I am going to pull this topic out of one of my other threads that is floating around right now...
I brought up the theory that handicap tournaments and tournaments for lower average bowlers should have little to no money in them so that we can deter sandbagging. I think it's horrible that we have to do that, but I also think perhaps the money aspect is what is killing bowling at these lower average levels.
Here is my explanation: When you look at other sports such as basketball, tennis, or volley ball, how often do they play for money at the beginner and intermediate levels? Perhaps this is a page out of their books that we should tear out and put into our book for bowling.
Perhaps also, that is the reason that sooooo much money goes into the professional levels of these sports from various sponsors and such, is because that is the only place to put the money! It creates more stars, because everybody who is competitive wants to get to that level, and watches the pros more because they want to learn what it takes to get to that level.
For some reason in Bowling, our handicap tournaments (Hoinke) pay HUGE DOLLARS, which is sort of like paying an amateur baseball player $2 million to play semi-pro ball. It just doesn't make any sense. Of course there are sandbaggers out there. The structure of our sport encourages sandbagging both at the league level and at the tournament level.
When I was a junior bowler (no money), I bowled to improve my game and to win. I did both of those and loved bowling!!! I bowled an entire season of adults without getting in any jackpots. People always put me in, so once in a while they'd buy me a pop or something (jerks). I loved competing in the league I bowled in (singles league), and was really excited when I finished the season in 3rd place out of about 28 guys. I made a name for myself!!!
Competing was so much more important back then. Now, winning the league would be nice, but it doesn't seem that important to me anymore. I would rather get high average in the league and win a lot of money in jackpots in averaging that high. I must have been a wise 18 year old, not getting into pots back then. I knew what was in store.
Looking at percentages, how many people in handicapped leagues really make any money anyways? I'd say far less than 5% when you take into account purchasing bowling balls and paying league fees, association fees, and paying for all of the jackpots. Most leagues around here don't have very good jackpots anyways!
So why do these seemingly recreational type bowlers (bowl once a week and never practice) need to bowl for a lot of money? Why does the Hoinke exist? Why does the Shammy Burt exist? More important, why does anybody bowl in these tournaments? Good bowlers bag to win money in these tournaments, and the real 180 bowlers never have a chance because of the bagging.
The Plan: What if we did away with all of the sponsorships and jackpots in handicap leagues; and did away with big money handicap tournaments. What if all of our sponsorship focus went toward the PBA Tour, The PBA Regional Circiuts, and maybe a little bit of focus toward those few classic leagues that could one day exist again? The classic leagues would be considered "semi-pro".
Or is all of this gambling the very thing that made bowling huge in the first place? I do not know the answer to that question. I just don't see where we would lose many bowlers as most bowlers still do not get in jackpots as it is. Those who want to compete at higher levels, will have to work hard to make any money in the new system. I'd say integrity exists more in hard work than it does in cheating (sandbagging).
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.comFamous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"
