Somebody is probably gonna call me a crybaby, but I have to unload this before it sours my whole day.

Last Monday night I had my first 300 game. I'm just thrilled, because I pretty much only bowl once a week except for a sweeper once in a while. Well, anyway last night I was surprised to find the same identical shot on the lanes. First game, I have the first nine, super clean shots, real possibility of my second perfect game. I get up to the approach, the bowler on my left nods and says go ahead and gives me the two lane courtesy. I look to my right, make eye contact with the bowler two lanes over, and step up on the approach. As I'm setting up, I can see him right at the end of his approach out of the corner of my eye, but I figure he's giving me the lane courtesy also. As I get to the last step in my approach, here comes this guy on my right running up on me (he basically runs to the line). Needless to say, I was distracted, pulled the shot for a seven/spare, which I followed by a flush pocket strike to finish the game for a 277.

I'm fuming as I sit back down, and this guy who had run up on me comes over and says "What did you do?" When I tell him that I was distracted when he ran up on me, he laughs! Well anyway, I know a lot of bowlers think two lane courtesy is crap and all, but on a nine bagger in the tenth, I don't think I've ever seen this happen before. I could understand if this guy was a new bowler, or a low average bowler, but this guy is a 2-teen average who bowls three times a week.

I don't know if I feel any better yet, but at least I tried. BLAH!
--------------------
kendog
avoids spare shooting at all costs
just throw strikes

Edited on 2/3/2004 10:32 AM

Edited on 2/3/2004 10:32 AM

Be prepared Jason, somebody is soon going to tell you how it's not in the "rule book" that you get 10 when you hit the pocket. This online therapy idea is not working out anywhere near as well as I thought it would LOL I'm thinking maybe I should close up shop before irreparable damage is done to my self-esteem
--------------------
kendog
avoids spare shooting at all costs
just throw strikes

Edited on 2/4/2004 12:56 PM

Hey card, it's like two days later ya' know. My calm is greatly enhanced. I know I should have reset and all, blah, blah, blah. My focus was all wrong, blah, blah, blah. Wait 'till next week!

Jason, you must just need a new ball. However, since your better half is now monitoring our every word, that is probably out of the question. Sooo, plan "B"... get a sub and quit yer whinin'.

I know there has got to be more suffering souls out there... step up and take your licks.

--------------------
kendog
avoids spare shooting at all costs
just throw strikes

Although I typically give two lane courtesy, because at my original home lanes (Eastway Lanes, Erie, PA) it was standard and has stuck with me, I spent many years in junior leagues.  When bowling in YABA, you come to expect someone to run infront of you while on the approach.  Just the nature of bowling with 4-18 yr olds .  As a result, I am alright with no lane courtesy...  

Now on the issue of big strings... I think there is some common courtesy that goes along with it.  I don't mean have the center stop bowling, but for the love of god, use your head!  Thats just wrong and you have a right to be upset...  I would tell the guy to expect a grip sack in the back of his head next string he gets on...

S^2
--------------------
The Bengals season has come to an end.  Achieved the .500 mark, so all was not lost.  Now we look forward to April...  Come on Chris Gamble

Ken,
I had the same thing happen to me last week.  It is the unexpected that is the problem.  Then I start thinking about what they are doing and should be thinking about what I am doing.  I understand people getting excited but why do they stomp their feet hoping for more pin carry or slap their hands together right next to me while I'm on the approach?  Maybe your league and my league are filled with wierd people.

Hey CPA, I saw that what, 769 last week; In a sport league no less.  Sorry to hear you got gigged too. I'll be more careful and aware next time. As the title says I was just venting.

By the way, are you bowling in the Wed. night Sport this Summer? I'm planning on it.
--------------------
kendog
avoids spare shooting at all costs
just throw strikes

You're right somebody is going to call you a cry baby....ME!! j/k

Honestly people complain too much about what other people are doing, you were the one throwing the ball down the lane so its up to you to throw a good ball or not. I'm not trying to make anybody mad, but its the truth. I bowled a 297 once....I didn't blame it on somebody else because it was my game to be bowled. I used it to my advantage and now everytime I've had the chance to shoot 300 that 297 game is the first thing I think of. I haven't missed the opportunity since that incident 4 yrs ago. Once again I'm not trying to make anybody mad here....just please don't complain when you don't shoot 300 because somebody pissed on your lucky bowling towel or whatever.

I hope everybody on this site shoots at least 850 next time they bowl!!!!

Tim
--------------------

Your village called, they want their idiot back!