Ask nearly anyone who claims to be a fan of bowling about whom they respect the most and they will almost always mention Dick Weber, Don Carter, Bill Lillard, Earl Anthony, and Joe Norris. Why? Because they were sportsmen, professionals both on and off the lanes. And for the most part, bowling has remained a sport in which sportsmanship is learned, starting with youth programs.
However, the in your face attitude of today's sports has made its way into league bowling. Bowlers who kick the ball return, punch the scoring consoles, bang their bowling ball into bowling center property, use vulgar language, and make obscene gestures at the pins have no place in our leagues, associations, or the American Bowling Congress.
Fortunately, those bowlers are few and far between, but their actions should not be tolerated, and league officers and team captains should take an active role in ensuring that those responsible for unbecoming conduct are put on notice.
One only has to turn on the television or read a sports page to see poor sportsmanship. Most recently, we saw Roger Clemens throw the splintered bat of Mike Piazza in Piazza's direction as he ran the base path in Game 2 of the World Series.
Bobby Knight spent decades insulting, abusing, and offending most anyone within range of him until Indiana University finally fired him.
How about the arrogance and disrespect shown by the American sprinters who won the gold medal in the 4 x 100 relay at the Olympics in Sydney?
Philadelphia 76ers Allan Iverson's rap recording 40 Bars is a tribute to violence and racism. Latrell Sprewell's 1997 choking of his coach earned him a one-year suspension. Trials of athletes ranging from sex offenses to homicide are becoming commonplace.
But not all the blame lies with professional athletes. Parents with a wrestling mentality are as much to blame. As long as parents assault umpires at Little League and kill referees at youth hockey games, we have to expect that our kids will do the same.
Professional athletes are role models whether they want to be or not. Amateur athletes also have to conduct themselves with a certain amount of decorum. Parents need to teach sportsmanship first and foremost.
That brings me back to Weber, Carter, Lillard, Anthony, and Norris. Their egos never clouded their passion, enthusiasm, and love for the sport. Thanks, gentlemen.
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John Jowdy will enter the ABC Hall of Fame in March 2001 during ceremonies at the National Bowling Stadium in Renoa most deserving induction.
Jowdy, a PBA Hall of Famer, has been involved with bowling for more than 60 years and pens many a column for various bowling periodicals, including this one. He is a past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America and is recognized as one of bowlings best instructors.
Get Jowdy and fellow PBA and ABC Hall of Fame writers Dick Evans and Chuck Pezzano together and be prepared for a history lesson.
I will be honored to be present during his induction and look forward to that meeting.
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From the Wright House to everyone out there, may you have a Joyous Holiday and a prosperous New Year.
See you on the lanes.
Don Wright is a member of the Bowling Writers Association of America. Visit his home page.