I am pleased to report that the Bowling Writers Association of America has successfully concluded its business at its 63rd annual convention this week in Salt Lake City. As a result of our election, John Jowdy, the award-winning writer and noted bowling instructor, will succeed me as BWAA president on May 1.

Like yourselves, many of our members know that change is in the air, and we, too, are not exactly sure what the future holds for our professions.

We realize, however, that in our endeavor—and perhaps in many of your undertakings—the information age truly is upon us, and its frequently mentioned superhighway definitely will play a major role for many of us.

Today, thanks to that information superhighway, anyone who wants to become a publisher may do so. The costs involved with the traditional printing of today's bowling publications may well begin to diminish as these magazines and newspapers, in whole or in part, start appearing on the Internet. This, of course, is exciting news, as is the fact that all online publications will be able to reach a worldwide audience that their publishers surely had never thought was possible.

In this information age, however, a major concern remains as to whether bowling fans will be ready and willing to accept this new method of information distribution—at least in the immediate future.

Those communicators on technology's cutting edge must be concerned about their leaving a significant portion of bowlers behind. There will have to be a closely examined transition period for each online publisher and broadcaster.

In 1996, information superhighway entities such as the World-Wide Web and bowling "news groups" give the media and online bowling fans equal access to information, such as round-by-round results of PBA and LPBT events and live, online "chats" with pro tour champions, tallies from tournament clubs—local, national, and international—and even discussions on any bowling topic imaginable amongst bowling fans around the world.

For some bowling publishers, this "equal access" fact of life likely will be very intimidating. To be on the mailing list of PBA, LPBT, BPAA, or any organizations at Bowling Headquarters has been indeed a source of power because publishers knew that few if any in their immediate vicinity knew of this information or had the ability to control it.

Today, it's a different ball game: World-Wide Web home pages of bowling organizations, pro shops, and equipment manufacturers are removing this control from the exclusive hands of the "official" bowling media.

Those communicators on technology's cutting edge
must be concerned about their leaving
a significant portion of bowlers behind.

Equal information access also means that BWAA members in the future will have to provide their readers and/or listeners with data that they themselves place in cyberspace, be it interviews, profiles, analyses, editorials—material that has not already been transmitted around the world by organizations or bowling fans unrelated to BWAA. Originality, quality, and innovation (likely involving multimedia presentations) will be at a premium if online communicators desire to capture and maintain the attention of bowling fans, non-bowling net surfers, and, let us not forget, potential advertisers.

Due to the Internet, some of your "500 channels" of bowling information already have arrived. Don't fall behind, bowling fans; it's time to get online!

* * * *

It would be negligent of me as president of the Bowling Writers Association of America if I did not address a subject that concerns several of our members, as evidenced by their editorials: the bowling game itself.

These concerned writers and broadcasters are deeply troubled by some of the leaders of some of our organizations who have inexplicably turned a blind eye to a scoring environment that clearly is out-of-control and is largely a result of today's high-tech bowling balls, which have become the auto-focus cameras of our game, whereby individuals with some talent yet few skills can shoot pretty scores that are not much different than those rolled by highly trained, much-practiced professionals.

Let me read you a quote that recently appeared in the Windy City Bowling News that first appeared in the Missoulian in Missoula, Mont.:

We know the game is being compromised because it's impossible for [the professionals] to impress anybody. We bowl a 300 game and, big deal, so does everybody else. It's just not that difficult to do anymore.

Now, are these the gripes of a disgruntled bowling writer? No. Instead, they are the concerns of one of the world's greatest bowlers, Norm Duke.

Many of you have heard the terms frequently mentioned by the bowling organizations over the past few years—"unity," "harmony," and "cooperation," among others. But this so-called positive notion of bowling's organizations "working together" has, in fact, been detrimental to the degree that it has prevented the pronouncement of the one word regarding the game that those of us who deeply care about this game are desperately desiring to hear: FIX.

I ask you, delegates: When is the last time any of you have heard that word emanate from the mouth of any of our industry leaders? When in recent history has a leader stood before you and truly leveled with you by admitting what anyone who honestly and objectively would conclude about bowling in 1996: THIS GAME IS BROKEN.

When in recent history has a leader
stood before you and truly leveled with you
by admitting what anyone who honestly and objectively
would conclude about bowling in 1996:
THIS GAME IS BROKEN.

I also ask you: Is there any doubt that the game itself has become the equivalent of Ross Perot's unforgettable "crazy aunt in the basement"? Again, with the exception of some of our leaders, we know she's there, she's an outright embarrassment whom we don't want to acknowledge, and she won't go away unless she's dealt with directly and boldly.

As delegates, you cannot control the population shifts, or the fear of crime, or the closing of bowling centers, or ladies entering the workplace. Nor can you even slow down the forces that permit people to spend more and more of their recreational dollars for entertainment inside of their own homes—all of which are factors that have changed the bowling environment.

But only through your actions can standards be reestablished of which ABC members once again can be proud. And only you can restore integrity to the great game of bowling. (And let me remind you that, in contrast what to some leaders say, integrity is not simply "following the rules" if most everyone else knows that a few of today's rules are a farce—not to mention a cave-in to interests that are not directly to the bowling game itself.)

Today, bowling's standards are rightfully being questioned. For the last 15 years, the industry has been too concerned with pleasing everybody rather than doing what, as the legendary Frank Baker insisted, is truly right for the game.

Last year in Reno, for example, bowling writers attending a BWAA seminar were informed by a representative from the ABC/WIBC Equipment and Specifications Department that coefficiency of friction standards for bowling balls were established by simply accepting the highest and lowest friction ranges for balls currently on the market, so as not to upset those who recently had bought a high-tech bowling ball.

Now, the specs committee surely followed the rules, but you can't convince me that that's integrity!

Their method for setting standards is no different than going to a high school and using all of the students to set standards for teenage behavior. They would accept Johnny and Mary, who go to church every morning and assist the needy, and they'd also approve of Pat and Mike, who rob stores and beat up old ladies—or worse—on the weekends, and simply declare that all of their actions now constitute acceptable behavior for teenagers.

This "redefining" of the concept of integrity cannot continue. Perot's crazy aunt will not disappear: She will forever haunt the game with her unpleasant odor, and sadly, she will detract attention from some of the truly innovative and positive aspects of Bowling Inc.

To the delegates and leaders of this game: Please put the challenge back into bowling, and get rid of that crazy aunt so that perhaps even this disgruntled bowling writer will have no problem standing before any doubting newspaper editor or sportscaster and again will be able to proudly proclaim, "Bowling's my game, and for all that it offers, it's the best darn game in the world."

Bob Cosgrove, editor of BOWL Magazine, is a past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America.