I just finished reading (John) "Jowdy’s Journal" regarding what he perceives as the reasons for the decline in bowling, and I admit I agree with most of what he wrote, with some exception.
I certainly agree that with the closing of some centers, bowlers were left with many decisions: Do I want to travel a distance to another center? Do I want to bowl in a center I dislike to begin with? Is it really worth my while?
The 32-, 33-, and 36-week league is a turn-off to a lot of people. But, so is a split season, or a shorter league to others. There is no happy medium.
Those of us who live in military communities have seen the effects of base closures on bowling leagues. Deployments by soldier bowlers have had a definite effect on leagues as well as open bowling.
Here in Texas, we just closed a 24-lane military center, and it will be turned into office space. We are told that construction of a 50-plus lane center is in the works, but there are no guarantees.
The military post is home to over 55,000 troops and some 25,000 family members and is currently serviced by a 36-lane center. There are two civilian centers within the local community, both 24 lanes, but they did not draw many of the customers from the closed military center. Some of the leagues transferred to the 36-lane center, but many leagues—men’s, women’s, and mixed—simply dissolved.
Both the men’s and the women’s association in my community have seen a steady decline in membership—this despite diligent efforts to recruit new bowlers and cater to their wishes, whether that be split seasons, changing traditional formats such as two men and two women for mixed leagues, or going to three- and four-person teams.
The association championship tournaments suffer each year for many reasons. Scheduling conflicts with other tournaments, holidays, and many other reasons that have caused the associations to look at alternate dates and formats.
No one wants to touch this topic, but I did a survey on my web site on whether bowlers were for or against women in the ABC. Sorry, folks: The answer was overwhelmingly against. I personally know bowlers who refuse to bowl in an ABC league if women are allowed to participate. It may not be politically correct, but it’s reality.
Having said all that, I find very few bowlers in my area who have quit because of scoring. I think all the hype over scoring is just that: hype.
Yes, we are seeing higher scores and more honor scores, but so what?
Parker Bohn III this year set a new PBA average record (228.04 for 844 games) that was nearly two pins higher than the previous record set last year by Walter Ray Williams Jr. (226.13).
In 1995, when Mike Aulby set the bar at 225.49, many said it wouldn’t be topped. This year, the lowest average of the top 40 PBA players was 217.
We were told that the new PBA professional gold pin was going to make the game more difficult with lower scores. It didn’t. We still see PBA players sending the "messenger" across the lanes at a record-setting pace.
There are 15 bowlers on the Senior Tour with averages of 220 or better. Dale Eagle and Mike Pullin are averaging 225-plus. Are they really that good?
I have read all sorts of articles about 900 series and how easy it is to do it now than it was in Glenn Allison’s day. Well, if it’s so easy, why don’t we see more of the PBA bowlers doing it?
I know the answer to that most certainly will be that the professional bowlers have a tougher lane condition. If that’s the case, why do they continue to break all the average records and, with few exceptions, do poorly in regional events and those tournaments that accept professional bowlers, such as the Red River Doubles in Texas?
It’s okay when Team USA uses the current equipment and beats everyone in the world. When Joe Norris rolls a perfect game, it’s "amazing" and "wonderful." But when Joe Bowler does it, it’s easy conditions or equipment.
Let’s face it: Equipment is here to stay. Too much money is being made to change that scenario. It’s not just bowling. Do you honestly believe Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa hit all those home runs two years in a row because they are seeing the ball better?
No, John, I don’t agree that we have lost bowlers because of scoring any more than I believe that Michael Jordan, Sugar Ray Leonard, and the wrestling world brought anyone into a center and caused them to bowl.
If anything, scoring may have kept bowling from inevitable death. I know senior bowlers who are having more fun now than ever. They participate in more leagues and tournaments than ever before. I don’t think making the conditions tougher will enhance that segment of bowling. I love Joe Norris, but make the sport one in which he must practice and be accurate, and watch the end of an era.
When Joe and, in my very humble opinion the greatest bowler in the history of the sport, Dick Weber, team up for doubles in the 2000 ABC Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., the place will be packed. They will pull out their reactive resin bowling balls, and everyone will have their fingers crossed that they roll a perfect game.
No, John, scoring has nothing to do with it.
See you on the lanes.
Don Wright is a member of the Bowling Writers Association of America. His web site is located at www.vvm.com/~wrightd.