Peeve, according to the dictionary, is to annoy, irritate, nettle, chafe, ruffle, disturb ... irk is also an appropriate description. On the other hand, in various degrees, we are pleased, soothed, satisfied, and thrilled. I will address these in my next column. In this column, I would like to list my Top 20 pet peeves on the bowling scene—things that are somewhat frustrating and sometimes exasperating. Most all of us have pet peeves—things that bug us, situations where we are affected by someone or something that grates on our nerves. Here are mine:
1. Bowlers who carry towels in their pants pockets. To me, this brings to mind the image portrayed by those who are uninformed and regard our game as a second-rate recreation for beer-guzzling participants.
2. Female bowlers who stand posing at the foul line after delivering a shot.
3. Bowlers who deliver a shot and return backwards on the approach. (I don't know why, it just irks me).
4. Bowlers who run into the adjoining lane in the path of another bowler. Don't laugh. I saw this happen by a left-hander for three days at a recent PBA tournament—and yes, he was a PBA member!
5. Bowlers who look down at the foul line after making a bad shot, as if they stuck on their slide.
6. These same bowlers who look at their thumb or fingers after a bad shot, as if the ball slipped, stuck, or whatever.
7. Bowlers who fail to extend courtesy to those next to them.
8. Trash-talking bowlers who only talk trash when they are comfortably ahead.
9. Bowlers who think every pocket shot should be a strike, especially when they leave a weak-10 pin. They act as if they were tapped—particularly those who can't tell a weak-10 from a solid-10. These same dudes never seem to remember their Brooklyn strikes.
10. Bowlers who can recall and detail every costly shot of the day and never seem to remember any misses.
11. Bowlers who revel in applying as many revolutions on the ball as they possibly can to portray an image of invincibility ... only to look at the standings and find 20 to 30 players ahead of them who use a more direct path to the pocket.
12. These same bowlers who are critical of players who throw a lot less "ball" yet score a lot higher.
13. Bowlers, particularly those in professional ranks, who throw hook balls at most single-pin spares yet carry a polyester ball for a 10-pin spare.
14. Pro bowlers who "shaft" sponsors, dropping their angels after they make a few bucks. This includes players who switch manufacturer's staffs for a few extra dollars, particularly those who abandon sponsors that stood behind them in bad times.
15. Pro bowlers who snub autograph seekers after a poor performance.
16. These same players who snub bowling writers after a poor performance.
17. Bowlers who shout obscenities within hearing distance of women and children.
18. Amateur bowlers who earn a living sandbagging in NABI and ABT tournaments. (Cheaters are everywhere!)
19. Bowlers who are mediocre at best and are least affected by weight blocks, pin placements, and all sophisticated aspects of a ball, assuming the role of superstars and concerning themselves with these complex and intricate issues. (Just an "irk.")
20. Last but not least, why all the "high-fives"? It has gotten so bad that high-fives are not only given for good shots but for almost every shot in the game among amateur league bowlers. And yes, even on misses!
Enough already with high-fives and hand slapping. Next thing you know, bowlers will try to emulate football and basketball players and start bumping chests.
What happens if women also decide to follow this pattern?