Television coverage of the women's pro bowling tour has disappeared, and TV coverage of the men's tour will not begin until October 31, so I wondered how a typical sports fan who is also a bowling fan would react to such a viewing void. I asked the most knowledgeable sports fan I know what she thinks about this bowling disaster.
Judy Lee Colteryahn (left) is the daughter of former Baltimore Colts receiver Lloyd Colteryahn, who caught the first touchdown pass ever thrown in the NFL by the late, legendary Hall of Famer John Unitas back in 1956. Her father played in an era when the equipment was very primitive, and many players did not even wear face masks.
She attended the memorial service for the legendary quarterback with her family, including her two sisters, Lura-Lee and Karen Lee, at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore two seasons ago before the Ravens game with the Buccaneers. Judy has fond memories of Unitas, my boyhood idol, and her father's quarterback whom she remembered as her childhood role model along with her Dad.
Tears of sorrow blended with those of the joy of knowing him dripped off her face during pre-game ceremonies she will always cherish.
Colteryahn, who is the current rendition of the fabulous Sports Babe, grew up in Baltimore and played high school sports before the laws of Title 9 kicked in and allowed girls the same access to those sports as the boys. She said sports for women has at times been a rocky road.
"We didn't always have the same quality sports equipment the boys had back then, but I did the best I could," Colteryahn said. "I think the attitude of women's sports being secondary to the men carries over to this day, and eliminating women's pro bowling from TV because of a lack of advertising deprives us all of a long-running, competitive TV sport. ESPN shows gambling and card games on its network because they're paid for, but it can't show women's bowling? That's not fair, especially when it wants to charge a fee to the women's tour that is much more expensive than the men's PBA Tour and not show them at a regular weekly time on ESPN2. A situation like that would even hurt an NFL game if they announced it at one time and showed it at another. The fans wouldn't stand for it."
Colteryahn, who was named for Judy Lee, a well-known Philadelphia TV anchorwoman in the 1950s who was a pioneer in her profession, believes that as long as a TV sport gets the right promotion and advertising exposure, it should succeed. But she realizes that if the ratings of that sport do not improve after being properly pumped, that sport will suffer the consequences of cutbacks or cancellations.
Colteryahn is an expert on most sports, and it shows in a huge way at her house in Clearwater, Fla., in the Tampa Bay area.
Her home is a real walk down memory lane for sports, starting with her father's career with the Colts. It ranks as one of the most elaborate collections of sports paraphernalia and collectibles I've ever seen. Colteryahn's nickname is "Touchdowngirl," and her mailbox with a built-in large goalpost on top are symbolic of her love for football.
"I have occasional problems with the goalpost coming down during the holidays from teenagers on a lark in the neighborhood, but I always fix the goalpost like they do at football games when fans tear them down after a championship victory," Colteryahn beamed. "My mail carrier always puts the mail in the box and scores a field goal; he is never wide right or left with it."
She also has a dog named "Touchdown" that she talks to as an old friend, another named "Punter," and a third named "Rumble"—all dressed in Buccaneer gear, her hometeam favorite.
Memorabilia of her Dad Lloyd, his quarterback John Unitas, and other famous Colts of yesteryear are elaborately displayed in autographed pictures on her favorite wall.
Other NFL teams in addition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the Baltimore Colts and Ravens along with the Washington Redskins—are neatly and prominently displayed around the walls of her house, everywhere from the bedrooms to the living room, the kitchen, and dining room, where there is a huge Buccaneer style pool table located next to the well-equipped sports bar. The dining room and bar are adjacent to the huge swimming pool, complete with a diving board that invites you to swim next to the master bedroom that overlooks the pool.
Photos and items from the late NFL Hall of Famer Otto Graham are on her wall along with former Brown Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown and defensive end Warren Sapp. Other well-known players include Bucs fullback Mike Alstott and quarterback Brad Johnson.
Former Buccaneer linebacker Scot Brantley has his own wall as Colteryahn's fan favorite. She runs his annual fishing tournament along with those of Florida Gator Head Coach Ron Zook and Buccaneer tight end Dave Moore.
Colteryahn, who is married to the world of sports rather than to any one person, also runs her own annual Treasure Island charity fishing tournament.
"Fishing is my favorite participation sport, and I love to fish and run these tournaments," Colteryahn said.
"Bowling, I enjoy as my other sport, and I compete in the Bowl with the Pros charity tournament every year where the NFL players, the sports media, and the public bowl with the kids in the Bay area. You know how rewarding that tournament is for all of us." Colteryahn said.
Colteryahn is proud of her sports collection, which she has been working on throughout her life. She displays it and her house regularly at private parties for sports enthusiasts, and the place rivals any displays in sports Halls of Fame.
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The new United States Bowling Congress will start operation on New Year's Day of 2005, and it will be one of the largest non-profit mergers in our nation's history, involving 2.8 million members. This merger is a real shot in the arm for bowling as a sport since membership in ABC and WIBC has been declining in recent years, and the USBC will apply to the United States Olympic Committee to become the national bowling governing body with the never-ending hope of making bowling an Olympic sport and get the sport over the hump of competing with such heavy hitters as the long-time Olympic sports of curling and synchronized swimming.
"We know everyone put in a lot of hard work, and USA Bowling's coaches and athletes are in full support of USBC," said USA Bowling President Cathy Cooper.
"This was the time, this was the place, and I'm so happy I can't stand it," responded a giddy WIBC President Sylvia Broyles.
"It's a great day for bowling, and this was our defining moment," reflected ABC President Paul Egbers.