The Cornerstone
The Foundation Newsletter
Volume 13, Issue 8 August 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
Mixed Reviews on Bowl Expo 2010
As an attendee both as an exhibitor and a media representative, I must say I have mixed reviews of this years’ International Bowl Expo.
The event made its return to the laceName w:st="on">Las VegaslaceName> laceName w:st="on">HiltonlaceName> laceType w:st="on">Convention CenterlaceType>. From the moment I walked into the convention hall, I knew that it seemed small. It seems attendance was down for this year. Although I don’t know how much, I did hear rumors of specific numbers; nothing official though. The exhibit show floor felt smaller from the start.
The first day of the show normally starts a little slow but builds to bustling and busy within a short time. From there, it generally stays fairly busy for most of the trade show day before slumping near the last hour. This year, there seemed to be a steady crowd of people walking the floor though it was difficult to tell if they were exhibitors visiting each other or proprietors and customers making their way through the maze of the trade show floor. From my perspective, there seemed to be more exhibitor attendees than proprietors and customers. It never really seemed “busy”.
The second day of the trade show is generally slower but exhibitors will still see some traffic. Again though, this year, it seemed slower and by the end of the day it seemed almost deserted.
In getting a little feedback from some customers, it seemed many people didn’t attend or cut their trips somewhat short because of the holiday weekend. Not only are many people still feeling the economic crunch, the holiday weekend following IBE10 made travel during that weekend more expensive and thus less affordable for many.
While the trade show may have seemed a little lackluster, there were some bright moments from IBE10. First (which I was unable to attend), Sarah Palin’s keynote address to the General Session garnered some rave reviews. Apparently Ms. Palin did her homework and devoted about half of her speech to highlighting the impact of bowling as the nation's number one participatory sport and a thriving industry. At the end of Ms. Palin’s speech, BPAA executive director, Steve Johnson announced, along with a number of female bowling executives and athletes, the return of the Women’s US Open for 2011 to be held in conjunction with the 2011 IBE in Texas.
So while the trade show may have seemed more desolate than in years past, IBE10 had some bright moments to highlight the beginning of another bowling season to come.
Former BWAA President Walt Steinsiek Dies on Eve of Bowl Expo
Walt Steinsiek, who served as president of the Bowling Writers Association in 1988, passed away June 27, 2010 of apparent heart failure while preparing to leave his Micco, Florida home to attend International Bowl Expo in Las Vegas. He was 84.
Steinsiek was widely known as "The world's greatest bowling cartoonist." He drew thousands of cartoons about the sport he loved, provided mostly without charge to various bowling organizations; but he also published a half dozen bowling cartoon books, the first in 1973, called Balls-Bowling of Course!
He followed that successful debut with his "Approach" series -- A Funny Approach, A Funnier Approach, and the latest, The Funniest Approach, in 2006.
Steinsiek also was the founder of the Bowling Cartoonist of the Year Award in the mid-1990s. The award has been presented to distinguished cartoonists who used bowling in their work. Winners include Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Jim Davis, who created Garfield, and Dean Young, creator of the Blondie cartoons.
When not drawing cartoons, Steinsiek was writing about bowling. He started the Baltimore Bowling News (later Baltimore-Washington Bowling News) in the 1980s. He sold it and moved to Florida in 1992. In Florida, his weekly bowling columns have appeared in several Scripps Howard newspapers for many years.
Walt Steinsiek was passionate about bowling, and his work earned him several Hall of Fame honors and industry awards. In 2006, he received the prestigious Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award. On Wednesday of this Bowl Expo week, he was to receive the John Davis Award for outstanding industry service.
On Memorial Day of this year, Steinsiek fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting his brother Henry's gravesite in Holland. Henry was killed in World War II in 1945. Walt also served in that war as a proud member of the Merchant Marines. Of that visit, Walt said, “I've always been very proud
of Hank's accomplishments during the war but no more so than at this moment. He was indeed a member of the "Greatest Generation."
Walt is survived by his wife Jane of 55 years. They have a daughter, Denise, who also lives in Florida.
BWAA Past President Dick Evans Dies at Age 78
Dick Evans, Past President and Life Member of the Bowling Writers Association of America, died Sunday, July 4 at the age of 78.
Evans had the distinction of being the first daily newspaper reporter inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame (1986) and the American Bowling Congress' Hall of Fame (1992). Among his many awards, Evans received the Billiards' and Bowling Industry Service award in 1986. He was also awarded the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America V.A. "Chief" Wapensky award in 2007, which recognizes an individual who has made a major contribution to the advancement of the bowling industry.
He was named the official bowling writer for the Knight-Ridder News Wire in the early 1980s and in 1972 was sent to St. Louis to receive the bowling industry's media award on behalf of the Knight-Ridder chain at the Salute Dinner. His weekly bowling stories were sent out over the Knight-Ridder news wire and went to 144 daily newspapers with a daily circulation of over 10 million.
At time of death, Evans was the leading award winner in the Bowling Magazine Writing Contest for stories that appeared in both The Miami Herald and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He was the top winner in the Professional Bowlers' Association's writing contest, which was discontinued in 2001. Evans was named the top tennis writer in Florida in 2002 and at the USA Tennis Florida Convention in Daytona Beach.
Evans, born on September 20, 1931, began his 60 year journalism career at the age of 12, delivering the Miami News. The youngest of three Evans brothers to write for The Miami Herald, at age 14 he was hired to take greyhound racing results and write headlines for short stories. At age 17, he officially joined the Miami Herald staff when he was hired as a copy-boy. At age 20, he was added to the Miami Herald's sports department staff.
For the Miami Herald, Evans wrote about all high school sports, college football, boxing, bowling, golf, tennis, water skiing, wrestling, horse/dog/harness races, jai-alai and also spent 14 months serving as interim religious editor.
He once organized and ran a laceName w:st="on">DadelaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType> laceType w:st="on">High schoollaceType> baseball tournament that featured North Miami High's Steve Carlton (a Hall of Famer) and Fred Norman, a future star with the Chicago Cubs, in a taut pitchers duel at Miami Stadium before 3,000 spectators. During the Baltimore Orioles spring training season in Miami he organized a practice session with the O's for all of laceName w:st="on">DadelaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType>'s high school baseball prospects.
His most successful promotion came when he teamed with Joe Tanenbaum of Gulfstream Race Track, drawing 56,000 entries from South Floridians to pick the best horse ever to run at Gulfstream. But his forte was bowling, a sport that he started covering for The Miami Herald in 1957.
Evans retired from The Miami Herald Dec. 31, 1989. However, the native Miamian continued to cover the bowling beat for The Herald until he decided to end his Miami Herald career 20 years later.
Two of his brothers, the late Luther Evans and Lee Evans, founder of the Tournament of the Americas, also wrote sports stories for The Miami Herald. Thus stories under the byline of an Evans brother appeared in The Miami Herald from 1937 until 2009 except for two years during World War II (1943-44).
Dick Evans is survived by his wife Joan Gano Evans, son, Richard V. Evans, an attorney in Louisville, Ky. and three grandchildren - Peyton, Carter and Walker.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType> of laceName w:st="on">MiamilaceName>, where Dick Evans attended on a scholarship while working full time at The Miami Herald. Funeral arrangements are pending.
2010 USBC Women’s Open Championships Close
The 100-day run of the 2010 USBC Women’s Open Championships ushered in a new era in tournament history as tournament competitors bowled in three average divisions that included handicap for the first time. The tournament also made the transition from a traditional bowling center venue to a convention center setting for the first time in tournament history.
More than 30,000 bowlers visited El Paso for the 91st edition of the tournament; the world’s largest participatory sporting event for women. In keeping with record-setting history, new records were set in the one-of-a-kind 48-lane bowling facility.
The three divisions for this years’ tournament were Diamond, Sapphire and Ruby. The Diamond Division is for bowlers with averages of 180 or higher and handicap is based on 220. The Ruby Division is for bowlers with averages of 150-179 and handicap is based on 180. The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with averages of 149 and below and handicap is based on 150. In addition to the three divisions, the overall scratch leaders will be recognized as the overall tournament champions.
The divisional and scratch winners are as follows:
Diamond Division
Singles - Krischna Howard, Hawthorne, Calif., 858
Doubles - Renee Graham, Seat Pleasant, Md. /Felicia Thorpe, Temple Hills, Md., 1,484
Team - Bowlers Choice Pro Shop, Tonawanda, N.Y. 3,436 (Liz Johnson, Sue Jeziorski, Nikki Lunsford, Sue Nawojski, Michelle Sterner)
All-Events - Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio 2,330
Ruby Division
Singles - Holly Van Nortwick, Hillsboro, Ore., 690
Doubles - Joyce Treat, Queen Creek, Ariz./Shawna Treat, Gilbert, Ariz., 1,291
Team - CRC CARSTAR of Fort Collins, Colo., 2,880 (Donna Laughlin, Pam Weeks, Karen Smith, Faith Zimmer, Terri Lion)
All-Events - Betty Brooks, Lakewood, Calif., 1,898
Sapphire Division
Singles - Robin Farrish, El Paso, Texas, 625
Doubles - Shirley Barnes, Wilmington, Del./Debbie Kennedy, Elkton, Md., 1,088
Team - East Bay Ladies, Richmond, Calif., 2,528 (Elzada Reed, Ellen Temple-Daniels, Delores Easterling, Teresa Sexton, Shiela Douglas)
All-Events - Joyce Treat, Queen Creek, Ariz., 1,659
Scratch
Singles - Krischna Howard, Hawthorne, Calif., 792
Doubles - Carol Gianotti, Australia /Missy Klug, Macomb, Mich., 1,431
Team - Bowlers Choice Pro Shop, Tonawanda, N.Y. 3,424 (Liz Johnson, Sue Jeziorski, Nikki Lunsford, Sue Nawojski, Michelle Sterner)
All-Events - Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio 2,330
Also making headlines at the 2010 Women's Championships were participation leaders Emma Hendrickson of Morris Plains, N.J., and Mini Tvaska of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Hendrickson, a 101-year-old bowling sensation, extended her own record as the tournament's oldest participant as she competed at the Women's Championships for the 51st consecutive time.
Tvaska, 92, has competed in more Women's Championships than any bowler and made her 64th consecutive appearance. Her tournament career began at the 1947 event in Grand Rapids, Mich.
All standings and prizes for the 2010 event are unofficial until a final verification is made.
2010 USBC Open Championships Concludes in Reno
The 2010 USBC Open Championships concluded in Reno after its 136 day run. The 2010 event kicked off on Feb. 20, and this years’ edition marked the tournament’s record ninth visit to Reno and sixth visit to the National Bowling Stadium.
During the tournament’s run, 14,189 five-player teams, more than 70,000 bowlers, made their way to the Biggest Little City in the World for their shot at Open Championships glory.
The numbers are in and the leaderboards closed as follows:
Regular Division
All-Events – Matt McNeil, Chanhassen, Minn. 2,326
Singles – Terrence Syring, Bay City, Mich. 833
Doubles - John Kreyer Jr., Fridley, Minn. / Steve Bohn, Norwood, Minn. 1,514
Team - Bowlers Edge Pro Shop, Neenah, Wis. 3,408 (Brad Kuhr, Tim Rice, Jason Wendt, Kenny Kempf, Dan Paul)
Team All-Events – Northern Lanes Pro Shop, Sanford, Mich. 10,284 (Bo Goergen, Dan MacLelland, Dale Hofmeister, J.R. Raymond, Derwin Pitre)
Classified Division
All-Events – William Gibboney Jr., Douglasville, Ga. 1,819
Singles - David Ackerman, Lena, Ill. 688
Doubles - Mark and Daphene Thompson, Snyder, Texas 1,207
Team - Southeast Paint, Price, Utah 2,808 (Ed Howa, Mark Montoya, Joe Juliano, Gary Nelson, Frank Marrelli)
Some of the numbers not reflected on the leaderboard include 32 perfect games, 13 299s and five 298s, while 38 other bowlers tossed 11 strikes in a row. There were seven 800 series overall, six in singles and one in doubles.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
The 2011 USBC Open Championships Tournament heads back to Reno for a tenth visit and a seventh stop at the National Bowling Stadium. The USBC has challenged members to help break the 17,285 team mark set at the inaugural NBS visit in 1995. Visiting the same tournament city in back-to-back years is unprecedented. The goal of breaking the team record fell short for 2010 but can still be broken in 2011. USBC hopes it members will help them achieve their goal of record participation for the 108th edition of the tournament.
BOWLING INDUSTRY SCORES HISTORIC MOMENT FOR WOMEN'S ATHLETICS
Bowling Proprietors' Association of America Strikes Landmark Deal for Bowling's U.S. Women's Open to Be Broadcast from Cowboys Stadium; Inks Sponsorship Agreement with Ebonite International
LAS VEGAS, NV, June 30, 2010 - Sports history was made at the 2010 International Bowl Expo, when the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) announced that, for the first time in the history of the sport, a Women's Major professional bowling event will be held in a traditional sporting venue. Marking a historic achievement for women's athletics, the BPAA brokered an agreement for the 2011 U.S. Women's Open to be hosted on-site at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX; details are being finalized for the nationally televised event. The U.S. Women's Open will be held on June 30, 2011 in conjunction with the 2011 International Bowl Expo and will be sponsored by The Brands of Ebonite International.
"This is an incredible moment for both women's sports and the bowling industry and an opportunity for the U.S. Women's Open to rightfully take center stage before worldwide audiences," said Kelly Kulick, recently named ESPY finalist for "Best Bowler" and a two-time winner of the Open. "The U.S. Women's Open is an event that sits at the pinnacle of women's athletics. It's both thrilling and gratifying that this event and its great women athletes - who I am proud to call my competitors - will be catapulted into the spotlight in 2011."
The ground-breaking announcement was issued before a standing ovation at the General Session kick-off of the 2010 International Bowl Expo at the Las Vegas Hilton. With confetti cannons blasting and following an emotional video history of the power of the U.S. Open brand in major sports, BPAA Executive Director Steve Johnson called to the Expo stage a number of pioneering female bowling executives and athletes to join him in delivering the historic announcement on the advent of the new, revitalized U.S. Women's Open.
"This is a landmark announcement for bowling and for women's athletics - there is no more prestigious name in sports than the U.S. Open and no bigger venue than Cowboys Stadium. This event exemplifies both the surging popularity of bowling among women and the heightened consumer demand to watch and attend bowling events," said Johnson. "Anyone who has seen the U.S. Women's Open can attest that you will not find tougher, fiercer and more tenacious competitors. Also, through national television exposure, we are excited to now make the U.S. Women's Open more accessible to the public than ever before."
The U.S. Women's Open will showcase the tournament lanes in the center of the Cowboys Stadium playing field, on each side of the 50-yard line. Additionally, the Open will be broadcast live on the stadium's famed 60-yard high definition video board, ensuring that all patrons in attendance have the best seat in the house.
The U.S. Women's Open is sponsored by the Brands of Ebonite International and is open to all female youth and adult members in the United States. The finals will take place during the 2011 International Bowl Expo which will draw more than 8,000 attendees from the bowling industry.
"As a company that both prides itself on its long-standing support of women in bowling and on achieving the highest standards of excellence, we could not ask for a better brand association than the great female players of Bowling's U.S. Women's Open and this truly prestigious and historic sporting event," said Randy Schickert, CEO of Ebonite International. "At Ebonite International, our goal is to design and produce the world's best bowling balls and equipment for passionate bowlers. In furthering this mission, we're tremendously pleased to present our brands alongside the finest female competitors in the world. Additionally, we're proud to be an integral part of this stellar event, before the fans and bowling enthusiasts who will be in attendance and the millions more watching from home."
"SLICE OF AMERICANA" - SARAH PALIN HAILS GROWTH AND RESURGENCE OF BOWLING
Serves as Keynote Speaker at Premier Bowling Industry Event, Calls Attention to Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovation that Has Enabled Bowling to Flourish
LAS VEGAS - June 30, 2010 - Standing before a crowd of several thousand bowling industry leaders from across the world, former Governor and Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin gave a rousing keynote address at the 2010 International Bowl Expo. Highlighting the impact of bowling as the nation's number one participatory sport and a thriving industry, Palin brought the crowd to its feet during her 45 minute speech. Additionally, Palin spoke to the important role played by bowling proprietors as business owners and community leaders, as well as the vital presence of bowling centers as social hubs in communities across the nation.
"Bowling has an honored place in our culture and is interwoven with our sense of community in our country. Go to any town or city and you will find bowling - it is truly a slice of Americana," said Palin. "Bowling has been able to evolve, innovate and capitalize on changes in culture to keep alive and flourish. Through the entrepreneurial spirit of its proprietors, bowling has seen a new resurgence and has never been more popular."
During her keynote speech, Palin spoke of the societal influence of bowling that spans generations of American life. Professing a personal appreciation for the bowling industry, Palin also noted that, during his high school years, her father Chuck Heath Sr. worked as a pin boy and that she herself has fond childhood memories of watching him play in his Thursday night bowling league.
Additionally, as a mother and aunt to children born with disabilities, Palin took special note of the bowling industry's support of the Special Olympics and thanked the proprietors in attendance for providing a healthy, positive environment to children with special needs.
Following her speech, Palin joined Steve Johnson, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), and a number of pioneering female bowling executives and athletes in delivering a historic announcement of a new, revitalized Bowling's U.S. Women's Open in 2011.
"Sarah Palin's comments about the impact of bowling ring true, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum. Bowling is a sport that knows no political or social boundaries - it is the embodiment of the American spirit and a healthy, fun and inclusive activity that brings together people from all walks of life," said Johnson. "Today Sarah Palin said that bowling helps make our country a better place and we couldn't agree with her more."
The International Bowl Expo 2010 was held from June 27 to July 1 at the Las Vegas Hilton and laceName w:st="on">Las VegaslaceName> laceType w:st="on">Convention CenterlaceType>. Ms. Palin's keynote speech took place during the general session on the morning of June 30 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Qubica AMF announces the 46th Bowling World Cup
“This years World Cup will be held in Toulon, on the French Riviera, October 15-24”, Michel Beltramone, Managing Director of the 44 lane Bowling de Provence announced. He stepped in to host it after a change in ownership in Croatia prevented the tournament going there as planned.
Commenting on the change in venue, President and CEO of QubicaAMF, John Walker, said: "It is very regrettable that the economic climate in Croatia and ownership changes at the host center made it necessary to move the 2010 World Cup from Zagreb. “We had great support for the event from the Croatian Olympic Committee, the local Federation and other government agencies and I am confident that the World Cup will be held in Croatia in the near future.”
"It is a wonderful country which is very rich in sporting history and will one day be a tremendous site for the Bowling World Cup. We are also very lucky to have an alternative like Toulon where Michel Beltramone has offered to host this great event and bring it to France for the third time."
The Bowling de Provence centre is located at La Garde, a suburb of Toulon. It is part of one of Toulon's major sports complexes, which also boasts an ice centre (skating, ice hockey and curling), billiards, a swimming pool, gymnasiums and fitness centres.
The Bowling Centre has been completely refurbished, inside and out, and will re-open in early September. It is a modern, state of the art facility, fully equipped with Qubica AMF equipment. It has grown down the years, from 6 lanes at the beginning to become a 12, then 16, 20, 24, 28 and with 44 lanes, it is now the biggest bowling centre in France.
Ron Wood, Vice President of QubicaAMF said: "I am certain that the event in Toulon will match the spectacular tournament when we were last in France in 1992, in Le Mans. Michel Beltramone and his team are looking forward to welcoming the bowling world to this historic city. I am also delighted that Hubert Falco, the mayor of Toulon and Minister in the French Government, is giving his personal backing and that of his administration to the event."
The 1992 event saw Martina Beckel of Germany and Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines crowned champions. French bowlers have been ever present in the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup since the very first tournament in 1965. But only one French player has ever lifted the trophy - Philippe Dubois in 1979, when the event was held in Thailand.
Toulon lies on the western end of the Cote d'Azur on the Mediterranean, known around the world as the French Riviera. It was settled by the Romans when its claim to fame was production of the purple dye used for imperial robes. It developed into a harbour for trading ships, then a royal port and it is now the major French naval port on the Mediterranean. Its delightful historic centre is a mass of narrow streets, small squares and numerous fountains. It is twinned with six other cities, among them the naval ports of Norfolk, Virginia, USA and Kronstadt, Russia.
___________________________________________
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.
laceName w:st="on">VincenneslaceName> laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType>
BowlersParadise.com
Virtualtournaments.com
laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType>
David Driscoll & Associates
International Bowling Industry Magazine
Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine
_________________________________________
Please send change of address or email address to the address below, to ensure uninterrupted subscription to the Cornerstone newsletter.
The Cornerstone,
The Foundation’S Newsletter
The Foundation
c/o Kegel
6800 US 27 North
Sebring FL ostalCode w:st="on">33870ostalCode>
Phone: 863-382-2643
Email: savrsprt@yahoo.com
The Foundation
“One World, One Game”