During the past 10 years, I have revealed my abhorrence of outlandish bowling scores that have made a shambles of our game. By expressing my frank opinions, I have alienated proprietors, ABC officials and bowling friends and foes alike. I have especially irritated egomaniacs whose phony record-setting scores have converted our sport from one that initially demanded accuracy to a stand-left, throw-right recreational mentality.
Unfortunately, bowlers whose averages hover beyond the 230 range are merely recipients of deceptive lane conditions provided by proprietors. In all fairness to proprietors who prefer to preserve honor and integrity in the game, it should be noted that a great majority were forced to follow the practices of those who initially doctored lanes to lure bowlers. Consequently, the domino effect set the stage for skyrocketing scores that continue to escalate.
Currently, 300 games and 700 and 800 series are commonplace. A 900 series, once considered almost impossible, has been recorded four times—three in the last two years!
By nature, I am a conservative person, in politics and life. If I am branded a rebel, I rebel with a legitimate cause: against things that are not fair to people or the sport of bowling. Conservatism, in the interest of maintaining integrity in bowling, is my only motive. I shall continue my degradation of these unwarranted scores and appeal to proprietors, ABC officials, lane maintenance experts, and any other capable parties to seek solutions to reverse the current trend. I totally endorse Sport Bowling and suggest that every bowling community have at least one Sport league as a means of leveling the field for dues-paying ABC members who are capable of playing the game the way it was originally intended—with skill and integrity!
Although I receive numerous letters lauding my stance on the scoring madness that has infiltrated the bowling game, I have taken the liberty to reprint an E-mail I received that depicts the feelings of many bowlers, former bowlers, sports followers, and most of all, sportswriters.
Subj: Insane Scoring ... Date: 1/21/01 ... From: Dan Powers
Hi, John ... Just read your column titled "Insane Scoring" and I couldn't agree with you more! I am so disturbed by the high cores that I'm almost to the point of writing a letter to the local newspaper. What's stopping me is I have a lot of friends in the bowling business and I don't want to make any enemies.
I'm afraid that bowling is shooting itself in the foot. Any lane condition less than what the bowlers are on now will kill the sport. Here in Green Bay, we have had this year alone an 879, 857, and 824 just in the same week! A woman with an 826, another woman who is averaging 232! The 300s and 800s have fallen by the wayside.
Who cares anymore? When I had my 300 in 1982, five were bowled that year in our association. In 2000, there were 125, and we're on pace to break that this year. After I bowled my 800 in 1996, bowling only every other week, I said, "That's enough." I quit.
John, the three problems I have is that nobody cares about the high scores anymore, the "230" average bowlers think they are that good, and nobody has to practice anymore. Just walk in and throw second arrow.
I know this is nothing new to you. I just wanted to vent because I am sick of it. I'm sorry for that because bowling was a huge part of my life for a lot of years ... and I'm only 39..... Dan
Mr. Powers is but one of thousands who have become disenchanted with the game. Many have quit, many may never return.
The dwindling numbers of ABC/WIBC membership rolls cannot all be attributed to skyrocketing scores. However, one thing is certain: Scores by amateurs that far overshadow those of professionals relegate bowling to a recreational level.
Recently, Fox Network sportscaster Jim Rome stated, "...any game the more you drink, the better you get, is not a sport." Members of the bowling community were infuriated by this caustic remark. I consider Jim Rome a pompous ass, a pipsqueak feasting on sensationalism. Nonetheless, his voice is carried nationwide, and his analysis did nothing to enhance the reputation of our game.
With the existing propensity for ludicrous bowling scoring, was he really off base?
John Jowdy, a member of the ABC and PBA Halls of Fame, is a past president of the Bowling Writers Association of America.