The Cornerstone

The Foundation Newsletter

Volume 10, Issue 8     August 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

A Big Surprise

When I decided I wanted to bowl the PBA Experience League at my local center, I really had no idea what I was getting in to. I decided a little last minute that I wanted to bowl; OK, so really last minute; I called the Friday before when we would start on Tuesday. The league director put me on the waiting list and then surprisingly called me later that afternoon to let me know that she had a spot for me if I wanted it. Of course, I jumped right on it because I was ready for the challenge.

So, I show up the first week for league and I was really surprised to see that the league was in fact full. People were really supportive and the turnout really baffled me. I guess I was most surprised because I have come to think of bowlers a wee bit negatively and they were really putting me in place (which for the record is GREAT and I am more than willing to eat my words).

But now, we are nine weeks into the season and there are people who have dropped out. Unfortunately, the rumor mill has fired up and the rumors say that people are dropping out because they aren’t averaging very high. So much for eating my words. The people that were once so supportive have now realized that maybe a sport shot isn’t what they thought and rather than toughing it out and learning, they are dropping the league like a hot potato. This disappoints me to no end. Here I thought our bowlers were really stepping up to the plate when really they are just a glimmer of what part of the problem with bowling is.

It seems so easy for people to “care” about the “sport” but when it comes time to actually take action, our most vocal “supporters” run and hide. This is something that truly frustrates me and if I could have one impact in bowling and teach people one important thing it would be this: You cannot continue to complain and not offer solutions to solve the problem; thus you are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

A Queen-like Experience

An Editorial By: Brandy Padilla

In my quest to become a better bowler, I have learned that if you want to find out where you stand or where you fit into the ranks, then you have to compete against the top competitors. This holds true in every sport. So, in late April, I joined the ranks of nearly 400 women to compete in the USBC Queens tournament in Matthews, North Carolina.

Going into this tournament, I knew that I had my work cut out for me if I wanted to make my goal of making the first cut. After all, even I know enough to realize that I am competing against the best women bowlers on the planet and they will show no mercy in their quest to be the best. That said, I was also confident in my ability. I spent hour after hour, day after day in training. I practiced on some tough patterns and worked mostly on making good shots and staying on the head pin, making my spares and controlling my emotions so that I wouldn’t let my head get in my way. I really thought that I was ready and I knew that it would be a good experience no matter what the result.

I packed up my gear and met up with a friend early on April 27. We caravanned with each other on the nine hour trip from Florida to North Carolina. It was an uneventful drive with the exception of some hard rain that we hit in South Carolina. We parted ways just across the North Carolina state line as she headed to her hotel and I headed to mine knowing that we would meet up again at the bowl for the orientation meeting and practice. I was on B squad and she was on D squad so we would both be practicing on the “used” condition as that is what we would be see first in competition.

I arrived at my hotel with just enough time to breathe and stretch before having to get myself ready to head to orientation. Since I was a first time Queens attendee, I figured the orientation would answer all of the last minute questions and it would give me an opportunity to see who else was bowling. Additionally, I would be at the lanes and ready for the early practice session (on the fresh) so I could see how some of the other bowlers attacked the lanes.

Practice seemed to go by so quickly and before I knew it, it was my time to practice. I had already scoped out the lanes that I would be bowling on and I had a general game plan for how to attack them during my hour of practice. Since the house was a three sided house and I would be bowling on all three sides, I wanted to make sure that I spent at least 15 minutes in each area to acclimate myself with the approach conditions and the environment in each area. I took copious notes on my practice so I could remember what I felt worked and what I felt did not. I made sure that I paid close attention to my ball reaction while trying some different lines to get to the pocket. After my practice was complete, I packed up feeling confident that I would be able to achieve my goal based on the results of my practice. I talked to a few friends before heading back to the hotel just to get their thoughts and I even called my coaches to get their thoughts. Overall, I still felt confident.

After a fairly good night’s rest, I dressed, had some breakfast and headed to the bowl to watch the last few games of the first squad. I paid particular attention to some of the top women bowlers and how they were attacking the lanes. And then it was time; I shoed up and stepped onto my starting pair. It was an intense moment for me knowing that this was my first major tournament and I wanted to enjoy it as well as learn from it. Unfortunately, things did not go quite as well as I had hoped. I felt like I was executing my shots well but I found myself missing spares. I also made some bad decisions and did not make a big enough move soon enough. So, after the first day, I was well below where I wanted to be and I knew if I wanted to make that goal I would have a lot of work to do on the second day.

I took a break and went back to the hotel. I relaxed for a little while before heading back to catch the end of the third squad and the beginning of the fourth squad. It was interesting to see that there were people having success from a couple of different places on the lanes. I had really struggled with the initial line I selected but had found better success with a more inside line albeit a bit too late in the day.

Knowing I had to be up early, I left without watching the end of the fourth squad. I head back to get some rest and prepare myself for the next day.

Once again, I got ready, had some breakfast and headed to the bowl. I felt confident that I would bowl better than I had previously and faced the day with continued confidence that I could hold myself together. We started our block and I seemed to get into a groove a little more quickly than I had on the first day. Unfortunately, I was still missing a lot of spares and I was finding difficulty in striking. My good shots that hit the pocket were not carrying so I was leaving back row pins and some unfortunate pocket splits. It was a difficult day but I improved my first day’s performance by more than 50 pins.

In the end, I did not meet my primary goal of making the first cut. I did however make myself proud because I learned more about myself than I ever expected. I was pleased with my ability to focus on my tasks and keep my head out of my way. I took each shot individually and never let one shot effect another one. This, for me, has been one of the most difficult lessons to learn for once I get frustrated, I stop focusing on what I am doing and I keep thinking about what I had done. I cannot change the shots I have already thrown so there is no need to dwell on them; I must refocus my attention to what I can control and concentrate on each of the shots to come. While this may seem like an obvious thing, it is unfortunately something that I learned the hard way.

In the end, my first Queens experience was really an up and down roller coaster of emotions. I went into this tournament with many odds being against me but I never let down; I persevered and kept my head up even when I was down. I normally go into a tournament having someone there to help me, an extra set of eyes to guide me, but I went into this one, my biggest one, all on my own. This made it a little tougher on me because I did not have anyone to lean on when I started feeling lost. I had no one to help me so I relied solely on myself; no support to help me stay focused, no one to cheer for me, no one to make suggestions. In that respect, I did more than I could have ever imagined that I could. I talked to my coaches after each squad and they continued giving me words of wisdom while trying to make some suggestions; they tried to keep me positive even as I was sobbing into the phone about my experiences and they too did more than I could have expected from hundreds of miles away.

Now, I have no real experience in tournaments until this one, so I must say that even though I did not achieve my goal, I am proud of the way I performed. I will certainly be better prepared heading into future tournaments because I can look back on this Queen-like experience. 

Complete Queens Tournament coverage can be found at: http://www.bowl.com/tournaments/usbcwomens/queens/main.aspx

Nicholson Earns 47th Flowers Award

Las Vegas: For years, the 2007 Flowers for the Living honoree has had one of the most unenviable jobs in sports. On June 26, during the 2007 International Bowl Expo, the tables were turned in Las Vegas when all the kudos he earned for doing that job so well and under the most trying conditions netted Len Nicholson the ‘Flowers’ award. It is an honor presented to someone in bowling who is admired, respected and, indeed, loved.

Turnabout, as they say, is fair play. In Nicholson's case, we might add, it was overdue.

Nicholson was part of the PBA's original lane maintenance team, along with Sam Baca. In that role - either with Baca, or individually - he has been involved in analyzing, cleaning and conditioning bowling lanes in more bowling centers, in more cities, in more states, and in more countries than anyone in the history of bowling. The numbers are staggering. He has been involved in doing the lanes for the PBA for over 800 tournaments, which included the National Tour, the Senior Tour and all of the PBA's seven regions.

He has the distinct honor of being the only person to have been in charge of conditioning lanes for every PBA member who is currently in the PBA Hall of Fame. This man traveled the PBA Tour for over 25 years and has worn many ‘hats’ in this sport that he loves. As a result, his insights into bowling are unique and often sought after from his peers.

These days, as host of a 24/7 internet-based bowling webcast, many know Nicholson as ‘The Phantom.’ He has turned ‘Phantom Radio’ into a ‘must hear’ webcast since originating the show in April of 2001. His webcast has attracted a litany of guests and celebrities all across the bowling spectrum in the over 270 shows he's done since.

As bowling Hall of Famer and longtime friend Billy Hardwick describes him, "Lenny was totally crazy but, everybody loves the guy. You can’t help but like him. He’s a man’s man."

The Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award was created in 1961 by the late Cleveland Kegler Publisher Sam Levine, and is based on a poem by former Ohio Associated Press editor Fritz Howell. In the poem, Howell suggested that deserving individuals be honored while they were "still alive to smell the flowers." The award is intended as a surprise to the recipient. Honorees are determined by a special committee of prominent bowling writers.

This year’s award was presented by Hall of Fame legend Billy Hardwick, and Bowlers Journal Editor Jim Dressel, former chairman of the committee.

 Everything you ever wanted to know about  “The Phantom” and more at: www.kegel.net/library/articles/LenNicholson

Sam Levine

FLOWERS FOR THE LIVING

Award

Year                 Winner                                                 Presenter(s)

1961                Fritz Howell Sports Editor                    Sam Levine

Feb ‘62            Joe Smolen ABC Executive                  Billy Sixty

Oct ‘62            Sam Weinstein Broadcaster                  LeRoy Chase

Sept ‘63           John O Martino Writer                         Ed Reddy

Feb ‘64            Joe Norris Bowler                                Herta and Joe Kissell

Oct ‘64            Marion Ladewig Bowler                       Harry Grove

Sept ‘65           Billy Sixty Writer                                  Ray Nelson

Jan ‘67             Tom Bolger Sports Editor                     Frank Baker

Oct ‘67            Steve Cruchon Publisher                       Charles Walby

Dec ‘68            Bruce Pluckhahn ABC PR Mgr            Al Matzelle

Nov ‘69           Frank Sczepanski Publisher                  Doug Mintline

Apr ‘71            Frank Baker ABC Executive                Sam Levine

Nov ‘71           Hank Morino Bowler                            Jesse Dudley

June ‘72           Sam Levine Publisher                Al Matazelle

Jan ‘73             Bill Hengen Sports Editor                      Dick Finke

Nov ‘73           Alberta Crowe WIBC Executive           R. R. Woodruff

Nov ‘74           Mort Luby Jr. Publisher                        Sam Weinstein, Paul Colwell, Judy Soutar

Nov ’75           Fred Wolf Broadcaster/Bowler            Steve Cruchon

Nov ‘76           Chuck Pezzano Author/Columnist         Joe Antenora, R. R. Woodruff

Nov ‘77           Eddie Elias PBA Founder                     John January

Nov ‘78           Emma Phaler WIBC Executive             Sarah Westlake, Martha Merrill

Lee Evans Writer (died before presentation)

Nov ‘79           Dick Weber Bowler                             John Archibald

Nov ‘80           Bill Doehrman Bowler               Herman Meusing

Nov ‘81           Byron Schoeman Columnist                  Helen Baker

1982-84 The award in hiatus because of death of originator Sam Levine

Mar ‘85           John Jowdy Columnist/Coach   Sam Weinstein

Feb ‘86            Don Carter Bowler /Proprietor             Dick Evans

May ‘87           Joe Lyou Publisher                               Chuck Pezzano

Apr ‘88            Helen Baker WIBC Executive Sam Weinstein

Apr ‘89            Pat McDonough Publisher                    Jerry Levine

May ‘90           Helen Duval Bowler/Coach                   Red Pfeiffer

Nov ‘91           Jim Bennett Brunswick Executive          Sam Weinstein

Dec ‘92            Earl Anthony Bowler/Broadcaster         Don Snyder

Feb ‘94            Millie Ignizio Bowler                             Bruce Pluckhahn

Mar ‘95           Augie Karcher WIBC PR Mgr             Jim Dressel

Mar ‘96           Bob Zellner Sports Editor                     Chuck Pezzano

Mar ‘97           Angelo Biondo Sports Editor                Sam Weinstein

Nov ‘98           Jack Reichert Brunswick Executive       Jim Dressel

June ‘99           Chris Schenkel TV Broadcaster            Mort Luby Jr.

Mar ‘01           Wayne Todd Historian             Jerry Koenig

June ‘01           Tom Kouros Writer/Coach/Proprietor Jim Dressel

Mar ’02           Glenn Allison Bowler                Bob Johnson

June ‘03           Dick Stoeffler Bowler/Proprietor/Writer Jim Goodwin

July ‘04            Jeanette Robinson Bowler/Coach/Writer Frenchy LeTourneau, Jim Goodwin, Jim Dressel

Mar ‘05           Pearl Keller Writer/Promoter                Chuck Pezzano

June ‘06           Walt Steinsiek Cartoonist/Writer           Bob Cosgrove

June ‘07           Lenny Nicholson Technician/Web Radio Pioneer Jim Dressel

Bowl Expo 2007

With John Berglund Acting as Its Quarterback, The 2007 Convention of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) Proves a Winning Attraction to 5,538 at laceName w:st="on">MandalaylaceName> laceType w:st="on">BaylaceType> in Las Vegas For this year’s Bowl Expo

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The 43 bowling proprietors who gathered June 7, 1932, in Detroit would have been proud of what they conceived – an impossible dream that became an American mainstream reality.

Chicago’s Nick Bruck, elected the first president, would have been proud of Fort Lauderdale’s Joe Schumacker who served as president of the 75th Bowling Proprietors Association of America Convention June 23-28, 2007 at the laceName w:st="on">MandalaylaceName> laceType w:st="on">BaylaceType>.

A record 5,538 signed up for the BPAA event that had something for everybody. That was up six percent over 2006, which was eye opening since the  BPAA convention traditionally shows a slight decrease its second straight year in Las Vegas.

If Quarterback Peyton Manning was the cornerstone to the Colts’ Super Bowl victory, then Executive Dir. John Berglund was the foundation of the 6-day BPAA convention that featured a lot of scoring plays.

Berglund did it all with finesse –  passing off key assignments to his receivers, deftly making hand offs to his ball carriers,  maneuvering behind his blockers and when necessary carrying the old pigskin himself.

And make no mistake; Berglund had a winning team on his side of the ball.  It seemed like everybody who was anybody – including wives – carried out their assignments without once fumbling the ball or being called for a penalty.

The Mandalay Hotel/Casino/Meeting Rooms/Convention Center presents a formidable challenge in itself. For the delegates and visitors it required being on your toes and not giving in to sore feet or tired backs.

To Berglund’s staff, it meant smiling and getting things accomplished even when a little tired and weary from sometimes working from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.  I heard a lot of positive comments, but I never heard an unkind word about of any staff member.

It was encouraging to hear so many proprietors say that their business was up and I was in downright awe about the action that all the exhibition booths were getting – Ebonite especially caught my eye.  Robert Reid, vice-president/marketing for Ebonite International, hinted that with the addition of Columbia and Track balls it could be a record Bowl Expo year for the fast growing company located in the little town of Hopkinsville,  Ky.

There were several bowling groups in attendance with their own agendas, but somehow Berglund and his efficient staff were up to the challenges.  These groups included bowling writers from as far away as Germany and South Korea, bowling proprietors from across the world, USBC leaders, all branches of the United States Armed Forces, the PBA Commissioner, elite and soon to be elite bowling coaches, bowling ball and lane manufacturers, pro-shop operators, food and beverage experts, computer whizzes, tournament  promoters, lane machine inventors, insurance experts, past BPAA presidents and Hall of Famers and great bowlers like Walter Ray Williams, Pete Weber, Tommy  Jones, Parker Bohn, Chris Barnes, Mike Aulby, Wes Malott and Carolyn Dorin Ballard just to name a few.

And then there were the keynote speakers – James Carville and Mary Matalin who gave hints about how to live a happy married life despite being separated politically and offered some tips about the next presidential election.

Jay Levinson should have put a little fear into the proprietors with his ‘Guerrilla Marketing’ talk that centered around more and more government regulations that could not only hurt the BPAA but America.

Jeff Boje, the former BPAA president who is now president of the USBC, gave an inspiring talk about how the membership organization was going to push bowling as a sport. You can’t be anything but impressed with his demeanor and love for bowling as a sport.

Joe Schumacker was free with his praise but also challenging with his remarks and took a few swipes at the Professional Bowlers Association (which will be addressed in a later column).

But to this old reporter, John Sommer’s grandchildren were the biggest hits of the entire convention.

John Sommer, who last year was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame for his devotion to women’s pro bowlers and high school bowling, gave a heartfelt acceptance speech after being inducted in the BPAA Hall of Fame. I was in awe of the BPAA presentation and was hoping that all of the USBC officials in the audience were taking stock of the prestigious induction ceremony.

Sommer, a private man who avoids the spotlight, appeared slightly nervous during his short speech, but was he was left speechless when his grandson, John Nicholas Sommer (8) walked up on stage and did a beautiful rendition of ‘God Bless America’ without music and his 7-year-old sister Brynn Elizabeth Lambrecht ‘signed’ the song with her hands for the deft people in the audience.

On a personal note, I have to thank Marie Shatto, Cary Richmond, John Berglund, John LaSpina and anyone else associated with the presentation of the impressive Chief Wapensky award to this old bowling writer.I always knew the BPAA members were courteous, but I didn’t know how kind they were until being congratulated by so many after my 133 second acceptance speech…...brevity has its rewards.

I also was elated to see fellow BWAA members like Joan Romeo, Lenny Nicholson and Hazel McLeary receive special recognition during a BPAA event.

It was this 75th national convention that Nick Bruck and his fellow pioneers would have thoroughly enjoyed – if they had good walking shoes to maneuver back and forth across the giant laceName w:st="on">MandalaylaceName> laceType w:st="on">BaylaceType> complex that could use walking sidewalks.

(NOTE:  This column was written by Hall of Fame bowling writer Dick Evans.  It was formatted and edited for space for The Foundation Newsletter with Mr. Evans permission, and we thank him for that).

BOWLERS EMBRACE RETURN OF

U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

GREENDALE, Wis. - For years, the world's top women bowlers have craved for more opportunities to compete at the sport's highest level. With the revival of the U.S. Women's Open, those bowlers are embracing the upcoming chance to compete against the best.

The U.S. Women's Open presented by the United States Bowling Congress will be conducted for the first time since 2003, the same year the Professional Women's Bowling Association ceased operations. The event will be held Aug. 13-18 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., with the elimination and championship rounds telecast by ESPN beginning in September.

The return of one of bowling's major events has Team USA standouts Diandra Asbaty of Chicago, Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Shannon O'Keefe of Rochester, N.Y., excited for the future.  "I'm very hopeful this is the start of something big," said Asbaty, a nine-time Team USA member and 2003 graduate of the laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType> of laceName w:st="on">NebraskalaceName> who never got the chance to compete on the PWBA Tour. "I really think people are going to respond to this event in a very positive and major way."  Pluhowsky, a three-time U.S. Amateur champion and the 2006 USBC Queens champion, has traveled the world competing at the highest level. She grew up with the ambitions of making a living as a professional bowler.  "We all grow up hoping to be able to bowl professionally," said Pluhowsky, who also bowled at Nebraska. "I think this is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, these events will lead to the creation of another women's pro tour."

While there is no full-time women's professional tour, the Professional Bowlers Association will conduct four special women's events, called the PBA Women's Series, alongside selected regular Denny's PBA Tour events this fall. Qualifying for these events will take place during the U.S. Women's Open.  "In order for this sport to survive, we have to give the young women something to look forward to," said O'Keefe, who finished fifth at this year's USBC Queens. "The PBA Women's Series and the U.S. Women's Open do just that. I think it's awesome."

The U.S. Women's Open final rounds will feature a bracket elimination format in which the top 16 players will compete on television. In a deal with ESPN, the first four rounds of the finals will be taped Aug. 17-18 and shown on Sept. 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7. The final four competitors will return to Reno for a live televised championship round on Oct. 14.

The U.S. Women's Open has an entry fee of $250 and is open to any female USBC member. The event will feature a guaranteed prize fund of $150,000, including $25,000 to the winner. The players who advance to the top 16 are guaranteed at least $3,000.

Competitors in the U.S. Women's Open will also have the option of paying an additional $750 entry fee to have a shot at 16 spots available in the PBA Women's Series, which will feature four events with a total prize fund of $50,000 for each event, including a top prize of $10,000 and last cash of $1,800.   The championship match of all 4 PBA Women's Series events will be televised as part of the ESPN telecasts for the 4 Denny's PBA Tour events in which women's events will run concurrently.

Earlier this week, the PBA announced that it would no longer require PBA membership for the 16 players who qualify for the Women's Series. The move allows amateur players, such as those on Team USA, to maintain their amateur status.  For additional information on the U.S. Women's Open, visit:  www.bowl.com  where online registration is available as well as entry forms.

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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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