Ok, let me get this straight. After reading the PBA site and Bowl.com is this true?!

Each Male and Female side:
Top 2 after qualifying are on the team
4 players from last year that were given 2 year exempt status are on the team
4 PBA/former PWBA members are automatically accepted on the team, without bowling at all?!?! Granted they have to submit resumes and be selected, but still don't have to throw 1 ball during the Team USA Trials?!?!
2 Other bowlers that BOWLED the trials are selected by the selection committee

So you have 12 members of Team USA on each the Male and Female Side.. Now it gets fun

So why would someone pay money to travel to Las Vegas, to bowl a tournament that they really don't get any money from, and to have a chance for 4 spots on the team?! Now someone on the PBA forum mentioned why does it have to be about money, no other sports get paid to represent the USA. Well this is true, but no other sport has to PAY to tryout for Team USA. They have eligibility rules and if you are and choose to try out for the team then do it. Granted they won't get paid, but they didn't have to pay either! So let's get down to what really irks me about this! If you aren't the National Amateur Champion, one of the four pros that make the team, or one of the four exempt players from last year why would you bowl? Chances are strongly against you traveling to any tournament now! Basically this becomes even more about politics! Team USA committee SELECTS 4 pros, SELECTS 4 players to get 2 yr exemptions, leaving 4 bowlers to actually bowl their way onto the team... HMM... how nice is that!

This tournament is being held literally a stones throw away from my house, I can see this building from my house and I have no desire to go watch and or even think about bowling it! I as well will be emailing Dave Garber and asking for clarification as to what Kevin Dornberger and the committee were thinking about going this route?!
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George Palumbo

For all your bowling needs, visit K&K Bowling Services at:
www.BowlingLasVegas.com
Some of the best people in the business.

Edited on 9/18/2007 4:59 PM

I know how you feel George. I was looking forward to going to trials this year to try it out. But now since the format is like this, i don'think i will be bowling because less spots are available. Darn.
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Team Banger Bowling Test Staff

Just curious C_J are you going to submit a resume?
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George Palumbo

For all your bowling needs, visit K&K Bowling Services at:
www.BowlingLasVegas.com
Some of the best people in the business.

I was figuring something along the lines of:

Barnes
Rash
Jones

and whoever after that, probably need a lefty in Couch or Parker
--------------------
George Palumbo

For all your bowling needs, visit K&K Bowling Services at:
www.BowlingLasVegas.com
Some of the best people in the business.

For marketing purposes of giving other countries a glimpse of what they really haven't seen but always heard about. PDW should be on this team.
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Etonic and Vise. The best arsenal, PERIOD!!!!

SKID,

I understand that, but you make it all about politics now! You are selecting the TEAM. How do you go from selecting a few so we don't have what happened back in like 1998 I think it was when the major tournaments were on our own soil and we got wrecked! I understand that. BUT, you cannot select 2/3s of the team and allow 1/3 of the team to have to bowl to have a chance to say they were on Team USA! Everyone should be given a fair right to travel and we all know it won't happen that way!

I would love to see Bowling an Olympic Sport just as much as anyone else out there! BUT... you have to give everyone a fair chance at it! Look alot of our other sports don't just appoint people to our team, they have to qualify! Why are we appointing people to our team!
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George Palumbo

For all your bowling needs, visit K&K Bowling Services at:
www.BowlingLasVegas.com
Some of the best people in the business.

So then why even hold a Team USA Trials, why not just select who you want on your team. They are asking people to pay I don't know the amount anymore these days. I think last time it was $300 to bowl this tournament to have a chance at making it through 4 spots!! That is insane!!

Just take these bowlers and get it over with

Barnes
Rash
Weber
Duke
Haynes
Mack
Page
Hoffman
Jones
Walter Ray
Couch
Kent

Females:
MacPherson
Asbaty
Dorin-Ballard
Barnes
O'Keefe
Tennelle
Johnson
Pluhowsky
Nation
Barrette
Kulick
Terrell

Take them and make them 2008 Team USA and be done with it!
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George Palumbo

For all your bowling needs, visit K&K Bowling Services at:
www.BowlingLasVegas.com
Some of the best people in the business.