Thirty years ago, a teen-age bowler by the name of Paula Sperber shook the sports world by having her picture taken in a miniskirt while sitting on top a desk at the staid New York Times. Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press picked up on the picture/story and also ran displays of the talented Miami bowler with the long legs.
Paula Sperber became an instant media hit and soon appeared on national TV programs. She backed up her words by being voted Bowler of the Year in 1971.
On Sept. 10, 2000, the $70,000 Paula (Sperber) Carter Classic opened at Don Carter's University Bowl in Davie, Fla., and the bowler drawing the most media attention these days is another long-legged blonde from Florida who goes by the name of Kim Adler.
Adler (left), a 14-time champion who has earned $689,264 in a nine-year pro bowling career, earlier this year appeared on an web page under the heading, "Babe of the Day."
Including in the display was a shot of her wearing shorts sitting on a lane in front of bowling pins, a thought-provoking silhouette, and a color picture of her wearing a bikini.
"I would love to be a model as long as it didn't interfere with my bowling because my bowling comes first," said Adler, who stands 5-6 and weighs 120. "I don't mind people looking at me, that doesn't bother me. I am proud of the way I look, and I want to do more things like that and hopefully they will help the tour."
John Falzone, president of the Professional Women's Bowling Association, said he thought the pictures were tastefully done and also hoped they would be good for the tour.
"In my opinion they could change a lot of people's mind set about our tour," he said.
A similar thought was expressed by the caption writer for the Internet display. "Who would have thought that pro bowling would produce a cutie like Kim Adler?" he/she wrote.
Adler, who turns 33 on Sept. 14, says she has been a fan of Paula Sperber Carter for years.
"I know people use to complain about Paula's short skirts, but she brought publicity to the sport and that is what is important," Adler noted.
Kim Adler also brings publicity to the tour. She loves to go mountain biking and rock climbing. Last year, she graced the cover of Today's Chiropractic magazine and was the center of a long article about staying fit. Imagine walking into chiropractic office and then reading an article about a woman who makes a living throwing a 16-pound bowling ball.
She also stays fit by practicing, sometimes six hours a day.
"I want to be in the best possible shape for the long fall tour, it's really important to all of us," she said.
Presently there is a four-way race for Bowler of the Year honors among Adler, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Michelle Feldman, and Wendy Macpherson.
But Adler, who has two wins and two seconds to her credit this year, thinks she has a couple things going for her.
"For some reason, I generally bowl better on the Fall Tour than in the spring and summer. And this fall, we are having three tournaments in Florida, which helps me since I live here [Palm Bay]." (She finished fifth in the first Florida stop in Orlando.)
She also likes the fact that this is the first time the PWBA Tour has stopped at Don Carter's University Bowl.
"None of us has bowled there before, so we don't have any preconceived notions about how the lanes will play," she said. "Everyone starts with a clean slate from that standpoint. Usually, I get a good early jump in tournaments like that because I like going into a new bowling center with an open mind."
She also has an open mind about what bowling ball she use on different lane conditions, which means that she can switch from a Brunswick to a Columbia to an Ebonite ball all in the same game.
"I think I'm benefitting from being a free agent," said Adler. "I have the best of both worlds because I can select any bowling ball to use that I think will help me throw strikes. And then, if I am using a certain ball, I can ask the bowling ball rep on tour for advice if I feel like I need it. They don't come to me, I go to them, which is the way I like it. I like to do my own thinking out there on the lanes; I don't want someone sitting behind me telling me what to do 25 hours a day."
She said she has been having good luck with Ebonite in many tournaments, which in a way is fitting since Ebonite has been throwing a tailgate party for anyone who buys seats for most of the PWBA telecasts this year. All of the Ebonite staff members stick around to mingle with the TV audience and that probably will include Kim Adler since she has been very successful using Ebonite equipment this year.
Dick Evans is a member of the ABC and PBA Halls of Fame.