Sorry for the long post. This happened several weeks ago, but I'm just getting around to posting it now.
I arrived at the bowl for my summer league early as usual. Once I found out which pair I was on, I set down my equipment and start my usual stretching routine. All the while, one person from the opposing team was already there just sitting in the settee area minding his own business. This guy was slightly taller than me, salt & pepper hair and looked to be in his mid 50's - about my dad's age. I don't know him personally, so I pay no attention to him and continue getting loose.
Once practice started, the poop suddenly hits the fan. I was on the left lane, and one of my teammates was on the right ready to fire off the first practice shots on the pair. Once we do so, my teammate on the right accidentally forgets to clear the rack by fouling intentionally (why centers don't shadow bowl anymore is beyond me, but I digress). It's a common mistake that happens to everyone.
Well the guy that was sitting by himself earlier, minding his own business, was next to throw after my teammate and didn't like what he saw. He immediately smarts off to my teammate, in that traditional New Jersey accent, "Why didn't you clear off the damn pins?!" My teammate and I were totally surprised by his remark, because no one has ever complained about that before. Despite my teammate's apology, he wasn't having any of it. He quickly retorts again with, "It's called courtesy - ever heard of it?" before chucking his first practice ball.
This honest, simple mistake from my teammate opened a huge can of worms for this guy and he wouldn't let up. He later claims he was in line to throw practice first and accuses my teammate of cutting in front of him. Now granted he was there before anyone else on the pair, but he was nowhere in line waiting to throw practice several minutes before it was announced. My teammate, deciding he had enough of this nimrod, just flat out told him "F*%k you. Just bowl." to his face. The other guy just continues on with practice. Trying to forget the whole thing, we decide to give him a wide berth during practice, thinking it will settle him down.
Once league play begins, he does settle down. Actually he's a totally different guy. He's high-fiving everyone and being what any usual league bowler would be. My teammate and I couldn't believe that he would waste everyone's time biotching, moaning and complaining over nothing, and then act as if nothing had happened. So we figured this guy has Bi-polar, ADHD, or something like that. So I thought he would soon apologize for his rude behavior, but he doesn't.
My teammate strikes on his first ball. While walking back, the other guy extends his hand to congratulate, but my teammate refuses to accept. The other guy was dumbfounded by my teammate's rejection in disbelief, but keeps his cool. I was up next and I follow with another strike. The other guy once again extends his hand out to me, but I also refuse. Call me selfish, but you don't huff and puff to my teammates and then act as if nothing happened - especially without an apology.
As the guy walks towards the ball return to pick up his ball, he slyly looks back at us with a smirk grin and says, "You guys have a lot of class, you know?" I had had enough of this old fart and said "Aren't you going to apologize to my teammate?" He said "I'm not apologizing to him or anyone." Then I quickly replied "Then we have nothing more to say. I come here to bowl, not listen to your crap. Don't talk to me about class. I know much more about class than you do."
Well that little remark just completely set him off. He slams his ball down on the return, and starts charging at me like a raging bull. I lean up from the counter and stand my ground. The man starts to push me but I push back. I was about to go into fisticuffs with this a-hole to defend myself over nothing. The neighboring bowlers can't believe what they're seeing. Some of them come over and break us up before a punch is thrown. And that was it. We ignored each other the rest of the night.
Now I know I probably had it coming to me for saying what I said. But he was pushing my buttons just right. This guy was looking for an excuse to start some crap. Well it worked.
After that little spat, my team lets our bowling balls do the talking and rip his team a new one, winning all 4 games by at least 100 pins each game. Needless to say I was feeling pretty good. The other guy had his stuff packed and was already gone by the time I was done throwing my last fill ball.
Thinking this guy wasn't finished, I was prepared to meet him outside after league, but he was nowhere to be found. He decided to play it smart, put his tail between his legs, pick up his toys and go home. Since then we haven't had to bowl next to each other. And that's fine with me. We leave each other alone and that's that.
In all my 20 years of bowling, I never thought I'd have to deal with something or someone like that. He was wrong for having the attitude, but I was just as wrong for letting it get to me and say something without thinking first. Instead of bowling, it almost turned into a UFC event.
Anyway, I thought I'd share that little story with you. Hope you liked it.
