7-7-08

       I GUESS if there is too much heat in the kitchen you better get out while you can

     Yeah this must be my motto......My last article which I was told to erase (Because I had no business releasing certain information) was obviously a rumor that was true.  To tell you the truth I wasn't committed to the insane asylum like I said in my last article which has now vanished, I really wanted to be left alone.  Everything was going so well until I recieved a slow bowling letter.....Me slow.....I hardly think so.  Maybe a couple of team members were...Lol.  My doubles partner and I had several talks during our doubles and singles session talking about this very thing.  I can't help if others fall asleep on the approach and take a short nap before they release the ball....is that my fault.  Is it my fault for having Mike Rose next to me going for the lead in all-events trying to give proper courtesy while bowling.  I guess it is my fault for putting together a competitive team to compete for an Eagle every year.  Well I guess I should say that I'm sorry then geez.....    I guess it is my fault that Bowlingfordumdums has moved from Milwaukee to Colorado I didn't know I was moving......  I guess it is now my fault for USBC's  move to Texas..... I suppose it is my fault that the Bowlers Journal Championships had its worse turnout entry wise in the history of this tournament.....because I'm not there anymore....  I sure bowled it enough to help support it....he he he....  I guess it is my fault that the Jackpots for this tournament were 1/2  of last years total and 1/3 the payout as 2 years ago.... I guess it is my fault that the BTM had their best tournament ever right accross the street.  I guess it is my fault for not telling these dum-dums who run this tournament  about putting extra questions on the green sheet regarding sandbagging..... I swear somebody told them for the last several years and I'm not making it up either.  I guess it is my fault for Jeff Kistler's disqualifacation in doubles, singles and all-events.  I guess it is my fault for USBC not being able to get all of the other sandbaggers on a technicality like Mr. Kistler was.  I guess it is my fault to have former PBA players bowl in the classified division and win.....  I guess it is my fault on why people affiliated in bowling in general are so stupid... and don't get it.....  I guess it is my fault about last years Lava Lanes fiasco.........  I guess it is my fault that no one that has ever worked for (ABC WIBC USBC)  that had any common sense to sanction Glen Allisons 900 when he used a plastic ball.  I guess it is my fault turning professional at 18 instead of being a former Team USA'er years ago so I could be employed at USBC.  I guess it is my fault that I couldn't kiss enough ass to get a job with them, darn it....  I guess it is my fault that I sold my family bowling center a few years back to work for USBC and then was lied to in a round about way 9- months later........Is there anything else which is my fault......please tell me by e-mail if there is.....I will take the blame so please don't blame USBC for it.  Maybe I will move to the North Pole and help Santa for a while....so I can hide out from all of this blame..........

       5-25-08

       Same old story but a different day..........

      I see we have new leaders in the Classified Doubles division and my response is "When will it ever stop".  It is just unbelievable how stupid people are that bowl and are in the bowling industry period.  If you were a former professional bowler and have the smarts enough to bowl in the Classified division and get away with it....I must applaud you....but I don't want anyone to complain down the road when bowling is continued to not be looked at as a sport.  Because in all reality it shouldn't be called one.  I am recieving e-mails like crazy about this very topic, one guy wondered why I hadn't brought it up to start more problems with USBC.  First of all, I don't know if they were former professionals for sure, secondly I don't have a problem with USBC.....I have a problem with the people who continue to not make a decision to benefit its image to hopefully go down that road to make bowling a sport again.  The couple that is leading the Classified Doubles are great people but didn't use their heads and  didn't think of what could happen down the road if the event of winning  happened.  You wonder why the sport of bowling is going nowhere when people involved in all aspects of bowling have no common sense.  Now if these people are knowledgable about the sport of bowling and were former professional bowlers at one time why would you bowl in a lower division.  Now if I went to one of the pro shop booths there at Open Championship Tournament wouldn't you want to get your equipment drilled by someone who is knowledgable and who is a pretty good bowler who understands bowling period.  The question is how can you be such a person or people for that matter and be in the Classified division.....it doesn't make sense too me.  Same goes with coaching....... would you want a personal bowling coach that knows less than you about bowling....or someone who isn't a good bowler for that matter.  Things can't go both ways....If you were once a great bowler you shouldn't be stupid enough to bowl in a lower division.....and that's my honest opinion. 

      Well on another note......I'm headed back down to Albuquerque in early June.  My buddy Mike Karch is bowling on June 3rd and 4th.  I'm going to bowl a little in some of the side events so USBC can make more money  (kind of like adding those reverse brackets in the middle of the tournament to make more money).  It is sad that my primary  reason to bowl is about money now which is sad but does that mean that I can fit into the USBC scheme of things   I don't think so........  Maybe I'll watch Brian Lewis bowl a little on June 2nd  while I'm there along with some of the other employees who are bowling.......Lol.   But the best thing is that the two teams who finished  1st and 2nd last year in Team event are bowling when I'm there.....I contacted one of the players off the 2nd place team.....I need to call my former roomie off the 1st place Lava Lanes team to possibly set up a match between the two.....Maybe out at the Santa Ana  Casino ........they are having a Team tournament out there you know....

       Hey if any of the management team out there in Albuquerque needs to have a chat with me while I'm there don't hestitate to come talk to me.  You don't have to be afraid like you were last month and ignore me you know........ Damn only if I could of kissed ass more and kept my mouth shut.....I would be in Albuquerque now..... oh well that's OK ....Lol  That isn't my nature...

5-6-08

(Part II)

       The questions are ........ What is a true average and what is a true employee? 

     Jane and I just got back from Albuquerque, I bowled the USBC Open Championships over the weekend.  I could see in my wife's eyes that it was going to be a very emotional trip for her, a difficult one to say the least.  Last year she did not watch me bowl so this was her first tournament back being around the people that she had worked with.  So it wasn't going to be an easy situation to deal with. 

     Since her sudden departure, the area she helped managed has been in chaos.  Even though she hasn't been involved in the tournament now for 2 years it is amazing how some of her co-workers showed such complete respect for her.  Some people have told her that things aren't the same without her.  There was comments from staff on how bad things were in her department.  There isn't a family atmosphere anymore here working the tournament like there use to be.  Some of the management staff is very unorganized.  The comments from these fellow friends and employees of the tournament went on and on and on.  It was really shocking to here some of the stories that were going around the tournament site. And it really is too bad too.  I myself want to set the record straight as I talked about this very thing with an employee of the tournament who happens to be on the team Bowlingfordumdums.com that I'm not unhappy about the employees of the tournament, I'm unhappy with management and their continuing politics that they need to bring into the tournament.  In my first article about this subject a couple weeks ago had nothing to do with the travelers and the contractor type employees that work the tournament.  This is  mainly about management and their poor ways of dealing with situations involving the tournament.  None of the people that Jane talked to this past weekend really understood why she was let go.  Was it a budget cut?  Was it personal?  Was it the fact she would be upset when other managers would try to manipulate her with tactics?  Was it because she cared about the bowlers who bowled the tournament more instead of worrying about the almighty dollar?  Believe me there is more.  But looking and hearing the situations that go on at the tournament site, I am glad that Jane isn't affiliated with the tournament anymore.  Really I am!!!  But it doesn't excuse them for the way she was lied too and how she was treated by upper management regarding her situation.  Last but not least I want to set the record straight that my wife was very upset with me and the website so much that she wanted her name off of it.  She wanted nothing to do with it anymore. Because she is the type of person who is worried about what people would think about her when in fact they are my comments and how I personally see the situation.  I could care less what people think about me. I'm no dum-dum I speak my mind which is truthful and if people can't respect that....oh well....Lol

     Jane and I know that there is so many great people involved with the USBC Open Championship tournament but it will never have the working enviroment it once had.  From some of the people we talked with we heard a few of them will be not involved in the tournament anymore after this year.  Some haven't made a decision yet but aren't sure if they want to come back because of various things involved with upper management.  It really is too bad.....

    I think Jane in the end was glad that she went to Albuquerque with me after all.  I definitely now think it was the best thing for her after all.  There will be a Part III on this subject because some new information has been brought to my attention that ties into this article.....  So I'll be back in a couple weeks with more interesting stuff..... 

 4-24-08

 (Part I)        

       The questions are …….What is a true average and what is a true employee?

     Hey what is a true average!!!!   I see many people on the bowl.com discussion forums are sharing their own opinions on what is.  The real answer though is that there isn’t one and I will explain why.

     First of all, the current rules for the USBC Open Championships Classified division are crap anyways.  You are to use your highest average from the 2006-2007 league season with other rules listed on the entry form.  This tournament has been basically bowled on Sport conditions but you are to use a sanctioned league average which 99.9% of the bowlers do not use a Sport average to begin with when entering this tournament.  I noticed one response from Dukesliquor on the forum on his opinion of what a true average is.  He says that  there is ABSOLUTELY a true bowling average...............its called your average at the USBC championship...........such an easy fix.  He does have a point but if the rule states that no one with an entering average over 180 may bowl in the classified division, but the tournaments have been Sport compliant basically every year except last year which was barely over Sport, how could you use it.  For one it is different. The entering average rule is a house average the USBC Open Championship average is bowled on Sport bowling conditions.  People on the message boards are complaining that people that have been winning most of the money in this division shouldn’t be able to bowl in it.  They are right and they have a point. Many of these bowlers have been averaging 180 or better the past 5 years at Nationals but this average is being bowled on Sport type conditions.  Should this tournament then use the Sport adjustment scale to re-rate bowlers.

 Here’s a better explanation let’s look at Last years Classified All-events winner Samuel Murray.  His last 5 Open Championship Tournament appearances is averaging over 182 per game and in his last two years he is averaging 199.  The most interesting thing is that he hasn’t averaged over 179 the past several years back home in league.  This guy bowled a pba experience league over the summer last year at the same house he bowled a regular league in.  Guess what he averaged……exactly the same 176.  Sounds fishy to me.  His doubles partner Kirby Lomax won the Classified All-events title the year before in 2006.  Years ago Kirby averaged well over 190 in league then all of a sudden he was 179 for 5 consecutive years.  Then he won, then he was re-rated….then the next year he averaged in the mid 180’s. Surprise Surprise!!!!!  My point is,  if bowlers are averaging over 180 or even 175 for the last 5 years at the Open Championships  shouldn’t all these bowlers be re-rated because according to the average adjustment scale if a bowler is averaging 180 he is a 197 average league bowler.  If he is 175 he is a 192 average league bowler.  If people are bowling as good as they are in leagues back home as they are at Nationals they need to be moved up to the Open division period.  You have 3 basic problems with this type of bowler.  They bowl in a house that is as tough as the Open Championship Tournament because they live in a small town, the proprietor doesn’t care or they bowl in a house that is in terrible shape where there is no where else to go.  Or they choose to bowl in a center like this to take advantage of USBC’s  poor rules knowing they can get away with it forever or a long period of time. The third scenario is a little of both.  My overall point still stands that in fact there is no such thing as a true average until USBC adds some sort of slope rating to create a more believable average.  USBC can make better rules to enforce the sandbagging issue, the question is will they….or would they rather hear the complaints year after year.  Heck what is another 5 years going to do except making you lose more credibility.  Why have any integrity in the sport anyways (even though you advertise it).  Maybe the tournament department isn’t on the same page as the USBC’s  boards vision of what bowling needs to be (A Sport.) Because every other sports organization to my knowledge have stiff rules in  regards to  allowing people to cheat except for the sport of bowling.

 3-27-08

    A slope rating is the only way to bring back integrity and make things fair

     USBC is moving to Texas!!!!!!!  Yee haw!  Many people are bitter by the move.  Especially the employees that worked there for so many years who cared about their job by helping people.  But then again you always had those people which were basically useless who has used the tactic of ass kissing all those years which have done nothing to help the game and promote the sport.  I'm for the move myself, because for one the orgazization is looked at as many as a joke.  Before the move I would ask people what they thought of USBC and nobody really ever said anything good about them...... boy that isn't a good sign...  Sometimes starting over is a good thing.  This is a chance to start over and do things right....many of us have opinions on what needs to be done....but for years and years nothing has been done for the better of the game or the sport. Lack of integrity is the real reason....It could be some of the people who have worked their over the years who lacked integrity.....nobody would ever take a chance to do something, to bring back the sport to make it recognizable, to make the sport great again.  I'll give Jeff Boje credit for doing something, let's hope he doesn't just move the location of headquarters but actually get people on the right track on improving USBC in all aspects..... We know it will take sometime to get things straightened out but there are certain things that need to be looked at right away for the sport to succeed as one.   And it is a slope rating......

      Some type of slope rating is crucial to creating integrity to the sport, right now there is very little if any.....I will agree that it may not be a perfect solution but something needs to be done and the procrastination has gone on long enough. There are individuals who feel that sandbagging is an important way of life in the bowling world.  There are others who continually are called sandbaggers when in fact they bowl at a low scoring center.  You know people, in some centers there is real bowling it has been out there for decades.....and there are centers who continually wall them up to create business for themself to compete against other competition.  Actually both should be allowed....it's America you know.  But to do this there needs to be a slope ratings to level out all bowlers. Because in all reality there is no such thing as an average in bowling.  People ask me all the time, especially people who are non-bowlers or people who used to bowl......hey what is your average....... Being the honest person that I am I always tell them there is no such thing....because there isn't.  USBC needs to identify this problem and fix it.....I know several ways to do this sort of thing but then again.....you are suppose to have qualified people in your building to handle these sort of problems you know......

      Let me use some examples: I will use a league bowler and great friend back home where I use to live, before giving up a family owned bowling center to move to the wonderful state of Wisconsin. (Yippee)

      My buddy Mark Zorica went to Billings Montana to bowl the USBC Open Championships in 2002.  He finished 2nd in the classified singles that year and fifth in all-events. He made almost $2000.00 that year. He has averaged over 190 in a league, a much higher scoring league in Spokane 40 miles away years ago. But in Oldtown he never aveged more than 182.  Last year he booked at 166 mainly because we sold the center to a non-bowling guy and didn't understand how to oil the lanes. This year they bought a $20,000.00 lane machine and now he is averaging as of January 1st 188.  Same center.... Is he a classified bowler probably not but without a slope rating how are we suppose to separate sandbaggers from people who bowl in low scoring centers accross the country. 

      Now Jeff Kistler situation is different, but then again if people are able to cheat because of poor rules then should he be allowed to bowl in the Classified division.  He knows.... and his previous National scores proves that he is better than 180.  Maybe not in a non-sanction sport league at home....but then again there is no rules.  Being a USBC official, believe me he knows the rules.....and that is why he did what he did. Some feel obligated to always find a reason to cheat or bend the rules....In some cases people don't know they broke a rule.  Jeff knows he did wrong.... There will be others who will do the same if nothing is done.

      Let's take a look at the new leader in Classified singles that overtook Jeff by one pin.  Tim Wagner is his name. He has averaged as high as 194 in league no different than my buddy Mark.  Has anyone bowled in Hardin Montana....Lol  Tough lanes out there.....Again should this guy be in the Classified division. This is the first year  that he has been in the Classified division, the  previous 3 years he has averaged over 180 in every tournament in the Regular division....  Is this guy better than 180 well if he is averaging better than 180 the past 3 years now 4, I would have to say yes....but then again there is no such thing as a true average.  Anyway you look at it....this will be an on going situation unless things get changed and rules are in place.  Because there is no such thing as an average....It is the honest truth.......

       I really truly believe that USBC should take some of their information off there website.  Especially when it comes to the word integrity.......That is the biggest problem I have and that is the biggest problem USBC has with it's image.....Alot of people look at them the same way I do.....

3-21-08

        USBC's lack of integrity Part 2:

       About 10 days ago I talked about the continuous problems that USBC is having with the USBC Open Championships.  Lack of integrity is obviously an on going yearly ritual with this event, but why?  Is it a lack of bowling common sense by tournament managers.  Is it a lack of motivation to  change rules to make your organization look better.  I would have to answer yes to both those questions.  I'll give USBC a break though...they are in transistion you know....they are getting ready to move to Texas so I'm sure a lot is going on.........especially more important things to them like money!  But changing a rule as far as I know doesn't cost any money.  Usually USBC is good at something that benefits their image and their constant emphasis of integrity so why has it taken so long to change a simple sandbagging rule.

       In my last article I talked about how bad the green form is regarding classified bowlers in competition, it does little to combat the true sandbaggers of the game.  Unfortunately this area of concern has been brought up and talked about again and again with little to no response from the tournament managers.  It has basically been ignored for the last several years.  Maybe they think that there is no problem, knowing them personally they are naive enough to think that way. 

       I've talked several times about adding a slope rating to bowling as they do with the game of golf.  Along with changing the green form this issue will solve the sandbagging problem.  The only problem is it will cost USBC money to institute this program and that is why it hasn't been done yet.  Maybe again they aren't that smart to think that adding integrity to their name and sport is a good idea.  They sure promote that on their website....but yet don't have the common sense to do what's right.

       The slope rating idea should be tied in with  the equipment and specification department.  Instead of looking into a ball motion study that in the end which will result in nothing being done in regard to adding more integrity to the game, they should instead look at instituting a slope rating. Myself it is interesting stuff and I'm interested to know about the ball motion study but what does it have to do about making the game fair.  Most bowlers won't give a rats ass about it to begin with.  Anyways the equipment was allowed in the first place by your organization under a different name.  Why waste money on a study, when the organization already damaged itself to begin with by allowing better equipment to be thrown without stricter rules and regulations.  Maybe I'm right.....USBC will never change anything for the better when it costs them money unless they waste it. 

     In closing I would like to say that I just recieved an e-mail regarding a vote by the senate last year.  They were voting on America's primary launguage, 33 Senators Voted Against English as America 's Official Language on June 6, 2007.  Now I don't see any difference looking at USBC the same way as the Senators.  They are both somewhat in charge of making rules, Senators make laws for our country,and if we have  33 who voted against English as our primary language something is wrong don't you think.  No different than looking at who is in charge of USBC regarding it's poor rules. Whether I was a Senator or a high paid tournament official making six figures I know that I wouldn't be a stupid as they are with decision making. I would do what the people or the bowlers thought was important or right it's mostly the bowlers and taxpayers payers money to begin with.........Anyways I couldn't be any of them I'm way too honest...........

Coming soon............I will talk more about a slope rating and the USBC's move to Texas.............

3-10-08

       Surprise, surprise USBC integity has been tested again.......and again......and again....

    This above content is advertised on USBC.com, in my opinion it is not what they are doing, and if they think they are doing what they say above.....USBC is doing a poor job it.    

    When Robert Mushtare said he bowled 5 900 sets all pre bowls I might add ,what did USBC do.  Robert didn't break any rules.....did he.  No he did not.  Because someone like Robert, who isn't very good and bowls 900 after 900, it makes your governing body look bad.  For one, it was a stupid rule in the first place.  After USBC taking so much scrutiny about this situation, they changed the rule for the better and removed allowing pre-bowled honor scores.  Still the problem was that something should of been done way before this incident ever happened in the first place.  Let's give USBC partial credit but let's not pat them on the back on the fact that it should of been avoided in the first place.

     Now when Lava Lanes last year won the USBC Open Team Title bowling unopposed, because they wanted too. (For several reasons)  What ultimately was done about the situation.  There is know doubt that they could of had an advantage over 16,000 other teams by doing this.  They didn't break a rule because there was no rule in place.  But USBC's integrity was hurt again by it.  Bowlers Journal magazine ran an article about it too.     Many of you were probably wondering why the USBC Open Championship checks were mailed late last year...... The Lava Lanes fiasco was one reason but the other situation was regarding sandbagging.

     This year alone there has been sandbagging, yes again in the USBC Open Championships.  It is a very common occurance, a lot more than you know.  Especially at this tournament.   Now if situations like the LAVA LANES incident and the constant SANDBAGGING of tournament bowlers to gain a distinct advantage over other competitors continues to be ignored......than what will that do to USBC's image regarding integrity and growing the sport.  Yes , it makes you look like a DUM-DUM.  

      Below is some of the sandbaggers who either slipped through the cracks and were missed.  Some who could of been re-rated, that USBC was aware of and did nothing.  And some were instances of bowlers across America who abuse the poor system in place that USBC has regarding it's rules to avoid this sandbagging problem.

 Bowler M (2004)  Former Eagle Team winner in Regular division who bowled a season an averaged 178.  Was allowed to bowl in the Classified division because of not having the proper rules in place.  No questions on green form to ask if you were a former champion and no rule regarding more than a 10 pin drop in average.  Must of been just a coincidence that he won one year and that he had numerous honor scores.  His lifetime average at nationals was over 12 pins higher than his entering average in 2004.  USBC was notified but did nothing because a rule wasn't broken.  The next year he averaged over 200 in league but unfortunate again he made sure he had only 18 games in before the JAN 1st deadline....even though he was well over 200.  This person was never re-rated and could do this again without ever being noticed.

  Bowler K (2006)   Another veteran of the USBC Open Championships was to be re-rated before he was supposed to bowl in Corpus Christi in 2006.  But the registration department overlooked it.  Again just a coincidence that he won the Classified All-Events that year.  Here is a guy who was a 190 plus average bowler years ago who must of figured out that he wasn't very competitive with the big boys so he lowered his average 15 pins.  It's just amazing how someone can drop 15 pins one year than countinue to be 177-179 every year.  This guy won $10,000 in a handicapped tournament the year before  so that is why he was to be re-rated.  It was missed and the only thing done after the fact was that he was re-rated the next year.  Just a coincidence that he averaged 10 pins higher in league the next year.  Yeah right...........

   Bowler J (2007)  had a great year tournament at the Open Championships last year.  Another veteran who has bowled regularly at this tournament had a league average as high as 215  four years ago.  And posted in the 220's for years.  He is an older guy but in the 04-05 season his average dropped 42 pins......yikes  the past couple of years he has also been below 180.  Well to make a long story short he finished second in the classified all-events last year.  And his  tournament average the last 10 years is just under 190.  Which is fifteen pins under his league average and fifteen pins under his last 3 years at Nationals.  Hopefully this guy was re-rated this year. Some honor scores on his resume also.

   Bowler S (2007) won the Classified all-events last year.  Wow another coincidence he was the doubles partner of the guy Bowler K who won the year before.  His last 2 nationals he is averging 199.  Thats pretty good considering his league average is in the low 170's.  In his last three years at the USBC Open Championships he is averging almost 190.  He can be re-rated this years based on that.....but will USBC do their homework on this guy.

   Bowler L (2007) had a great tournament last year.......well every year he has Bowled for that matter.  Known as a big, big sandbagger in his area....he sure knows the rules.  He has averaged over 200 the last 2 years.  Another guy years ago who's average  was over 180.  Gosh he averaged 161 one year a few years back.  I'm sure glad I don't have to bowl against him in handicapped tournaments. This guy shot 800 in league before...... yeah right he is 161. Lol  !!!!!

   Bowler B (2007) bowled great last year has only been bowling for 4 years has never averaged over 180 in a league season. Did have a couple of 300 last years in league, definitely an improving bowler getting better and better.  Coincidently he was Bowler L's doubles partner.  He ended up breaking a rule accidently but was disqualified.  Well I guess that is one way to stop your partner.  But I'm sure both of you will be back in the Classified division this year....so watch out!!!!!!

   Let's look at some of the sandbaggers this year at the 2008 USBC Open Championships in Albuquerque.  Well looking at the top two places in all-events....it's obviously that they are sandbagging.  But there is no way to monitor the situation fully to stop it.  The green form is a joke it doesn't stop the people who intentionally cheat.  More rules are needed.  Even when you have the information in front of you to re-rate bowlers you refuse to do it until they win.  Or you do nothing...  If you don't have the adequate staff to handle these situations, you need to get a hold of Kevin Dornberger to get some new people preferably more former TEAM USA bowlers who think integrity is important. Then you can institue some new rules with people taking pride of doing their job. 

    Maybe it is everywhere in bowling, maybe it is all the people involved in the bowling world today.  Did you ever think of that........  I can guarantee that is the most problem that bowling has today.  People not having integrity.....  Except those people on the USBC and PBA forums who actually get it and give a rats ass about things in the game of bowling.  Maybe for your own good USBC you should follow suit  or remove what you have on your website regarding upholding the sport and the importance of integrity.  Because in all reality you have very little............  Good luck in trying to grow the sport when you obviously have flaws in your rules regarding integrity......

    I don't care what people think because I know that I'm right, someone has to be the ---hole and bring up what's wrong with the situation.  At least I'm honest.....  I know ........another topic about negativity regarding USBC without giving a solution to the problem.  I know what the solution is but you guys there at USBC are supposed to have the professionals to handle these situations before they even come up remember......  Hey , they can always give me a call for free for some advice........you got my number.......don't ya.

 7-7-07 

      This week's article:  What really happened with Lava Lanes and the USBC Open Championships

     Sorry It took so long for an article to be written, but I was told by someone at USBC that basically I'm not allowed opinions while working for them especially if they thought it was negative.

     Early Februrary I left Milwaukee to head to Reno, to work the Bowlers Journal tournament which is basically a side tournament that is run by USBC.  This was the fourth year that I have been a contractor for them and it definitely proved to be the most difficult. 

     My future wife Jane was the Asst. Registration manager for the USBC Open Championships and had been with USBC for just under 8 years working a variety of championship events including the World Team Challenge series as well as the ABC/USBC Masters.  In July of 2006 she was unceremoniously let go due to a supposed "budget cut".  The biggest reason that I decided to still go work for USBC after Jane was "let go" was to fulfill my contract obligation and to do the best job I could for the sport, the integrity of the game and to take care of all the bowlers who compete, all of these areas have always been important to both myself and Jane. 

     In the previous three years Jane and I worked at the tournament site together.  I first started at the Bowlers Journal Tournament in 2004 and Jane worked at the Open Championships at the Stadium.  In 2006 she was put in charge of overseeing the Bowlers Journal Championships and it allowed us to work together in the same venue.  This year I found it to be alot more difficult being at the tournament alone, more then I ever imagined actually.  It seemed as if I was being treated alot differently than I had been in the past.  I guess alot of people involved with the tournament felt uncomfortable being around me because of the situation with Jane. We should not of been surprised because when she was let go after last years tournament most of the people that she worked with at headquarters or at the tournament site for almost 8 years never even bothered to call her or talk to her after her termination.  There were two exceptions; Tom Boedecker and Lucas Wiseman.  The rest of the people who we had considered friends started acting differently towards me even when she was not around.  I wondered what did I do to deserve this.

     At the start of the tournament there seemed to be many problems.   Someone new had been hired and put in charge of overseeing the Bowlers Journal event.   When setting up for the tournaments start, it was found that all the re-caps had been misprinted and rules listed on all the entry forms were wrong.  One of the other problems we encountered was the Manager of the bowling center where the BJ was held seemed to have no clue as to what she was doing and treated us very poorly at best.

Our lucky break came in March when the Grand Sierra Resort brought in a friend of mine Paul Kreins (a marketing guru) to straighten up the mess that the bowling center was having. He wanted to know my opinions of the place, the problems we were having and so on. He invited me to dinner that night to talk about things. Here was my dilemma. My boss, and my friend Jerry wasn't around. Should I even tell him about the meeting with Paul to straighten up the matters we were having, chances are I'm not coming back after the year and after what they did with Jane's situation, why should I help them. But being the person I am, and with the state that the bowling world is in right now, I might as well do my part to help. So Jerry and I met Paul  that night, and talked about a variety of things. One of the things we talked about was how bad the Center Manager was, and what we needed to do to make things better for the BJ tournament this year and possibly every three years when we are back in Reno. We really needed a shuttle badly, our entries were really poor for the first month, but politics played into that situation with the negotiations between USBC and the Grand Sierra Resort early last year.  My opinion of things, along with the conversation that night just made me more frustrated with the lack of common sense in bowling and the lack of "qualified bowling people" being in positions within bowling organizations.  More importantly, it made me realize that better decisions need to be made for the bowlers.

     To be honest here, isn't that what is wrong with bowling today.  Look at all the bowling centers that are mismanaged and that are closing on a regular basis. Some close because of poor management, some just close because the land is worth more than the business. Alot of corporations in the bowling world hire only people with degrees with no bowling common sense and I personally think that is why things are so bad in the bowling world.   

     As far as I know, the only one who has ever worked  in the bowling business before being involved in the USBC tournament department is the Lane Maintenance Manager.  I believe he is the only person with such a background.  Maybe more bowling knowledge and bowling common sense is needed for the USBC Open Championships. I know that the last person hired for the tournament department didn't have any prior to being hired.  USBC is also hiring  another "tournament" position on their website it should be interesting what happens with that position  The listings always say bowling knowledge required, but in the end they seem to hire a person without any.  Maybe that is why some of the problems with the USBC Open Championships tournament happen in the first place.  And isn't it funny how one budget cut can lead to two new, higher paying positions.

     It is very difficult to sit back and watch all the mistakes that are being made due to tournament management feeling that all situations can be handled by temporary employees, some of whom have never thrown a bowling ball in their life.  They believe in empowering their "traveler" staff so that they, (the full time USBC employees) do not have to be involved as much in the day to day operations. Because of this mentality, to eliminate positions deemed NOT NEEDED by upper USBC personnel it opens the door for sitations like the Lava Lanes incident to happen.

     Oh boy the Lava Lanes incident... everyone has heard the stories about Lava Lanes. Everyone has their opinions of what happened. I do know the facts. I guess it doesn't hurt having one of the players of the Lava Lanes team being a former roommate on the PBA tour.  It was interesting to hear from Bryon especially right after he was notified as the Team tournament champions this year. He was reading the forums, and was concerned. He didn't like the fact that so many people were upset about his team winning the team title. It wasn't his fault. His team did nothing wrong. He followed the rules that USBC had in place.  Just know that tournament management had been told of some of these potential problems, what high caliber bowlers are capable of given the right set of circumstances.  But obviously, it fell on deaf ears along with alot of other things.  The fact is that moving teams to different lanes had been a topic of conversation for two years now, since problems in Corpus Christi, not known to the bowling masses had caused problems with teams being moved.

     The truth to the matter is that the Lava Lanes team originally signed up for the 2:30pm team squad along with their companion team.  Lava Lanes signed up for the tournament late, but before the entry deadline and found that the only squad left for doubles and singles was at 7:00am.  The Lava Lanes team saw that the 8:30pm team squad was not full and decided to request a move to the 8:30pm team squad so as not to interfere with the possibility of making alot more money in brackets.  It is my understanding that they realized that they probably would not get done bowling until around11:30pm and that they would not get alot of sleep before having to be back at the stadium by 6:30am the following morning.  In looking at the postings they noticed that there were no teams scheduled on lanes 33-34. The reason I guess is that two teams cancelled out. Bryon went to registration to ask if they could move there by themselves so as to get done quicker.  Obviously we all know that that request was granted and in hindsight probably should not have been.

     The truth is that his first thought was that bowling by themselves would basically give his team no chance of winning.  An advantage being gained by bowling unopposed did not enter his mind.  Bryon thought if there was an advantage to moving, it was because the lower end of the stadium lanes seem to generally score higher then the higher end at the stadium. Moving to the lower end of the house would give him a better shot at all-events, because in all honesty he didn't think his team had a chance in hell. These guys were a bunch of friends back home getting together to bowl Nationals and that was basically it.  The funny thing though is that when their team went to the squad room, they were told that the lead-off man couldn't bowl until Bryon threw his first ball. Which basically meant two things to him, why did we move because we aren't going to get done much quicker and two if we would of understood that beforehand, and was explained that before the switch was made they wouldn't of even bothered to move in the first place. 

     When I spoke to Bryon I told him what I believed Jane would have done.  I replied if there was an open pair in the middle of the house I think she would of moved two teams  instead of just one.  I know for a fact if Jane was there in registration she would of had the bowling common sense and the strength to tell someone, even those that she considers friends NO.  She has said No to many of these types of situations in the past and believe me, there have been some doozies. 

     An argument could be made that the Lava Lanes team was at somewhat of a disadvantage in All Events..... bowling Fresh for Team and Fresh for Doubles and Singles is not a choice that most teams would make, in fact many teams who enter the event late, and are assigned doubles and singles times outside the normal scheduling complain about having to be in the Fresh Fresh situation.  One of the biggest complaints teams have is when they are scheduled to bowl at the other doubles/singles times and they end up bowling on a pair not used on the shift before them.  So, I guess its everyone's own opinions as to what is an advantage and what is not.    If everyone feels that bowling with less guys on the pair 5 vs 10 on fresh is better, than why isn't everyone signing up for the 7:00am doubles squad with only 4 men on the pair.  Shouldn't it be even better? Come on everyone knows that the fresh squads play tougher.  Everybody's opinion is different and what is an advantage to one may not be to another.

     I guess I can understand why it was done, they thought why leave 2 lanes open in the middle of the house and not use them.  I'm sure the people making the change in registration thought they were doing a good thing but didn't realize what could happen and what "can of worms" it would open.  The reason they didn't realize this is because they do not understand high level "championship" bowling and do not know what the many great, more accomplished players are capable of, nor do they even know who they are.    Why should they.... these people are just regular people who love the tournament, mostly they are retired couples looking to travel, meet people and have a great time.  They are not involved with these players on a daily basis.  They have no tournament experience working with the Best Players in the World.  They are simply temporary employees looking to make your time at the tournament the best it can be.  To USBC management though they are cheap help, with no benefits, no 401K and no vacation pay.  Simply put, it appears that USBC feels it costs too much for experience, knowledge, standards and integrity. 

     AND FOR THE RECORD THERE WAS NO RULE IN PLACE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THIS POSSIBILITY.  Shame on USBC for not listening to their own staff when these types of things were brought up.  Shame on USBC for being REACTIVE instead of PROACTIVE, and Shame on USBC for not seeing this coming. 

     Here is my take........ and here is the honest truth.   Lava Lanes did nothing wrong......Is USBC to blame?  Probably.  Are the people in the registration department to blame?  No  But again if you don't have people in place to handle those situations correctly, mistakes are going to be made. Sometimes more than you guys even know. 

     Everyone needs to understand that changes in this tournament are inevitable, they happen on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, even my team has had to make changes, most are necessary and do not create a genuine or perceived "Advantage" but those that do need to be addressed in the RULES....  USBC does not like to visit these possibilities, they would rather look at how to have more brackets and generate more money for the tournament than to actually look at the policies and proceedures for this event.  No one in upper tournament management, again, with the exception of the Lane Maintenance Manager and the Media Manager is a high caliber, championship level bowler, nor do they spend time with any elite bowlers, or attend any of the larger "elite events" throughout the country.   They simply do not understand their audience, nor do they seem to care about having anyone within the organization that does.  

     Unfortunately USBC seems to have the mentality of "sweeping everything under the rug".  Believe me that they did not want this situation to come to light.  USBC needs to understand that this is an organization that needs integrity and is designed for the bowlers and the bowlers concerns.   This is an organization made of bowlers. Like Roger Dalkin said, their new vision is focusing on the sport.  It would be nice if the USBC tournament department thought the same. The funniest thing though is that USBCopen.com released an article about the sport and the integrity issue  just a few days after Rosanne Kuhn finally answered the Lava Lanes fiasco on the message boards.

     Unfortunately Barneys #1 seems to be the most affected by all of this.  No one can say what the outcome would have been if handled differently.  But the mere fact that it could of been handled differently is a bitter pill to swallow.  USBC had been told about situations just like this coming up, they chose to turn their head and ignore the warnings, again their focus seems to be on other areas.  Jane and I know parties from both teams personally and feel bad for both teams.  A huge, great, impressive accomplishment is being raked over the coals.  A team, who has chased their ellusive eagle for years has questions that go unanswered.  This is a situation that did not have to happen.  Things could have been done differently and probably should have been.  USBC is now left to answer all of the questions.

      I am opinionated about these issues but it seems to me that alot of  people don't understand how bad the bowling world is getting. There are centers closing everywhere, people quitting leagues every year at an astounding rate. Just because the tournament is doing well now,  there will be a point in time when it will decline.  Jane and I do take it personal when bad decisions are being made, especially when it effects bowlers.  Unfortunately some bowlers are very picky  and tend to complain more than in other sports, but that is what bowling has turned into.  All we can do is provide great customer service, educate and help bowlers as much as possible and hopefully, make them understand as best we can why decisions are being made.  Don't the bowlers that support USBC deserve that much.

     My friend Jerry (BJ Manager) and  USBC tournament  management  have asked me to come back and work next year. I would like to, but there are three reasons why I really can't. One is because I love someone very much, who has the same beliefs as I do when it comes to bowling, and I don't want to be apart from her anymore.  Secondly because I'm a little embarrased about all the things that go on and the way decisions are made.  Thirdly because I realize that I can't make a difference when it comes to what is logically right, when it comes to bowling. There are always going to be those people above you, who don't have a clue, and don't get it  when making bowling decisions in general.

     So on my 39th birthday, and almost a year later after Jane's job was no longer needed, and looking at the problems the registration department has had this year, I decided to find out the real truth.  Why was Jane really let go. I was told that her job was eliminated, and only one manager was needed in that department.  Honestly I wonder about the validity of this reason after this years problems in registration,  do they still think that now.  But then again, I bet within a month, another manager will be hired in the tournament department that has no prior bowling experience.

     In closing, I would like to tell you something that happened to Jane and I.   The last day of the tournament 2 years ago in Baton Rouge I lost my father suddenly.  I now had a decision to make, should I run the family owned bowling center which we had for over 30 years, or work for USBC and try to make a difference in the sport of bowling.  Jane wanted to run the bowling center for various reasons, but honestly I thought the new USBC would be a better thing for us in the long run and my family sold the bowling center.  My personal opinion was that finally the sport will head in the right direction. Obviously Jane was right and I was wrong. Nine months later she is no longer needed at USBC (a restructuring - budget cut move by USBC) and I have to live with making the wrong decision the rest of my life.  I really, truly believed in the new organization (USBC).  Now I know that believing in them was a mistake.

      I will continue with this website to try to educate bowlers, talk about various bowling topics, and share our bowling experiences with you.  I look forward to continuing the dialog with all of the great bowlers out there.  We appreciate everyone's opinion and know that many of you will feel differently than we do.   I want to emphasize that I will not always be critical of USBC, there are some great things still happening in bowling and I look forward to discussing those as well.  Please provide me feedback as to your beliefs and opinions of this site and bowling in general.  I hope that all of you enjoy my insight and I wish all of you the best.  

E-mail me at greg@bowlingfordumdums.com  for any comments you have.

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