Cornerstone Newsletter, April 2010

The Cornerstone

The Foundation Newsletter

Volume 13, Issue 4 April 2010

"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”

__________________________________

Letter from the Editor

Perspective

Sometimes it takes an alternate perspective or point of view to make you see what you may have been overlooking for ages. Sometimes it just takes a friend to say “Why?” to make you stop and think. I took a step back and looked at some typical “bowling alley” persona and it made me see some things that could be hurting our industry.

1. The front entrance: When you walk in a restaurant or maybe even a store, you want to see a clean and welcoming area. Clutter, trash, poor lighting, dingy floors or ceilings are all turn-offs that would make most people do a u-turn right back to their car. So why would it be acceptable for a bowling center to offer this environment? In my opinion, it wouldn’t be acceptable. Your front entrance should be well open, easily accessible, free from clutter and trash, etc. It is the first area your potential customers see so make it welcoming. Don’t give your customers a reason to turn around. And if you have front parking, make sure that your patrons aren’t blocking the entrance, especially if there is a ramp or stairs.

2. The bowling center: Are your lane tables and the surrounding areas clean? Do you have good lighting? Are your ceiling tiles dingy with 10 years of caked on dust and/or smoke stains? Invest in your business and your clients. Replace or clean those ceiling tiles. Mop spills and sweep up messes as quickly as possible. You wouldn’t want to eat in a dirty restaurant so why would people want to bowl in your dirty center.

3. The bathrooms: I’ve been in some bathrooms that were literally so clean you could eat off the floor (not that you would want to). And then I’ve been in those restrooms that I wouldn’t even use because they were so disgusting. This isn’t acceptable when you’re out dining or visiting an establishment so it isn’t acceptable in a bowling center either.

4. The lanes and pinsetters: Cleaning the lanes and pinsetter parts are just as important as clean restrooms. Cleaning these areas not only keeps the machines running smoothly and helps you to see potential problems before they become problems, they also help to keep your center and your bowlers clean. Nothing is worse to me as a bowler than ending up with “bowling shirt” at the end of league because of all the dirt my ball brings back with it. Make it part of your maintenance to clean so many machines each day. Once it’s clean, it’ll be easier to keep it that way.

Consumers have changed with the times. The days of the dingy, smoke filled bowling “alleys” are gone. Today’s customers want cleanliness; the want an atmosphere that is fun and welcoming. You wouldn’t patronize a dirty restaurant; why would a bowling center be any different? It shouldn’t and investing in the maintenance of your establishment is crucial to your business.

BOWLING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA TO HONOR RYPCINSKI AND BERGLUND

ARLINGTON, Texas - Lydia Rypcinski of Chicago, Ill., has been selected as winner of the 2010 Bowling Writers Association of America Luby Hall of Fame Award in recognition of her career of distinguished contributions to bowling journalism.

BWAA also announced John Berglund of St. Martin, French West Indies, as their winner of the organization’s 2010 Alberta Crowe Meritorious Service Award, honoring his years of off-the-lanes dedication to the sport.

“We are extremely pleased to make this announcement,” said Jackie Wyckoff, president of the BWAA. “Both Rypcinski and Berglund are well respected within and outside the bowling industry and both are truly deserving of this honor for their tireless dedication to elevating the sport of bowling internationally.”

Both award-winners will be recognized during the Columbia 300/BPAA/BWAA Awards Dinner at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nev., on Tuesday, June 29.

Rypcinski is a veteran communications specialist with a proven record of competence for more than 30 years in a variety of activities including news reporting, feature writing, media relations, photography, newsletter creation, media operations management and administrative and support operations.

During her career Rypcinski has been the editor of the Illinois State BPA newsletter; sports information specialist for the Olympic News; freelance reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and Associated Press; sports reporter for the Asian Games News Service; media coordinator for AMF Bowling World Cup; media director for the Professional Women’s Bowling Association tour and has been international editor for Bowlers Journal International Magazine, and a contributing writer for International Bowling Industry Magazine. Her work also appears in a number of trade and consumer publications within the bowling industry and she has been named Writer of the Year five times by the National Women Bowling Writers Association.

Berglund, the former executive director of the BPAA, first worked with bowling proprietors in 1982 after assuming the executive director position of Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association. In 1998, when the Minnesota Bowling Centers Association contracted with the beverage association, he became the executive director of both organizations. Soon after Berglund took the helm at BPAA in 2002, he quickly established himself as a "mover and shaker" in the bowling industry and was instrumental in sealing the deal to bring the new International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas from a dream into reality and integrate BPAA, United States Bowling Congress, International Bowling Pro Shop Instructors Association, Bowling and Billiards Institute of America, Strike Ten Entertainment, The Bowling Foundation, International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Bowling Writers Association of America and the International Training and Research Center under one roof. During his seven years at the helm of BPAA, Berglund also helped expand the association internationally with more than 3,300 member centers.

Mission of the Bowling Writers Association of America

To create a new and continuing generation of bowling journalists dedicated to disseminating bowling history, news, features and editorials; offer opportunities for achievement, recognition and growth; and provide programs honoring bowler performance, meritorious contributions and scholastic excellence.

PBA Turns Back Clock on Technology for Unique Tour Event

What if the PGA Tour required players to use persimmon woods instead of today’s equipment that incorporates high-tech titanium and graphite technology?

The PBA GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship (March 24-28) at AMF Babylon Lanes is the one event on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour that turns back-the-clock on bowling ball technology so that players will have less reliance on today’s high-powered equipment.

This year’s Plastic Ball Championship is named after PBA Hall of Famer and native New Yorker Mark Roth who used plastic ball technology to win most of his 34 Tour titles, which ranks him in a tie for third all-time with fellow Hall of Famer Pete Weber. Roth, who suffered a stroke last May, is planning to attend the event.

Plastic polyester balls like the ones that will be used in this tournament are used today almost exclusively for spare shooting due to the balls’ proclivity to go straight on the majority of today’s lane conditions. Plastic was the most popular material used in bowling ball construction in the 1970s and early 80s. Today’s most popular balls are made of a resin material with exotic weight blocks, which enhance the balls’ ability to hook.

In addition to using equipment that emphasizes a player’s ability to make adjustments without being able to rely on the technology built into today’s more advanced bowling balls, the Plastic Ball Championship equalizes the playing field much like auto racing’s former International Race of Champions (IROC) series that required drivers to race the same type of car.

In 2009 Jeff Carter of Springfield, Ill., won the GEICO Plastic Ball Championship in Wheat Ridge, Colo., for his first career Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour title by defeating Hall of Famer Pete Weber, 235-213, in the championship match.

“Actually, I didn’t know what to expect and didn’t have a lot of confidence going into the tournament,” Carter said. “But as the tournament went on I found that a lot of the variables (mainly having to worry about what equipment to use), were eliminated. It kept things simple so I could concentrate on making the right physical adjustments and make good shots.”

The Plastic Ball Championship will require all 64 players to use two identical special Mark Roth custom-designed bowling balls manufactured by OntheBallBowling.com. These will be the only balls they will be able to use throughout the tournament. A limited number of balls also will be available for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to Roth’s continuing medical expenses.

The tournament is one of the Tour’s four Extreme Swing events. It will be conducted on the Tour’s Shark lane conditioning pattern, but with a lower volume of oil applied to the lane surface than normal.

Field is set for 2010 Intercollegiate Team Championships

By: Terry Bigham; USBC Communications

The field for the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships has been determined following sectional qualifying tournaments held this weekend.

Sectional qualifiers were held March 13-14 at four sites - AMF Parkway Lanes in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl-Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Landmark Lanes in Peoria, Ill.; and the South Point Hotel and laceType w:st="on">CasinolaceType> laceName w:st="on">BowlinglaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType> in Las Vegas. The ITC sectionals consist of 32 Baker System games each day for a total of 64 Baker games.

The top four men's teams and top four women's teams at each sectional, based on total pinfall, earned spots in the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. The ITC will be held April 14-17 at the El Paso (Texas) Convention and Performing Arts Center.

A look at the final results from each sectional and the fields for the ITC:

PEORIA (ILL.) SECTIONAL
The Wichita State men's team will seek its third consecutive ITC title after winning the sectional with a 13,072 pinfall total. The Shockers, who will make their 30th appearance in the national tournament, have won nine national titles. McKendree, Newman and laceName w:st="on">CalumetlaceName> laceType w:st="on">CollegelaceType>, which overtook laceName w:st="on">MoreheadlaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> for the final spot on Sunday, also advanced.

The laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> women's team also will return to defend its title after claiming the sectional title. Joining laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> at the national tournament will be McKendree, laceName w:st="on">WrightlaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Men's Results
1. Robert Morris (Ill.), 13,242
2. Cal State-Fresno, 13,033
3. laceName w:st="on">ArizonalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 12,933
4. Nebraska-Lincoln, 12,772
5. Wisconsin-Whitewater, 12,716
6. UNLV, 12,529
7. St. Ambrose, 12,491
8. laceName w:st="on">San JoselaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 12,483
9. West Texas A&M, 12,278
10. Martin Methodist, 12,252
11. UC-Davis, 12,187
12. North Texas, 12,051
13. Wisconsin-Stout, 11,949

Women’s Results
1. Cal State-Fresno, 12,294
2. Robert Morris (IL), 12,050
3. St. Ambrose, 11,846
4. West Texas A&M, 11,795
5. Martin Methodist, 11,759
6. laceName w:st="on">BalllaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 11,615
7. UC-Davis, 11,008
8. laceType w:st="on">Univ.laceType> of laceName w:st="on">ArizonalaceName>, 9,893

Field set for Intercollegiate Singles Championships

By: Lucas Wiseman; USBC Communications

Two-time Team USA member John Szczerbinski of laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> and women's regular season average leader ersonName w:st="on">JenersonName>n Boisselle of Central Florida were among the players who qualified for the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Singles Championships.

The USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships, which will be held May 17-18 at AMF Euless Lanes in Euless, Texas, features 32 of the top male and female collegiate bowlers in the country competing for national titles.

Qualifying for the national finals was held at four Sectional Qualifier sites: Allentown, Pa.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Peoria, Ill., and Las Vegas. All participants bowled six games with total pinfall determining final standings. The top four finishers in each division (male and female) at each Sectional Qualifier site advance to the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships.

Szczerbinski, who had the third highest average among collegiate bowlers in the regular season, advanced through the Peoria sectional with 1,372 (228.6 average). Stephen Conn of Bellarmine was second, Sean Rangel of William Penn took third, while Justin Thompson of Kansas grabbed the fourth and final spot.

In Chattanooga, Lindenwood's EJ Parks took the top spot with a 1,344 total. He was followed by Joel Klaas of Purdue, Joe Steiner of laceName w:st="on">SaginawlaceName> laceType w:st="on">ValleylaceType> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> and Logan Mills of Michigan.

Coming out of the Allentown sectional was Penn State-Berks' Ryan Wyandt, who led with 1,343. Kyle Keegan of Rochester Tech took second, while Jacob Kent of laceName w:st="on">ErielaceName> laceType w:st="on">Community CollegelaceType> was third and David Gerhart of Rochester Tech was fourth.

Michael Snell of Nebraska-Lincoln finished first in Las Vegas with 1,307. Christopher Bardol of Robert Morris-Illinois was second, Brandon Allred of UNLV finished third and Casey Albert of UC-Davis took fourth.

On the women's side, Boisselle helped Central Florida take three of the top four spots in Chattanooga with a 1,262 total. Samantha Macina was second, while Kaidee Sutphin was fourth. Lindenwood's Amanda Greene was third.

Danielle Knittle of Penn State-University Park won the qualifying in Allentown with 1,212. Kimberly Yioulos of Pikeville was second and was followed by a pair of Webber International Bowlers, Jessica Santiago and Stephanie Martins.

In Peoria, Christina Oschman of Bellarmine led the field with 1,305 and was followed by Erin McCarthy of Nebraska-Lincoln, Erin Chambers of Robert Morris-Peoria and Lori Hanken of McKendree.

Heather D'Errico of Robert Morris-Illinois shot 1,284 for the top spot in Las Vegas. Dori Jaffess of laceName w:st="on">ArizonalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> was second, Esther Cheah of Nebraska-Lincoln was third and Brittney Hendrickson of laceName w:st="on">FresnolaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> earned the last spot.

At the national finals, all 16 participants in each division bowl eight games to determine seeding for the match play competition. In match play, participants compete in a best-of-five, single-elimination bracket, with winners in each division being crowned national champions of the 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships.

2010 USBC INTERCOLLEGIATE SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS SECTIONAL QUALIFIERS
Final results after six games - Top 5
(Top 4 in each sectional advance to 2010 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships)

MEN
Allentown (Pa.) Sectional
1, Ryan Wyandt, Penn State-Berks, 1,343. 2, Kyle Keegan, Rochester Tech, 1,307. 3, Jacob Kent, laceName w:st="on">ErielaceName> laceType w:st="on">Community CollegelaceType>, 1,296. 4, David Gerhart, Rochester Tech, 1,283. 5, Adam Corder, George Mason, 1,276.

Chattanooga (Tenn.) Sectional
1, EJ Parks, Lindenwood, 1,344. 2, Joel Klaas, Purdue, 1,337. 3, Joe Steiner, laceName w:st="on">SaginawlaceName> laceType w:st="on">ValleylaceType> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,323. 4, Logan Mills, Michigan, 1,306. 5, Brett Cunningham, Lindenwood, 1,302.

Peoria (Ill.) Sectional
1, John Szczerbinski, laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,372. 2, Stephen Conn, Bellarmine, 1,358. 3, Sean Rangel, William Penn, 1,302. 4, Justin Thompson, Kansas, 1,300. 5, Will Barnes, laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,297.

Las Vegas Sectional
1, Michael Snell, Nebraska-Lincoln, 1,307. 2, Christopher Bardol, Robert Morris-Illinois, 1,281. 3, Brandon Allred, UNLV, 1,268. 4, Casey Albert, UC-Davis, 1,259. 5, Joseph Vrobel, Robert Morris-Illinois, 1,254.

WOMEN
Allentown (Pa.) Sectional
1, Danielle Knittle, laceName w:st="on">PennlaceName> laceName w:st="on">State-UniversitylaceName> laceType w:st="on">ParklaceType>, 1,212. 2, Kimberly Yioulos, Pikeville, 1,185. 3, Jessica Santiago, Webber International, 1,158. 4, Stephanie Martins, Webber International, 1,149. 5, Ashly Galante, Webber International, 1,143.

Chattanooga (Tenn.) Sectional
1, ersonName w:st="on">JenersonName>n Boisselle, Central Florida, 1,262. 2, Samantha Macina, Central Florida, 1,254. 3, Amanda Greene, Lindenwood, 1,217. 4, Kaidee Sutphin, Central Florida, 1,205. 5, Stacy Parsons, laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,201.

Peoria (Ill.) Sectional
1, Christina Oschman, Bellarmine, 1,305. 2, Erin McCarty, Nebraska-Lincoln, 1,259. 3, Erin Chambers, Robert Morris-Peoria, 1,224. 4, Lori Hanken, McKendree, 1,219. 5, Kathryn Cox, laceName w:st="on">WrightlaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,207.

Las Vegas Sectional
1, Heather D'Errico, Robert Morris-Illinois, 1,284. 2, Dori Jaffess, Arizona State, 1,254. 3, Esther Cheah, Nebraska-Lincoln, 1,240. 4, Brittney Hendrickson, laceName w:st="on">FresnolaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,237. 5, Emily Peterson, laceName w:st="on">North DakotalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType>, 1,231.

There are four questions on the minds of every competitive bowler at every event in the U.S..

4. Were the lanes conditioned the same from week-to-week (day-to-day), or was an adjustment made to change the course of the event?

It seems to me, that in order to make a dent in our psychological attitudes, these four questions need to be answered and the answers need to be accepted.

For question number four, we now have a solution. In the past, the lane maintenance person’s word has been questioned because of perceived changes in ball reaction. He/she never wins that one. We have found that there are many reasons why the lanes may be done the same, but ball reaction is different.

With the introduction of Sanction Technology, we can now prove the pattern is exactly the same every time. This is a huge step forward in understanding bowing’s technical problems, because it eliminates the oil pattern as a variable. So, if the ball reaction is perceived by the players to have changed from the previous week, we can then look at the other variables.

Your sport league will bowl on specific conditioner patterns supplied by Kegel. We will ask for your cooperation in ensuring we follow the Process Verification Procedure every time you condition the lanes for your league. What this means is that each week when your league bowls the process of cleaning and conditioning the lanes is verified. Please be sure to follow the Process Verification Procedure checklist every week. A Process Verification Committee must be formed by the league president and a representative of this committee must be present each week to verify the process. This ensures to your bowlers that the same procedures are being followed each and every time you do the lanes for your league. Keep the signed forms so that you will have a permanent record that your lanes were verified.

C). Running the calibration checks. This is a procedure where the oil that would normally go to the lane is captured into a graduated cylinder for measurement. The amount is calculable from the program.

D). The committee representative then walks with the machine to watch the oil go on the lane. The machine operation is very visible under a black light that is attached to the lane machine.

E). The committee representative then signs-off that nothing in the procedure has changed.

(NOTE: This reminder has been featured many times before and can be found on our website at www.kegel.net. The overall importance of this procedure is of utmost importance.)

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

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.

laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType>

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