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Author Topic: I'm going to end myself . .  (Read 4598 times)

ITZPS

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I'm going to end myself . .
« on: April 17, 2015, 11:47:45 AM »
This may be a bit of a rant.  Watching collegiate bowling on USBC's youtube channel, the Intercollegiate Champs are going on this week.  Time after time after time these kids get excited and overhyped halfway through a match and then the next guy gets up and misses the headpin, then flags the spare, and the rest of the game is a dumpster fire of a collapse.  I make a few comments in the chat about something, and it turns into a full blown war.  "That's just the way college is, you don't understand because you didn't bowl in college."  I'm sure I don't, but if something doesn't work, it doesn't make sense to say, "that's just the way it is," and keep mindlessly doing the same thing.  Extremes in emotional highs or lows affect focus, performance, and judgment, this is a fact.  I wasn't allowed to get into it at all, because, "well you're just closeminded and you don't understand."  Ok, I'm pretty sure I understand people getting crazy and then falling apart, but whatever. 

Next, we get to discussing the lane patterns, because they don't tell anyone ahead of time what they are down there.  It's fun trying to read the ball reaction and have some speculation on it.  Someone mentioned that it looked like the nationals shot to them, and I said it didn't resemble it in any way.  Then somebody who had been debating me on the above mentioned topic said that the nationals shots were waaay easier than what the collegiate kids were bowling on and that if the nationals shots were put down for them that it would be a "whackfest."  I disagreed, and all the sudden I was closeminded and impossible . .

Now I'm positive I'm way too wound up about this, but ignorance drives me insane.  It's like when your wife knows exactly what will piss you off and then waits for the worst possible moment and then hammers the hell out of that button.  Does logic not exist anymore?  Can no one have a simple debate or discussion without getting crazy? 
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SVstar34

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2015, 12:09:04 PM »
Im kinda in the same boat as you. The few times I've watched college bowling, I've been confused by what I've seen.

There are some really good bowlers but there are quite a few others that to me are really mediocre.

 Me and a couple other people tried to get a team started at our school but there just wasnt enough interest and not enough good bowlers and most of us that wanted to try are now in our senior years.

bradl

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2015, 01:42:32 PM »
I'll throw my comments in here too, as I've been watching the stream and participating in the chat, but while some of the wars have gone on, I've tried to stay out of it (try is the hard word. :D ) I'll add my bit of personal history on it with collegiates, and where some bowlers I was in youth bowling with prior to collegiates.

Pretty much, while we knew how to bowl, we didn't know how to bowl TOGETHER. And that's a new thing for some of the younger kids to understand, and that's even with coaching. We'd try something on our own, and not really communicate with eachother about how the ball is reacting on the pattern, adjustments, or anything. We'd try the same thing again, and if it didn't work, try it again (more hand, throw it harder, but not really try to move). That threw our game off, and didn't have the mental game solid enough to know what the right move is.

All of that started to come together in collegiates, but not for a good year into it. In a tough competition like it, where spares are important, there was a lot to UNLEARN and learn again. But you're right; doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result is Einstein's definition of INSANITy.

The better teams can and will figure it out, but it all comes down to lack of experience, which will come in time.

As far as the pattern goes, saying that it's similar to Nationals is an outright joke. That pattern is no-where near Nats. It was said a couple days ago, that it was similar to the USBC Tokyo pattern, but we won't know for sure until the tournament is over.

I missed the first shift today, but will be on shortly.. if this continues, I'll definitely speak up. Just don't say anything about High 5s - you may get some insults thrown at you by others that would make Eminem blush.

BL.

ksucat

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2015, 03:07:22 PM »
Shot is obviously longer than USBC Nationals as the guys are getting hold moving way in on college shot.  Sure doesn't look like that's an option at El Paso.  Some of those dudes whacking on it inside might see their tugs miss the head pin to the left.  Watched that very talented group with Eoff move in to their normal comfort zone but not find anything good.  So many shots from that group where the player came back shaking his head after posting at the foul line.  Don't see that too often from the college kids.  Most of the shots that don't hit pocket, the players knows off their hand.

I like that energy from the college kids, but it seems like it's all based on sugar and adrenaline as several have peaks and immediate valleys.  Felt bad for Dasha on Wichita State to get double-7 count in 10th to lose by 2 pins.  She started volunteering at youth league to get community service hours.  Now she does it just because she likes helping the kids.  She treats them with respect and shows them how to improve.  Many others doing the same, but always nice to see.

Good Times Good Times

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2015, 03:20:20 PM »
I think the first step is acceptance, ITZPS.  You have to accept that people will exist that make emotional choices and will defend emotional choices with more emotion.

You simply cannot control what others think, you can only control how you react to their ignorance.  This is what you have to work on.  I faced the same thing when I was younger. 

Be GLAD you're enlightened enough to use logic!  When people say "you didn't bowl college" or "you just don't understand"....... know that's inaccurate, you just have to accept that other people are inaccurate or hold an incorrect belief and be good with it. 

It will never change.  The only thing you can do is hope they're bowling brackets/pots against you.  Then feast on them....  ;)  ;D  ;D  ;D
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EL3MCNEIL

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2015, 09:49:05 AM »
Just watch it for entertainment. I like seeing them bowl. But the comments are an area I stay away from. Too many people who just look for a reason to start a comment board war.
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Jorge300

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2015, 05:47:38 PM »
ITZPS,
     You will sleep better at night if you just remember the immortal words of George Carlin:
 
"Think of how stupid the average person is.......now realize half the people are stupider than that!"
 
 ;D
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DP3

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2015, 09:07:16 PM »
I bowled 4 years collegiately and coached 2 years after my eligibility was over. The 2 years I coached we had 2 potential all americans and 3-4 guys who were your average 180 avg mixed league bowlers. We came together for a few top-5 finishes and 1 2nd Tier tournament win while I coached. In lager fields, we were not a contender.

But the one thing I told my guys (and girls) while I coached was that this experience, Collegiate Bowling, goes way beyond the scores you shoot, and where you finish in the tournament. You're here to have the time of your life. You're here to learn camaraderie, as we travel 20 weekends out of the year on 7 hour plus road trips. We eat together, shack up together in overcrowded hotel rooms, we bowl together, learn together, study together, and learn how to depend on each other as brothers/sisters and best friends. You're here to have the time of your life and make best friends for the rest of your life. The bowling comes second.

Think about that the next time you see someone miss an easy spare, after getting over-excited after a double. These are brothers, sisters, and best friends competing with their University's name, colors, and logos all over them. They deserve to have a good time, for they all have something to be proud of, and if some bitter pro shop guy has a problem with that ....it doesn't really matter. For a lot of these men and women, it's the last tournament they will ever throw a ball representing their colleges. It's a competition, and an honor.

northface28

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2015, 11:05:18 PM »
I bowled 4 years collegiately and coached 2 years after my eligibility was over. The 2 years I coached we had 2 potential all americans and 3-4 guys who were your average 180 avg mixed league bowlers. We came together for a few top-5 finishes and 1 2nd Tier tournament win while I coached. In lager fields, we were not a contender.

But the one thing I told my guys (and girls) while I coached was that this experience, Collegiate Bowling, goes way beyond the scores you shoot, and where you finish in the tournament. You're here to have the time of your life. You're here to learn camaraderie, as we travel 20 weekends out of the year on 7 hour plus road trips. We eat together, shack up together in overcrowded hotel rooms, we bowl together, learn together, study together, and learn how to depend on each other as brothers/sisters and best friends. You're here to have the time of your life and make best friends for the rest of your life. The bowling comes second.

Think about that the next time you see someone miss an easy spare, after getting over-excited after a double. These are brothers, sisters, and best friends competing with their University's name, colors, and logos all over them. They deserve to have a good time, for they all have something to be proud of, and if some bitter pro shop guy has a problem with that ....it doesn't really matter. For a lot of these men and women, it's the last tournament they will ever throw a ball representing their colleges. It's a competition, and an honor.

Very well put. Like I said, if you've never bowled collegiately, you will not understand.
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ITZPS

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2015, 07:42:40 AM »
No, it's all about perspective.  If the bowling comes second, then that makes perfect sense.  If the goal is the experience, then I have no comments to make.  Perspective is everything, it has nothing to do with being a bitter pro shop guy.  In my mind, winning is the goal, and getting out of control and missing shots doesn't get that done.  You can't tell me that the college culture hasn't hurt Sean Rash in his professional career.  To each his own, but to me, saying, "Well, I missed a bunch of shots, missed opportunities, and lost a lot, but boy it sure was fun," is something I just can't quite get my head around.  Much rather say I focused, worked hard, and won a national championship. 

But again, it's about perspective.  If the point or the goal is to have fun, and that's what is achieved, then that's all that needs to be said.  I suppose if anything it's my fault for assuming the goal was to win. 

« Last Edit: April 21, 2015, 08:22:25 AM by ITZPS »
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Jorge300

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2015, 10:28:38 AM »
Let me add this to the mix:
 
One thing to remember, there is a huge difference between Men's and Women's bowling in college. Women's bowling is an NCAA sport. Men's bowling is a Club sport. Women's bowling gets funded through the University, Men's bowling gets funded through the University's Club Sport program and usually requires tax-deductable donations to cover the gap left or the bowler's to fund it for themselves. This was true at the school I attended, which was a major University but not one focused on bowling at all, and this was probably 20 years ago when I bowled there. Also, this comes a perspective of someone who started a bowling team at the Satellite campus I was at, and then continued my college career at the Main campus upon my transfer.
 
For the Men's teams, winning takes on a greater importance than the Women, I feel. Winning a tournament may fund an additional tournament or two for the team. For some schools, it may not be that way, but I know it was at my school. We won a few tournaments every year usually, mostly regional ones and were middle of the pack in the National tournaments like annual Thanksgiving Match Play event in St. Louis. Those funds were counted on the help with hotels and travel expenses for our team. So while I agree with DP3 somewhat, winning is still important and not overshadowed by the experience of it all. I was proud and honored to wear our school colors and represent our Univerisity. I was proud to follow in the footsteps of those that did so before me. But we also wanted to win, every time we stepped on the lanes. Every conference stop, every tournament we went to, our goal was the same, to win.
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spmcgivern

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2015, 11:02:46 AM »
Let me add this to the mix:
 
One thing to remember, there is a huge difference between Men's and Women's bowling in college. Women's bowling is an NCAA sport. Men's bowling is a Club sport. Women's bowling gets funded through the University, Men's bowling gets funded through the University's Club Sport program and usually requires tax-deductable donations to cover the gap left or the bowler's to fund it for themselves. This was true at the school I attended, which was a major University but not one focused on bowling at all, and this was probably 20 years ago when I bowled there. Also, this comes a perspective of someone who started a bowling team at the Satellite campus I was at, and then continued my college career at the Main campus upon my transfer.
 
For the Men's teams, winning takes on a greater importance than the Women, I feel. Winning a tournament may fund an additional tournament or two for the team. For some schools, it may not be that way, but I know it was at my school. We won a few tournaments every year usually, mostly regional ones and were middle of the pack in the National tournaments like annual Thanksgiving Match Play event in St. Louis. Those funds were counted on the help with hotels and travel expenses for our team. So while I agree with DP3 somewhat, winning is still important and not overshadowed by the experience of it all. I was proud and honored to wear our school colors and represent our Univerisity. I was proud to follow in the footsteps of those that did so before me. But we also wanted to win, every time we stepped on the lanes. Every conference stop, every tournament we went to, our goal was the same, to win.

This was my experience almost to the letter and for me was 10 years ago.  Our men's team could do odd jobs for the university to earn money like clean the stadium after football games and the such.  But winning was very important to us and we definitely tried to win and were bummed if we didn't perform well.

Jorge300

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2015, 12:53:20 PM »
This was my experience almost to the letter and for me was 10 years ago.  Our men's team could do odd jobs for the university to earn money like clean the stadium after football games and the such.  But winning was very important to us and we definitely tried to win and were bummed if we didn't perform well.

Unfortunately for us, other teams/sports already had those gigs. So there really wasn't anything like that for us to do. We just had to prioritize are entries and hopefully win a couple of tournaments to help balance everything out....if not then we had to beg for money, lol. We hosted a tournament every year as well, and did a ball raffle to help add funds to our account.
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spmcgivern

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Re: I'm going to end myself . .
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2015, 02:29:41 PM »
Unfortunately for us, other teams/sports already had those gigs. So there really wasn't anything like that for us to do. We just had to prioritize are entries and hopefully win a couple of tournaments to help balance everything out....if not then we had to beg for money, lol. We hosted a tournament every year as well, and did a ball raffle to help add funds to our account.
We tried the ball raffle thing but were turned down because of some gambling perception.  We won our conference championship one year and made regionals the same.  I was lucky to win one tournament on the singles side of things.

I will say this, the bowlers who were obviously not as talented were many times the guys you wanted on your team the most.  They were always at practice, showed up to all fund raising events and were in general nice to be around at tournaments.  And the times they bowled you could tell it meant the world to them to be able to participate for the team.  I wish that enthusiasm was there with everyone then as well as now.  There really has never been anything like collegiate bowling in my competitive life.