On Sept. 2, I wrote an "open letter" (in column form) to a local sports editor, asking questions about his elimination of bowling coverage. The link to that column ...

http://www.examiner.com/article/open-let...ing-coverage-go

Whereas he ignored the questions, I did receive a reply to the question ("Why does your newspaper no longer include coverage of the sport of bowling?") from executive editor Bill Church.

[begin Mr. Church's reply] The Herald-Tribune covers a large market and has an engaged, educated readership with many interests. Invariably we're not going to meet everyone's passions, but no other news and information company offers a better day-to-day assessment of key interests. [end Mr. Church's reply]

In reply to a follow-up question ("Why does the Herald-Tribune feel that sports such as golf and tennis -- especially the latter -- deserve full coverage, both locally and nationally (and with regular locally written columns), whereas bowling is ignored completely?") -- Mr. Church responded thusly, and I quote: "My original response to your question should suffice."

Any comments on Mr. Church's responses?

I'd have to agree with Juggernaut.

While bowling "CAN BE" a sport, 99% of population looks at bowling as a game to be played when there's nothing else around to entertain them. Why should it be covered in a newspaper, when hop scotch, hide and seek, and tiddly winks are also not covered? After all they have the same significance to the general public as bowling does; therefore they receive the same amount of coverage.

Start your own paper, Fishwrap.  Or e-mag, or blog, or whatever.  Then you can cover it to your heart's content.  Oh, that's right, not your style.  You just rag on others who are in charge of papers and bowling organizations instead of creating your own.  Hard to understand since you so clearly can do a much better job.

I agree with kid.  Who reads the paper anymore?  Even my parents who are retired don't get the paper anymore.

A Facebook page is the way to go!!!

I worked as a sports writer for a regional newspaper with a daily circulation of around 30,000 copies. When I was on staff, I took it upon myself to do a weekly bowling section. It included tips, local honor scores, PBA results, local tournament results/schedules, etc. The bowlers in my area really liked it. Sadly, when I left the paper, nobody left on staff cared enough about bowling to pick up where I left off. Now, I still live and work in the area, and from time to time I have people ask me why they no longer see bowling coverage in the paper. I always tell them the same thing. If you really want to see coverage, let the people in charge of the paper know it, and get your fellow bowlers to do the same. It's pretty simple here, folks. If you raise a big enough stink and make them think that they may lost customers and money by not having bowling coverage in there, then they may be compelled to bring it back. If you simply piss and moan on your own, you'll be viewed as a lone wolf whiner, and you will be ignored. So, I say again, don't just complain on your own. Get each and every one of your league mates and those from other leagues to call, email, etc. They will ignore one or two of you, but I seriously doubt they'll ignore hundreds!

Oh, and as a quick FYI, it has very little to do with space in the paper. Even the largest, most comprehensive sports sections really upon quite a few AP wire stories, which are basically just filler when the local news staff hasn't written enough of its own material. If you raise a big enough stink, they'll find space for some bowling coverage!