I want to thank everyone who has sent me a private message about my status and situation.  I did finish out the year fairly strong and did make the cut line for next season.  Now, the pros and cons.  I do enjoy being one of the elite in this country.  I enjoy the opportunity to make a telecast every week with a guaranteed paycheck but at what expense?  If you had asked me before the season started if I could take Deanery's season and not bowl I would have said yes!  He made 3 shows and finished top 20 in points and cashed every tournament.  That's some season,right?  Beating out 2/3's of the field on avgas. every week.  Bowling 20 tournaments and being on TV every the week.  Awesome bowling I think!  His return?  $51,000!  He put in about $28,000.  Boatman is another who made two shows and cashed every tournament, $39,000!  He put in $28,000.  This is just sad.  I don't know one regional player who wouldn't kill to have 1 of those 2 seasons.  So I'm still undecided about next year.  Only 10 bowlers eclipsed the $100,000 mark with $25,000-$30,000 invested.  Just not a good return for being the best this sport has to offer.  Most of us 30-39 point guys just lost another year in any career outside of bowling for basically minimum wage.  Did we the pa send the right message with Duke winning the money title when about 85% of his winnings came from two tournaments?  I don't know.  I do recall in the 80's when Aulby,Ballard,Voss were in the $200,000's to win the money title.  Did we jump back 20 years with the way things our now?  At least in the early 90's you had a chance for $25,000 incentive checks.  I guess is what I'm trying to say is I don't know why every other sport can advance financially and we go back.  Sorry for the ranting but these are just my feelings.  I do enjoy reading all the e mails and messages sent to me as well as the reply's to my post's.  Thanks again to everyone for their support.
I do not want to give out my name yet because I'm still undecided and wanted to keep this off any pba message board.

Jeff Carter, I just wanted to say you are 100%, totally and inexcusably wrong about one thing.......We most certainly do need to Thank You. We need to thank you for allowing us the insights that you do, for giving us the behind the scenes info, for being a true gentleman and fan of this sport. So let me be one to say Thank You Jeff Carter!

Re: Amateurs - I am not a PBA member, but I have bowled a few regionals in my area. Luckily, the guests all seem to try their best to follow the rules, I know I do. The double jump rule isn't that hard to understand, but when you get a few "newbies" up together sometimes it gets rough. I usually err on the side of waiting and letting the others go, or until they give me the right of way, slows us down a little, but not enough to be noticeable, hopefully. And those that enter the US Open, need to realize that they need to follow these rules too. As was stated in another thread, give a warning or two, then ask them to leave. The slapping out of brooklyn strikes, while I can see how it might be annoying, I have no issues with, if someone wants to show a little emotion, I think they should. The stomping on the lane, the yelling into a shirt kind of stuff does not fall into that category and needs to be stopped, either by the person doing it, or by the tournament staff


On edit: Jeff, I am bowling a regional in a couple of weeks, would love to know your concerns on the Brunswick Lane machine. Thanks.
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Jorge300



Edited on 4/4/2008 9:18 AM