This is a post that Brian Voss made on the PBA.com message boards. I figured this would be of interest to some of you:

"Bowling is in dire straits. Some don’t heed the signals, but they are quite obvious. It is time for change. Drastic change. In my opinion, the cards are in the hands of the PBA . All other competitive bowling entities would and should follow the rules set forth by the best players in the world. Unfortunately, the best players in the world have NO say in how this game is played. What is represented right now is inadequate. It is failing, and will continue to fail. Having said that, the following is what I would do if it was in my power:

The first thing I would is change the scoring environment. The first step in that is to change the equipment that is used. There has already been much discussion on the negative influence that the new equipment has brought to our sport, so there is no reason to expand on that subject. I would completely alter the specifications for todays balls used in competition. Limiting the specs similar to a Blue Dot is the first choice. The depth of that idea leaves open a lot of discussion as to how to compensate the players for using this equipment. I won’t get into that depth.

The second thing I would do is develop patterns that will be used on a weekly basis. 7 qualifying games would mean 7 patterns. Using only one type of ball would restore creativity, imagination, and integrity into the sport. The process of using only one pattern for an entire week has a lot of open holes in it. The intent of any tournament environment should be to produce the best players, not the ones who “fit” into a certain circumstance.

The third thing I would do is to conduct the Pro-Am the day before the actual tournament. Mandating that professionals remain in the city for as much as two days to bowl a pro-am as we are currently required to do is unprofessional, and does not allow players the luxury of recuperating after the grind of a tournament. It also takes away time from the ability of maintaining a good healthy relationship with family. The tour should not be that desperate to put the importance of a pro-am ahead of the desires and needs of the professional.

And fourth, I would send out a message to all bowling entities that what we are doing is long over due, and is a change needed for the survival of this great sport. The continued decline in USBC membership, the decline in competitive bowling, the decline in global competition, and the decline in our ratings cannot happen.

My tenure on tour is nearing an end. Most of the reasons are because of the inability of our governing bodies to make needed change. Quite frankly, I am sick of it. The decline in prize funds is hollowing to say the least. The recent allowance of walled up lanes, combined with an infinite choice in arsenal, is more distant than ever from what it takes to measure talent. I am not alone. There are others on tour, some prominent players, who have had enough. SAVE OUR SPORT!!!"
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MoRich Enterprises: Providing Tomorrow's Technology Today
www.morichbowling.com

Don't forget about college football.  Put the PBA show on a night or time when there is no competition.  If you move the PBA telecast to like 7pm on Sunday nights then you put it in the middle of the games. Or put it on during the week say like Thursday or Wed. night.  I know the schedule would be crazy at first, but at least it would give the advertisers and audience. I don't know how the tour sponsors aren't pissed off that they are up against the biggest money making machine in television, the NFL.
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mmmmmmmmmm Beer

Just because he thinks the technology is killing the game doesn't mean it shouldn't have the right to compete.  He has to use what everyone else is using to keep up.  Thats not a valid argument.
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Shane Soule

Until centers are "required" to put down more oil, or do it on their own, in a pattern NOT condusive to high scores, but instead requires some actual skill, and until people can't just go out and buy "hook-in-a-box", until bowlers band together to save our sport, then it will continue to die!

Today's centers rarely care about their bowlers. They only care about how many dollars they can make - the bottom line. They need to start caring about bowlers again!  Eg.: one of my old home town's centers was sold by the older couple who had owned it for years. It sold to some corporation and within a couple years it was filing bankruptcy, because all they cared about was how much money they could make and they quit taking care of the bowlers. The couple bought it back, and within another year, they were making a good living again!

In summary, I think the main problem is that "bowlers" don't own "bowling" anymore! Companies do!


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Semper Fi! AMForce Rocks!

What does the tour lack?

Sponsorship - Boy they push the heck out of products (bowling especially) on the show.LOL  Heck they don't really give much insight to any specifics. Product registration costs went too high too fast so getting the mid-market sponsors based upon above only reinforces the thought by companies how to spend advertising. Only exception might be shoe companies.

Skills - Well anyone with a clue knows how much skill it takes to be on tour. With that being stated most of the market they are trying to regain is not that savy. They have no clue ball strength, attack patterns and transitions, etc. Until Joe Blow telecast watcher can note that when he throws its not the same as one of those guys he will not respect them all that much.

Business: Sorry guys this is a business just as any in the real world and yes the prize fund cut sucked but if that was what was needed to be profitable so be it. I'm not saying I totally agree with it but major companies do it all the time with jobs just to meet a goal.

Management: I believe that a shake up was needed and it did happen. Now the issue is where to go from here. I believe a unity system for PBA and USBC is needed. PBA to help USBC establish tighter rules for lane oiling while PBA promotes the sport of bowling regionally to USBC. (grassroots level)

Equipment: Uni-ball from a marketting standpoint is like watching snails screw. That idea really promotes manufacturers coughing up sponsoring cash or staffs. LOL

Tour set-up: Multiple patterns during qualifying and a draw system for finals. Remember low scoring telecasts to joe average watcher provide little stimulus to keep watching as he feels he can do just as good. 4 ball check in/block or pattern. Telecast: No shots on televised pair until "on air." Will cut down on the whining of setting lanes.

Not set answers to any points. My problem is to all the PBAers who whine about it. Your job, that you picked, either nut up and help work to promote your sport and business, or burn out and fade away. Don't go quitely when dealing with management but bring something to them which shows how you can make money for them either on a short term or long term basis.

To all that think bring the past back will save or revive it. How many times do ball manufacturers do remakes and they are just as big a hit as the first time. The answer is very few, so why would you expect different from old mentality.

Good forum.

Boy... this sounds like something I would have read on A.S.B. back in the early 90's. And while I agree the organization must change, I think a lot of this will just be taken as sour grapes by an aging bowler having trouble adjusting to the "new sport" of bowling.

It is so nice to see a well thought out post by Bob Hanson.

No garbage, no spoof, no crap, just good thoughtful stuff as he always posts!

Your informative posts are missed!

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Open the door...see what's possible...and just walk right on through...that's how easy success feels..