The Cornerstone

The Foundation Newsletter                             

Volume 15, Issue 8    August 2011

"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

Shhh….Be very quite; I’m bowling!

The recent PBA incident now known as “bottlegate” has gotten me to thinking. The whole situation seems to have been exploited for ratings and to highlight the “good guy/bad guy” roles that are all too common.

In case you’ve missed the commotion, Jason Belmonte had a verbal altercation with Brad Angelo during a televised match when Belmonte’s water bottle “crunched” during Angelo’s approach. Belmonte apologized and life went on. During the recent PBA Team Shootout, Belmonte had another run-in with a crunchy water bottle; this time during Sean Rash’s turn at the line. Rash came back with some colorful sound bites that made for interesting TV and a couple of long “statements” published by those involved.

Is a crinkling bottle really that big of an issue? Don’t these “professionals” bowl 20, 30, 40 and sometimes more games during qualifying and match play rounds? Are the bowling centers completely quiet during these rounds? I’ve been in some centers during tournaments and I can honestly say I’ve NEVER been in a center that was silent during a tournament. People are talking and there’s plenty of ambient noise. I doubt one would even be able to hear a crunchy water bottle if someone did it intentionally.

My point is, bowling isn’t really known for its quiet atmosphere. So why then are fans expected to remain perfectly quiet and why must a crinkle from a water bottle become such a big issue? Can you really not block out a little noise from a plastic bottle?

Basketball players shoot free throws with fans screaming and waving arms and those tube clappers and such in the air. Quarterbacks throw passes and kickers kick field goals with thousands of fans screaming and cheering in the stands. Baseball pitchers throw pitch after pitch regardless of crowd noise. So why do we have to be so quiet in the bowling center?

A bowling center isn’t a quiet environment. Is it really so much to expect that a professional in the sport should be able to overcome a few ambient noises while making their shots?

It’s a disappointment to me to think that bowlers are so whiney and blameful when athletes in other sports overcome much greater distractions to compete. While it makes for good TV, it certainly doesn’t do anything to bring credibility and respect to our sport.

Dressel Earns 51^st Flowers for the Living Award

Bowlers Journal Executive Editor Jim Dressel has been chosen by the Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award committee for its 51^st presentation of one of bowling’s most prestigious awards. The award is sponsored by The Bowling Foundation.

The award was presented Thursday, June 30 during the International Bowl Expo Super Session. The event was held at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas

The award is given each year to a person in the industry who has conducted their business with integrity and a true passion for the game and business; and Jim Dressel absolutely fits that description to a tee.

Charter committee member Sam Weinstein best described the award when he said the words inscribed on the award plaque – “This award is not necessarily for any great deed or spectacular accomplishment, but just for being a person in our world who truly deserves a pat on the back to let them know we love them and admire them for what they have done and stood for.”

For 33 years, Dressel served as managing editor of Bowlers Journal, and he chronicled virtually every person involved in the sport and business in an honest and straightforward style. He set high standards for the magazine, and insisted that every article be as honest and complete as possible. He maintained a solid reputation for his informative interviews and quick-witted editorials; often poking fun at various elements of the business and sport in an effort to spur improvement.

In recent years, he developed the BJ Cyber Report, a weekly business-to-business email document that has become a must read for anyone working in the industry. He also shares his wit and wisdom as a regular guest on the internet broadcast Phantom Radio; and serves as co-host of the show with Len Nicholson during International Bowl Expo.

One of the unique aspects of the award is the surprise element of the presentation. Since the award started in 1961, no winner has known they were going to receive it prior to the presentation. Very few have even known they were on the ballot. And the tradition continues; Jim Dressel is seldom caught off guard, but he was surprised and pleased.

“You got me,” he said. I never suspected this because the award was given to Paula Carter only a couple of months ago. Thank you so much. This really means a lot to me.”

Normally, the Flowers Committee of all industry veterans discuss and review possible candidates and vote by email for the winners; but since Dressel is a long time committee member; the ballot was conducted by telephone by committee chairman Jim Goodwin. “We have wanted to give it to Mr. Dressel for several years, but this year was perfect timing because we could not present the 2010 award to Paula Carter until April of this year, said Goodwin. “We knew he would not expect it, and it worked out very well.”

The award elements include two beautiful plaques; one for presentation, and a matching one with the Flowers for the Living poem that inspired the award, written by charter committee member and Associated Press editor Fritz Howell. A bouquet of flowers is the third element. Dressel requested those flowers be delivered to the Bowlers Journal office so he can share them with the staff he has worked with for so many years.

The past winners list reads like a “who’s who” in bowling history. A few of those included are Hank Marino, Joe Norris, Chuck Pezzano, Alberta Crowe, Dick Weber, Marion Ladewig, John Jowdy, Helen Duval, Earl Anthony, Jack Reichert, Don Carter, Jeanette Robinson, Glenn Allison, Chris Schenkel, Eddie Elias, and 2010 winner Paula Carter.

Gary Beck honored with 11^th annual John Davis Award

Gary Beck has been selected as the 2011 recipient of the “John Davis Award”.  The surprise presentation was made at Bowl Expo in Arlington.  Previous winners of the prestigious award were: Joyce Deitch, John Weber, Ted Hoffman, Jr., Jim Dressel, Mark Gerberich, Carmen Salvino, Linda Davis, Gary Parsons, Len Nicholson and world famous cartoonist, Walt Steinsiek.

Beck is a former collegiate bowling champion and proud Team USA member. Some of his work includes being instrumental in starting the Asian Bowling Tour. He is also very proud of the fact that he brought women’s bowling back to television when he created the Women’s Challenge at the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas.  He is also known for staging the unforgettable AMF Dick Weber Classic with its unique round-robin match-play TV format, and he set a new standard for professional competition when he staged an entire PBA event without using a bowling center when he created the all match-play “Battle at Little Creek.”  Besides all of this, he considers his most important innovation to be the creation of the Teen Masters, as he continues to promote junior bowling with his unique ideas and exhaustive efforts.  His goals are to continue to try to help grow the sport of bowling.  Without question, he is bowling’s premiere promoter.

Gary became involved with The Foundation at its inception, by becoming a Founding Member.  He has also been a “continuing contributor” to The Foundation in many ways.  In every one of his promotions, he is a huge supporter of the Kegel Company and its crew.  He always works closely with Kegel in setting up challenging lane conditions for his junior tournaments, and his knowledge of the variables that are involved continues to expand.

John Davis, the man who started The Kegel Company, and founding ‘father’ of The Foundation, has been totally involved in bowling for nearly his entire life. At an early age, John's dad taught all of his children how to bowl. That "love affair" with this great Sport, has been going on for over a half a century. In his 50-plus years of involvement with bowling, it is safe to say that no one has done more for the sport of bowling than John Davis. Even though The Kegel Company is a relatively small one, his personal investment in bowling has been unselfish and unmatched.

His innovations, inventions, contributions, etc., have all been well documented in the past. His leadership in both technology and humanities, both in this country and worldwide, make him perhaps the most sought out figure in the game today. His behind-the-scenes committee "work" is globally welcomed. Because of his vast accomplishments and devotion to the sport, the award (aptly called: "The John Davis Award"), was established by The Foundation in his name. This prestigious honor is presented annually to a deserving Foundation member. A beautiful, “one –of-a-kind”, perpetual plaque, bearing each recipients name, is permanently displayed at the "home" of The Foundation, in The Kegel Training Center, in Lake Wales, Florida.

Congrats Gary, and thanks for all of your help and efforts with bowling and The Foundation.

Keep up the good work with your quest to make a better future for all of the junior bowlers.

Bowling’s Women’s US Open: A Recap

By: Brandy Padilla

In case you didn’t happen to catch the excitement that was bowling’s US Women’s Open, you really missed quite a show.

The US Women’s Open (USWO) started around the same time that Bowl Expo and the USBC convention were starting in Grapevine, Texas. A record number of participants; nearly 300; rolled 24 games over three days of qualifying before the field was cut to the top 32. The top 32 then bowled another eight games before a cut to the top 16. The top 16 bowlers then went head-to-head in 16 games of round-robin style match play, including a final game of position round. From there, the top five bowlers advanced to the TV finals taped in the famed Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Kelly Kulick, unsurprisingly, dominated the field during the qualifying rounds. Kulick averaged more than 245 to lead the top 32 after 24 games, shooting 5920 to win by more than 100 pins. She used that momentum to add 1857 during the round of 32 to further her lead heading into the match play round.

Kulick, the defending champion, furthered her lead using a 12-4 match play record and 360 bonus pins to increase her lead and earn the top spot for the stepladder finals. Leanne Hulsenberg claimed second followed by Liz Johnson, Shannon O’Keefe and Lynda Barnes.

The finals, staged midfield at Cowboys Stadium, included the famed Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and a chance at a million dollar payout for a 300 game in the finals.

In the opening match, Lynda Barnes faced fellow Team USA member, Shannon O’Keefe. Barnes easily won shooting 286 to O’Keefe’s 166.

Barnes’ momentum continued into match two against another Team USA member, Liz Johnson. Johnson took a commanding 60 pin lead to start but fell short in the end. Barnes advanced 259-225.

Barnes’ momentum appeared to continue into match three against 26-time PWBA champion, Leanne Hulsenberg. Hulsenberg struck out to shoot 247 forcing Barnes to throw three strikes in the tenth. Barnes got the first two but went high on the fill ball and got an eight count to lose by one pin.

Hulsenberg, who previously had second, third, fourth and fifth place finishes in the USWO, was looking to redeem herself.  With only the defending champion standing in her way, she stepped up to the challenge. Kulick struggled to get comfortable and failed to strike until the fifth frame. Two “big four” splits did not help her or her hopes of defending her title. She shot a 183 for her lowest game of the entire tournament.

Hulsenberg closed out her tenth frame with a strike for 218 to claim the $50,000 top prize and her long awaited, first green jacket.

Was that the US Open or Thursday night league?

By: Brandy Padilla

When I think of the US Open, I think of a series of tournaments, in various sports, that deliver some of the toughest and most challenging tournament conditions that a given sport has to offer. I think of a brand that has been built around intimidating venues, elite competition and grueling formats that force competitors to be at the top of their game.

The PBA describes their US Open as “the toughest lane oil design in all of bowling”. If you’ve ever watched the US Open, you know that that scoring can be tough and many players say that they must “grind out” games and wait to hit a good pair to put up higher scores. Tournament leaders may average 220, but the general scoring pace of the tournament is typically not high.

Yet, during the latest edition of the Women’s US Open, the tournament leader after the first round of qualifying averaged 249. The tournament leader after qualifying was complete averaged 246 for 24 games. In fact, it took an average of 222.71 for 24 games to make the first tournament cut (to the top 32). During those 24 games of qualifying, there were even 12-300 games.

I don’t want to diminish the fact that the women bowlers are talented; they are extremely talented. However, a high scoring pace just seems to make a mockery of the prestige that is the US Open brand and it seems to challenge the integrity of not only the tournament but the sport in general. Watching the scores, it seemed like the women were bowling on a house league pattern. Scores were literally through the roof.

I heard people talking throughout the week at Bowl Expo discussing scoring and why the USWO tournament committee chose to put out an easier condition. The clearest answer I got was when Steve Johnson addressed the Bowling Writer’s Association during our annual meeting. In a nutshell he said they wanted to break the records; participation and audience attendance; they wanted a USWO and a tournament like no other.

The USWO offered the chance at million dollar payday for a 300 game rolled during the finals. I think nearly 300 bowlers were attracted to that possibility and the chance to bowl in one of the most unique and exciting venues in women’s bowling history. I don’t believe that putting out an easier pattern was the reason so many women came to bowl.

Seeing the scores so high really didn’t put bowling in the best light. I think the cream will always rise to the top and putting out an easier condition doesn’t draw people to think of our game as a “sport”.

Unfortunately, I think the scores being so high will further people’s opinions of our sport being a joke. By allowing the scoring pace to be so high, the integrity of the sport has been challenged. We cannot expect respect as a sport if we insist on making a mockery of the skill of our most elite athletes. If we do not highlight shot making, skill and athleticism, we cannot expect people to take bowling seriously.

If we really want to showcase the talent that it takes to win a US Open title, shouldn’t we use a demanding condition and a grueling format? Shouldn’t bowlers have to be at the top of their game and make quality shots, every shot, to win?

Well…at least we got the format right.

How will the 2012 edition be affected by the 2011 event? Only time will tell.

Dressel Earns 51^st Flowers for the Living Award

Bowlers Journal Executive Editor Jim Dressel has been chosen by the Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award committee for its 51^st presentation of one of bowling’s most prestigious awards. The award is sponsored by The Bowling Foundation.

The award was presented Thursday, June 30 during the International Bowl Expo Super Session. The event was held at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas

The award is given each year to a person in the industry who has conducted their business with integrity and a true passion for the game and business; and Jim Dressel absolutely fits that description to a tee.

Charter committee member Sam Weinstein best described the award when he said the words inscribed on the award plaque – “This award is not necessarily for any great deed or spectacular accomplishment, but just for being a person in our world who truly deserves a pat on the back to let them know we love them and admire them for what they have done and stood for.”

For 33 years, Dressel served as managing editor of Bowlers Journal, and he chronicled virtually every person involved in the sport and business in an honest and straightforward style. He set high standards for the magazine, and insisted that every article be as honest and complete as possible. He maintained a solid reputation for his informative interviews and quick-witted editorials; often poking fun at various elements of the business and sport in an effort to spur improvement.

In recent years, he developed the BJ Cyber Report, a weekly business-to-business email document that has become a must read for anyone working in the industry. He also shares his wit and wisdom as a regular guest on the internet broadcast Phantom Radio; and serves as co-host of the show with Len Nicholson during International Bowl Expo.

One of the unique aspects of the award is the surprise element of the presentation. Since the award started in 1961, no winner has known they were going to receive it prior to the presentation. Very few have even known they were on the ballot. And the tradition continues; Jim Dressel is seldom caught off guard, but he was surprised and pleased.

“You got me,” he said. I never suspected this because the award was given to Paula Carter only a couple of months ago. Thank you so much. This really means a lot to me.”

Normally, the Flowers Committee of all industry veterans discuss and review possible candidates and vote by email for the winners; but since Dressel is a long time committee member; the ballot was conducted by telephone by committee chairman Jim Goodwin. “We have wanted to give it to Mr. Dressel for several years, but this year was perfect timing because we could not present the 2010 award to Paula Carter until April of this year, said Goodwin. “We knew he would not expect it, and it worked out very well.”

The award elements include two beautiful plaques; one for presentation, and a matching one with the Flowers for the Living poem that inspired the award, written by charter committee member and Associated Press editor Fritz Howell. A bouquet of flowers is the third element. Dressel requested those flowers be delivered to the Bowlers Journal office so he can share them with the staff he has worked with for so many years.

The past winners list reads like a “who’s who” in bowling history. A few of those included are Hank Marino, Joe Norris, Chuck Pezzano, Alberta Crowe, Dick Weber, Marion Ladewig, John Jowdy, Helen Duval, Earl Anthony, Jack Reichert, Don Carter, Jeanette Robinson, Glenn Allison, Chris Schenkel, Eddie Elias, and 2010 winner Paula Carter.

PBA Doubles Championship named in honor of Mark Roth and Marshall Holman

The 2011 revival of the PBA Doubles Championship will be named in honor of two PBA Tour legends – Mark Roth and Marshall Holman – who stamped their names all over the doubles competition back in its formation days.

Roth and Holman teamed up to win PBA Doubles Classic titles in 1977 and 1979 in San Jose, Calif., and again in 1984 after the event moved to Showboat Lanes in Las Vegas. The PBA Hall of Fame legends, who own a combined total of 56 PBA Tour titles, bowled as doubles partners 13 times, cashing 11 times, making match play 10 times and finishing in the top five six times.

"How could you not want your Hall Of Fame doubles partner and great friend to share the name of this event with you? It's perfect," Roth said. "I asked Marshall to bowl with me in our first doubles tournament because he was a tough cookie and he knew how to win. We won three times together during our career. Marshall and I talk frequently, and sharing memories of those events is something we often talk about. It's a great honor for both of us."

"I'm absolutely honored," Holman added. "It's a beautiful thing."

The revival of the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship will be a part of the 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling at South Point Casino, Hotel and Bowling Center in Las Vegas Nov. 4-20.

The doubles event will include the top 16 players after qualifying rounds in the PBA Exempt Players Championships who will be paired for an eight-team Baker format finale based upon how they qualify. The top qualifier will be the first to select a partner from among the remaining 15 players.

If he/she selects the No. 11 seed, the No. 2 qualifier will pick next. If No. 1 picks No. 2 as a partner, the No. 3 qualifier will be the next to select, etc. The Baker format finals will be conducted on specially-constructed lanes in the South Point Arena on Sunday, Nov. 20.