The Cornerstone Newsletter - April 2007

June Davis — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:17:50 GMT

The Cornerstone

The Foundation Newsletter

Volume 88 April 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?"

Letter from the Editor

It’s Just the Name of the Game

I’ve literally poured myself into becoming a better bowler. There was a time when I didn’t care and I just wanted to bowl for fun. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with this sport; maybe because of my work, maybe because of the people I’ve gotten to meet and the things I’ve gotten to do, or maybe because I’ve seen how great and how tough this sport truly is. I genuinely love bowling and because of this I have dedicated myself to becoming a better athlete.

Unfortunately, as with any sport, there is always a little bit of luck involved. I may go to any of my regular leagues or even a tournament being as prepared as I can be but you can never overcome luck.

It really doesn’t matter how much work I put in; sometimes you will get beat by luck. One person may be able to carry when you cannot, one person may be able to get the high hits, the light hits and trip the 4-9 all while you drill the pocket and leave corner pins. It just happens that way sometimes. It doesn’t mean that you aren’t a great bowler; it only means that you weren’t the best on that day.

This is something that I’ve learned the hard way over the last few months of my oh-so-short bowling career (if you can really call it that). I’ve worked very hard the last several months to improve and I have hit a slump where I am not bowling as well as I think I could. Some of it is physical and/or mental and some of it is just how the pins fall; things just DO NOT always go your way and that is just the nature of the game.

EAGLE WINS THIRD GBT CROWN IN MICHIGAN OPEN

The Eagle has landed - again. Dale Eagle is the winner of the Generations Pro Bowling Tour Michigan Open. After very high scores the entire event, Eagle and Texan Mark Estes squared off in a hard fought title match that went down to the final frame, with Eagle winning 190-174. Eagle earned $8,000 for his third GBT title. Estes took home $4,500.

In the championship match Monday evening here at Royal Scot Lanes, Eagle looked strong starting the match, striking on three of his first four shots, but in frames five and six, disaster struck. In frame five, he left the 2-8-10, and then followed with the 4-6-7.

Estes was also struggling with a 7-10 split in the second frame, he was trailing until Eagle’s two opens gave him an opening. But it wasn't his night. With a chance to take the lead, he left a washout in frame six, and Eagle then doubled to regain command.

Even then, it was not over. When Eagle left a 7-10 in the ninth, he had to strike out to force Estes to double Estes, playing the far outside line, tossed the ball wide in the tenth for a six count, and was denied his first GBT win.

"The title pair played different for me than they did all week," said Eagle. "The ball was sliding on the right lane, and hooking on the left. I moved right, and it got tighter, and I left the 7-10. I just had too much speed on that shot. I just kept moving, and thank God I won."

"I thought the lanes were pretty nice," said Estes. "I had a good shot off the gutter, but I just threw a couple of terrible shots like the one in the tenth when I still had a chance to win."

By becoming the GBT's first three time titlest, Eagle may now be the favorite to become the first GBT Bowler of the Year. He now trails David Ozio on the money list by less than $3,000. He has $63,800 to Ozio's $66,300.

In prior matches, Estes defeated three GBT champions to advance. He beat Dave Ferraro 247-227, Mark Roth 202-181, and Ozio in a thrilling semi-final 275-263.

In the Classic Division, Roy Buckley won the first two matches. He beat Matt Buxton 207-190 and Ron Winger 245-204, before losing to Eagle 257-212.

The GBT now moves to Fort Wayne, Indiana March 9-12 for the Indiana Open, hosted by Georgetown Lanes. Five events remain in the inaugural GBT season.

Final Event Results

Senior Division

Championship Match

Dale Eagle $3500 bonus def. Mark Estes [190 - 174]

Stepladder Matches

Match 3: Mark Estes def. David Ozio $3000 [275 - 263]

Match 2: Mark Estes def. Mark Roth $2000 [202 - 181]

Match 1: Mark Estes def. Steve Ferraro $1500 [247 - 227]

BRAZEAU WINS FIRST GBT TITLE IN FORT WAYNE

Fort Wayne, IN - Brian Brazeau turned 50 years old on January 17, and on March 12 he won his first national professional title. Brazeau, a pro shop operator and sales rep for Morich Bowling Products, defeated Hall of Famer Gary Dickinson 234-214 here at Georgetown Bowl Monday evening.

He earned $8000, and Dickinson claimed $4500 as the runner-up.

In the championship match, Brazeau was in control the whole way. He started with a four-bagger, left a 4 pin, and then reeled off three more strikes to seal the victory. Dickinson started with a spare, then got three strikes, but left the 2-4-10 in the fifth. He made the split, but never could catch up without a double in the second half of the game.

"This whole day is a blur," said Brazeau. "Good fortune was with me all week. I'm kind of speechless. I had to beat two Hall of Famers to do this, and it's just a fantastic feeling. I just called my wife, and she's crying - everybody's happy! This is just great, really great!"

"I had a decent start," said Dickinson, "but I didn't throw it very good after that split in the fifth. I made it, but never got it going again. Even if I did, Brian had a really good look and he bowled so good he would have been hard to beat."

In the matches to determine the division winners, Brazeau defeated David Ozio 216-193, and Dickinson beat Ron Winger 216-179.

Prior to that, Dickinson downed Ben Hoefs 232-212, and Ozio got by Gary Smith 233-216. In the first game of the stepladder finals, Ozio beat Mitch Jabczenski 214-188, and Hoefs defeated last week's GBT champion Dale Eagle 227-174.

The GBT Indiana Open was the 13th of 17 events in the Generations Bowling Tour's inaugural season, and it drew a full field of 80 top senior bowlers. Event #14 will roll March16-19 at HP Lanes in Columbus, Ohio.

Georgetown Bowl, Fort Wayne, IN

Final Event Results

Championship Match

(Winner earns $3500 bonus)

Brian Brazeau def. Gary Dickinson [234 - 214]

Senior Division

Stepladder Matches

Match 3: Brian Brazeau def. David Ozio $3000 [216 - 193]

Match 2: David Ozio def. Gary A. Smith $2000 [233 - 216]

Match 1: David Ozio def. Mitch Jabczenski $1500 [214 - 188]

Politically Speaking

An Editorial By: Brandy Padilla

Politics infect everything we do, everything about the society we live in; gas prices, health care, education. It seems in some way, politics have some effect in our daily lives and I’ve come to find out, albeit the hard way, that politics even affect bowling.

The story I am going to share is not only true but very personal for me. Read on.

Over the past months, I’ve written several stories about some of my personal accomplishments, not to gloat or be boastful, but in hopes that I may affect someone else’s life. By sharing my experiences, if I help one person realize how great this sport is, then I have accomplished my goal; to touch a life through bowling.

If you’ve read any of my stuff in the past months, you know that a few months ago, I finally achieved one of my goals; a goal that seemed to have been dangling in front of me and thereby plaguing me for a very long time. On October 12, 2006 I finally shot my very first (ever) 700 series. For me, it was a much anticipated and long overdue reward for all of the hard work and dedication I had been putting in.

You see, I had been so close to that plateau on several occasions yet seemingly fell just shy each time. Before I actually hit 700, I shot a 696 in a tournament (which even helped me to a Handicap All Events title). A spare in the tenth of the last game would have given me my first 700, but as I released that first shot a little too far to the right, it did not recover and make it securely back to the pocket thus leaving me with the 6-7 to convert for “victory”. I actually tried to make the spare and was close sending the 6 just behind the 7 to shoot 696.

During my next “close” attempt, I shot 698 after being more than 110 over for the first two games having shot 250-something the first game and 260-something the second game. Going into the third game, I knew I only needed to be clean and have a decent game. Unfortunately, it is easy to succumb to the pressures, especially personal pressures when you put so much emphasis on a number. I fell short once more shooting 180-something for a 698 set. During this particular instance, I got down on myself because I miscalculated my scores in my head and actually thought I had my 700. When I added the score sheet and it hit me, I was disappointed.

My last “close” shot was during summer league. I had two pretty good games to start but still needed about 220 to clench a personal victory. I needed the first hit in the tenth frame of the last game. I stepped up on the approach sticking to my pre-shot routine in an effort to keep my nerves from becoming a factor. As I released the ball, I felt the disappointment start to wash over me because I threw what I thought was a terrible shot. I got lucky and it struck. I felt a huge weight lift but as I turned around, I see our opponents arguing with my team. Amidst a bit of controversy, I found myself lose what I had worked so hard to achieve. The anchor bowler for the opposing team claimed to have not bowled his frame. The scorer indicated that it was my turn so I had bowled. We argued for a few minutes and then reluctantly erased my score because none of us had really been paying attention. Their bowler made his shots and then I once again stepped up needing that first hit. I took a deep breath as I began my approach and I threw a great ball. The pins exploded (or at least that is how it seemed) as the ball pushed through the rack leaving me with a solid standing 10 pin. I was crushed. I shook it off as best as I could and made my spare. I threw my fill shot and left another 10 pin to shoot 692. I left the bowling center in tears that nigh; tears of disappointment and a feeling of failure as I once again fell short of the set I so desperately reached for. I was truly hurt and felt like I may never reach that plateau.

Now, fast forward a couple of months. I still want a 700 but I’ve been working on my mental game and trying not to put so much emphasis on one thing. Rather, I think about a routine and repeating that routine each time. I think about focusing on the things I can control; timing, arm swing, release; rather than fretting over the things I cannot control; ball reaction, pin action, and carry. I focus on the things I am doing well and don’t try to change my game during league.

Having put so much pressure on myself over the course of almost a year, when I actually reached my goal, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Because I had such high expectations, part of me was expecting the bowling center roof to open and there to be Disney-esque fireworks with a parade as my fellow bowlers lift me into the air and carry me around the center while chanting my name. But back to reality; we all know nothing of that sort happened. I did however expect some sort of congratulatory fanfare. In our center, things like that normally get announced over the PA system and a bowler gets a bit of personal glory in that recognition. I’d been there when it happened for other people so naturally I just figured it would be the same for me. When I did shoot my 700, things did not happen the way I had imagined them.

I knew I would be eligible for my USBC 700 award; a coaster or pin or some other commemorative award; and I would now be eligible to join the elusive association women’s 700 club. I also thought, given that I had received a plaque for 692, that I would receive one for me newly achieved 700; a 726 that I was extremely proud of and relieved to have obtained. To say I had high expectations for my achievement would be grossly understating reality; I seriously had a vision of grandeur regarding this particular accomplishment. Unfortunately, because I had put such high expectations upon this achievement, I was setting myself, albeit unknowingly, for big disappointment.

The night I shot my coveted 700, there was no announcement over the PA. The only people who even noticed were my teammates. The opposing team did not even realize that this was my first 700. There was very little congratulations; no handshakes or hugs, no celebration, obviously no fireworks or parade; it was as if nothing had even happened.

I shook it from my mind (at least I tried to) passing it off as an oversight; after all, I’m one of hundreds of people and it’s easy to be overlooked. But then it took over two months before I got my USBC award (a 700 pin). It took more than four months to get an application to the 700 club; another thing I tried to write off as oversight but could not given that I saw another person shoot 700 and immediately get an application for “the club”. And I guess 692 is better than 726 because that is the plaque; the lone plaque; that adorns the bare wall in my office.

This is where I think the politics of bowling come in to effect. Why is it that one person is ‘overlooked’ while another person gets ‘proper’ recognition? Bowling is as political as any other sport. Sometimes it isn’t about bowling at all; it’s about people or about “cliques” or “groups”; who you may or may not be friends with.

I’ve paid my dues as has any other member in good standing. As a paying and active member, I expect the associations; local, state, and national; to work for me. In this particular case, I must say, that I feel like they are working against me. I only want for each bowler to be treated equally; no bias based on skill or style, or who you happen to be friends with; simply one association that serves the bowlers efficiently and effectively.

Unfortunately, it is scenarios like this that I think push bowlers away. If the associations were run like businesses, scenarios like this may not occur. When bowlers get frustrated, they leave. If we could perhaps put the focus back on bowling and get away from a few of the ‘cliques’ and politics, perhaps bowling as a sport would once again flourish.

It Would Have Been Fun And Interesting to Go Back in History and Discover How the Founding Fathers Decided on Different Rules for 150 Sports.

(NOTE: From time-to-time, we feature articles from other writers that we find to be interesting and that our readers would enjoy. This article was written by noted bowling writer, Dick Evans.

Dick currently writes for the Miami Herald and his columns are syndicated in several bowling papers throughout the country. He is a member of both the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame. We have reprinted (and edited for space) this story with his permission, and we thank him for that.)

It would have been interesting to be around when the founding fathers decided on some of the basic rules for different sports – especially bowling and tennis when it comes to second shots.

In many sports, especially the individual type, you live or die with your first shot or first swing or first kick or first serve. Not in bowling and tennis.

Everyone knows that some rules have been changed in many sports to fit the changing times and demands of spectators and television. And sometimes some obscure so-called rules are really just part of tradition. When I asked a jai-alai expert why a player could run past the serve line

before throwing the pelota with his cesta, his explanation – “its tradition.” In other words, he couldn't find me a written rule about the unorthodox serve technique but as far as anybody knew it had been part of the Basque game forever. That's tradition.

Although bowling had been around for ages, the American Bowling Congress was established in 1895 and the organizers of the new tenpin organization came up with most of the basic rules that still apply today – the lane measures 60 feet (from foul line to head pin) and the bowling ball may not weigh more than 16-pounds. And then they also decided that a bowler should get two attempts to knock down 10-pins in any frame. If he/she did it with one ball, then the bonus was bigger. Since I wasn't there to listen in on the debate, the ABC founders may have just been trying to create a fun game that would catch on with the American public.

There is no reason that the lane could not have been 90-feet long, which would have made the game much tougher and eliminated a lot of today's controversy about high scoring. If I recall correctly, one company built a 90-foot lane in the casino at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno during an ABC Convention, and bowlers learned how hard it was to throw strikes from that distance. Of course, a 90-foot lane would have been tough on the Proprietors, especially if you wanted to build a new bowling center today. That extra 30 feet needed for each lane really would have certainly pumped up the construction prices.

I have no idea how the tennis founders decided that a singles court should be 78-feet long and 27- feet wide. Maybe they ran back and forth across different size courts before deciding that 78 by 27 was ideal from an endurance standpoint.

And unlike most sports, the tennis founders decided a player should get a second chance to get his/her serve in the serve box if the first serve was out of bounds. If the organizers had decided you only got one serve, then today's game as we know it would be vastly different, especially on the pro level where anything goes on the throwaway first serve.

To make things even more complicated, the tennis rules makers came up with different rules concerning when the ball hits the net during a serve compared to when the ball hits the net once a game has started. On a net ball on your serve, you get a free serve if the ball was in. During a game, you have to hit a net ball if it remains in the field of play. They also decided that no set should end in a tie and a player had to win by two games, for example 9-7. But that rule was eliminated in most pro tournaments because television wanted to speed up the game – thus the introduction of tiebreakers. In addition, clubs and tournament groups and even players can

alter the length of a game if they so desire.

Unlike bowling which has a fixed set of standards for how the game will be played and scored, tennis allows different tournaments, leagues and players to determine a lot of their own playing rules. For example, most colleges do not recognize let balls on serves - if the ball hits the net and lands in the service box then it is in play. If the ball hits the net and falls out of the designated area, then the server loses the point.

Then there is baseball, which has no rule about the distance from home plate to any outfield wall but has definite rules about the size of the infield, and the distance between the bases.

And who in the world decided that three strikes constituted an out and four balls constituted a walk? That rule seems unfair to the batter, or too fair to the pitcher… depending whether or not you are standing on the mound or standing at the plate.

In the old days, basketball gymnasiums came in different sizes – especially at the high school level – but the free-throw line always has remained the same along with the height of the basket, which still stands at 10-feet.

But don't get the wrong idea. Not all sports are created the same.

American bowling is dominated by the game of ‘tenpins’, but in the Northeast section of our Country the games of ‘duckpins’ and ‘candle pins’ were at one time very popular. For years, Canadians have loved the game of ‘five pins’, where each bowler is allowed three shots in a frame. That means you get three chances to knock over only five pins. The game is surprisingly difficult. Plus, in many parts of the world the game of ‘nine pins’ is popular.

Canadians enjoy football, but on a 120-yard field, and of course there is the new Arena football concept that is slowly catching on. And for years, the goal posts were built on the goal line in the National Football League before being moved back 10-yards, to the back of the end zone.

Of all the sports, tennis probably has allowed the most changes in the hitting apparatus (racquet), football the most changes in the configuration of the ball, and bowling the most changes in the surface of the ball; wood, rubber, polyester, urethane, resin, etc. All are considered technological improvements for the different sports.

It all makes me wish that I was around when the playing rules were established for more than 150 sports.

The 10 Commandments of Competition

(Part 1 of 2)

Athletes practice many physical game exercises. Successful bowlers understand that practice is the way to develop and maintain the ability to compete at high levels. Failure to practice will increase the risk of getting worse or, at the very least, being unprepared to perform. An athlete must adopt dedication to preparing physically and mentally for competition. An athlete does not suddenly acquire a strong mental game. The following items are a great way for athletes to approach bowling either in practice or competition.

1. I CAN HANDLE IT.

Before ever picking up a ball, athletes must believe that they can handle any result, outcome or experience. That is the essential building block for everything in competition. It is OK to want things to turn out for the best. However, athletes cannot bowl effectively if they’re afraid to miss the target or generally embarrass themselves. Develop a firm belief in the affirmation or key self-talk phrase, “I can handle anything that happens.” Athletes who can say that (and mean it) are truly free to play the game. Begin that thought process well before you arrive at the center.

2. INTERNAL PERMISSION.

One of the mental potholes in our sport occurs when a bowler is not entirely present before delivering a shot. This may occur when the shot is too easy or when there are other distractions. Athletes must be mentally focused when making a shot. An athlete must have the “go” clear to corral the range of feelings, such as; boredom, excitement distractions and over-awareness. It’s a must to develop a word or thought to get you centered and ready to go. Words like, “now’. “Yes”, and “go” are examples of internal triggers that give you permission to execute the shot.

3. MAKE EVERY SPARE SHOT.

Regardless of whether you succeed or fail, your shot should be executed properly. Many athletes, when faced with a tricky or important shot, change their delivery or release. They rush, point and muscle the delivery because they no longer trust their ability. Commit to a spare path instead of a spare line, which tends to be too skinny to hit reliably. Quirt your mind and then take you’re best executed shot. Make or miss, an athlete can execute a great spare shot every time.

4. NO “ANYWAY” SHOTS.

Never roll a shot when something isn’t right. Whether a distraction is real or perceived, you must develop the discipline to avoid an “anyway” shot. Instead of stepping off the approach to center you for a minute, you may have made a quick delivery and regretted it. If something isn’t right, regroup. It’s well worth the extra few seconds to deliver the ball with confidence.

5. BREATHE.

A full breath into the diaphragm helps take the body out of an overexcited fight-or-flight response; it helps you to become centered and present in your thinking. It also fuels physical energy. As part of a “pre-shot routine”, taking a breath takes almost no time. Try breathing down the back of your throat and filling the back of your lungs. That process will result in a full and complete breath.

(NOTE: This is part-1 of a 2-part article that was copied from the spring issue of: “US Youth Bowler”. It was written by Dr. Dean Hinitz, noted sports psychologist and a leading authority on psychology in bowling. The article was edited for space, and used with Dr. Hinitz’s permission. You can look for Part-2 in an upcoming Cornerstone Newsletter. Editor).

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.

Vincennes University

BowlersParadise.com

Virtualtournaments.com

Wichita State University

David Driscoll & Associates

International Bowling Industry Magazine

Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine

_________________________________________

Please send change of address or email address to the address below, to ensure uninterrupted subscription to the Cornerstone newsletter.

THE CORNERSTONE,

THE FOUNDATION’S NEWSLETTER

The Foundation

c/o Kegel

6800 US 27 North

Sebring FL 33870

Phone: 863-382-2643

Email: savrsprt@yahoo.com

The Foundation / The Foundation / The Cornerstone Newsletter / The Cornerstone Newsletter - April 2007 / Latest Posts

The Cornerstone Newsletter - April 2007