The Cornerstone
The Foundation Newsletter
Volume 12, Issue 5 May 2009
"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?"
The Foundation
“One World, One Game”
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Letter from the Editor
Interesting, Unique and Entertaining
If you didn’t watch the PBA Women’s Series Showdown on Easter Sunday; which subsequently aired partially against the Master’s: you really did miss a treat of a bowling show.
First, the format of the show was interesting and entertaining. Three of the six ladies bowled the first match with the winner advancing automatically to the finals. The remaining three bowled the second match with that winner also advancing to the finals. Of the four remaining players, the top three scores moved to the wild card match. The winner of the wild card match moved on to the winner take all final.
Secondly, the environment was unique. For those who have never had the opportunity to visit the laceName w:st="on">KegellaceName> laceName w:st="on">TraininglaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType>, you really are missing out on a true bowling experience. The laceName w:st="on">KegellaceName> laceName w:st="on">TraininglaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType> is a unique scoring environment as when it was built, it was designed with optimum scoring conditions in mind. Additionally, there is CATS (Computer Aided Tracking Systems) on every lane allowing one to get real time data for each shot thrown. There are also cameras mounted on each pair for coaching analysis of a player’s physical game from various angles.
Lastly, the Showdown used a unique scoring system similar to golf scoring. Rather than counting the number of pins knocked down, the score reflects the number of shots required to knock down all of the pins in each frame. A strike in a frame would be a score of one; a spare would be a two; a split might be a three or even more. A perfect score in this; the Petraglia scoring system; would be a 10.
Because of the unique scoring, the format and the environment, the show was very entertaining (read a full recap of the event inside on pages four and five). Additionally, it was great to see the women on TV featured in their own competition. One can only hope that the women were able to pull good ratings as this writer for one would love to see more women’s bowling on TV.
Nebraska earns third NCAA Women's Championship title
Super Bowl in Canton, Mich. (April 9-11, 2009); Nebraska locked up its third national title in six years as it defeated Central Missouri 4-1 in the championship match of the 2009 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship on Saturday.
After splitting the first two games in the best-of-seven match, the Cornhuskers ran away from the Jennies to win the title. They won the opener 200-185, dropped the second game 198-149 and then pulled away with wins of 201-168, 201-177 and 190-134 at Super Bowl in suburban Detroit.
Nebraska coach Bill Straub said he wasn't exactly sure what to expect from his young squad as they took to the lanes under the bright television lights and in front of a capacity crowd. The Cornhuskers feature four freshmen, four sophomores and two juniors, none of whom had previously bowled on television.
"This is real sweet because this team is just so dang young," said Straub, whose team has beaten Central Missouri for all three of its national titles. "I can't know how these teenagers are going to react and to do it on TV - amazing."
Nebraska anchor Cassie Leuthold, one of the two juniors on the team, was named the tournament's most outstanding player as she helped lead the Cornhuskers to a final record of 72-20 on the season.
"It's been a hard road and the work has definitely paid off," Leuthold said. "I couldn't have made it this far without my teammates."
Joining Leuthold on the all-tournament team was Sara Litteral and Erica Perez of Fairleigh Dickinson, Jazmyne Hefflefinger of laceName w:st="on">DelawarelaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, Teresa Christopher of Central Missouri and Valerie Calberry of Nebraska.
Leuthold and Calberry's Nebraska teammates included Kaleena Henning, Jasmine Laugerman, Erin McCarthy, Chelsey Mero, Kristina Mickelson, Katie Ann Sopp, Kayla Stram and Danielle van der Meer.
In the semifinals, which concluded just before the televised finals, Nebraska defeated laceName w:st="on">DelawarelaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> 4-2, while Central Missouri took out Fairleigh Dickinson 4-3.
Sterner Awarded Exemption on 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
Jason Sterner’s petition to be awarded an exemption on the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour has been granted by Commissioner Fred Schreyer.
The basis for Sterner’s petition was the extremely unusual circumstances that arose during the round robin match play portion of last week’s season ending 66th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.
During round robin match play, which featured 24 bowlers after 27 games of qualifying, three players withdrew due to injury. PBA Rule 20.3.5 (Replacing the Alternate) requires that the highest finishing non-qualifier “present in the host center” be offered the opportunity to replace a player who withdraws during round robin match play.
In applying that rule, Mike Edwards, who had finished 36th and was 12 places out of the cut when round robin match play began, replaced Pete Weber who withdrew shortly prior to the start of the final eight game block on Saturday evening. At the time Edwards replaced Weber he was in 37th place on the PBA season points list, one place behind Sterner. This order would have resulted in Sterner being the last player off the 2008-09 PBA point list to retain his exemption for 2009-10 and Edwards to be first man out. By bowling as an alternate, however, Edwards earned enough additional points pursuant to PBA Rule 20.3.6 (Assigning Points for the Alternate) to pass Sterner on the point list and bump him from the final exempt spot for 2009-10.
“The intent of the rules in question is to protect the integrity of the competition, not to affect the order of players on the point list, said Commissioner Schreyer. “An unintended consequence of Rule 20.3.6 was to allow one player to bump another player from the exempt protected list after both players had concluded their participation in our season ending event.
“To deny Jason Sterner a season long exemption for 2009-10 under such circumstances would have been a punitive result. At the same time, under our existing rules Mike Edwards did earn additional points through his participation as an alternate to move up to 36th place on the point list and gain an exemption for the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season. Accordingly, both Edwards and Sterner will be awarded an exemption for the 2009-10 season.”
The decision to award the extra exemption from the point list means one less spot will be available in the weekly Tournament Qualifying Round in exempt field events during the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.
“We will carefully review Rule 20.3.6 during the off-season and make whatever changes are deemed necessary to prevent such a situation from arising again,” added Schreyer.
Dorin-Ballard Almost a “10” in PBA Women’s Series Showdown Win
Hall of Famer breaks TV record with 20 consecutive strikes in women’s special event
Lake Wales, Fla. (April 12, 2009) – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard was almost a “10” in recording one of the most unusual victories in her hall of fame bowling career at Kegel Training Center.
Dorin-Ballard, one of the most successful women bowlers in history, rolled a television record 20 consecutive strikes, including 11 in a row in the title match, to win the inaugural PBA Women’s Series Showdown presented by the United States Bowling Congress which aired on ESPN Sunday.
In an event that employed the Johnny Petraglia Scoring System for the first time on national television, the Keller, Texas, resident posted a near-perfect score of 11 in the Championship Round Title match to nip Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, by a single point and rising star Stefanie Nation of Arlington, Texas, by two points.
Under the Petraglia system, players receive one point for each ball thrown in each frame – and the lowest score wins. A perfect game – 10 strikes – is a “10.” And that’s what Dorin-Ballard almost had, except for the 10 pin she left (and converted) in her 10th frame. Woessner nearly matched her, rolling eight strikes along with a pair of spares in the third and fourth frames for a score of 12. Nation threw seven strikes and converted three spares for her score of 13.
“I’m still in shock,” Dorin-Ballard said. “I was lucky to get into the championship round.”
Dorin-Ballard, who collected a $25,000 first prize, also threw nine strikes in the Championship Round Wild Card match, but she wound up in a 12-12 tie with Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., because she missed a single pin spare conversion attempt in the second frame. Needing a third shot to make the six pin in that frame, Dorin-Ballard’s score of three for that frame kept Macpherson in the match. Dorin-Ballard then had to throw another three strikes in a row to nip Macpherson by a single pin to win a three-ball roll-off to get into the championship round.
“Any time you bowl Wendy Macpherson, you have to bowl your best game,” Dorin-Ballard said. “All of these ladies know how to strike. I knew I had to keep striking to have a chance.”
It was a unique event for the six top performers in the PBA Women’s Series presented by USBC champions during the 2008-09 season, and it gave the women an opportunity to showcase their bowling skills in an usual bowling environment.
“I am glad the women are back on television,” Dorlin-Ballard added. “This series of events is a step in the right direction for the future of women’s professional bowling. With the help of the PBA, USBC, Brunswick, Dexter, Turbo and Kegel, it’s just a matter of time before other sponsors come forward and see the value of the women’s tour.”
PBA WOMEN’S SERIES SHOWDOWN
PRESENTED BY THE UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS
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Final Standings
1, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, $25,000
2, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, $12,000
3, Stefanie Nation, Arlington, Texas, $5,000
4, Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., $3,000
5, Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., $3,000
6, Michele Feldman, Auburn, N.Y., $2,000
Championship (Petraglia Scoring System based on one point for each ball thrown in each of 10 frames; low score wins)
Dorin-Ballard 11, Woessner 12, Nation 13
Wild Card Round (lowest score advanced to Championship Round)
Dorin-Ballard 12, Macpherson 12, Bellinder 17 (Dorin-Ballard won a three-ball roll-off with Macpherson, 30-29)
Elimination Round (winners advanced to championship round; next three lowest scores advanced to Wild Card Round)
Match One – Woessner 12, Macpherson 15, Dorin-Ballard 17
Match Two – Nation 12, Bellinder 15, Feldman 18 (Feldman eliminated)
WANTED: A FEW GOOD LEAGUE-BUILDING IDEAS
Jim Sturm, President of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America, recently asked yours truly to serve on a committee to explore new ways to stimulate and develop league bowling.
Initially, I figured I was the wrong guy to ask. Not only is my experience in this area limited, but it’s been years since I put together a league or recruited bowlers.
It’s also been quite a few seasons since I’ve even been in a league. The last time I was, I cashed- in just before my sliding knee got a chance to dial 911 for medical assistance.
Nonetheless, I soon had a change of mind about participating on that committee. It was due to my observation that the league bowling doldrums, per se, are not the problem. Instead, I am convinced they are the symptom of a confluence of events that has created something of an enigma for proprietors.
Namely, the thought here is that league bowling is operating in a vacuum. It has become an end unto itself.
It didn’t used to be this way.
It wasn’t that way in the ’40s and ’50s when the team element thrived. Team play defined the game at its top levels in that Great Team Era, and was almost a way of life for many keglers. Every city had top-flight league bowlers whose exploits would fill whole pages of the local papers, and whose team members would think nothing of throwing their one-ball bags into the trunk of somebody’s car for a road trip of tournaments and sweepers that emphasized team competition.
The growth and stature of the American Bowling Congress Tournament (ABC) fed into this phenomenon, helping team rivalries blossom. It was accentuated by BPAA’s own Team Match Game Championships. So when the Detroit-based Stroh’s Bohemian Beer team won the 1934 ABC Team title in Peoria, and generated reams of ink in the Midwest, it was; “game on.” The beer companies jumped into the fray to capitalize on this new popularity. They threw increasingly bigger bags of money at some of the best teams to gain publicity for their brands in the area(s) in which they were trying to grow market share. The St. Louis Budweisers became the most famous, of course, but squads like the Falstaffs, the E&B Beer team and the Pfeiffers, et al, gave them a run for the money.
Major tournaments like the BPAA All Star and World’s Invitational cropped up — almost as novelties at first — to showcase the top individual talent. But there was no question team play was where it was at.
Leagues flourished. Bowlers hoping to graduate to the top levels of the game joined classic and major leagues throughout the country. Many keglers began their rise in house leagues populated by bowlers who hoped to hop on that next big beer wagon, whether or not it was pulled by the Clydesdales.
The end was near in the 1960’s.
Then in the ’60s, the breweries began to pull back, punctuated by Budweiser dropping its affiliation with Don Carter & Co. The end of the Team Era was in sight.
The PBA began showcasing the sport’s biggest stars in individual play, and team bowling lost more of its cachet, as well as some of its top players.
So what do we need to fill the vacuum?
The thought here is that new national league competitions might help provide a needed aspirational spark. The PBA might play a role if it redefined the team competition among sponsors as a more meaningful part of its format. The USBC might think about restoring the Classic Division in its annual Tournament. There also is Tom Kouros’ dream of an inter-city major league. Etc.
Here is your chance.
But this is something that must originate at the grassroots. That’s where you come in. Innovative league formats are needed, and your inspiration is invited. Write me (Jim Dressel) by May 1 at jimd@lubypublishing.com and share your best idea(s) for new league ideas that would inspire a resurgence of interest in league play. Winners will be featured in our June issue.
The industry is counting on you.
(NOTE: This article was used with permission. We got it from; www.bowlersjournal.com
It was written by Jim Dressel (April 2009) in his “Bowlitically Incorrect” column.)
GO FOR IT………………YOU may have a great idea.
Where Did Bowling Go?
I remember walking into a bowling center and being greeted by the same guy who worked the control desk for a number of years. He knew my name and was always happy to see me come in. He was the one guy who always had time for any question and he always had the best instruction and advice for the game that I was learning.
I remember the days when the bowling center owner and the general manager knew something about bowling and wanted to talk about it.
I remember the days when I entered the bowling center and would see people on the lanes really trying to get better.
I remember a time you worked hard at your game so you could get out of the handicap leagues and be asked to join the scratch league.
I remember the days when the oil machine was a mythical item ran at the loneliest times of the early morning, never seen in use and never needed because the lanes would be good all day and night.
I remember a time during league bowling when the higher average bowlers walked in with more bowling balls then the lower average bowler.
I remember the smells from the lane finish, lane oil, pinsetter cleaner; smells that when mixed together were not thought as harmful….. but unique to the center.
I remember the times near the year-end holidays when the proprietors would come by and shake the league member’s hands and thank them for their business.
I remember during holiday times that being high on the team won you a bottle of booze, a turkey or a ham, given away by the bowling center.
I remember seeing the Honor Roll Boards full of scores and up-to-date.
I remember being interrupted on the approach to the sound of “Telephone call for Joe Bowler”.
I remember a high score was rewarded with cash, green stamps or savings bonds.
I remember leagues having high game, high series, clean frames, doubles, and mystery score jackpots.
I remember when leagues were a competition between businesses or a small click of guys who liked bowling together who wanted to beat the other guys.
I remember bowling “pot-games” (after league) with those same guys, and others.
I remember when it wasn’t a bother to ask the front desk person to announce that someone shot a game over 200.
I remember when the front desk person knew of a problem with your lane before you called it in.
I remember when teams had enough members that pre-bowling was frowned upon.
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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
“One World, One Game”