This is something of an addition to the post I just made in the Brian Voss video thread, so forgive me if it feels like I'm covering the same ground here. Simply put, I am the problem. I am the reason why bowling is what it is. I am the reason; I am the problem.

I can sit around waiting for USBC, BPAA, bowling ball manufacturers, and bowling center proprietors to step in and force my hand, but, in the end, they are still MY hands. Nobody is forcing me to buy every average-inflating, oil-stripping, hook-in-a-box bowling ball that my favorite company puts out. If I wanted to bowl with plastic and urethane, that's all I would buy and use. If I didn't want laughably easy conditions that give me 8 boards of area per night, I would demand something tougher, use plastic or urethane, or go someplace that does put down the tough conditions I was asking for. If I truly thought that my 217 average was a joke, which it probably is, again, I'd ball down to plastic or urethane, or I'd look for tougher conditions elsewhere. Why don't I do it? It's because deep down, I don't really want  to, or at least I don't want to badly enough...and I'm not alone!

If we wanted tougher conditions, we'd demand them of our bowling centers, and if they didn't give us what we wanted, we'd threaten to take our business elsewhere. But that's not what happens, is it? No. On the contrary, bowlers flock to the centers that have the easiest conditions and the most honor scores. As such, proprietors keep looking to make their conditions as scoreable as possible because that's what keeps butts in the seats, bowlers on the lanes, and money in the cash register.

Let's talk about bowling balls. Like many other competitive bowlers, I have a tournament arsenal of 8 balls, and I have another 3-4 sitting on the rack in my basement. I have a bowling ball rack in my basement. Does that tell you something right there? In the urethane days, I never averaged higher than 170. In today's environment, I routinely average 210-230. Now, I was very young during the urethane days, so it's not a completely transparent picture, but the point still holds. If you took all of my resin balls away, I'd probably be a 190-200 player at best. Knowing this, if I really wanted to challenge myself, I'd dump all of the resin, bag a plastic ball and maybe a urethane, and I'd take my chances. Hell, doing so would save me a lot of time, money, and wear and tear on my body from lugging 75lb bags of bowling balls into and out of tournaments! Why don't I do it? I don't do it because it's usually more fun to bowl 240 than it is to bowl 175. I do it because in the end I don't care as much about being challenged as I do about keeping up with those around me. I know that if I bagged nothing but plastic and urethane, I'd be way behind other bowlers in terms of average and scores, and my ego doesn't want that. That's right, in the end, I'm a hypocrite. I'd rather go with the flow and score big than challenge myself and be left behind the other bowlers.

That's right, I am part of the problem. I am contributing to the sad state of bowling as it is today. I can gripe that USBC, BPAA, and my local proprietors should do more to make the game challenging, but, in the end, it's not them; it's me. I could lower my average a ton and make the game a true challenge, but I won't do it because I just don't want to badly enough. I'd love to pass the buck and point the finger, but if I'm being honest, I have to point the thumb. Yes, ladies and gentelmen, I am what's wrong with bowling. Bowlers like me are the problem!

No Gene, you are not the problem.

 As it is with life, human nature cannot be trusted, nor can it be left to its own devices.

 If we let our children set their menu, they will eat far too many goodies, and not near enough veggies.     Human nature at work, and the reason a RESPONSIBLE entity needs to be in charge, making the right choices.

 If we let the lunatics run the asylum, there would be all manner of chaos, disorder, and lunacy on a rampant scale.   The exact reason we NEED responsible people to be in charge, making the right choices, the tough ones at times, but the ones that are right for our well being in the long run.


A.B.C./U.S.B.C. Did not, and does not, do this.


 Bowlers only did what they were ALLOWED to do.  Bowling manufacturers only did what they were ALLOWED to do.  If rules had been made, and enforced, by those charged to look after the sport, we wouldn't be here.


 How we got here is pretty simple and plain. Complacency, stupidity, greed, and human nature.

 How we fix it is not plain, nor simple, if it even CAN be fixed. Nobody wants to be the one who "killed" bowling, so nobody takes the big risk it will take to get things done. Instead, they continue to paddle the canoe of complacency, up the river of no return, in the hopes of finding the fountain of youth. And were all being taken up the river with them.

 Do we buy into it too much?  Yes, because human nature won't let us do otherwise, that is why our responsible leaders were supposed to lead and make good decisions for the health and longevity of the sport.  Instead, they decided to turn it into nothing more than a recreational game that could be used to line their pockets.

 I said it before, and I'll say it again. When it started being more about the money than it was about the sport, the writing was on the wall.  Welcome to the world of chaos, disorder, and lunacy. They are in charge.

 

Some of you guys are completely missing the point.

OK Swami.... 
 
From your perspective, what's the point?

Juggernaut does make a few good points in there. As the leaders, ABC/USBC should've been the ones responsible for being the "bad guys" and taking control of things. I can't really argue that. I will, however, argue the idea that their lack of action has been fueled by money lust and/or complacency. It is out of fear, fear that drastic action is going to bring the axe down with the death blow that kills the organization and the sport of organized/competitive bowling as we know it. Was ABC/USBC too slow to react as equipment revolutionized the game? Sure it was. After a while, they began looking for ways to restore some order - drilling limitations, Sport Bowling/PBA Experience, etc. - but by then it was too late. Bowlers had gotten a taste of what it was like to book huge averages and card multiple honor scores every season, and most had no desire to go back to the way it was before the magic bowling balls brought us there. As Juggernaut alluded to, once we had that taste, we were like kids in a candy store; we just wanted more, more, more, and the ball companies were more than willing to give it to us. Proprietors soon followed suit, giving us easier and easier conditions so that our scores (and egos) became even more inflated. Since then, the snowball has just continued to grow as it has rolled downhill.

So, as I said, Juggernaut, you're right about some of those things. It was ABC/USBC's job to step in and take the reins, and they failed. I will disagree with you as to how and why they failed, but they failed nevertheless. However, I still believe in what I said to begin this thread. As a bowler, I am still a part of the problem. I am not powerless. If I want the game to be challenging, I can make it so. As others have said, that may mean losing money, that may mean losing games, and it will almost certainly mean losing the ability to keep up with the guys and gals who continue using the high-tech equipment. Is it fair to be forced into giving all of those things up? Probably not. Nevertheless, it's what I must be willing to sacrifice in order to make the sport what I want it to be. If I am not willing to make those sacrifices, that is on me, not USBC. I can hold that organization responsible for forcing me into a less-than-ideal position, but I can't say that they have left me with no choice. I have a choice; it's just a matter of whether or not I'm willing to sacrifice some things in order to make it.

I would like to buy Juggernaut a drink, please.

Gene you are pretty much spot on in you insights. I used to take six to eight balls to tournaments, and a four ball roller to leagues. But now, at 59 years of age, and a disability, I carry just a 2 ball bag (and 3 more balls at home). I always take my Shout, and depending which house, my Deranged or Totally Defiant.

I always challenge myself to beat the young guns coming in with 4-6 balls. I realize it will not beating them by scratch usually (but that is an extra joy), but to defeat them by total with handicap! Most nights I end up in the 2nd brackets, and commonly in the finals. I also have won more $ than I lost this year.

Maybe we could even statrt by limiting how many balls a bowler can arrive at league with? This would eleiminate "buying" games by some, that others may not even be able to afford. I know many young guys starting families that can't go out and buy 2 or more balls a year. Just an idea.

ive got abut 25 balls sitting behind my couch in a little cubby hole...what does that tell you?