I know something like this was posted (something about PBA not being on ESPN website, etc).

How do you guys defend when somebody says that bowling isn't a sport?

The ToC replay was on today during lunch, and I hear some guy say "Come on.  I've bowled a 200 before, these guys aren't anything special."  This was right around the time they showed the averages (everybody around 220's).

I had to point out that a typical tournament these guys are bowling 40+ games, but the guy just looked at me with a blank stare.

I really wanted to say something like - "Basketball isn't that hard.  I've made 3 pointers before.  Just because I'm not 6'8" doesn't mean I can't play ball!" or, "I've driven for more than 4 hours without stopping, I could drive a car around in a circle for 4 hours."  But, I really didn't want to get into it.

I like to explain it like this.  People who bowl on a league or 2 a week, are the same as the guys playing rec softball, hockey or basketball.  We don't compare the rec guys to the professionals, and the same applies to bowling.  When you spend every waking hour of the day practicing, adjusting, competing and traveling, then you are competing in a professional sport.
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D <~~~~ Used to be terrible wiffing 10 pins.  Now through much practice, can wiff any single pin spare at any time.

Darrell Guzman
guzmand19 - Yahoo IM and MSN screen names

Well, I had a similar conversation with a co-worker and said something similar to guy at lunch.  The co-worker didn't deny that bowling was sport, he was more of the type that just says "Whats the big deal?  Anybody can bowl.  I've seen people at the lanes bowl better than the guys on TV."  He then said something like "Well, if I bowled as much as these guys I'd be that good too."

I said, "Sure, go for it.  They have qualifying tournaments and you can win those and bowl on the tour."  That lead to "well, if I had sponsors and people giving me balls and shoes and a place to practice...."  Which of course if had to respond "well, I'm sure if you are that good then you won't have any problems getting a sponsor.  Probably even easier since you are a minority and there aren't a lot of minorities on the tour." -- I don't even know if that's true, I was just trying to get the guy to shut up --

That lead to a discussion on how much you can make bowling, so I pointed him to the pba site and earnings list.  After seeing that he decided it wasn't worth it - "hell, I make more than 75% of the people on that list!"

Lefty -

I respectfully disagree with you regarding your characterization of bowling as not a sport.  It is a sport.  "Sport" is defined as a form of amusement or play as well as a contest.  After the baseball strike many years ago, I became quite disillusioned with the game.  I have no respect for it any longer.  So if I used your reasoning; baseball is not a sport.

Unfortunately the sport of bowling doesn't garner respect from many.  It's a prevailing perception.  I totally agree with your assessment concerning the lack of uniformity, and the fact that the situation needs to be addressed.  

I have absolutely no idea of what the "magic bullet" could be; but the perception needs to be turned from negative to positive before the masses consider bowling a sport.

I have to disagree with Lefty's comment

Bowling is a sport.  It is an athletic activity with established rules that are sanctioned by a governing body.  It is a recognized sport by the IOC....the official olympic committee.  It may not be an official olympic event, but there are plenty of sports that are not olympic events (rugby, cricket, lacrosse, american football).  Yes, people play it for recreation, and may ignore bowling ettiquette because they don't know or they are just plain ignorant.  But there is a section of the bowling world that actually train for tournaments, amateur or professional.  Playing multiple games a week, or even a day, can be strenuous to the body.  My practice sets per practice day are 10 games.  I play so many games in a practice session to train myself not to "gas out" when I'm playing my three games during league.

I just take non beleivers out to practice with me,
and make them bowl the same number of games that I do ( 10)
Then I come back and talk to them in a few days to see how they feel.
Most don't feel to good.
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Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
 Visionary Test Staff Member
http://www.visionarybowling.com

DPunky and some others,

Look at the definition again. The key word there is rules and governing bodies. Bowling as a whole does not work as a unit and too many things have been delegated down to the local levels. This in turn caused to many variables due to poor organization and governing. How can you really argue a point when you can't teach the masses a correct way to interpret your "Game", so as to  call it a sport. I am as passionate about bowling as anyone, but also see that we can't keep denying the issues at hand. I have heard even from former ABC delegates, that organized bowling is diminishing. Great, but what are we doing about it. I am tired of lipservice and paperwork. Until bowlings governing bodies and the PBA work at making a "system" the masses will still not understand it.

Apologize: Maybe we could get lucky and have a young gun come out and dominate like Tiger Woods did. Chances of that happening are slim though.

Note: The baseball example is understood, as you lost faith in the game due to the players and owners but the rules stayed the same and the playing fields still primarily have the same dimensions. Our playing fields are skewed and we have become content with that, because thats "just business". Sorry i guess i have a higher expectation for the game and wish we would all as a group.

Bob Hanson: Bowling has them also. They are called "THS".

Edited on 4/12/2005 12:27 PM