Last night was position round in my league. For the second week in a row we are bowling the same team. I bowl in the 5th position and happen to be bowling against my teammate from last year. I have always been one to bowl better with slight chip on my shoulder. We both average around 215. So we are pretty much bowling straight up. Last week I took the first two games easily with games of 262, 267 and bowled garbage the last game.

Last night I show up and he starts little trash talk. I let it go and just work on my game and let the frames talk. So he had one pin lead after 9 frames. Both of us working one doubles going into the tenth frame. I get up while and bowl while he's teams 4th bowler is up. I strike out and he start to talk more trash as I sit down. Knowing he has to Strike out and is visably fustrated. He gets a 8 count hitting light. I win 236-216. Next game I start with a split then finish out for a 279 and he goes 208. He is flipping me off and talking garbage every strike I throw. The last game is were I had to hold my breath and make light of the situation. I open with a double and he follows suit. Going with his theme of being an ass all night. He grabs my ball and takes it back to his table. I watch him grab from the rack and try to hide it. Like I didn't notice him do this. I did not say anything til just before I was up and asked for it back.

I really truly was heated about this and wanted to go off on him. I just held my cool and let it go. Losing some carry the last game I lost it 198 to 213. I don't care about losing the game but find it very bush league to grab someones elses ball off the rack joking or not.

talking is one thing, but don't touch your some one else's ball, you should have confronted him as soon as you saw him touch your ball.

When I was younger I would talk a little trash with guys I have known to give it back and have fun with it. At first I laughed it off and used it to motivate me to start the night. The later we got into the night the more it seemed to childish and mean spirited. I felt disrespected when he grabbed my ball. I mean I understand he was upset and frustrated but that was going to far in my head. Luckly My team earned enough points and with the help of another team were able to grab the last spot into our playoffs starting next week.

He shouldn't have done it. If he's that big an a**, he isn't your friend.

 Act like an a**, and I will treat you like one.

 I would've told him to put it back NOW, because if I have to come and get it, you aren't going to like it very much.

(Actually, I would've been MUCH more graphic. Just keeping this pg rated 🙂)

Regardless of his attitude (I'll address that in a bit), even as serious as we are about bowling, remind him of the scores, because no matter how extreme or rude he gets, his actions aren't going to change the scores. He lost, no matter what, and should be graceful in losing.

Remind him also that if the situation were reversed, you would *not* have done the same thing, because you simply aren't that type of person.

Because it is obvious that he's lacking any sort of grace or confidence in dealing with you or anyone else, especially in a win/lose fashion. And until he addresses that and his attitude, you won't be friends with him. when he addresses it, you'd welcome him back.

That way, not only is he reminded of how crappy his attitude is (must worse words come to mind), but you've dealt with it in a way that makes you a hell of a lot better, while leaving him with a choice to be bitter, or get better.

All great points!