Author Topic: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling??? (Read 2976 times)

mumzie · « **on:** July 08, 2003, 09:21:14 AM »

This month's Bowling Digest has an article called "Less is More" by Rick Woelfel. This article has a whole bunch of reasons why the ladies tour dropped back to 12 events this year, with higher prize funds each tournament.
And I quote:

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While college and other amateur bowling programs have grown in recent years, that hasn't led to an influx of new talent into the PWBA. In some respects, Title IX has been a two-edged sword for the organization.
Once it was common for elite players to turn pro without stopping off in college first, simply because college programs didn't exist.[...]

For today's players, however, college bowling is a realistic option. And if a player finishes her collegiate coarreer with a degree in hand, she may be less likely to join a professional tour that pays relatively little, particularly when she may have a job offer elsewhere and/or she can make money bowling as an amateur.

PWBSA marketing director Jan Schmidt says that reaction is understandable. "A young player has to look at it seriously", she says, "and say,'I have a career waiting for me or an internship waiting for me. How can I go out on tour and bowl for $50,000 prize funds?' That environment has changed dramatically, so while the success of high school bowling and college bowling should b great for us, if there's not enough financial potential out there, they're not going to come our way."

----------------- end quote of article

Now - can we all say DUH in unison regarding the degree and a job offer?? But BLAMING TITLE IX??? come on....

Whaddya all think?
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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.

10 In The Pit · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2003, 04:48:30 AM »

I too feel that the Sport Condition is hurting the PWBA interest far more than it is helping it. I think that the PWBA needs to take a long look at whether they want to continue with the Sport Condition, or get back to a more realistic lane condition that the viewing audience can identify with. I guess that I'm one of those who felt that the Sport Condition wasn't a good thing for bowling, and it really isn't a good thing for TV telecast material. Give the ladies some halfway decent lane conditions to play on, and let 'em rack 'em up! Your average league bowler can't appreciate the difficulty involved in shooting a 210 average on the Sport condition, and I'm sure that this is detracting away from the viewing audience.

seadrive · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2003, 09:39:34 AM »

Hi Mumzie,

Okay, let me try to get this topic back where you wanted it, on Title IX.

quote:
In some respects, Title IX has been a two-edged sword for the organization. Once it was common for elite players to turn pro without stopping off in college first, simply because college programs didn't exist.

I haven't read the article, but from the excerpt you quoted, I think the author is blaming the wider availability of college bowling programs, some/most of which came into existence because of funds made available to the women's sport programs as a result of Title IX, rather than Title IX itself.

Trust me, Jan Schmidt loves Title IX.

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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

striknbarb · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2003, 10:42:43 AM »

I know that since I was in college (finished undergrad in '95), there are a lot more opportunities for female bowlers collegiately today than there were even back then. Being able to be part of an NCAA sport happened just shortly after I finished school. Even then, I knew that I wanted to get my master's and get settled in a career before I even thought about bowling professionally. Now, it's just not financially smart...

Barb
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"If we can change our thoughts, then we can change the world." -H.M. Tomlinson

mumzie · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2003, 10:48:52 AM »

Bruce,
You nailed it. The article tries to blame Title IX - but if the money was there on tour, the ladies would come.

And, regarding the sport condition - the ladies MUST bowl on the sport condition. That is part of their contract with WIBC - otherwise WIBC won't pay to sponsor them. And, the tour would have folded 3 weeks ago.

I personally agree that the sport condition is not only hurting ratings, it's hurting the entries. If the tour bowled on "softer" conditions, I think more ladies would come out and bowl. In my area, for example, there is no house that even offers a sport shot for practice, so I have to whine and beg to get them to put one out for me. Should I try to go on tour without practicing on some tougher conditions? I think not...

That's my opinion, of course.
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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2003, 11:56:36 AM »

This post and the other post worry me. Bowling was at its most popular when conditions were much tougher in many ways than today. The problem the PWBA has (and the PBA to a lesser extent) is that its analysts can't sell the difficulty to the average Joe, who bowls on walled conditions. Carry contests might be interesting for a change (mix some in with tougher conditions) but they get equally boring after a short time. The key is highlighting the skills of the bowlers and explaining why something does or doesn't happen rather than trying to make it easier. For example, you can look at the pattern that was set out for the ABC tournament this year and, with a few shots, explain how the lanes have to be played and what happens with a miss. What is "transition"? When did you see that explained on a telecast? What about carrydown? When was that explained? I watched the last couple of weeks' tournaments -- why were there so many lefties -- are they just better? These questions and others will not be answered at the same bat-time on the same bat-channel.

Now, sometimes the scoring conditions are so stupid as to level the field. Unreasonably tough as with unreasonably easy scoring conditions blur the line between good and excellent players. The problem is to find a medium between silly high scoring and conditions that are flat stupid, which is what some of the sport conditions are...flat stupid.

Further, if people are scared to compete on fair but tough conditions, the game is in decline, probably irreversably so. Think about it ... every hacker wants to play Bethpage or Pebble Beach, even though they are probably going to shoot 120 from the middle tees.
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"It's just a carry contest."

mumzie · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2003, 03:03:35 PM »

If you think that comment is sexist, you should read the rest of the article.
Comments were made, and rightfully so, that a lot of the women currently on tour are thinking families, and that time is running out.

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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2003, 10:38:53 PM »

Plain and simple, there have been a couple of shows where the bowlers on the telecasts just struggled. People do not want to see the 200-184 games. They want the 250-240 games. I love bowling and would watch no matter what.
It was said already that we know how good these women are, but I agree, the average JOE is saying..."wow, they only averaged 215 this week and made the TV show. I average 225, so I have to be better."

Also, as much as I like CDB, and (not to sound sexist) to look at CDL, they are boring on the telecasts. Randy Pederson brought personality to the broadcasts for the men. I do think you have to have a bowler fill their spot though. When she does not make the top 5, I think Tish Johnson would be awesome in that spot. She is one of the few women that shows personality and emotion when she bowls. I have never met her, but she seems like a real character.

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2003, 12:22:52 PM »

Let us NOT bring in the guys from "Lets Bowl". Maybe just a smooth voiced professional announcer from say...ESPN and a retired analyst who can ... add, spell, explain the game/condition and even HORRORS, be critical.

Oh, and why isn't Coors Light or Bud Light sponsoring bowling for the women and men? Geeze with all they sell at the lanes...
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"It's just a carry contest."

Bjaardker · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2003, 02:30:19 PM »

It may be "sexist" or "rude" in some people's eyes, but an image consultant or something similar to have on hand wouldn't be a bad idea.

YES I KNOW "The guys dont have to go through makeup & stuff....why should the women?" Why? Because our society holds women to a higher standard of beauty than men. Fair? not really. But some of these ladies could do themselves & the viewers a favor by getting a new "do".

I'm not saying that they should be forced to be dolled up or anything of the sort. But I know that if I were going to be on national TV I would love to have a resource to ask "Do I look ridiculous?"

Sorry for the thread hijack Mumzie.

Edited on 7/10/2003 2:34 PM

mumzie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2003, 03:02:54 PM »

No problem.

However - as I see it, the problem with the organization is not the quality of the show. That's just a symptom. And more I dare not say.
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Bowling? Of course it's a sport.

Author Topic: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling??? (Read 2976 times)

mumzie

Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

10 In The Pit

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

seadrive

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

striknbarb

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

mumzie

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

Phillip Marlowe

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

mumzie

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

Phillip Marlowe

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

Bjaardker

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???

mumzie

Re: Title IX the beginning of the end for women's professional bowling???