Bo-Fish Bowling News: the Positive Source for Bowling Worldwide

Wright In The Heart Of Texas
by Don Wright

Article Archive #1

February 2004
December 2003
October 2003
August 2003
June 2003
Two I Thought You Should Know
March 2003
January 2003
December 2002
September 2002

February 2004

The bowling family recently lost one of its staunchest supporters, Vladimir A. "Chief" Wapensky.

Chief served as the Executive Director of the BPAA for 20 years, resided in Arlington, Texas and was a good friend.

I had read Chief’s columns in the Dallas based Bowling News for many years and I finally got to meet him about five years ago at a Bowling Writers Association of America convention. We hit it off almost immediately.

Chief got his nickname the same way I got my nickname, Chief. We were both retired Army Chief Warrant Officers. Chief had served his military career in personnel and administration and I was with the Army CID. It didn’t take long and we were telling war stories and the friendship began.

I was elected President of the Southern Bowling Writers Association and Chief was our parliamentarian. Soon after I assumed the office we had some issues that needed to be resolved and Chief was my go-to guy. I was absolutely amazed at how proficient he was at the job and how willing he was to take the time to ensure we did what was right.

We spent a lot of hours on the computer passing e-mail back and forth. It was during that time that Chief confided in me his health problems. We had been discussing military benefits, his health, my health and that of my wife. He was always up beat even when his trips to the doctor were not always pleasant.

Chief was a lot of things to a lot of people, but I will; always remember him as a professional, decorated veteran and a wonderful gentleman. I will dearly miss him.

Well, I was glad to see the PBA Tour start again and was not surprised to see Walter Ray Williams, Jr., on the show. I predicted the drought would end.

I was surprised that he won the tournament having seen Lonnie Waliczek in several PBA Regional events and during the first part of the Tour. Needing only a mark to take the event, I never suspected he’d leave a washout. Such are the breaks of bowling, I guess.

I was really excited about the Tour starting again, but after the show I was a bit disappointed. I found it a little boring. Watching Waliczek is like watching paint dry.

Duke put some excitement in his match against Waliczek and only injury prevented Duke from advancing. Regardless, Duke is a class act, right up there with the likes of Dick Weber.

Did ESPN hire the four or five women that were seated along side the lanes? I guess they were supposed to be cheerleaders? Even Duke said “You’re killing me.” Come on; let’s leave that stuff for the X-Games.

I know the professional bowlers have a mental game that we amateurs don’t have and what would distract me obviously doesn’t bother them. But, I don’t get why they have Brunswick emblazed on one lane and not on the other. Why have it at all? I could understand having Storm on both lanes, but personally, I’d leave the lanes as they are supposed to be and eliminate lane advertisement all together. What’s next a listing of all sponsors from pin deck to foul line?

Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., is a promising rookie and I was fortunate enough to watch him while he was a member of the YABA. Bohr was one of the brightest stars in the Austin, Tex. area. When he left for Wichita I often saw his father during league competition. We both participated in a travel league and he would keep me posted on Nathan’s progress.

I’m glad to see this young man doing so well. It isn’t a surprise, really. But, he’s a fine young man with a great personality and I predict he will go far.

How about Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Tex.? Three consecutive top five finishes in the first half of the Tour and there he was in the finals of the first event of the second half. Mike hasn’t won yet, but it’s just a matter of time. Those of us that follow the PBA Southwest Regional program know exactly how good Mike is and the guys on the National Tour are finding out also.

XXX

It looks like the PBA movers and shakers will extend their services to the PBA Regional programs. Adding money to their prize funds (about a 20% increase), point leaders in each region will earn an exemption onto the PBA Tour for the following season, guaranteeing the regional player at least $32,000 in the 16 standard PBA Tour events.

Regional players have to be happy, but what about the seniors?

Come on PBA, you’d have no tour without the Legends and some are getting on in years which could prevent my grandkids from ever seeing them.

See you on the lanes.

Well, here we go with a new year and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the second half of the PBA Tour on ESPN.

What I was surprised to see during the first half of the tour was that Walter Ray Williams hasn’t made a television final. When you look at the stats through the Dexter tournament Williams is 32nd in the points rankings, 28th in earnings with $19,500, and 14th in average with a 220.

Williams isn’t the only one that struggled during the first half. Parker Bohn III is 30th in points, 24th in earnings with $27,650, and 18th in average with 219.

Brian Voss hasn’t done much better at 66th on the points list, 36th in earnings with $15,440 and 28th on the average list at 217.

The pressure is really on to perform in the second half. It should be a lot of fun for the fans.

Fellow Texan Chris Johnson gets my nod for Rookie of the Year regardless of what he does in the second half. He had a great first half and his winning attitude is proof enough he belongs on the tour.

I’m hoping to hear good news regarding the PWBA and hope they can get rolling again in 2004. Hopefully Steve Sanders will have an answer on the future of the PWBA this month. Professional bowling needs the PWBA and a Senior Tour.

Congratulations to fellow Texans Del and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard as they await the birth of their first child. What bowling genes that child will have!

Mike Aulby has decided to retire and that will be a tremendous loss to the PBA and the fans. Ever the gentleman, Aulby was a true professional on and off the lanes.

I recall a Bowling Writers Association of America convention where Mike showed up for the BWAA tournament held in conjunction with the convention. Several children were bowling in the center accompanied by teachers and parents. It wasn’t long and they were at Mike’s lane and he willingly signed autographs, chatted with the kids and competed in the tournament.

Mike’s resume is second to none and would fill up this column. But, titles, records, earnings and lofty administrative positions don’t tell the story. This classy guy simply wants to spend more time with his family. This writer and fan will miss him.

I received an e-mail from a man who read an old column of mine in which I wrote that a bowling channel was needed on television. I wrote that I thought an ESPN Classic type channel showing all the old televised bowling matches would be well received.

In the e-mail, the gentleman wrote, “I would really like to see a bowling channel, too. Something I would like to see is all the bowling tips from the late, great Billy Welu. As a young man trying to improve his game I used to religiously watch bowling on ABC, and when it was over I would go to Merri-Bowl lanes and practice his tip of the day. What a treasure he was, and I think some of the young bowlers today could really benefit from these lessons.”

I, too believe that the old bowling shows, tips from the greats of the past and present, and instructional programs on how to read lanes, ball drilling, and the technical side of the sport would be a popular program.

Well, I don’t have a clue what 2004 has in store for us bowlers and lovers of the sport. However, I will make a few daring predictions –

· Texan Mike Scroggins will have a PBA National Tour win in the second half.
· Texan Chris Johnson will be Rookie of the Year.
· The PWBA won’t happen in 2004.
· Pete Weber will win the PBA World Championship.
· I’ll go another year without a 300, or 800.
· My Sweetie will be healthy enough to bowl again.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and that the New Year brings you health and prosperity. See you on the lanes.

Recently, a local sports writer for my city paper wrote about a high school football player who made an obscene gesture toward his opponents. In his column he used a few choice words such as “moron, classless and idiot.”

Needless to say parents took his comments to heart and he not only received hate mail, he was the entire center section of my paper with letters to the editor that the paper willingly published.

I read all the mail and wondered why these parents and football fans were not just as upset with the player for making the obscene gesture as they were over the writer’s choice of words.

I fully understand defending your children, but I also believe that parents, coaches and teachers have a responsibility not only to teach, but to not tolerate that type of student/athlete conduct.

But, in honesty football in Texas is more important than anything else, including poor behavior on the part of youth athletes. The key word is youth.

It’s easy to understand where this conduct comes from it’s in our face all the time. If you watched the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees you saw some of the most disgusting behavior by high paid adult athletes in baseball. You saw pitchers threatening to bean batters, throwing a 72- year old man to the ground, and employees of the organization fighting the ball players. There is no place in the game for that type behavior.

The game was hyped before it ever began as a “brawl.” During a press conference the manager of Boston stated, “We’ve raised it to war.” It’s baseball, stupid!

All athletes, especially young athletes, need to understand they do not live by a separate standard. Coaches need to ensure that inappropriate conduct is not tolerated, and parents need to quit coddling their kids. Bad behavior is a learned trait and it’s incumbent that it’s nipped in the bud.

Recently I read an article in which 29- time PBA champion Pete Weber said he would stop doing his infamous “crotch chop” because he was getting mail that kids were being suspended from YABA for doing it. First, I commend Pete, and second I commend YABA for suspending the youth bowler. Suspension is a strong discipline and, short of a criminal act, you probably won’t see it in the professional ranks in any sport.

But, inappropriate conduct shouldn’t be condoned in the PBA, PBA Regional events, leagues, or youth programs. I recently attended a PBA regional event and watched a bowler I had observed while he was on the national tour and I had written favorably about on many occasions. This particular day he wasn’t bowling all that well and he decided the thing to do was take it out on his equipment and pitch a fit in front of the spectators. So, he promptly threw his ball from the ball return to his bag, missing it and then decided that must have been the bags fault so he kicked it around for a while. A few of us lost a lot of the respect we had for him.

Another former national tour player left a split at an inopportune time and directed an obscene gesture at the pin deck. I guess it made him feel better, but the split was still standing.

Youth athletes are very impressionable and they mimic what they see from their adult “heroes.” Because adults misbehave we should not let our kids get away with the same bad behavior.

Sports are an important part of any kid’s life. It was important to me as a kid to play baseball, basketball, and bowling. I remember my little league coaches and my high school coaches and they would not have tolerated obscene gestures, or inappropriate behavior. But, more importantly neither would my Dad and I feared that more than my coaches. Not that my Dad would have beat me, or anything, but he would have been very disappointed and I would surely be suspended by him whether the coach liked it, or not.

Now, like the writer from my paper, I fully expect to be told how old-fashioned, behind the times, child hating, youth-athlete basher I am. So be it. But, as a father I would have suspended my son if he had made that obscene gesture and been more upset over that than anything the reporter could have written.

I think it’s Important to remember the reporter wouldn’t have had that opportunity were it not for the kid.

In the July issue of Bowlers Journal International, Tom Clark wrote in his Messenger column 50 plus things he disliked about bowling and said feel free to add to his list. I probably agreed with 75 percent of his dislikes and decided
I would add my two cents. I don’t have a list of 50, at least not for this column, but I do have a few pet peeves.

1. Men who are either too stupid, or too lazy to remove their hat during the playing of the National Anthem.
2. Parents who are too stupid, or too lazy to teach their children to stand and remove their hat during the playing of the National Anthem.
3. Bowling centers without automatic doors.
4. Poorly illuminated parking lots at bowling centers. It’s a safety issue for bowlers, patrons, and employees.
5. Only 5 or 6 cities used for state tournaments.
6. Moving pairs for doubles and singles.
7. ESPN’s choice of announcers. Please bring back Denny Schreiner.
8. The lack of a bowling channel like the Golf Channel.
9. The lack of historical bowling on ESPN Classic.
10. Bowling centers with poorly trained, or inadequate staff.

Ten is a pretty good start. But, to put it all in perspective there are so many things I love about bowling I need to give them equal time.

1. The ABC and WIBC Championships.
2. Bowling with my Grandkids.
3. Open bowling. No stress, no competition, just some fun with friends, a cold beer and good conversation.
4. Meeting and knowing Dick Weber.
5. Friendships, some more than 40 years, made through bowling.
6. Bowling with my Sweetie.
7. Smoke free centers.
8. Tournaments.
9. The Migas Supreme at Dart Bowl in Austin, Texas.
10. Writing about bowling.

There are many more in each category and I am sure you’ll see them in some future column.

If I were to pick the two smoothest releases in bowling I would go with David Ozio and Tish Johnson.

Well, it finally happened, the PWBA cancelled their fall tour and it is a sad day for professional women’s bowling.

I’m afraid this could have a very bad ripple affect especially with ESPN who is now scrambling for alternative programming. Add to that the sponsors who thought they were going to get television exposure for their products and it’s not a pretty picture.

Bowling needs the PWBA and all we can do is hope by the time this column comes out some person, or group has come to their rescue.

I’m sure every scribe in the business will have something to say about the changes to the PBA. Changes will include an exempt field, an all match play format, and increased guaranteed prize money for all spots.

I’d like to hear your comments. E-mail me at wrightdk@hot.rr.com and give me your thoughts. I try to avoid the forums on the web sites because they seem to become zones of testosterone with little good commentary.

A great thing about our sport is that we don’t have a lot of controversy and violence like Mike Tyson in boxing, Kobe Bryant in basketball, Ray Lewis in football and the Baylor basketball team. See what has happened there since they allowed dancing on campus!

I recently bowled TCBA and if you think baseball is slow, start timing bowling. With everyone walking around looking for their spare ball and then hanging around to take it off the ball return we started bowling at 11 o’clock, six games and six hours later we were packing up to leave.

I can tell you that when Mac Davis wrote the words to his hit song, Oh, Lord it’s hard to be humble…” he had never bowled in an ABC championship tournament. For I know what humble is.

I just returned from Knoxville and bowled the worst I have ever bowled in an ABC championship. How bad? You’ll have to search Bowl.com for that answer, but suffice it to say I stunk the place up. I wish I could blame my poor performance on lane conditions, but I can’t. I had a great shot to the pocket and hit it. Unfortunately, I didn’t always carry and I left my spare shooting in Texas.

Still I had a great time. I love the ABC tournament and look forward to it each year. Knoxville is a great city and the surrounding area is one of beauty. After bowling as badly as I did I was ready for a vacation and G.G. and I, along with out traveling partners of over twenty years, Dee and Jerry Northrop, set out for Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. While Jerry and I hunted for Dolly Parton, the wives tried diligently to spend all our money. It’s one store, shop, mall, and craft village after another.

All in all it was a great time. I guess I need to buy my doubles partner a case of Miller Lite since I failed to give him any support in that event. Oh, well there’s always Reno.

There were a few things at the ABC tournament that stuck out in my mind. Paying $2.50 for a bottle of water is a bit extravagant. That’s what I paid for a pretzel, also. A bottle of water and a pretzel – five bucks!

Ball check-in takes longer and longer each year. The WIBC has eliminated this procedure. The women record the serial numbers of their bowling balls and those are the only balls they can use. If an honor score is rolled then they check out the ball. If it works for the ladies, why not the men?

I have always bought the team photo and a single shot that is done prior to doubles and singles. It’s something I started at my first ABC championship and have continued each year. While looking over the photographs when I got back I couldn’t help but notice that the quality of today’s photos isn’t equal to earlier pictures. Earlier photos were 35 mm and printed on quality paper. Recent photos are digital, printed on poorer quality paper, and lack the sharpness and details of the others. For that poor quality picture you pay about three bucks more than you did for the good ones.

We attended several shows in Pigeon Forge and had a great time. There was a tremendous outpouring of patriotism at all of the shows and each theater requested that all veterans stand and be recognized, and there were many. I can’t prove it, but I suspect the vast majority of tourists in that area were senior citizens. At least it appeared that way.

The Veterans Memorial Museum in Pigeon Forge has thousands of exhibits, paintings and memorabilia honoring all branches of service and covering the walls are the names of the men and women who gave their lives in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, September 11 and it continues to grow.

If you missed this tournament, you missed a great one and a wonderful area to visit. I highly recommend this area be added to your vacation list.

Someone please save the PWBA. The WIBC has stepped forward and has taken on the task for the 2003-04 season, but that seems like a band-aid on a sucking chest wound.

I think the ABC should join the WIBC in support of the PWBA. Imagine if each member of the ABC and WIBC contributed $5 to the PWBA what good it would do.

Every sport worth its salt has an association for men and women and bowling should be no different. The PWBA is a quality group of athletes who perform extremely well and present an image of professionalism in their performance and appearance.

I believe strongly that bowling needs the PBA, PWBA and the Senior Tour to be successful and earn the respect of media.

It didn’t take long for the scribes to latch on to the Annika Sorrenstam bandwagon and ask the question and voice their opinions on man vs. woman in bowling. Jim Goodwin of the Dallas based Stars and Strikes has an excellent column on this topic.

Two I Thought You Should Know

G.G. Wright knew that something was wrong and for more than a year she sought help from her family physician to no avail. “I was beginning to think he thought I was a hypochondriac, or some woman that needed attention,” she said. But, in reality she was very close to death.

G.G. had always been an athlete. A world-class swimmer in her home country of Germany, an avid bowler, aerobics, walking and jogging were all part of her routine. Now she was losing weight, strength and ambition.

On 29 July, I watched as she walked out of our living room and noticed that she had a stagger and she was holding her arm and hand in an awkward position. I feared that she had a stroke and took her to the nearest clinic. After the doctor gave her a few motor skills tests he felt she had a stroke, sent her to the emergency room and ordered an MRI. Several hours later the doctor returned and informed us they had found a mass in the right side of her head and determined it was a tumor attached to the brain. Not the news anyone expects.

Surgery took nearly six hours and the doctor was not optimistic. He said he got most of the tumor, but couldn’t risk taking any more of it. The tumor was sent to pathology at the hospital and then forwarded to Texas A & M and ultimately to the Mayo Clinic and we were finally told that the cancer was a very aggressive, rare cancer that rarely attached to the brain. In fact, they told us that in 45 years there were only 40 cases recorded and very little research had been done. It was now wait and see.

Throughout her ordeal G.G. was joking with her doctor that she had to get well because she had her 25th WIBC Championship Tournament in Reno coming up. Her bowling became the topic of all the ward personnel who asked her about her average, did she really bowl tournaments and was she as avid a bowler as she was making out? Well, they were easily convinced of her bowling when I brought in a get-well e-mail from Dick Weber. I posted the e-mail in her room and needless to say everyone was impressed. One nurse said, “Is that THE Dick Weber?”

Release from the hospital simply meant the road to recover was just beginning. Her oncologist informed her that chemotherapy did nothing for this cancer and scheduled her for six weeks of daily radiation treatments. After six weeks of radiation, loss of her hair and no guarantees came another MRI. It was then she was told there was no evidence of the tumor. After a lot of tears the doctor said, “Now you can go bowling.”

In December G.G. entered the Killeen-Fort Hood Women’s Bowling Association tournament and captured first place in the team event and tied for first place in division 1 All-Events with a pin count of 2,206, earning the nickname “The Comeback Kid.”

In May she will bowl in her 25th WIBC Nationals at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

July 16 was Donna Blaszczyk’s birthday. It was also the day she learned her husband of 26 years had throat cancer. John Blaszczak retired from the Army at Fort Hood and made his home in Killeen. He was a member of the local association all those years and was considered one of the area’s top bowlers with seven career 300 games and a career high series of 820.

Like G.G., John’s cancer was very rare with only 52 reported cases in the world. The cause, Agent Orange exposure during his service in Viet Nam. After a twelve and a half hour surgery to remove his larynx and all the lymph nodes in his neck he spent five days in ICU and another two weeks on ward. The surgery has left him with limited motion of his head and neck and no voice.

Next came 33 days of radiation and he was released to go home. Now each month he travels two and a half hours to San Antonio for exams and treatment. None of which has slowed down his bowling.

Exercises and reducing the weight of his bowling balls and with the help of bowling friends John hit the lanes determined to show he could still compete. His average quickly dropped from 210 to 175. Undaunted, he continued to practice and compete in leagues and has rolled a 279/685, 279/689 and a 685 series in three different centers since his return. John has been the secretary of the CENTEX Traveling Classic Bowling Association for many years and during his illness his wife and the TCBA President, Tom Christie assumed his secretarial duties. John is back at the helm today. The illness isn’t over for John and he has to be constantly checking for signs that might indicate the cancer has spread. They recently discovered a mass in his sinus area and new treatments are being scheduled.

In the mean time John isn’t sitting around feeling sorry for himself, it isn’t what an old retired Army First Sergeant would do. Instead, he’s bowling. And each Wednesday night he and G.G. meet in the middle of Phantom Warrior Lanes at Fort Hood, they hug each other and feel blessed for their good fortune, good friends and the sport of bowling. Two cancer survivors I thought you needed to know.

Much has been written lately about three topics and the more I thought about it, the more I felt I had to add my two cents.

First, it seemed that every time I picked up a paper, or tuned in to a sports program I heard someone talking about Title IX and I have to admit I got interested and found myself watching the outcome of the 15-member Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. Now, I will admit right up front that I am no expert on Title IX; however, what I do know is “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” That includes sports.

The other thing I know is that in 1972, fewer than 32,000 women participated in intercollegiate athletics. By 2000, women comprised 40 percent of all college athletes, according to the National Women's Law Center.

I realize that many will say that men’s athletics, especially football in the South and basketball bring in more money to the University than most women’s sports combined. I don’t think so. Far too much money is spent on men’s sports. Women don’t need multi-million dollar stadiums, top of the line weight rooms and state of the art basketball arenas. All of which begin in high school by the way. I question the profitability of high school and college sports. How many of you have suffered through a bond election to pay millions of dollars for a football field with a press box ESPN would drool over. Things like full kitchens, lounges and other luxuries for the high school. Then imagine having more than one high school that needs the same things.

Women’s sports have come a long way. Personally, I prefer college basketball to the NBA and I prefer women’s college basketball to men’s. It’s more pure. Not any less competitive, just a better game.

I have read Title IX, I have read arguments by fans, coaches and sportswriters and I find myself thinking of just my family. My wife was a world class swimmer in Germany, I have a daughter, five Granddaughters and a Great Granddaughter and they have as much right to sports availability and participation as their brothers, or me.

Recently, Annika Sorenstam said she would relish the chance to play a PGA Tour event, provided the tournament was held on a golf course that suits her game. This came about after Suzy Whaley, a Connecticut club pro, won a PGA sectional from a shorter set of tees than the men and qualified for the Greater Hartford Open in late July. She will be the first woman to play on the PGA Tour in the modern era. Whaley will have to play from the championship tees with the men.

Sorenstam said, “"If I pick the right course, I think I would do well," adding that she could only compete if the course wasn't excessively long, had tight fairways and punishing rough, which she rarely gets into as the LPGA's best driver. Wow! Why don’t they make the cup as big as a pie plate for her? I don’t care what they do for her she’s no competition to the top 100 PGA Tour members.

Imagine Leanne Barrette, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, or Michelle Feldman saying to the PBA, “I want to bowl, but we can only use 14 pound balls, short oil, light pins and the men have to wear skirts.” I don’t think so. But, would they be competitive with the top male bowlers on an even setting? Maybe.

I think the long grind of the men’s format would take its toll on the stamina of the women. I looked at Parker Bohn while he was bowling in the Dallas Open and he looked tired. Randy Pedersen said all the bowlers were tired after the exhaustive U.S. Open and then the Dallas Open. I think that would eliminate nearly all the women from competition. In a short format, in leagues, ABC/WIBC National events, skins games and those type formats I firmly believe women can compete on an equal basis with men.

But, regardless of whether I believe they can hold their own, they deserve the opportunity to try. Topic 3 has to do with media coverage. In a recent Sports Illustrated column by Rick Reilly he wrote, “If you’re a woman, there are only three ways to get the sports world to notice you:

Reilly’s point was that setting basketball records (Connecticut), winning four major tennis events (Serena Williams), or posting 800 basketball wins (Pat Summitt) doesn’t rate the media given to men. Further example is Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods. Sorenstam won nearly half her starts last year (13 of 25). Tiger for 2002 was 6 of 22.

I recall a female soldier in my unit who was married to another soldier. They were both the same rank and would both leave for a future assignment together. She had a degree, he didn’t. She had more schooling than he had. As the time approached for them to leave for their next assignment her husband was working hard to insure upcoming schooling, completion of his degree and his next assignment. She commented to me, “Everyone is concerned about his future, but no one has asked me what I’d like to do.”

Title IX is a good thing. And, I believe women’s sports needs more women writers. Our sport needs more writers, more media coverage in general, and more access to the bowling publications. If bowlers who subscribe don’t share the periodicals with non-bowlers than how do we bring them the sport and enable it to grow?

Okay, the holiday season is over and we made it through the first month of the new year, it’s time to give you something to ponder.

I just finished watching the PBA Medford Open on ESPN and was really happy to see Bryan Goebel back on winning ways. But, here are a few things to ponder... Why can’t the PBA and ESPN work out the time situation so sponsors, hosts and winners can enjoy the trophy and check presentation? I can’t imagine golf’s Masters Tournament being cut off prior to the jacket being presented. The trophy presentation for Wimbledon, the World Series and the Super Bowl wouldn’t get cut off. Yes, I know you’re going to say they are much bigger events than bowling, but try telling that to Pepsi, Days Inn and all the others now sponsoring the PBA. If Randy Pedersen hadn’t yelled for a coke, or Couch for a Miller beer after their win ESPN would have simply faded to black, or cut to the tree choppers.

While watching the PBA Medford Open Marshall Holman made it to the booth and did some commentary. For my two cents, ESPN and the PBA need to bring him back. He’s knowledgeable, articulate and gives the telecast a professional sounding presence. I found him better than both the talking heads that were with him. Also, watching the clips of his bowling performance I think he’s ready for a comeback, if for no other reason that to get ready for the Senior Tour.

The February 2003 issue of Bowling Digest has a great picture of Mark Roth on page 12 showing his ability to bowl left-handed…

I recently read an article in a bowling newspaper in which the writer wrote that a recent PBA tournament got zero coverage by the city newspaper. I remember doing an interview once with a PBA touring pro who told me that his city paper never covered bowling although a major stop was held there every year. A couple of years ago, in a Bowlers Journal column, Mort Luby Jr. wrote, “Bowling journalism needs some fresh blood.” I certainly agree with that statement, but I don’t think that’s the answer to getting more coverage. My city, for example, covers bowling very well with a weekly bowling column, coverage of the Southwest PBA Regional event each August, and high school bowling coverage in a weekly Future Stars segment. However, this didn’t happen over night and as the community grows space in the paper becomes a premium. In a town that went from one high school to four, in a state that prides itself on football, and coaches are competing for media coverage, bowling isn’t at the top of the list of sports for a lot of space. But then, neither are golf, outdoor sports and others.

Bowling needs to look at other outlets. At a time when most people have computers and Internet access, bowling news needs to get on board. Many forward thinking people are using the Internet as a sole source of information, or in conjunction with their print versions. Bowling World, Bo-Fish Bowling News and Bowl Magazine a product of the Nations Capitol Bowling Association are excellent examples. My daily newspaper has their own web site as do most papers in the country and my bowling column is there every Friday for those who don’t subscribe to the paper, or are away from home and want to read it. Nothing will ever completely replace the newspaper. My paper arrives before I get up and nothing is more enjoyable than the morning paper and my coffee cup. But, I don’t like having to go get the paper in the rain and since it isn’t the New York Times, or USA Today it isn’t available when I travel so I have the option of my computer.

There are quite a few bowling newspapers and very few bowling magazines. I always look at magazine racks in bookstores when I travel and I find a lot of golf, tennis, cycling, racing, but no bowling. I didn’t say very little bowling, I said no bowling. Bowlers Journal and Bowling Digest are both excellent magazines if you subscribe. Both have excellent writers and cover all aspects of the sport. Like most magazines they have a staff of writers and the “fresh blood” that Mr. Luby speaks of will probably come from publications like USA Today.

Bowling has some great writers like Lydia Rypcynski, Jim Goodwin, Chuck Pezzano, Jim Dressel, Tom Clark and Tom Kouros. It’s a shame so few people get to read them. Maybe in March when we all convene in Knoxville we can try and determine the future of the bowling media.

Well, there are a few things to ponder. I would be interested in knowing how your local hometown paper covers bowling. Drop me an e-mail and let me know.

See you on the lanes.

It’s hard to believe how quickly this year passed, but on Thanksgiving my family had so much to be thankful for and this Christmas I know we will celebrate the holiday with renewed faith.

Those who know my family and me are aware that my Sweetie, G.G., was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in July. She underwent neurosurgery and six weeks of daily radiation treatments and through the wonders of modern medicine and the faith and prayers of our many friends and prayer groups around the world she is on the mend, laughing, loving and enjoying life.

It was the most difficult time I have ever encountered. I spent 24-years in the Army and served in Viet Nam and was never as afraid as I was during her illness. We have been married for 40 years and when you see her you see me. For the first time in all those years our life together was in jeopardy.

That’s behind us now and we look forward to the next 40 and thank all our friends for your kind cards, letters, e-mail, flowers, phone calls and prayers. There really is more to healing than medicine.

This year we also saw our oldest Grandson, A.J., (Seems like our family has a thing about initials) graduate and become a United States Marine. He completed boot camp in San Diego and Camp Pendleton and is currently attending school in Pensacola, Florida. It seems like only yesterday he was bowling on YABA. We are very proud and Semper Fi.

I keep hearing how scoring is out of control in bowling. Everyone is rolling 300 games. I feel slighted. Best I could do this calendar year was a 279. I admit, and have witnesses to the fact that every ball was in the pocket. But, I had one stubborn 4 pin. I spared it and didn’t have to switch balls to do it.

On the national level, I got to see my friend Sylvia Broyles elected by a landslide as the President of the WIBC. The WIBC was never in better hands.

I saw great things from the new ownership of the PBA. There is a new format, new season, many new sponsors, a great prize fund and excellent television coverage garnering great ratings. I used “great” a lot because it is great!

I enjoy the bowlers on the PBA running out shots, getting excited and showing some animation. You can only handle so much of the excitement of a Dave Arnold. However, I think some bowlers are very good at it and others are not.

For instance, Ernie Schlegel was good at it. Hand made clothing; long hair, dark glasses and he came from the USA. That’s good stuff.

Marshall Holman only had to be Marshall. You either loved him, or hated him, but he was always colorful.

Pete Weber is the best there is at showmanship and Pete will always be PDW. His ability to perform makes him the natural showman. That’s true with all of the above. It’s easy to be cocky when you’re good and can back it up.

Danny Wiseman on the other hand isn’t good at it. He’s talented, but he tries too hard to pass on an image that to most people looks put on. Kids will tell you if you have to work at being cool, you ain’t. He isn’t. Cool is stepping up in the tenth frame after you’ve been told twice “two to win, brotha,” and burying it twice for the win. Now that’s cool.

I guess no matter how hard I try to understand some things; I still believe that if you can right a wrong you should. ABC should right the wrong and recognize Glenn Allison’s 900 series and ESPN should right the wrong and award an ESPY to Carolyn Dorin-Ballard.

Well, it was a bittersweet year at the Wright house and we are looking forward to 2003. Our entries are in for the ABC and WIBC Nationals in Knoxville and Reno. We look forward to this being the year I will retire for the second time and hopefully the last.

Bowling is doing well in my area and we see no reason for that to change. High school bowling is really coming to life in Texas and here in central Texas we are seeing continuing growth as more schools get involved.

Bowling may not be putting up the membership numbers of the 50s and 60s, but it’s still hard to find a more cost effective sport, you can play year around, all your life with your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Think about it!

From the Wright house to everyone out there, we wish you a Joyous Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

I have written several columns on my feelings about bowling and the Olympics. I would have loved for bowling to be a medal sport in the Olympics. It meets all the necessary International Olympic Committee rules - The IOC insists that the sport be played on all five continents; played in at least 75 countries and is played by both men and women. Bowling does all of that. In fact, bowling could be a sport in which the men and women compete equally. At the present time equestrian is the only sport to have that.

If bowling were to make the Olympics I would have wanted to see amateur bowlers competing, not Parker Bohn III, Walter Ray Williams, or Pete Weber. It aggravates me to no end to see our professional basketball players dominate the sport and humiliate the players at the Olympic level. But, it was an American amateur basketball team losing in the games that changed the rules and allowed for professional athletes to compete. American’s try to justify professional athletes by saying that foreign National teams are really professionals. That’s a weak argument at best.

However, don’t look for bowling in the Olympics in the near future and I would guess, ever.

I always wondered if bowling were to get Olympic authorization would it be a summer or winter game? I would guess summer, but it’s a sport you could have in either.

We know bowling won’t make the 2004 Olympics and don’t count on 2008 in China. The IOC rules are that in order for new sports to be added old sports must be dropped. They are considering dropping baseball, softball and the modern pentathlon. Additionally, one of the oldest Olympic sports – Greco – Roman wrestling is on the chopping block.

I don’t know, but maybe they don’t want to have sports that are decided by score. Instead they want sports that can be manipulated by corrupt officials or the Russian Mafia. Probably not since they are considering adding golf and rugby to the 2008 games.

Now, since there are many professional golfers from countries outside the United States how long do you think it will be before the Professional Golf Association (PGA) starts putting together the “Dream Team?”

I have always wanted to see bowling in the Olympics, but I have since changed my mind. I say let’s quit the pursuit of something that has no chance to be achieved and place more emphasis on high school, college, Team USA and the FIQ. That way we will have world wide amateur bowling each and every year and still be able to tune in the Olympics every four years and see Tiger Woods captain the U.S. Olympic Golf Team.

Something else I have not changed my mind on is the Single Membership Organization (SMO). I know when my friend and President on the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC), Sylvia Broyles gets wind of this we will have another wonderful debate. But, I have not been convinced this is good for “Joe Bowler.”

I have always been in favor of a SMO as it pertains to headquarters and rules. I see absolutely no reason for ABC, WIBC, YABA and all the integers to have separate leadership, staff and real estate. Combine them, save some money and help make state and local associations better rather than eliminating or combining them. The concept of combining associations may work in some places, but it won’t work in many. I have been told there are strong and weak associations and combining them will make them both strong. What about making them both weak? I know associations that just don’t get along with each other and soon they will be combined. I know other associations that have dedicated personnel who have worked very hard to improve the association and make things better for “Joe Bowler.” Many associations have established Halls of Fame and others have not. Some associations have deep histories and others could care less. Combining them isn’t the best solution.

I have been affiliated with my association for 30 years and I can count on my hands the number of times that an ABC representative has made an appearance in my area. If there are state and local associations that need fixing and this has been known for so long why were these folks not out there doing the fixin’?

Let’s have a SMO at National level, but rethink the state and local concept. I really believe the delegates at the WIBC convention knew what they were doing and y’all just don’t get it.

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