Tonight was the rolloff of our "big money" league and payout.  My team didn't make the rolloff so I decided to take my son up there.  He has only been in the bowling alley a couple of times (just turned 2) but he is OBSESSED with sports.  Everything from bowling, golf, hockey, basketball, auto racing...you name it...he'll watch/try to play it.

He had never been bowling...so I figured he just turned 2 Monday so letting him try to bowl would be fun.

Let me paint a picture....24 lane center.  The rolloff matches are on 9/10 and 13/14.  No other lanes were being used in the place....I figure I'll stay as far from everyone as possible (there was going to be a no-tap tourney on the high end)...so I chose Lane 1.

They turned the lane on...and I got my son a 6lb ball.  We go down and I let him roll the ball down the lane.  He has a BLAST...he wasn't screaming or jumping around....but having a lot of fun.  I knew the rolloff was going on so I kept him in control and was helping him go between ball return/foul line.

We were out there about 10 minutes and a guy who is in the match on 9 and 10 comes down and the conversation goes something like this:

Him: Hey man not trying to be a jerk but yall are distracting us down there

Me: Are you serious?

Him: Yeah he's going up and down at the line and I keep seeing him in the corner of my eye

Me: From 9 lanes away?

Him: Yeah we're bowling for a lot of money down here

Me: Yeah Ive bowled for ten times that much and I didn't need 9 lanes of courtesy...perhaps you should work on your concentration and focus a little bit.

He walks off....we pick up and quit so I don't cause a huge scene (this guy was in a fight during league last year so I figured that wasn't going to go anywhere good).

Now I also want to point out that this guy averages 195 and heaves a ball with no thumb 22 mph up second arrow.  He goes brooklyn twice a game....and he needed NINE lanes of courtesy?

I know I should just consider the source...but this ruined my first time bowling with my little boy....something I can't have back.

On a final side note I found it funny that he opened the NEXT FOUR FRAMES after we quit.
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http://www.myspace.com/rlrussell

Little known fact:  In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

It absolutely blew me away....I have bowled regionals..US Opens..Masters...and I can't imagine needing more than a pair of space for a rolloff.
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http://www.myspace.com/rlrussell

Little known fact:  In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

i woulda told dude to eat $h*t... 9 lanes are you kidding?!?!?!?  its all ways the low avg, non tourny bowlers who complain the most....  LOLOL

I also take it serious like a lot of us. I would have had the same conversation and blown him off and enjoyed my time with my son.

I would have also added the line if you plan on winning you may want to put this much focus on your spare game. Then add a line about your looking shaky on ten pins.(weak minded people are fun/easy to f#%k with at bowling)

If you want to be a good to maybe great bowler you need a few important things. A good to great spare game. Practice. Focus.

That is it.

When I practice, key word when,(lol) I hope for stuff to be going on just to be able to tune it out and bowl. Mental game.

The best thing I've done for bowling this past year that I took from my golf game was Yes I should strike every time I throw the ball. Yes I should always get good breaks.

BUT....when I don't, it is ok. Regroup, spare or get count and go from there.


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" hand, don't step on the lanes without some "

Edited on 5/21/2009 12:41 PM

Russell, you did the right thing....you were the bigger man in the end.

But 9 lanes?!?!!?!  Come on....this guys was just looking for something the complain about and you gave him the perfect opportunity to do so.  I give you a lot of credit for packing up and leaving and not wanting to cause a bigger scene, but I doubt I would have left.  I would have told him to take it to the front desk....I doubt they'd ask a paying customer to leave  because this guy that he was a pro that needed and deserved 9 lanes of courtesy.

On a side note....thank you for controlling your son.  Its nice to know that some parents still do it.  I've been bowling with my family so many times over the past few years and have little kids and some not so little ones just raising holy hell all over...running around, screaming, causing a disturbance, running up on people and laughing about it....even had a 16 or so year old come to my lanes from pairs over and start to walk off with one of my bowling balls....and acted offended when I told him to put it back.
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University at Albany 2007
    -Let's Go Danes-

ROTO GRIP - King of Them All
STORM - The Bowlers Company

Harry E. Inglis 3/31/1915 - 2/3/2009

This is one of the times when you calling someone an idiot would have been entirely appropriate...

The good news is that you got to enjoy some time on the lanes with your son. THAT is priceless! Too bad the knucklehead on 9-10 thinks the whole bowling world revolves around him...

Don't let people like that affect you. They are clueless as to the really important things in life. My son and I have always had bowling in common. Throughout his teen years, when we didn't always see eye-to-eye, we could always go to the bowling center and patch things up.

He's now 25 and bowls with me twice a week. We absolutely love competing with each other (with the side bet on series). It won't be too many years before he regularly kicks my butt, but until then he'll continue to learn the importance of the mental game . Last year he and his wife gave me a grand-daughter who we both can't wait to teach to bowl... Left handed!

What I am trying to say is keep on going bowling with your son. You never know the benefits you may reap someday.


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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.