The Cornerstone
The Foundation Newsletter
Volume 12, Issue 8 August 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
Education
How many times have you decided that you want to try something new; perhaps like a new sport? You make a decision that you want to learn something so you fully immerse yourself in it taking in all that you can in every way possible. Let’s say for example you decide to pick up golf. In your quest to better learn the sport, you subscribe to Golf magazine, start watching the Golf Channel, buy some clubs and all the necessary equipment, hit the driving range, take some lessons with a club pro or coach; you really immerse yourself so that you can educate yourself and improve.
Now, apply that philosophy to bowling. When you look at people who are “learning” bowling, do you really think they are getting educated properly?
As a bowler, I should be able to walk in my pro shop and get educated feedback from my pro shop operator as to which bowling equipment would help me. My pro shop operator should also be able to educate me about my game; in essence they should be able to coach me to help me improve not just be there to sell me a ball and some shoes. Additionally, they should be able to explain lane conditions to me. The desk clerks at the bowling center should be able to offer educated advice as well. There is no reason a desk clerk shouldn’t be able to give me a couple of pointers. Who knows; that five minutes of advice could make a difference in my game and keep me coming back. I think educating the bowler is part of the key to retaining them.
But I don’t think it’s just about educating the bowler. Mechanics, pin chasers, lane maintenance staff, desk clerks; everyone in the bowling center needs some training and education. With the rise in technology in the game, no one can just be expected to “figure things out”. Lane machines nowadays are complicated computers. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can create a very unhappy atmosphere for your bowlers. Machines that don’t run properly create frustrations for bowlers as well. Lane men, mechanics, pro shop operators; they all need certain skills to do their jobs properly. Educating them properly not only helps them do their jobs but it helps keep your bowlers happy and in the end that helps your bottom line.
Invest in your business; educate your staff, educate your bowlers and in the end, I think you’ll impact your business in a very positive way.
Stu Upson Named USBC Executive Director
By: Jason Overstreet; USBC Communications
ARLINGTON, Texas - Stu Upson has been named executive director for the United States Bowling Congress by the USBC Board of Directors. Upson brings to USBC 20 years of sports and entertainment business management experience and a proven track record of success in a variety of organizations.
Since 2002, Upson has served as senior vice president for Skip Barber Racing, the world's largest automotive education and entertainment company. Based in Lakeville, Conn., Skip Barber Racing operates more than 1,000 events annually at more than two dozen venues across North America offering driving training, amateur and professional race series and corporate programs.
"Stu Upson is a uniquely talented sports business executive," USBC President Jeff Boje said. "The Board conducted an exhaustive nationwide search, and Stu emerged as the clear choice to lead USBC. He brings tremendous experience growing the financial strength and visibility of sports organizations to USBC."
While at Skip Barber Racing, Upson was instrumental in a corporate turnaround from bankruptcy in 2001. His leadership helped generate double-digit annual revenue growth, create new customer service quality guidelines and return the company to profitability.
"I am extremely excited about joining USBC," Upson said. "The sport of bowling has tremendous potential for growth, and I look forward to working with the Board of Directors and the staff in Arlington to serve USBC membership and lead the sport to future success."
Prior to his position at Skip Barber Racing, Upson served as senior vice president for Venue3D, a joint venture between the laceName w:st="on">WilliamlaceName> laceName w:st="on">MorrislaceName> laceName w:st="on">AgencylaceName> and Mills Corporation to provide marketing consulting services for retail developers and properties.
Upson also spent four years as senior vice president of sports and entertainment marketing for First USA Bank. At First USA Bank, Upson established a sports affinity credit card program, signing agreements with more than 200 sports and entertainment properties. Earlier in his career, Upson served as vice president of business development for Major League Baseball Properties.
A graduate of laceName w:st="on">ClaremontlaceName> laceName w:st="on">McKennalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CollegelaceType> in Claremont, Calif., Upson currently lives in New Canaan, Conn. Upson will begin his duties at USBC headquarters in Arlington, Texas on July 13.
USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger will remain with the organization in a senior executive role with a title to be determined.
PBA Reaches Agreement to Expand Television Coverage into Europe
SEATTLE, Wash. – More than 116.5 million European households from the North Pole to the Mediterranean, from the Atlantic Ocean to Asia, will have an opportunity to watch the world’s greatest bowlers in action thanks to a landmark television agreement announced today by the Professional Bowlers Association, KPTV in England and the German Bowling Proprietors Association.
In response to an initiative by the German proprietors’ honorary president, Ferdi Janka, the three groups have finalized plans to air 20 Lumbers Liquidators PBA Tour events from the 2008-09 season plus another 20 from the upcoming 2009-10 season.
“The result of this agreement,” said KPTV founder and owner Phil Mison, “is that millions of European bowling fans will have their first opportunity in 10 years to watch a bowling series on TV.”
“For the PBA, it’s another giant step forward in giving our growing international fan base a chance to watch the best players in the world in action over an extended period of time,” said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark. “It will be especially exciting for European bowling fans because there are more and more world-class international players who are a part of our tour. It’ll be great that fans in Finland can watch Mika Koivuniemi, and British fans can cheer for Stuart Williams as well as the superstars of our American tour.”
“For nearly 10 years, the German Bowling Proprietors Association has been working to place bowling on television on a regular basis,” noted Volker Klien, GBPA Vice President. “Our organization’s 250 members were very happy to provide our support to make this PBA series happen in Europe. It is a very happy and exciting time for bowlers throughout Europe.”
The expansive package will result in PBA Tour telecasts will be aired in 20 languages to 59 nations on Eurosport Television beginning July 9. A minimum of 10 PBA events from the 2008-09 season will air Fridays in prime time on Eurosport 1, the broadcast system’s largest and most popular channel. Another 10 will air weekday evenings on Eurosport 2, which is Eurosport’s equivalent of ESPN2 in the United States.
“This process began two years ago when Eurosport agreed to air the finals of the Bowling World Cup,” Mison said. “The success of World Cup telecasts two years in a row led Eurosport to ask for more bowling events. Their leap of faith, thanks to the cooperation of the PBA and the funding support of the German Bowling Proprietors Association, made it all possible. European bowling fans will now go from no bowling on television two years ago to 120 hours of bowling coverage between July and Christmas, and more after the start of the new year.”
“This is one of the most important landmarks in our organization’s history,” Klien said. “We will open the appeal of bowling to a huge new audience, and it is all possible because people who love bowling got their heads together and made it happen.”
“Bowling fans around the world have heard of Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Pete Weber and the other great stars of the PBA,” Clark added. “Now, for the first time, millions of bowling enthusiasts in Europe will be able to put faces with the names. And don’t forget, the PBA Women’s Series will also be a part of this package, so we haven’t forgotten that side of the sport.”
2009 USBC Women's Championships comes to a close at National Bowling Stadium
By: Wendy Clem and Aaron Smith; USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - After 100 days of excitement, accomplishment and record-setting performances, the 2009 USBC Women's Championships came to a close at the National Bowling Stadium.
A total of 8,330 five-player teams representing 50 states and six foreign countries competed in the event kicked off on March 28, and now 45 women can call themselves tournament champions.
Together Once Again of Keller, Texas, found itself in familiar territory, claiming the title in Classic Team (combined averages of 946 and above) for the second consecutive time in Reno. This time, the group took the title with a 3,322 team total, the third-highest in tournament history.
The team was led by Tammy Boomershine, who posted a 732 series. She was followed by Andrea Fleming (689), Cathy Dorin-Lizzi (663), USBC Hall of Famer and Team USA member Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (631) and Team USA member Lynda Barnes (607). In 2006, they won the event with a 3,350 effort, the highest team score ever rolled at the Women's Championships.
"We are pretty excited about it," said Dorin-Ballard, who now owns five titles at the Women's Championships. "We've been bowling together for so long now and have so much fun, but winning makes it that much better. We will have to bowl better next year if we want to repeat, but we are all ready to defend our title in El Paso."
Michelle Feldman of Auburn, N.Y., took home the Classic Singles title by firing the highest series in Women's Championships history. She put together games of 279, 249 and 288 for an 816 series on April 24. Kendra Gaines of Orlando, Fla., previously held the record with 812, rolled during the 2000 tournament, also in Reno.
Feldman, who won two Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series events this season, became just the fourth bowler to roll an 800 series at the Women's Championships. USBC Hall of Famer Robin Romeo of Newhall, Calif., also accomplished the feat this year, tossing an 805 series the same week to help her team to a runner-up finish with 3,286.
"It always feels nice to win, especially with the look I had earlier in the tournament," Feldman said. "We moved pairs, and all of a sudden, I couldn't miss. I wish I had that look all the time. I'm looking forward to defending in El Paso, and it should be fun since it's a city I haven't bowled in."
Romeo's momentum carried over to doubles and singles and helped her to the Classic All-Events title. She added 689 in doubles and 678 in singles and finished with a 2,172 all-events total, the second-highest in tournament history. Only Leanne Barrette-Hulsenberg of Elk Grove, Calif., has posted a higher number, shooting 2,231 at the 2005 event in Tulsa, Okla.
"It's really exciting to win a title at this stage of my career," Romeo said. "The scores were pretty high this year, so I was a bit worried to see if I would hold on. I feel that winning all-events is the toughest since you have to bowl well in every event, so I'm honored. The whole week was exciting for all of us, especially bowling so well in team and being in first place for a little bit."
Classic Doubles honors went to Clara Guerrero of Austin, Texas, and Jenifer Larson of Tupper Lake, N.Y., with a 1,404 total. Guerrero led the way with a 728 series, while Larson contributed 676. It was the second time they've bowled doubles together since meeting as substitutes on companion teams last year in Detroit.
"I'm so excited that we were able to hold on," Guerrero said. "I didn't check the scores too often, but I was getting anxious towards the end. I'm just so happy to bowl with a great team and a great partner in Jen. I can't wait until El Paso next year."
Larson, who owns her own bowling center, Lakeview Lanes, has not been a regular at the Women's Championships since acquiring the bowling center, but is grateful for the opportunity to be included.
"I am really grateful to my team captain, Brenda Mack, for inviting me back," Larson said. "This was a great pairing when Clara and I met last year in Detroit. We struggled then, but this year, it really paid off. We'd better be paired together again next year, too."
The 2009 event also saw the first perfect game on the tournament lanes since 2005 as Lindsy Bonifacini of San Diego put together 12 consecutive strikes during her doubles event on July 2. Bonifacini became just the ninth woman to roll a 300 game at the Women's Championships.
There also were two participation records set at this year's Women's Championships.
Emma Hendrickson, 100, of laceName w:st="on">MorrislaceName> laceName w:st="on">PlainslaceName>, N.J., became the oldest participant in tournament history and received national attention for her accomplishment, including the chance to bowl against television personality Regis Philbin on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" in New York. She also was a special guest at an ESPN bowling event and will make a guest appearance at the New Jersey Seniors Olympics in September.
Tournament participation leader Mini Tvaska of St. Petersburg, Fla., bested her own record by competing in her 63rd consecutive Women's Championships. The 91-year-old made her first tournament appearance at the 1947 event in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Both women are signed up for next year's tournament in El Paso, Texas, which already has nearly 4,000 teams registered.
The 2010 event will usher in a new era for the Women's Championships, including the introduction of a convention center setting and three new average-based divisions using 100 percent handicap.
Results are unofficial pending a final verification of averages.
Bill Taylor and Mark Roth - Friends in Need, Friends Indeed
By: Jim Goodwin of Stars & Strikes Magazine
Name any two people who had a bigger impact on the sport than Bill Taylor and Mark Roth.
Maybe Dick Weber and a handful of others, but there is no question that Bill and Mark literally changed the sport; and we were, and are, lucky enough to call them good friends.
There is an old tune by the pop-jazz group Blood, Sweat, and Tears with the lyric "The best you can hope for is to die in your sleep." And that's what Bill Taylor did on his 84th birthday, June 30 in California. He is survived by his wife Margaret, eight children, and bunches of grandchildren.
His granddaughter ersonName w:st="on">AmyersonName> Herring told us that although he suffered with Alzheimer's disease the past couple of years, he died peacefully and without pain. For a man who fought for bowling's credibility for over 40 years, that seems like an appropriate reward from above.
In the 1970's, we had heard of "the crazy guru guy from California who was out to change the bowling world," but we didn't get the chance to meet him face-to-face until the autumn of 1982. After Bill's friend Glenn Allison rolled that incredible 900 in July of '82, Bill took him on the road for a series of appearances at his Shotmaker Tournaments.
We were running three bowling centers in Dallas then, and we booked an event in one of them. Bill came, and brought with him Glenn, Bob Johnson, (now editor of Bowlers Journal) and John Fantini (now one of the world's best coaches). We had a very successful event using Bill's heavy pins, and with the help of Dallas friends Bob Strickland and Pete Moore, we also had a well-attended bowling clinic in a local theater.
For the next 20+ years, we valued our friendship with Bill. We didn't always understand his methods, but we never doubted his desire to make bowling better. He shook the hallways of bowling's hierarchy, he questioned the status quo, and right or wrong, he spent tons of his own time and money offering solutions, most of which, unfortunately, went unheeded by bowling's leaders.
But in death, Bill gets the satisfaction of knowing that his crusade to save the sport was not in vain. We sincerely believe that many of the changes that are happening today to restore the integrity of the sport would not be happening if not for the bulldog tenacity of Bill Taylor in sounding the alarm around the globe for more than 40 years.
Rest in peace, Warrior Bill. The battle is over, and you fought very, very well.
Ironically, the man who inadvertently helped Bill Taylor expose some of the sport's flaws was a brash young man from Brooklyn. In the 1970's and 80's, Mark Roth did things with a plastic bowling ball that no one, except perhaps Bill Taylor, dreamed possible.
Bill's crusade was to save the sport. Roth's was to conquer it; and he did, winning 34 PBA titles and being named Player of the Year four times, Senior Player of the Year in '02, six time High Average Award winner; a Hall of Fame career of the highest caliber.
One of the most remarkable records in all of sports history was Roth's domination of the tour in the late 1970's. In '77, '78, and '79, he won 19 of his 34 titles, but hidden in the stats is the incredible achievement of bowling for a title 33 times during those three years. It is not a stretch to say he was Bowling's 'Tiger' during those years.
Today, however, he is fighting a new, even tougher battle. On May 31, Mark suffered a severe stroke, paralyzing the entire left side of his 58 years-young body. In the past month, he has begun the long, slow road to recovery. Will he ever bowl again? Will he ever walk again? We are praying that he will do both. He says he will.
Sadly, Mark never came close to 'tiger' money in his long career, and like many athletes of his era, finds himself unprepared for the huge financial crisis he and his beautiful wife Denise now face. They need our help, and we are hopeful you will respond.
How? By donating whatever you can to the Mark Roth Support Fund established through The Bowling Foundation. All donations are tax deductible, and will go directly to Mark and Denise to help defray the enormous costs of rehab and every day living expenses.
How many thousands, perhaps millions of young bowlers imagined that they would become "Mark Roth" early in their career? We know of at least one who idolized Mark who also went on to win 34 PBA titles. A fellow named Pete Weber. Pete has often said, "I love my dad, but Mark was my favorite bowler."
If you were one of those Mark Roth 'wannabees', like PDW, or even if you were not, send a donation today. We have often said that bowlers are some of the most generous people in the world – now is the time to prove it once again.
For info on how to donate by mail, phone, or credit card, please go the The Bowling Foundation website www.bowlingfoundation.org. Or call BF Executive Director Troy Greisen or assistant Tennelle Milligan at the International Bowling Campus 817 649-5105 or toll free 800 343-1329.
There is NO Such Thing as a “Sure Thing”
In the early 90’s, Brad Edelman, President of the High Roller, had hired me to take care of the lanes at the Showboat in Las Vegas. They wanted the lanes “tough”. The tournament went great and by that I mean that there wasn’t much complaining. The scores were relatively low and everybody seemed to have a shot.
It came time for the TV show. I did the lanes an hour before show time and was just hanging around waiting for the bowlers to practice. They would get half an hour practice. There were two strokers on the show but I can’t remember their names. Paul Renteria was on and he is a power player. There was one lefty who made it named Doug Becker. They all showed up and began practicing. Within minutes, the righties broke the right side down to the point that they were unplayable. Lefty Becker had the whole left side.
Twenty minutes before the show, Brad came over to me and said “What happened?” I told him that the righties had destroyed the shot in practice. He rolled his eyes skyward. The righties kept giving me the “evil eye” along with dirty looks. Becker just smiled.
With about ten minutes to go in practice, I left the settee and wanted to run away. I stood behind the bleachers and took another peek. Same thing – the righties were into the fifth arrow and couldn’t hit the pocket. Lefty Becker still had swing, hold AND carry.
I started to leave and walked down the concourse. Suddenly I noticed that they had setup a “stand” and some guy was inside it taking bets on the matches. He had odds on all of the bowlers and also an ‘over/under’ line.
I stopped and said, “What are the odds on Becker?” He said, “Three to one.” I said, “Really, well give me $300 on Becker.” He said, “OK,” and gave me a ticket.
I went back behind the bleachers and took another peek. I watch six shots from the righties and none hit the pocket. Becker struck on every shot.
I was now broke and went looking for my wife to give me some money as I wanted to bet more. She was at the lounge bar and had just hit a royal flush on video poker for $1000. As the lady was paying her off, I grabbed another $300 and went running to the gambling stand. On the way, I saw Tommy Evans. He said, “Where are you running to?” I told him the story as fast as I could and we went back to the peeking place behind the bleachers. He saw what I had told him and reached for his wallet.
I said, “Loan me $300 for giving you this tip.” He said, “Sure will. This is too good to be true.” We both ran to the booth and laid down some more cash. I think that he put $500 on Becker and now I had $900 bet on him.
We went to the bar and had a drink as the first match started with Becker bowling. We were celebrating this NEW ‘found money’ that we were going to win.
About 20 minutes went by and we heard the applause. We went out to see what was going on. We both almost fainted in total disbelief when we looked up at the score. Becker shot 140 and lost. A little later I saw Becker on the pay phone and asked him what the hell happened. He said that he was approached by a ball rep who talked him into using another ball.
THANKS DOUG!!!!
The moral: There ain’t NO such thing as a “Sure Thing”.
~~The Phantom~~
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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”