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Author Topic: Too easy to be a PBA member?  (Read 4835 times)

Pinbuster

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Too easy to be a PBA member?
« on: October 02, 2003, 05:33:24 PM »
Is it too easy to become a professional bowler? And when are you truly a professional bowler?

My definition of a professional athlete would be one who primarily makes their living by the sport they are engaged in, particularly during the active season of the sport.  By my standards many so called amateurs are really professionals. Many part time regional players would not fall into my definition. They have never gotten a check in a PBA event nor are they likely to. And they will never make a living at it.

In bowling one is only considered a professional if they join the PBA. The requirements  for joining PBA, I feel, are far too low in terms of average. I would think the bar today should be at least at 220 maybe higher. I know I’ll here from bowlers who will claim the bowl in brickyards and no one averages 220 and in a few (very few) cases that might be true. But I would be surprised if most of the successful full time national tour players couldn’t average 220+ on that condition. It is amazing how a good pro can make a condition the normal house bowler cannot hit look easy.

The PBA is going to an all exempt tour next year but up till then what other sport can you compete on it’s major league stage by simply paying a fee? None that I’m aware of.

I really think the PBA exempt tour is good idea in that you have to earn your way on now. The biggest problem I have with the system as currently defined is that too many players are protected. With only 64 slots available each tournament, 50 are from exempt players, 7 will have special exemptions given by the PBA, and last 7 are for the local regional players and sponsor exemptions. The last seven will never qualify for the next year, so you only have 57 bowlers going for 50 slots open the next year. Those are pretty good odds especially when some of the 7 exempt can’t compete anymore due to injury or age. The exempt number should be around 40 giving more regional qualifiers a chance to move up.

 

10 In The Pit

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Re: Too easy to be a PBA member?
« Reply #16 on: October 05, 2003, 04:44:39 AM »
I know of a couple of bowlers in my area who I would consider as PBA material, yet only one or two of them even competes in Regionals.  Actually, 3 stand out in my mind, with one of them already having won several regional events, one of them having nearly won the Mini-Eliminator a few months back, and the third one doesn't even dabble in the bigger stuff (unusual for a 240+ lefty, who primarily uses an old urethane Gyro!!!).

I agree that 200 seems kind of low for a PBA material number, but then again I can walk into several houses within a 60 mile radius that nobody carries a 200 average in.  So, maybe 200 isn't such a bad number after all...but, I know of a ton of 220+ averagers who wouldn't stand a chance in the PBA environment, yet I know of a couple of low 200 averagers who just might stand a chance against the big guns.  Basically, you really have to look at each one on a case by case basis, and the actual average doesn't tell the whole story.

It's really tough to set down a specific guideline on what it takes to be PBA material.  The only thing that I'm sure of there is that I'll never hold a PBA card, unless I just care to donate to the cause!  Instead of running with the big dogs, I stay on the porch.

joegunn

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Re: Too easy to be a PBA member?
« Reply #17 on: October 05, 2003, 07:17:45 AM »
Averages really are pointless.  Even on tour, averages are only meaningful during the 18 games to qualify for match play.  Once you get to match play, you can lose 260-250 while the a guy next to you wins 190-170 and advances.

In the dark ages, the five bowlers with the highest 42 game average got to bowl for the title, with the highest average for the week guaranteed a 2nd place finish.  And if memory serves me correctly, some of the current stars, Williams, Duke, Voss and Weber, seemed to do OK, while at the same time allowing 160 bowlers a week to chase their dreams without making a full time commitment.

Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky, but if the original PBA would have promoted the game and spent money marketing the sport like the new regime, it may have survived.

seadrive

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Re: Too easy to be a PBA member?
« Reply #18 on: October 07, 2003, 10:27:36 AM »
Pretty soon, this whole business of having a PBA card will be history anyway.  The current owners are obviously not interested in promoting increased membership (exempt National tour, no money put into Senior Tour or regional tours, etc.), but rather are more interested in selling bowling as a show.  

That's where the money is, not in collecting paltry annual dues from Joe Bowler.

The exempt tour is basically saying to 95% of the membership, "Go away, you're not good enough to bowl on the big stage of the new PBA."

There's an opportunity here for someone who wants to start up a new membership organization.  Anyone interested?
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Edited on 10/7/2003 10:37 AM

BadShot

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Re: Too easy to be a PBA member?
« Reply #19 on: October 07, 2003, 10:44:26 AM »
sports fans, i think you're over-reacting.  carrying an average of over 200 is now easier, but you still need to have a pretty decent level of skill and knowledge.

a good example from another sport is golf.  there are over 25,000 pga professionals.  you have to be able to shoot 75-78 to pass the playing test, then there's an apprentice program of 2-4 years to become fully certified.  you don't have to be able to compete with touring professionals.

if there's a beef with becoming a pba member, it's that the only prerequisite is averaging 200.  wouldn't it be nice if pba pro's not on the tour were better trained in marketing, inventory management, teaching, ball dynamics, etc.?!?

also, i am against the fully exempt pba tour next year.  there should be a certain number of spots in each event reserved for qualifiers.  again, they do this in golf, as well as in tennis.  pba organizers are afraid of this concept . . . heaven forbid a qualifier beats walter ray in the first round!!!  it happens occasionally in golf and tennis, but who doesn't root for the underdog sometimes?!?

let's get the pro's accredited, and give the good bowlers a "chance" to compete with the big boys!
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9andaWiggle

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Re: Too easy to be a PBA member?
« Reply #20 on: October 07, 2003, 12:50:24 PM »
quote:
As for the few of you who have NEVER bowled on tour out here telling everyone that you know of a number of amateurs in your area that would do well in that environment I can only laugh at how clueless you really are about this subject!


Please don't try telling me that only the people who are currently on the tour are good enough to be there.  I am sure there may be some exaggerations about how many locals there are that could make the show, but I do believe there are some who could and choose not to.  Seriously, think about it.  Not everyone is willing to commit to life on the tour week to week.  Besides, they're probably happy to clear a few hundred bucks a week from league brackets and small time tourneys - all the while still being able to go home and sleep in their own bed every night.

I don't think this is a slap in the face to the pros at all - nobody said it was easy or that the Pros were anything but the best.  It was simply stated that there are people out there who, in all probability, would stand a good chance at being competitive on that level.  And if there isn't, then Professional Bowling will come to an end when the current Pros retire.

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Why, WHY won't the last one just fall??  It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!
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9andaWiggle

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Re: Too easy to be a PBA member?
« Reply #21 on: October 07, 2003, 01:47:29 PM »
quote:
I'm not and I don't understand why you came to this conclusion when I CLEARLY stated otherwise!


I went back and re-read your post - a couple of times to be sure, and you did state otherwise in the last sentence.  However, your last paragraph comes across as a bit defensive towards people who speculate that "Joe Bowler" is good enought to possibly make it if he tried.

quote:
As for the few of you who have NEVER bowled on tour out here telling everyone that you know of a number of amateurs in your area that would do well in that environment I can only laugh at how clueless you really are about this subject! This is another example of the lack of respect that todays professional bowlers receive! There might be a few that could exceed especially if they have the work ethic required to be a top pro but those will be VERY FEW and until they actually do it NO ONE should make claims that they would!


 I'm not sure if you meant to come across that way, but that's where I read into it what I posted.  Personally, I think such statements are similar to the beginning of the ball season when people say "man, the Cubs are going to win the pennant!"  Nobody really thinks they will, but it's nice to believe it could happen!!


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9-

Why, WHY won't the last one just fall??  It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep...

I wonder where they went? ;)