Cornerstone Newsletter, January 2007

June Davis — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:35:59 GMT

The Cornerstone

Volume 85 The Foundation Newsletter January 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

A New Year

It’s the start of another year and as I look back, I still wonder where the time keeps running to; it just seems to fly right by with no real stop in between.

If you’re like me, you already thinking about the things you want to do this year. Maybe you have some unfinished projects around your house, perhaps a goal to buy yourself a new car or a new plasma TV, spend more time with the kids, get involved at church or school, maybe a goal to start a new hobby (like bowling J). Whatever your goals for the New Year, hopefully it is something you can stick to and something that you will enjoy.

I’ve already started thinking about some things I would like to accomplish. I have some unfinished projects around my house but more importantly, I have some things I want to accomplish on the lanes. I set some goals for myself in 2006 and I only reached a couple of them. When I look back at 2006, I realize that I worked hard but I just fell a little short. In fact, I almost feel as though I digressed. You see, I accomplished one of my goals and when I did, it seems as though I went on a progressive downward spiral afterwards.

My first goal is to modify my practice routine. I have been practicing to the tune of 50 or 60 games per week. Unfortunately, I have come to realize (the hard way) that practice is about quality and not quantity. I may be bowling a lot but I am not concentrating on any one thing to improve. This is hurting me because I am not focusing on what I am doing; I’m more or less just throwing shots with no real purpose. My second goal is to (try) eclipse my previous high game score of 279. My final goal is to have a lot more fun with bowling. When I first started bowling it was challenging and fun. Now, I find myself getting irritated and mad when I don’t shoot 220 or better. I lost the fun somewhere and I need to find it.

Whatever your goals may be for the New Year, may they be something that will challenge you physically and mentally; may they be goals that will bring you closer to your family; may they bring you new memories; but most of all, may you have fun achieving them.

Happy New Year

Join the PBA in Your League

Most people have heard by now that the Denny’s Professional Bowler’s Association (PBA) has teamed up with the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Sport Bowling division to offer the PBA experience to bowlers across the country. In case you missed that bit of news, here’s what’s happening.

Just before the fall swing of the Denny’s PBA tour kicked off with the USBC Masters, personnel from the PBA worked with personnel at USBC to modify the PBA’s five lane conditioning patterns. PBA athletes joined in to provide input and feedback in an effort to improve each of the five patterns. During this time, as an outsider I can only guess that the concept of the PBA Experience was created.

Centers around the country can host sport leagues as PBA Experience leagues so that bowlers can try their hand at the same (or similar) patterns to those as the professionals tackle each week. Here’s what’s in store according to the Sport Bowling/PBA Experience web site.

Now, you can be a star in the PBA, league that is. You watch Professional Bowlers Association superstar Chris Barnes compete on TV. You notice the decisions he makes on ball choice, hand position, angle to the pocket, revolution rate and ball speed.

Do you ever wonder what it’s like to bowl on the same lane conditions the world’s top bowlers compete on every Sunday? Now’s your chance to bowl like the pros and put yourself in Barnes’ shoes.

The most exciting experience in sports has been unleashed. Welcome to the PBA Experience.

By combining the power of the PBA and the United States Bowling Congress Sport Bowling program, the USBC PBA Experience has been formed to give you a competitive on-lane adventure like no other.

While facing the exact lane conditions used on the Denny’s PBA Tour, you will test and improve your game like nothing else can. This truly is the pro experience for those who are passionate about the sport.

Interested in learning more? Check the USBC Sport Bowling website: http://www.bowl.com/sportbowling/pbaExperience_intro.aspx.

Interested in starting or joining a league? Check with your local bowling center or league secretary about leagues forming in your area. PBA Experience leagues are schedule to begin January 1, 2007.

Mission: NOT SO Impossible

By: Brandy Padilla

Sometimes, when you set goals for yourself, they seem a little well, unachievable. I guess that’s why they are goals and not accomplishments. If everything was easy to do, there would be no superstars and we’d all be, well, perfect. Where I ask is the fun in that?

I enjoy a challenge; I like to set a goal and work towards achieving it. I don’t mind failure because I see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. After all, in failure is where we find true success and it is not until you learn to fail that you can actually find success.

With all of that psychological and inspirational mumbo jumbo, I have this to share with you; read on…

I’ve said this at least 100 times but I’ll say it once more: practice is the only way to improve. Whether it be at bowling, football, or any other activity; practice will help you improve. I have taken this to heart and, for lack of a better phrase, have been working my rear end off on the lanes to improve my bowling game. I literally have been practicing 50 or more games per week. Not only have I been practicing the fundamentals like timing, approach, and release, I have also spent countless hours practicing spares. As such, I have become a much more accurate and confident spare shooter.

I wanted to improve, so I took the initiative. Actually, I wish I could take full credit for my ‘revelation’ but alas I cannot. My good friend will soon be making the trip to Reno , Nevada for Team USA trials. To prepare herself, she has rededicated herself to the game and made a commitment to herself to practice like there is no tomorrow. Since she and I have the same coach, I thought I could use the practice too. Besides that, she has inspired me to be a better bowler. Her hard work and dedication have shown me that even the greatest bowlers can improve and learn. She has also given me some competition and some goals to work towards. I think she is a fantastic bowler and in many ways, I want to be like her. Part of me also wants to be able to beat her so I know I have to work hard. Since she set a goal to make Team USA, I set some goals of my own; first and foremost to eclipse my high game and series and to improve my average. Secondly, I want to be more competitive; I’d like to bowl some more tournaments rather than just small city tournaments and sweepers and maybe even venture to some upper level tournaments like the Queens. I know if I want to accomplish any of this, I have to do my homework.

About six months ago, we started our practice regimen. We started kind of slow with an hour or so practice two or three days per week. We worked on some different patterns just to get a feel for some new things but we stuck mostly to easier patterns so that we could iron out some of the physical things we were trying. Little things like timing and release were issues for both of us and we needed to iron those out. As the months have passed, we have begun to work on some tougher patterns that have really challenged us physically and mentally. We’ve been forced to learn new releases, adjust our timing, play inside and outside lines and keep our heads together even when we get mentally beat. It has been one heck of a learning experience for both of us but for me, it has been war.

I have grown as a bowler rather quickly. I literally bowled my first scratch tournament in February 2006. It was really only a couple of months prior that I even started to take bowling seriously so I have accelerated my learning. Because of this, I have had to work twice as hard as my friend because she has had years of previous experience and I, well, I have only a few months worth. That hasn’t stopped me though; I’ve taken every opportunity to use this situation to my advantage.

As I mentioned in another article a few months ago, I have been bowling more tournaments (smaller sweepers and the like) along with my two leagues per week. My first league is a ladies scratch league that is head-to-head match point format. This makes it fairly competitive since some of your prize fund is based on your individual points earned. I went into this league with a 187 average and have improved that to a 195. I have had several good 600 series and some 240 and 250 games but I have not achieved any of my goals.

My second league is a mixed, four person league where you compete in brackets both as a team and individually. Bowling with men has forced me to work on some things in my game that I don’t really have to do with the women’s league. Since the men typically throw aggressive equipment with higher rev rates, the lanes transition more quickly causing me to need to move to a more inside line. It’s been a challenge, but, like I said, I love a good challenge.

I started the very first week of league with a 660 set. I went into the league with a 187 average so this was personally impressive. I, having very little self confidence, thought that it would quickly go down to ‘normal’ after a couple of weeks. Boy was I wrong. My average did go down but not like I thought it would. I had two or three ‘above average’ weeks and kept my average around 200. I dipped a little below 200 before I had what I thought was the night of my life.

I started out the night with a 240 game and a 220 game. I knew going into the third game that I could eclipse my high series if I just stayed on track. I kept my head together and was making good shots. It came down to the tenth frame. I stepped up to bowl knowing that I needed the first strike. I threw a terrible shot but somehow, the pins all fell. I immediately felt a weight lift off of my shoulders. But, there was a problem. The anchor bowler for our opponents said he did not bowl; that I bowled out of turn. None of us had really been paying a lot of attention, but I argued that the scorer had been on my name. We argued for a moment before his team said that he had not yet bowled. We erased my score and let him bowl. I once gain step up in the tenth. I’ve now been waiting about 10 minutes and I KNOW I need the first one. I calm myself as much as possible and set up for my shot. I threw a GREAT shot…and rung a ten pin. My heart sank as I turned around to walk back to the ball return. I made my spare and then rung a second tin pin for 692; a great set but a disappointment because of the situation. It was hard on me because I had it and then lost it with the controversy that happened. Knowing that I threw a terrible shot that struck and a great shot that did not broke my heart. I swallowed my last little bit of pride and walked out of the center that night hurt and discouraged.

I left it there though. I knew I could not let that one instance affect everything that I had been working on. I would persevere. I worked extra hard in practice over the next few weeks. I worked on spares since I had missed some during my 692 set that could have been the difference in 692 and 722. I drilled myself harder and harder hoping that it would soon payoff.

A few weeks after ‘the incident’, I found myself in the midst of another good night. I started out with one open (a split) for 223. I was executing my shots very well; everything just seemed to feel effortless. We went into the second game and I started with for or five in a row before leaving a single pin spare. I converted it and stayed clean through the rest of the game for a nice 258 game. Everything was feeling good; I was making smart adjustments and keeping up with the transition and I was still executing very well.

We moved into the third game. Now, in my previous experiences, I have always started ‘counting my chickens before they hatch’ so to speak. I always add up more score after two games to see where I stand and what I can shoot (or what I need so that I can shoot an above average set); but not this night. I purposefully did not pay attention to the scores. Other than knowing I needed to keep it clean, I had number I needed so that I could shoot my elusive 700 set. I started out with a couple of strikes but then left four or five single or double pin spares in a row. I was making them but I figured I was pretty much out for shooting 700. I made an adjustment to try to help my carry and found a few strikes. I ended with a 245 game. I turned around after my second ball in the tenth frame and my team was cheering. I sort of looked at them like they were all crazy and asked them why they were cheering. Baseball or something was on TV so I assumed they were cheering for that. They started high-fiving me and welcoming me to the 700 club. I was a little bewildered but had to finish my game so I made my last shot. I came back to our table where they told me that I had only needed 219 to shoot 700. I looked up at my 245 and realized that I had shot 700; 726 to be exact. I almost started crying. The weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders. I was so excited I didn’t even know how to feel. To top it off, I was high man on my team for the night. Since I bowl with three 220+ average bowlers, this was a real accomplishment.

I had wanted to shoot 700 so badly that it was easy for me to get blinded by my scores. I had previously shot 698, 696, 692 and a few 680’s and jest seemed unable to get to the next plateau. I almost wondered if I just wasn’t capable of achieving it. As tough as it was, I never let myself get down; each week I kept chugging along, doing the best that I could to try to make it to that next platform. All that hard work finally paid off and I was able to cross one more goal off my list.

Now that I’ve reached that goal, I’ve set some new ones. I’m still practicing 50 or more games per week; I still spend part of my practice time shooting spares; I practice on tougher patterns that force me to make better shots. I work hard so that I can continue to grow into a better bowler. I want to eclipse my 279 game; I want to shoot 300; I want to continue to improve my average; I still want to be more competitive and bowl larger, more elite tournaments; I may even want to try Team USA some time in my future. Reaching that one goal has helped me realize that I can do it if I put my mind to it. No mission is impossible…

A “Loser” Is . . . . .

For every winner there must be a ton of losers.
Meet some of them.

(Editor’s note: This article was reprinted with permission from the author, Chuck Pezzano.)

A loser is any bowler who takes his bowling too seriously, and his sport too lightly.

A loser is the bowler who finally got to a 200 average on his or her soft lanes, and then thought it was enough to make it on the pro tour, men’s or women’s.

A loser is a league secretary who can’t add, operate a computer, or argue; or a league president who won’t or can’t read bank statements to insure that all league funds are in order.

A loser is anyone who thinks league bowling is expensive, takes up skiing, and discovers that a weekend of skiing can cost more than a season of bowling.

A loser is often a winner who stopped trying.

A loser is the self-professed expert on pro bowling and pro tournaments who never took the time to witness a pro tournament.

A loser is any parent or coach in any junior league who tries to make pros out of kids who are just trying hard to keep the ball out of the gutter.

A loser is a bowler who feels that luck is a consistent factor and that his opponents always get it all.

A loser is a bowler who thinks there is such a thing as an easy spare.

A loser is a bowler who tries to get an extra season out of a pair of bowling shoes, and the bowler’s feet are even bigger losers.

A loser is the bowler who insists on telling fellow bowlers what they did wrong after every shot, and end up losing a bowling friend.

A loser is the bowler who knows that all the bad breaks he gets in bowling will be evened out by good breaks, but he’s also sure that he won’t live that long.

A loser is the tournament bowler who is too busy checking out the average book without checking his checkbook.

A loser is the bowler-golfer who shoots in the 120s in both sports.

A loser is any bowler who can’t come up with a new excuse for bad bowling without thinking about it.

A loser is a bowler who suffers a reputation as an easy loser, even if he’s a so called good loser.

A loser is the bowler who insists on tight finger and thumb holes, tight bowling shirts and shoes, and then gains 10 pounds.

A loser is the bowler who tells his mate that he is going to a short bowling meeting.

A loser is a bowler who always complains about the lanes, but never practices.

A loser is the person who reported that the results of his survey showed that it doesn’t take too much in the way of brains to be a bowler.

We took a survey too, and it showed that it takes less brains to take surveys than it does to bowl.

Chuck Pezzano is the dean of bowling writers. His columns have appeared in newspapers and magazines nationally for over 50 years. He is a charter member of the Professional Bowlers Association, and is enshrined in both the PBA and American Bowling Congress Halls of Fame.

The BTM returns to Reno

High Sierra Lanes will host The BTM tournament, presented by Bowling This Month, starting February 15, 2007. The tournament will run through the conclusion of the USBC Open Championships in Reno.

High Sierra Lanes is located less than 2 miles from the National Bowling Stadium and two blocks from the Peppermill Hotel and Casino. The Peppermill is the host hotel for The BTM and will offer shuttle service between the Bowling Stadium and High Sierra Lanes for bowlers wanting to bowl the tournament and practice for the USBC Championships

Hammer has joined the BTM as the official ball sponsor and every entrant will receive complimentary accessory bag from Hammer. The partnership with Hammer increases the visibility for The BTM and additional bonuses will be announced prior to the start of the tournament.

Kegel continues to be the official lane maintenance partner and will provide the latest in technology to assure the event is contested on a fair and consistent condition for the duration of the tournament. The BTM will be USBC Sport Condition certified in 2007 for those bowlers wanting to test their skills on a certified Sport Condition.

Thom’s Thum is also on board this year as a sponsor.

The BTM management continues to listen to the bowlers and added the Alibi Sidepot in 2007 that will allow a bowler to throw out their low game. A special prize list will be created for the High three game total.

Additional information can be found at www.bowlingthismonth.com or call the BTM hotline at 1-800-218-1667

Linda Davis honored with: “The John Davis Award”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 1, 2007.

In a surprise announcement, Linda Davis the loving wife of Kegel Founder John Davis has been selected as the 2007 recipient of: “The John Davis Award”. The presentation of this prestigious, annual Award was made during Kegel’s Xmas Party in Lake Wales Florida Ironically, this was also Kegel’s 25^th Anniversary and well over 200 of Kegel employees, their families and friends were there to celebrate the joyous occasion. Linda now joins a very impressive list of previous honorees that include: Joyce Deitch (2001- the 1^st honoree of the Award), John Weber (2002), Ted Hoffman (2003), Jim Dressel (2004), Mark Gerberich (2005) and Carmen Salvino (2006).

In 1996, John Davis (Founder of the Kegel Company) called together a knowledgeable group of professional lane-men in an attempt to scientifically research the seemingly endless problems that were affecting the Sport of bowling. From that week-long meeting, a ‘Guild of Lanemen’ was then established and Davis promised that this group of dedicated bowling people would be involved in as many major bowling events in the world as possible. He also promised to exhibit all of the research found for the whole world to see on the company’s website. Soon thereafter, ‘The Foundation’ was formed. He has stuck to his word to this very day.

John, the founding ‘father’ of The Foundation, has been totally involved in bowling for nearly his entire life. At an early age, John's father taught all of his children how to bowl, and that ‘love affair’ with this great Sport has been going on for well over a half century. In his 50-plus years of involvement with bowling, it is safe to say that no one has done more for the Sport of bowling than Davis. Even though the Kegel Company is comparatively small, his personal investment in bowling has been unselfish and unmatched. His innovations, inventions, contributions, etc., have also been well documented in the past. His leadership in technology and humanities along with his complete knowledge of the Sport make him perhaps the most sought after figure in the game today. His behind-the-scenes committee ‘work’ is also globally welcomed. Because of his vast accomplishments and devotion to the Sport, the Award (aptly called: "The John Davis Award"), was established by The Foundation in his name.

The phrase, ~”Behind every great man, is a great woman”~, was never so true as in this case, as Linda has been with John from the very start when they started out working together on his first lane cleaning tool in their garage with their good friend, David Jennings. Throughout those past 25-years, Linda has been at John’s side encouraging and supporting him every step of the way. As the Company grew, so did their family as they were blessed with 3-children, that at times she had to raise on her own as John frequently traveled in his quest of solving problems around the world. When he started The Foundation, she was one of the very first to step up and contribute.

Speaking of contributions, there are not enough words to explain all the things that she has done.

This prestigious honor is presented annually to a deserving Foundation Member. A beautiful, “one-of-a-kind” perpetual plaque, with the words inscribed: “For Outstanding Contributions and Extraordinary Efforts of Behalf of the Advancement of the Sport of Bowling”, and bearing all of the past recipients names, is permanently displayed at the home of The Foundation, in The Kegel Training Center, in Lake Wales, Florida. Linda also received a beautiful and unique facsimile.

Congratulations Linda! ALL of bowling sincerely thanks you for ALL of your contributions to our Sport and we personally thank you for your help and efforts with The Foundation.

Membership Report

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 Netherlands Antilles N. Ireland 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

KEGEL
I.B.P.S.I.A.
KAT Travel
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

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Cornerstone Newsletter, January 2007