few of my Dos and Don’ts:
· Do bring back the 90-minute telecast and five bowlers.
· Don't use gold pins.
· Do bring back Denny Schreiner.
· Don't bowl in the park.
· Do put John Handegard in the PBA Hall of Fame.
· Don't entice our youth to emulate Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and the likes.
· Do entice our youth to emulate Dick Weber, Cal Ripkin Jr., Tiger Woods, and Arnold Palmer.
See you on the lanes.
Don Wright is a member of the Bowling Writers Association of America. His web site is available at http://www.vvm.com/~wrightd.