I heard that our fine city is starting up a couple of all-star tournaments.  One takes the top averages in each house against each other in team competition.  The other tournament takes the top 64 averages in the city in a singles PBA-style format with qualifying and match-play.  Both tournaments are invitation only.  This sounds like stories I've heard from the good ole days.

The proprietors need to market these events and give away free hot dogs or something just to get fans to show up.  I think that once they see this fun, friendly, yet fierce competition, hopefully it will get their own juices flowing.  Print out flyers with pictures to post in all centers with each bowlers' accomplishments so as to market the local talent and let the casual league bowler know immediately who they should look up to.  Former bowler of the year, all-star team members should be noted as such.  

One local sports card shop is located in a bowling center and he put up a board with names and dates of all 300's and 800's shot this year.  He includes a picture as well.  This has drawn the attention of countless bowlers because they are curious to see who is shooting these scores.  While I agree that we have too many, that has become funny in itself as well.  Poor Joe is running out of room for all the scores.

The problem with tournaments like this is that they force bowlers who want to bowl in them to migrate to higher scoring environments so they can make the top 64.

Because of our bowler of the year criteria (average, honor scores) the same thing happens. You have to bowl in the higher scoring houses and ideally in trio formats that are more conducive to scoring high.  

This is alleviated some in that the teams picked from each center will represent the best from there. But what do they do when a bowler is on more than one team… You know Ed could be on 2 or 3 and I’m sure there are others.

Given the selection criteria for the teams you might not make the 64 or one of the all star teams. I probably will this year and no one would dispute that you are the better bowler.

That being said, it is a step in the right direction to try and honor the better bowlers. And gives them a target to shoot for.