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Author Topic: Another PBA member calls it quits  (Read 5885 times)

Coolerman

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Another PBA member calls it quits
« on: November 22, 2010, 04:45:04 AM »
Growing family, economics of PBA Tour force out Harman
Nov 22, 2010  

Steve Harman worked hard to gain his exemption on the PBA Tour.

The Camby resident had won an exemption for the 2007-08 season in the PBA Tour Trials in June 2007 and maintained it with his place in the points standings

Last month, the 36-year-old Harman resigned his 2010-11 exemption, which had allowed him to enter PBA Tour tournaments without qualifying.

There were several reasons for his move, including a growing family and a new job, but Harman also cited the economics of the tour.

"I think I'm done with it," Harman said. "Unless something really turns (the tour) around and someone pumps a lot of money into it, it's financially not worth the time and effort anymore for me."

Harman earned $32,200 in 17 tournaments last season. But travel and lodging costs drained much of that.

Most of the scaled-down 2010-11 tour stops are on the coasts, making it even more expensive. The tour closes in Indianapolis in March, the only Midwest stop this season.

"The only guys making money are those that are getting paid before they even throw a shot," Harman said. "It's all the guys that have the big bowling ball contracts. They are the only ones making the real money. The journeyman guys aren't making any money after expenses and taxes."

Harman's best season on tour was 2008-09, when he finished 17th in earnings with $68,570. He made two championship-round appearances. In 2007-08, Harman earned $41,877.

Family concerns also factored into his decision. Harman's wife Jennifer gave birth to their third son, Cashton, last month. His other sons are Layne, who will be 4 in December, and Camden, 2.

"I won't have to be away from my family two or three weeks at a time," Harman said.

Harman plans to bowl in tournaments around the Midwest on weekends.

"I figure I can make more money, getting a real job and bowling on the weekends," he said.

Making the decision even easier was his work situation. Since May, he has been employed by Backhaul Direct. The company's owner, Greg Harris, and chief operating officer, Nick Hoagland, are both former Indiana University bowlers.

Harman is bowling with the Backhaul Direct team in the Don Mitchell Pro Shops League at Expo Bowl. He also is competing in the Brunswick Masters Classic, a traveling scratch league that uses PBA oil patterns.

Harman had surgery on his right knee this fall. "I missed a few weeks (of league season) because of my knee surgery," Harman said. "So I'm still getting in the swing of things. I'm averaging right at 200, but I'm definitely not very sharp right now."

Harman said his knee feels fine, but he hasn't had much time to practice.

"I'm getting closer to throwing the ball the way I should be," he said.

Harman said the only thing he misses about the tour is the camaraderie with the other bowlers.

"I don't miss the bowling part of it a bit," he said. "I enjoy being home with my wife and boys. My oldest is starting to take an interest in other stuff, so I don't want to miss any of that."

Star reporter Mark Ambrogi's column appears every other Monday. Call him at (317) 444-6047 or e-mail mark.ambrogi@indystar.com.
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milorafferty

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2010, 12:50:43 PM »
I bought brackets this weekend from Wayne Garber at a minor one-day handicap tournament. There has to be a way for these guys to make more money or the PBA will fail to survive.

BTW, Wayne seems to be a really nice guy.
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New_Toys4Me

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2010, 01:01:23 PM »
Steve is a great bowler in his own, I have talked to many other tour players that have either got a family, or see no money value for bowling in the pba national tour. Maybe some higher-ups within the pba will realize that people are backing out now, after the world series was supposed to "fix" some of the tours issues. I think having all of those tournaments in one week is just being flat out lazy. Yes i dont run any national tours nor am I saying I could do a better job. Im just saying that i think it could be ran better. You can complain all you want about sponsors not putting enough of their money into your business. Well why are you asking them for money if you dont even have faith to put YOUR OWN MONEY in the tournament? Maybe that would make you work harder, put your own money into the tour and lets see how much work gets done then. Just my 2cents.
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DON DRAPER

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2010, 02:16:12 PM »
Not to argue with Steve but the days of REALLY big ball contracts have been over for some time now. However, he is right. The financial situation that bowling and the PBA is in isn't all that great.
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sirstrikealot

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2010, 02:46:19 PM »
IDK, sounds to me like the guy flat out doesnt wanna bowl no more. Quote "I dont miss the bowling part a bit." To me that sounds like he don't wanna bowl.
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Easy10pins

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2010, 04:14:49 PM »
quote:
IDK, sounds to me like the guy flat out doesnt wanna bowl no more. Quote "I dont miss the bowling part a bit." To me that sounds like he don't wanna bowl.


I guess you missed the many other reasons why he doesn't want to bowl on the tour anymore.
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RyanRPS

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2010, 04:55:05 PM »
quote:
Steve is a great bowler in his own, I have talked to many other tour players that have either got a family, or see no money value for bowling in the pba national tour. Maybe some higher-ups within the pba will realize that people are backing out now, after the world series was supposed to "fix" some of the tours issues. I think having all of those tournaments in one week is just being flat out lazy. Yes i dont run any national tours nor am I saying I could do a better job. Im just saying that i think it could be ran better. You can complain all you want about sponsors not putting enough of their money into your business. Well why are you asking them for money if you dont even have faith to put YOUR OWN MONEY in the tournament? Maybe that would make you work harder, put your own money into the tour and lets see how much work gets done then. Just my 2cents.


Perhaps if the PBA did away with the rediculous registration fees then ALL bowling companies (not just the biggest few) could put more money into the pockets of more bowlers in the form of sponsorship..

Ryan

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New_Toys4Me

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2010, 04:59:24 PM »
Ryan i agree, but that would take effort, its amazing how many people dont want to put effort into things.
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Mike Austin

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2010, 09:44:31 PM »
The owners of the PBA are only BILLionaires, they could let loose plenty of money that they would never miss, and do good for a number of parts of the the industry and country, not just the touring players.  Easy for me to say though, I don't have BILLions of dollars.
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pin-chaser

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2010, 01:14:35 PM »
I considered the PBA in the late 70's and through the 80's. In fact won a couple reqionals and became a member. But when my 3rd child arrived, bowling on weekends, having a full time job and realizing that unless you were in the top 10 of the best bowlers you were not making much of a profit, throwing in being away from the family... it was just a no brainer. Bowling is not for anyone who believes they are going to make money. It is for those who love the sport and have no guilt with family issues. Even having a full time job that makes 10.00 an hour translates into more income in a year than most of the full time players (after expenses and taxes...etc).

As for the PBA, its all about profit. Dont expect the PBA owners to (who are billioniares) to do anything for free (as they did not become rich because they gave things away). I suspect that is why they now own it as the previous owners knew there was no profit in it left. It is reality.

That is not to say, that Bowling should not be a "real" sport, in the olympics, have great tournaments prize funds. It still ranks very high in public patronage. There is a market and an attachment. The question has always been defining a clear cut plan to exploit it and the funding behind the plan exexution of the Plan.

Harman is not the first bowler to say "I am done because there is not enough potential money for me". As we recognize this in other aspects of our country, politics for one (the best business people dont run the country because they are not paid enough and make 100's times more money running a corporation). Where as school teachers do it not because of the money and despite the problems because they love to teach.

If bowling (USBC, BPAA, PBA, Manufacturers and Center Proprietors...etc) ever decided that together they need to "fix" bowling and worked together toward the common goal of improving bowling by defining a plan I believe it could work. When the problem is so big it can not be resolved by only one segment of the entire problem. I believe it will take a revamping of how things are being done now.
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Yanker

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2010, 02:43:17 PM »
Man, I have seen and heard this exact same story for years. In fact, sounds a lot like my story. The Tour is the best place in the world to be when you are bowling good, and completely the opposite when you're not. Under current conditions, (EXTREME lack of financing), Steve is right on, if you dont have a ball contract, you would have to be single and have no financial responsibilities to survive.
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Stan

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2010, 03:01:12 PM »
The other point about the manufactures registration fee, is what do they get for it ?  They no longer do "Whats in the Bag" and when they did, it was for Brunswick only (if I remember corectly).  They do not even highlite or try to show the ball the guys are using on TV.  WOW, the pros are ALOWED to use their equipment during a PBA event.  SO What !  The only thing they get back, is the advertising in the Bowlers shirts.

This is not the way to get or keep sponsors.  I hate to say it, but either Tom Clark and the boys better do a better job, or just let the PBA die a quick death.   The exempt bowlers that are dropping out, are the smart ones.

"Mothers, don't let your sons or daughters grow up to be bowlers"
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milorafferty

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2010, 03:08:12 PM »
So true, they seem to avoid a reference to the ball being used at all, other than the color.


quote:
The other point about the manufactures registration fee, is what do they get for it ?  They no longer do "Whats in the Bag" and when they did, it was for Brunswick only (if I remember corectly).  They do not even highlite or try to show the ball the guys are using on TV.  WOW, the pros are ALOWED to use their equipment during a PBA event.  SO What !  The only thing they get back, is the advertising in the Bowlers shirts.

This is not the way to get or keep sponsors.  I hate to say it, but either Tom Clark and the boys better do a better job, or just let the PBA die a quick death.   The exempt bowlers that are dropping out, are the smart ones.

"Mothers, don't let your sons or daughters grow up to be bowlers"

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Yanker

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #13 on: November 23, 2010, 04:01:51 PM »
Stan - good point, I often questioned that very same thing when I was working for a manufacturer a few years back, but we wanted to support the game, at whatever the cost, well, its put a big hurt on all companies...I cant believe its going to last much longer.
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David Lee Yskes

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Re: Another PBA member calls it quits
« Reply #14 on: November 23, 2010, 04:09:18 PM »
quote:
Not to argue with Steve but the days of REALLY big ball contracts have been over for some time now. However, he is right. The financial situation that bowling and the PBA is in isn't all that great.


not to flame or anything, but didnt WRWjr get like 100k per year for X amount of years in the mid 90's when he was tearing up the PBA.....

Idk what the guys like Barnes, PDW, Duke, Belmo and such get from the companies per year, but I'm sure its enough that any $$$ they get from bowling is a nice bonus....
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