The good new it allows the exempt players a chance to make a living. The $2000 minimum will cover their weekly expenses plus a little. Win a match or two and you can get ahead some.

The bad news is that it will become very tough to get a full exemption to the national tour. The pressure will be tremendous in that in a five tournament qualifier you will have to finish in the top ten or set the next year out. I’m afraid this might keep some aspiring pro’s from trying  as  they would have to give up their amateur status.

I also have a problem in that seem to be trying to “fix” the competition where the same guys make the show every week. I know they are trying to create known faces and stars  but you have to have what appears to be fair competition. The difference between the top 32 out their isn’t very much but if the number 1 is bowling qualifiers every week he has a pretty easy road into the next round.

It’s Peter’s show. He owns it and can run it how he sees fit.

All I have to say now... as a YABA member, after seeing this... it looks like megabucks or international tournaments are the way to go if I want to compete as an adult.
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-Jeremy Vitug
You can just bounce...

Check out the article on the PBA site.  For the 2004-2005 season and beyond, there is 50 exemptions, the remaining spots are filled from the regional players, the elite pro-am. etc.  2005 year is even different.  Looks like they are using this first years established bowlers to fill the fields then reducing the number of exemptions each year after that and filling in with the winners from the previous years.

Like "golf" future PBA members will have to earn the right to be called a pro instead of just booking a high enough average and sending in the money.
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~~~SrK - Have balls, will travel

I like Teflons idea!!!

Closer to golfs.

Don't think the golf pro tours format has been great.

I don't think it has.  The unfair method of having qualifiers from the previous years qualifying school only get some maybe 1/2 as many entries and then having to compete on an equal basis for the top 125 crazy.

Also if you qualify for tour and bomb out, you have no home tour.  The nationwide doesn't take you back!  It has created a group of intimidated second tier players.

I always liked the monday qualifying method combined with top 60.  Made the cut you play your next week!

To summarize.  Have 60 or so exempt.  Allow a monday qualifying.  $2000 to the top 60 with a cut.  All match play every week is crazy but?

REGards,

Luckylefty

LT, that Tuesday night slot they had once in a while was great, but they couldn't get ESPN to reserve it for them for the entire season, so they chose "same bat time, same bat channel" so at least the hardcore viewers would know when and where to find them. (I know you already know this.)

Who knows, if the ratings get sufficiently large, they just might get a weekday prime-time slot, maybe year after next.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Overall, I think this is a great idea.

No one has mentioned one of the biggest changes, the PBA's new policy of co-sponsorship of tour stops with the host center.  No more $35K "fee" to host a tournament.  Instead, the center and the PBA share local advertising expenses and revenues.  Sounds like another great idea.  What center wouldn't jump at the chance to host a tour stop under these conditions?

Miller & Company have taken a bankrupt, sinking tour and turned it into a viable business in a matter of a couple of years.  These guys obviously know what they're doing.  This can only help the sport and business of bowling.

Guys like WRW, Barnes and Duke must be licking their chops.  The top 10 players are about to start making some really serious money.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

I like this idea.  Instead of looking for a quick fix, they are looking at this turnaround as a 5 to 10 year process.  I don't expect these new requirements to be implemented overnight and I do see some fine tuning taking place.  However, if the leaders can build the PBA tour into a success, then the high-roller tournaments will have their place, but most amateurs worth their bag will be begging to become full-time members.  Hopefully the elite few that are exempt will enjoy the financial rewards of being the very best at a popular sport.  

We need to put a spotlight on the heroes of the game.  The exempt players will truly be professional bowlers that will command the respect they deserve because they earned their status.  The current requirements for PBA status are laughable.  With minimal effort, I could get a card.  This is absurd.  I don't expect these new requirements to be implemented overnight and I do see some fine tuning taking place.  However, if the leaders can build the PBA tour into a success, then the high-roller tournaments will have their place, but most amateurs worth their bag will be begging to become a full-time member.  Hopefully the elite few that are exempt will enjoy the financial rewards of being the very best at a popular sport.