THE WRIGHT WAY / Don Wright

Web Special / June 10, 2001

These things are true—aren't they?

I believe these things are true:

• It took Walter Ray Williams Jr. 20 years and 32 tournaments to earn $2 million in prize money. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Joe Durant have won more than $2 million between January and April of this year.
• Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated recently wrote a column about Canadian hockey fans booing when our National Anthem was played. Reilly, in his typical writing style, made the column as humorous as possible, but his point was well taken. I am always surprised when I am at some event at which our National Anthem is played, and our own Americans fail to stand. Then of course there is Bubba, who wouldn't take his hat off unless his Momma knocked it off.
• You can always tell who has served in the military when the National Anthem is played. They have their heels together and their hand over their heart.
• How many sports can you name where women can compete equally with men? Bowling certainly comes to mind.
• Texas is famous for its bowling and bowlers. Some of the greatest bowlers in history have come from our great state. Let's see, there is Bill Lillard, Don Ellis, Billy Welu, Del Ballard Jr. And, how many can you name?
• The late Joe Norris was a legend. In 1936, Norris, along with Ned Day, Hank Marino, Charley Daw, and Johnny Crimmins, overpowered a field of bowlers from 15 nations in competition in Berlin's Deutschland Halle.
• The first recognized 300 game was bowled in 1902 by Ernest Forsberg in Rockford, Ill. I wonder if anyone rushed up and asked him what ball he used?
• World War II had a huge impact on bowling as the U.S. military built 4,500 lane beds on military bases. The ABC and WIBC Tournaments were cancelled for three years.
• Bowling will never be an Olympic sport. But, if it were, would they compete in the summer, or winter games?
• Most Senior professional bowlers will consistently beat your league high average bowlers.
• How many bowlers know their association officers and directors? About as many as know the second stanza of "The Star Spangled Banner."
• Most bowlers don't read the rule book but are quick to quote it.
• Leagues used to have every team with a sponsor's shirt on. You hardly ever see sponsor's shirts worn with the exception of travel leagues, where it is required. Bowling should have a dress code.
• Older bowlers should never quit.
• Bowling cards, like baseball cards, have been around for many years. Bowling as a sport was depicted in cards as early as 1880. In 1909, Mecca cigarettes of New York featured four cards of champion bowlers.
• Good bowling centers are managed by bowlers. Good managers are there during peak bowling hours.
• Bowling centers go downhill quicker than they improve.
• I find tattoos offensive and offensive tattoos too plentiful.
• I like arena bowling, but I don't like bowling outside. Bowling wasn't designed to be played outside any more than golf was designed to be played indoors.
• "High average" doesn't necessarily mean you are the best bowler.
• Secretaries are the glue to any good league.
• When I was a young senior, I won quite a few brackets at ABC Nationals. Now the young seniors are taking my money. But, I still win my share.
• I have two great traveling teams and great teammates.
• The PBA Senior Tour should look into a Super Senior tournament.
• The old bowling television programs, as well as the 30 years worth of the PBA Tour, should be on ESPN Classic.
• Dick Evans should write a book about Chuck Pezzano.
• It's a great privilege to be able to write a newspaper column. I love it.

See you on the lanes.