Did you see the December issue of Bowler's Journal International magazine?
In case you missed it, FIQ President Jerry Koenig appeared on the cover with a stern look and the quote, "I am an angry person."
What Koenig is angry about is the apparent hostile takeover attempt of Malaysia's P.S. Nathan for world leadership of bowling.
Nathan, president of the World Tenpin Bowling Association—one of nine global bowling groups under the FIQ umbrella—has apparently decided that WTBA could better represent bowling in gaining Olympic status with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And since FIQ has no real authority to say otherwise, it's possible Nathan could succeed in his efforts. He already has a majority of support in the FIQ Presidium, an 11-member panel providing FIQ its compass, or to borrow a phrase from the recent U.S. Presidential campaign, "moral authority."
I suspect that many already have stopped reading this editorial because the truth is, most people could care less about what goes on in bowling on the other side of the world. In fact, most American bowlers care only about what goes on in their own hometown bowling center, or even in their own league.
But for me, and a few others like me, bowling is a global sport, and if it should ever be granted Olympic status, it would be a very big deal. Would it solve all of bowling's problems? No, but it would give bowling some much-needed recognition as a legitimate sport.
Did you know (for those still reading) that FIQ governs bowling in 122 nations (called federations) around the world? OK, you are thinking that I just mentioned FIQ for the third time, and you want to know what it is? FIQ stands for Federation Internationale des Quilleurs, a name given to the organization when it was started in 1952.
At the present time, FIQ is the only global organization recognized to represent bowling with the IOC. Since his election as FIQ president in 1995, Jerry Koenig has worked tirelessly, traveled about 200 days per year, and made friends with IOC members around the world.
However, in spite of Koenig's efforts and those of many others in the industry, bowling is not yet an Olympic sport, and there is no absolute assurance it ever will be.
As bowling's point man on this project, Koenig must also take the heat when his best efforts fail to produce the desired result: Olympic inclusion. He seems willing and able to handle that tough part of the job, but it must be frustrating, and when critics like Dr. Nathan make moves to undermine FIQ's and Koenig's authority to speak for bowling, it makes it almost impossible to move forward.
In our June 1999 interview in Stars & Strikes with Koenig, he never mentioned any problems with Nathan, but he was very candid about the setbacks he and bowling have experienced in attempting to gain Olympic status. He spoke freely about the story that appeared in The Washington Post in May 1999 about the Olympic scandal and bowling's involvement in dealing with alleged corrupt officials.
In the BJI interview, Koenig asks for ideas for possible restructuring of the international organizations. "I've asked for ideas, and I haven't' been getting them," he says. "I can't necessarily force the Presidium members to come up with such ideas, but I'm telling you that there will be legislation submitted at the next Congress in Denmark in June." Koenig's idea is to create an elected Secretary General position and legislation to require officers to have a minimum of 12 years legislative experience and be under age 70 to hold office. This would bring bowling in line with IOC guidelines as they exist today.
My question: Secretary General of what? FIQ? In my opinion, the most important order of business should be to designate which organization is in charge of bowling worldwide once and for all, and name it properly.
Koenig says it is FIQ and he has a strong case because FIQ is the only group recognized by the IOC. However, Nathan and his followers disagree. They say the WTBA is in charge, even though they don't have the endorsement of the IOC.
Nathan also has a good point because if bowling becomes an Olympic sport, it will be tenpins that is played in the Games, not ninepins, which is also part of the Presidium that is under the FIQ umbrella. And since Nathan is president of the World Tenpin Bowling Association, he probably thinks he should be the new "Secretary General" if one is created.
Looking at it from the outside, my opinion is that the very name of the controlling organization is a problem. Federation Internationale des Quilleurs indicates to those who don't know what it is; who knows what?
Obviously, it's a French group of some sort, but there is no indication of bowling or authority in the name.
If I were Koenig or Nathan or anyone else involved in the international scene, I'd push for a name change for FIQ. No disrespect intended toward the people who got it all started 50 years ago, but "FIQ" just does not fit any longer.
The name of the group in charge of bowling should be short, clear, and in the English language. English is the dominant language of the world, and if it's good enough to serve such industries as aeronautics and medicine, it is good enough for bowling.
How about World Bowling Congress (WBC) or World Bowling Alliance (WBA) or substitute the word "International" or "Global" if those in charge can agree.
And, as for who's in charge, with all due respect, what bowling needs is a good strong conservative Supreme Court. Until recently, I thought that was what this FIQ Presidium was supposed to be, but what do I know?
Another step forward for bowling would be to create an "electorial college" type system. I know that people like Hillary Clinton disagree, but it's a good system, and without it, the USA would be counting presidential election votes until the next millennium instead of just the 36 days of Floriduh misery we suffered through.
If I understand it correctly, the 122 federations that make up FIQ each get one vote on matters that could shape bowling's future. That's a ridiculous system! For a tiny nation in a remote corner of the world with a half-dozen lanes in its backyard to have the same voting power as the United States, where the game of tenpins was invented and where most of the funding for the Olympic efforts comes from, is ludicrous.
Who should run this new organization? From my observations, Jerry Koenig should be given a chance to complete his mission, with some restrictions and time limits (term limits - what a concept!). I'm not saying that Nathan or anyone else is not equally qualified. I don't know many of the others involved, but I have known Jerry Koenig for many years, and I know he cares deeply about our sport.
As much as I respect Jerry, I will also say that USA Bowling, in my opinion, has not done well under his leadership. USA Bowling needs a full-time administrator, and someone who travels 200 days a year on behalf of FIQ cannot do a good job for USA Bowling.
When I first became aware of USA Bowling—then called USTBF—I saw much promise and potential, and for a while, much progress was made. In recent years, however, confusion and sometimes chaos has been the norm, and credibility has been severely damaged. Whatever happens to Koenig, Nathan, and FIQ, I hope USA Bowling ends up with a strong full-time leader.
Jim Goodwin, a BWAA director and LPBT's regional program director, is the award-winning editor/publisher of Stars & Strikes, in which the preceding originally appeared. Subscription rates are $20 per year (Pin Point Publishing, 2850 Red Valley Run, Rockwall, Texas 75087 ... voice/fax: 972/771-0069).