The Cornerstone
The Foundation Newsletter
Volume 87 March 2007
"The crisis is upon us, friends. Our sport is in trouble. Many of you, that love the game as we do, will look at the crisis like a friend who is in trouble and needs our help. We must not shrink from the task before us, we should welcome it. It is 'our' generation that has been called to the challenge. If not now, when? If not us, who?"
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Letter from the Editor
Norm Duke
Whether you are a Norm Duke fan or not, I’m sure you’ve at least heard about his recent injury and the controversy surrounding his recent withdrawal from several PBA events.
Just in case, here’s the recap. After winning the Columbia 300 Classic in mid-December 2006, Duke sustained an injury to one of his toes while in his hotel room forcing him to withdraw from the H&R Block Classic after throwing just one ball in competition. Expecting to return during the Earl Anthony Medford Classic, Duke once again withdrew after throwing just one competition ball. The next tournament was the Dick Weber Open; an open tournament that any bowler may enter regardless of exempt status. Duke did not participate in this tournament and continued to cite the injury as he withdrew from the Motel 6 Classic and the Sun City Classic. During the GEICO Classic and the Go RVing Classic, Duke once again threw one ball in competition and then withdrew marking seven straight tournament withdrawals.
According to PBA rules, a bowler must throw at least one shot in competition to be eligible for any prize monies. Because of this rule, Duke was able to cash in all of the events he withdrew from except the Dick Weber Open, the Motel 6 Classic and the Sun City Classic. During these three tournaments, he withdrew in advance, which in turn allowed an additional bowler to advance from the Tour Qualifying Round (TQR). By not withdrawing until after throwing a competition shot in the other tournaments, Duke earned an $1800 paycheck and prohibited an additional TQR bowler from advancing and potentially earning his/her own exemption.
This is where many fans are having issues. Should Duke be allowed to collect a paycheck for throwing just one ball in competition (knowing that he will not be able to bowl the tournament)? He did earn his spot on tour and as such earned the right to elect to withdraw after the start of the tournament and still collect a paycheck. However, many others would argue that Duke already has an exemption for the 2007 – 2008 season so why not withdraw in advance and allow an additional TQR bowler to have the opportunity to earn a spot on tour?
No matter how you look at the situation, Duke has earned his right to be there. I don’t necessarily agree with what is happening but the rules allow it. And the only way to prevent something like this from occurring in the future is to take a closer look at the rules of the PBA game.
WRM 2007 will not be hosted in Qatar
WORLDLETTER-PLUS
Special Release, February 8, 2007
Yesterday it became clear for the ETBF Presidium that Qatar Bowling Federation has decided to cancel the World Ranking Masters 2007.
The cancellation, which comes with a very short notice since the WRM 2007 was supposed to be conducted 30 April - 6 May in Doha, was apparently necessary because the roof of the bowling centre needs a repair in exactly the period, where the WRM 2007 should have been played.
We received the information from the WTBA Secretary General yesterday, who also could inform us that there is no actual solution to this suddenly occurred situation.
Basically there will be two possible solutions; either to cancel the WRM 2007 completely or to locate another host with a very short notice. We were informed by WTBA, that a final decision will be taken at the latest 28 February.
The situation is indeed very regrettable for the sport of bowling in general, for the ranking system in specific and of course not least for the players qualified for the WRM 2007.
Besides being regrettable for many reasons, a cancellation of the final for the three zone tours are far from acceptable for ETBF, and the ETBF Presidium have therefore immediately decided to take action in a number of areas.
Non refundable air tickets
If no WRM 2007 will be conducted, ETBF has requested WTBA to raise a financial claim for Qatar Bowling Federation, with the purpose to fund players who have documented non refundable air tickets, already booked for the WRM 2007 for them selves and eventually companions.
Financial compensation for the 16 players qualified from Europe
ETBF keeps € 20.000, which should have been used for players travel and accommodation support for the WRM 2007 and for Europe’s part of the WRM 2007 prize money.
If no WRM 2007 will be conducted, the € 20.000 will be divided equally among the 16 qualified players from Europe and soonest possible after a decision from WTBA is known, each player will receive € 1.250 as a financial compensation for the non conducted ranking final.
EBT Masters as of 2008
The ETBF Presidium wants to eliminate any risk of another similar situation ever to occur again, and it is therefore decided to introduce an independent European Bowling Tour final - THE EBT MASTERS - which will be conducted for the first time in 2008, based on the end standing of the women and men divisions of the European Bowling Tour 2007.
Originally the EBT Masters was meant to be played for the first time in 2009, but as a consequence of the very unfortunate situation for the WRM 2007, the ETBF Presidium decided to expedite the conduction of the first EBT Masters with one year.
The creation of an EBT Masters, and following changes, are described in a separate press release concerning the EBT Masters in the future.
We will, naturally, keep you posted about any development in the WRM 2007 situation in the coming period.
Kim Thorsgaard Jensen
ETBF Vice President / EBT Director
A new star of the EBT: EBT Masters as of 2008
The ETBF Presidium has decided to untie the bands between the European Bowling Tour and the World Ranking System.
The decision was in the first hand meant to be in effect as of the EBT 2008, but as a consequence of the recently uncertainty of the conduction of the World Ranking Masters 2007, it became obvious for the ETBF Presidium, that it was essential to untie the bands with immediate effect, meaning as of the EBT 2007 already.
As a result of this strategic decision, the following will be in effect as of 2007:
The EBT will get its own final, under the name EBT Masters and it will be conducted for the first time in 2008 as the final of the EBT 2007.
The top 16 women and the top 16 men of the end standing of the EBT 2007 will qualify for the EBT Masters 2008.
ETBF will guarantee that an EBT Masters will be conducted every year and accordingly there will be no doubt that the top ranked players of an EBT will qualify for a final.
ETBF opens for the possibility that tournaments outside the jurisdiction of ETBF could be adopted in an EBT, but not necessarily already in 2008.
Should the World Ranking Masters 2007 (or later) be conducted, then the EBT still counts as the qualification for the WRM and it will still be the top 8 women and the top 8 men of the end standing of an EBT, who will be qualified for participation.
The WRM will, anyhow, as of the EBT 2007, be considered as an optional and additional opportunity to compete for the top 8 ranked in each division and their participation in an eventually WRM will no longer be financially supported by ETBF.
As a natural consequence of the creation of the EBT Masters, most of the tour prize money will be canalized to the EBT Masters as of 2007, but a prize of € 2.500 for each of the tour winners in 2007 will remain.
In the same spirit the financial travel support will be removed, but ETBF will ensure that each of the 32 participants in the EBT Masters will be awarded a minimum of € 500, at this moment presumed as € 500 to the 8 lowest positioned players in each division.
ETBF expects a minimum prize pool for the first EBT Masters of not less than € 40.000, but hopefully higher, all depending on possible name sponsors and bids from potential organizers.
The format of the EBT Masters will, from a starting point of view, be identical to the format of the European Champions Cup. This means for each gender / division; 3 X 8 games qualification (one long oil squad, one short oil squad and one mixed oil squad) followed by a top 8 elimination in best of 3 games matches.
A possibility is to conduct the EBT Masters on Monday-Wednesday just after the conclusion of one of the tour stops, but this is only one possibility. The host of an EBT Masters can, besides being one of the stop organizers, be a federation or a company, as decided by the ETBF Presidium.
The minimum mandatory requirements for an EBT Masters organizer are airport transportation service at arrival and departure, shuttle service hotel-centre-hotel during the event, normal host administration costs and all expenses related to a Technical Delegate, unless an external lane maintenance agreement covering the EBT Masters exists.
In addition (and optional) it is possible for the EBT Masters organizer, to offer additional prize money for an EBT Masters. Such additional prize money will be added to the minimum guaranteed prize money pool.
The EBT Masters will, preferably, be conducted in the interval of February - July, but exceptional good bids from a potential EBT Masters organizer can influence the decision of the dates of the EBT Masters.
When this press release is issued, ETBF is ready to accept bids from organizers applying for hosting the first two EBT Masters in 2008 and 2009. An official invitation to apply for hosting these two events will be issued shortly from now.
The revised EBT Rules for both 2007 and 2008 are available at www.etbf.dk under the item Publications.
Kim Thorsgaard Jensen
ETBF Vice President
REVIEW – “The Fastest Show In All Of Sports”
The Phantom Radio Show is a syndicated Real Audio Radio Show that can be accessed through the Internet at www.foundation300.com or any of over 100 links on various bowling sites on the Internet. The Show is an Internet based bowling ‘talk show’ that is conducted by ex-PBA lane man and bowling guru, Len Nicholson. It is done via phone and recorded weekly with Audio Software, called: Real Player. It is the equivalent of a Bowling "Squawk Box" interview, that’s done live, and raw. Nicholson works for the Kegel Company, which is a lane maintenance and world leader in bowling solutions. He is a speaker, teacher, coach, bowling lane consultant and super lane guru. He was a former lane maintenance director for the PBA for over 25-years.
After one is transported to the Phantom Radio page, and then clicks the Real Audio link for the current show, it loads a ram file onto your hard disk and begins downloading the program. Usually, you may need to load the first couple of minutes on pause before pressing the play button, which then aids in an uninterrupted program - depending on your Internet Band-width.
After pressing the play button you will hear the Phantom's Radio Show Theme Song – “Mission Impossible”. Lenny is a real supporter of "Saving our Sport", so one could give a little chuckle about his choice of theme songs. The Foundation is about just this. Nicholson, a fervent believer in the "Great Sport of Bowling", is as great of a leader and advocate that one could find.
A typical show will start with The Phantom taking the mike and saying, "This is The Phantom. From the Worldwide Web, Welcome to Phantom Radio", in his godly good ol' boy paused voice. He always sounds like he is having a grand time of it, enjoying it all - his job that was meant to be, doing what he loves. He’s always congenial and referring to bowling as: "Our Sport".
The Phantom has had a laundry list of names on his show that can only be termed as fantastic, or as The Phantom would say, “Phantom-Tastic”. It’s the: “Who's Who of Bowling”; Legends, Pro Bowlers, Industry Leaders, anyone who is anyone at all has been called out to support the Show. It is an incredible list of past guests - some departed, some old, some controversial, and some (most) of the best. Phantom Radio is the place to be if you love the "Sport of Bowling".
There seems to be a pre-scripted format to this 24 -28 minute Bowling Radio Show. As the show begins, always count on The Phantom to spill out well rehearsed quotes like: "I guess that's why they call it the fastest Show in all of Sports." Other catchy words and phrases are thrown in between comments by the guests. Lenny is a real hoot, when getting near any of his worldly famous bowling guests, candid and always egging the guest on, being the good egg host, himself.
The Phantom is a great interviewer, always able to dig down and get the real personality out of his guests. His loose and chuckling personality throwing in good old humor, and fervor for the game, is contagious. "I'm going to ask you one more thing that listeners want to know", is when The Phantom will deliver his version of a kindly low blow - straight to the heart, want-to-know question. I always love this spot. He often digs in, hoping and entertaining for a little egg on the face of his guest. He’s probably thinking - how ya going to get out of this one? - old friend; ha!
On a recent show, Carmen Salvino, was the Phantom's guest, and what a guest he is! Carmen always open, friendly, and full of whim relayed several of his great “stories" when prompted by The Phantom. Apparently as a very young bowler, Carmen was in a doubles competition with an older bowler, and Carmen was very concerned about this older bowler being able to have the stamina to make it through the last few grueling set of games. Moving to the next stage of the story, "What goes around - comes around, baby", he sarcastically, spouted out! Now, he continued to tell when he was in his 50's, and he was bowling in a doubles tournament with a younger bowler (in a turnaround is fair game routine). The young bowler, standing next to the ball return rack, told Carm that he wanted to ask him a question. Hall of Famer Salvino caught onto this quickly, and told him to move away from the ball return rack by twenty feet - which the youngster did. I'm going to tell you one-time softly, so the ball doesn't hear my age, which is "50-something?” But the ball doesn't know how old I am, and as long as the ball doesn't know it, and I don't want it to know. Otherwise, I'll start leaving those weak tens. (Paraphrased).
Phantom was also needling Salvino about his rumored mob connections, inferring that Salvino was proud of having all the inherited traits and genealogy of an Italian (and being from Chicago), might have known Al Capone (or some of The Mob), and got a few favors. Carm replied starting to get a little heated, that he didn't hang around those guys, or even was interested in thinking or having any notions about it. Carm indicated that the Italian's were very big into making shoes, Cement Shoes, that is. "I prefer wearing my own bowling shoes”, he quipped. (Paraphrased).
Again, The Phantom, prompting for more, with a ditto remark; in which Carm instantly ticked out and reminded him - that Jim Dressel, editor of Bowlers Journal International, really should try to improve on his vocabulary and content, being a journalist, and all. Apparently, one of them received an e-mail reply on a subject with only a one word "ditto" as a response - then attaching their own ditto to the ditto. Always, the jokester, Carmen agreed, back to The Phantom - Ditto, Ditto and Ditto! Both were chuckling away; exciting even more dittos.
Jim Dressel, being a guest on the next week's show, retorted that, "He could never get a word in edge wise with Salvino.” It was just a way to agree with Carmen, without having to have a lengthy heated exchange. Jim, being a good friend of the great Salvino, was all praise for the man, placing him high up in bowling, as our current "Ambassador of the Sport". But, when reflecting about the story, replied, "I'd just like to forget him, but that's another story."
Well, I think that all who have ever tuned into to this show will "Ditto" that it is one of the best, wonderfully entertaining sport shows in all of sports, Ditto! When the show is about to close, Lenny will always comment, "The old clock on the wall tells us that we are almost out of time, and we only have a minute or so left.” There are some things in bowling that are a must have accessory, one could say that the Phantom is such, but I like to think of it as a bowling staple, our bowling lives have been enriched by The Phantom's radio presence." Phantom, you're the best!
(NOTE: This ‘review’ (edited by space allowed) was by Jon Wolfe and was found on his blog, which is maintained for the serious bowlers. His address, is: http://keglerx.blogspot.com If you love bowling (as we do), please go to his site check out all that Jon (keglerx) has to say, as it is updated frequently and is full of some great bowling information. Thanks, Jon – appreciate it).
Dexter Signs On To Sponsor 2007 Teen Masters
The 10th annual Teen Masters Bowling Tournament is underway, and youth bowlers across America are now qualifying for the exciting and rewarding TM National Finals, to be held July 29 – August 3 at the Orleans bowling center in Las Vegas. Returning to the impressive list of Teen Masters sponsors this year is Dexter Bowling Shoes. Dexter is the #1 bowling shoe in the world, and the most innovative and technically advanced foot products available for bowlers of all skill levels.
“Dexter understands the importance of youth to the growth and future of bowling, and we enthusiastically support that belief with a deep commitment to the Teen Masters,” said Dexter national sales director Bud Clapsaddle. “The young bowlers involved in events like this are the very best this sport has to offer.”
Dexter has also made a serious commitment to educating bowlers through clinics and seminars. Dexter staff pros Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Brad Angelo travel across the country teaching fundamentals and techniques to get to the next level of competition.
“Dexter was one of the very first companies to sponsor the Teen Masters, and we’re very excited to have them back,” said Gary Beck of Killer ‘B’ Promotions. “Because of their dedication to youth bowling and support of the Teen Masters, our 10th anniversary event promises to be the most memorable yet!”
The qualifying rounds will be held in dozens of bowling centers nationwide January 29 through May 13. For a list of qualifying locations, visit the website www.teenmastersbowling.com. A ‘Last Chance’ event will be held in Las Vegas just prior to the national finals July 29 at the laceName w:st="on">SouthlaceName> laceType w:st="on">PointlaceType> laceName w:st="on">BowlinglaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType>.
The Teen Masters is America’s most exciting youth singles event. In the past decade, the Teen Masters has rewarded America’s best youth bowlers with over $500,000 in education scholarship funds.
The Teen Masters is presented by Killer ‘B’ Promotions, and sponsored by Dexter, Southwest Airlines, Kegel, The Professional Bowlers Association, The United States Bowling Congress, and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America. Qualifying is January 29- May 13 leading to the TM National Finals July 29- August 3. It is open to all high school and younger bowlers who are certified USBC members. For complete rules, entry information and a list of qualifying centers, visit the website www.killerbpromotions.com or call (434) 823-BOWL.
USBC Open Championships Set to Kick Off in Reno
By: Brandy Padilla
As of this writing, the 104th USBC Open Championships are scheduled to begin in Reno, Nevada in less than one week. In fact, in mere days, it will be business as usual for the tournament site, the National Bowling Stadium, as more than 80,000 bowlers are scheduled to appear in the host city between February 17 and July 1.
During the 135 consecutive day event, visitors are welcomed free of charge at the National Bowling Stadium anytime during the tournament hours; 7 AM to 2 AM each day. And just in case you aren’t quite getting how long that is; the tournament will run 19 hours each day during the 135 day tournament run. That means there will be about 2565 hours of bowling over the course of the tournament. Additionally, there will be 1140 minutes of bowling each day for a total of 153,900 minutes of bowling during the entire tournament. Want that in seconds? 68,400 seconds per day or 9,234,000 seconds of bowling over the 135 day run. That is a lot of bowling.
If you haven’t registered as one of the more than 16,040 teams that will be participating, know that you still have time and there are still open dates. The tournament registration deadline was extended until March 30 and as of this writing, there are still many March and April dates available.
Sixteen thousand teams descending upon Reno; known as the Biggest Little City in the World; means there will be more than 80,000 singles competitors and 40,000 doubles teams which should keep the competition interesting to say the least.
Last year’s tournament in Corpus Christi ended with a bang after more than 140 days of competition as long time singles leader Norm Titus, who shot 810, was eclipsed by former PWBA pro Wendi Macpherson, who shot 811. But that wasn’t the high series of the tournament. Kristal Scott posted a tournament high series of 816 during the team competition. Scott and Macpherson are currently the only two women to roll 800 series during USBC Championship competition.
The 2006 tournament featured 31 perfect games, 16 299 games and six 298 games. There were only three 800 series rolled. Competitors knocked down 94,503,474 pins in 546,992 games yielding an average of 172.9. There were 501 clean sets recorded.
This year, 2007, marks the 104th running of the event. Reno is hosting the tournament for a record eighth time breaking the previous record which was tied with Buffalo, NY and Toledo, OH. During this tournament, the prize fund will also set a record breaking mark as it eclipses $7 million for the first time in the history of the event.
What other record breakers will be recorded? Only time will tell. And with 135 days of competition, there is sure to be many more chapters to add to the pages of the USBC Open Championship’s history book.
Some Bowling History…and an Opinion
By: Len Nicholson
There is a lot of speculation as to when the game of bowling actually began. Some say that the game has been around for over 10,000 years. A few years ago there were some artifacts that were found that support those theories. There is also some ample proof (in bowling’s archives), that the game was seriously played in 5200 B.C.
Throughout those hundreds and thousands of years, the game took on many different forms, in many different Countries. On several occasions, throughout the history of the game, the actual game obviously changed. The changes were for several reasons. At one time (in the 1800's), it was banned on Sundays in this Country. The history of bowling is well documented in many publications and makes for very, very interesting reading.
In the late 1800's, there were several groups in this Country that had ruled the game. A serious problem developed when all of the groups had different rules and regulations. The popularity and the growth of the game had come to a standstill because of these differences. In 1895, a new group called The American Bowling Congress (ABC) took over in an attempt to standardize all of the rules and regulations. Basically, this new group was a political force that possessed a will to keep the game alive. As difficult as it was to do, the ABC succeeded and began to enforce their new, "iron-fist" standardization.
At that time, many "major" changes needed to be made to standardize the game. Some of those immediate changes included the following: A. Flat gutters lowered to 2-inches; B. Periodic lane inspections by ABC personnel; C. Minimum pin weight set at: 3 lbs. & 2 oz.; D. Bowling ball weight set at a maximum of: 16 lbs.; E. Flat gutters (again) lowered to: 3 & 1/2 inches; F. Resurfacing of bowling lanes required every 12-months, (in 1909); G. Minimum pin weight, (again changed) to: 3 lbs. (plus or minus 2-ounces); H. DoDo bowling ball outlawed; I .Lacquer (synthetic) lane coatings developed to replace shellac; J. Approval of 42-inch, with-the-grain drum sander (replacing the hand used, 12-inch belt-sander). Those were just a few of the most important changes that came to the game, and that the ABC enforced. These, in my opinion, were all positive changes.
However, it is also my opinion that the change that was made in 1963, stands as the most critical change in the modern history of the game. Bowling Proprietors were enjoying a boom in business and politicked the ABC to change the resurfacing rule that was already in place. The ABC gave in to their pressure, and now the Proprietors could forego this all important, critical maintenance duty until their lane surface surpassed the existing ABC specifications. This was (and remains), a crucial mistake.
Within a few years, lane conditions began to be sub-standard. Lane patching and excessive re-coating became the norm. More application of lane oil was needed to off-set the higher friction that was being created. Some huge inequities were beginning to be seen among the top players in the game, and it was starting to become very noticeable on the Pro Tour(s). Social problems emerged due to lefty-righty problems that were occurring.
It could have been avoided.
It should have been avoided.
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Membership Report
We have members in all 50 states, and the District of Columbia
We have members in 49 countries, including the United States:
Argentina Australia Bahrain Belgium Brazil Canada China Columbia Costa Rica Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Guam Guatemala Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Latvia Malaysia Mexico The Netherlands N. Ireland Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand Panama Philippines Puerto Rico Peru Qatar Scotland Singapore Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey U.A.E. Ukraine Venezuela
Corporate Sponsors
The problems that exist in our Sport are “industry-wide” problems that must be addressed by the entire Industry. The Foundation does all that they can to help, but we can NOT do it alone.
The Foundation has well over 1000-Members who have joined-in to assist. Some Members (Founding and Charter) have paid to show their support. Some Members (Associates) have just lent their “voice”. ALL of the members are important.
Even though The Foundation has NOT actively solicited bowling-related companies for help, some realize the importance of our “Mission” and have come forward with donations. We recognize the following companies for their loyalty and support to bowling.
KEGEL
KAT Travel
I.B.P.S.I.A.
EBN Services
Storm Bowling
Classic Products
Bobs’ Business, Inc.
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BowlersParadise.com
Virtualtournaments.com
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David Driscoll & Associates
International Bowling Industry Magazine
Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine
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THE FOUNDATION’S NEWSLETTER
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