The documentary was well done. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was some sort of secondary agenda here...damage control...self-promotion...sympathy...some sort of ulterior motive.
His interaction with the current owner of the Jupiter Lanes property in the film was very cringe worthy. "I am a professional bowler...that's why we are here filming me..." Then he had to mention it twice to the guy...
Thats exactly what it was. He has gotten so much criticism for his attitude (rightfully so) and in his mind he feels like he is misunderstood. When you are in the public eye, people are always going to speculate and scrutinize every move whether good or bad. He is immature because he is young and doesnt know any better due to his upbringing. For someone who was basically abandoned by his parents to get where he is now is a miracle. He could be out there with the wrong crowd selling drugs and arrested multiple times. But he made something of himself out of nothing. I dont know if he has one or not. But what he needs is a sports psychologist on how to handle the pressures of being popular in the limelight and dealing with failure.
Some of us can say that it isnt an excuse when it absolutely is. I will agree that at some point he needs to seek help to process his life as a whole and how he got to where he is. I am fighting this same fight with my 26 year old. So I can relate to some extent with this story. My son is a direct reflection of the upbringing with his mom and step-father and it screwed him up. Most of us probably have a young child and probably worry about them when they just go outside in the neighborhood and here he was out in public as a 4th grader basically for 12 hours at a time with zero supervision. So he lives this life where he felt like he wasnt loved growing up and when the one thing he relied on for happiness goes bad; he feels like there is nothing left. At this point it may not even be so much about being immature as it is that it is obvious he has some mental demons he fights everyday. Here he is still in his early 20s, doesnt have either of his parents to lean on anymore, and cant recall if he mentioned anything about brothers and/or sisters. So he is already dealing with life completely by himself at an early age whereas by comparison, I am going to turn 49 in 2 months and I still have my grandmother, both parents, 3 siblings, my wife and kids.
He is very fortunate that he has been able to turn something he loves to do into a career that has allowed him to average 85K in earnings every year. But there are also some basic, common "adulting" skills that a 24 year old show know even without having to be taught them by someone else. Respect for others, respect for other people's property, basic anger management. Does the film paint a picture? Absolutely. However it does not earn someone a pass to be able to act out once you are almost in your mid-20's. If his behavior is reflective of what he has been exposed to on tour for the past 10 years, then that doesn't say much about the PBA or the influence the PBA Tour has had on him.
Yes, he has dealt with some definite challenges in his life. He may not have benefited from the best life at home, but he had a support system at the lanes. People were obviously looking out for him and knew his situation. They were his "guardian angels" of sorts and seem to genuinely care about his well-being. Simonsen apparently respected them to the extent that he sought their guidance with certain decisions he was faced with. There was a brother mentioned in the film, but the extent of his relationship with his brother wasn't fully explained.
I agree that Simonsen not only needs to consider a sports psychologist for his professional life, but also a therapist to perhaps be able to help him deal with some of the demons he is obviously carrying at a personal level. Hopefully some of his close tourmates and those in his personal inner circle can encourage and support him enough for him to seek out some assistance. He would benefit greatly from that.
