Author Topic: PBA Exempt Tour Pressures (Read 2799 times)

seadrive · « **on:** November 12, 2003, 05:52:13 PM »

Del Ballard Jr. (aka Baldo) posted something on pba.com that I've been thinking since I heard Randy Pedersen mention on the show a few weeks ago that Lonnie Waliczek had a temper tantrum after bowling so poorly in the first round that he thought he'd missed the cut (he hadn't, wound up making the show). Here's what Baldo had to say:

"But let me tell you something,with this format,I think something will happen this year. All of us are under a lot of pressure.Someone will get hot at the end of a block and pi.. someone off and it will hit the fan.We are all human.This format,MALES under pressure,and what is riding on every ball,something is bound to happen. Remember, controversy sells,not boring crap. Now we have a sport.I see things every week that make people mad during a block that in the old days were not that big of a deal,but now it is."

The guys at the top of the points list going into week 6 are probably feeling pretty comfortable, but anyone who hasn't yet made it to the round of 32 has got to feel the noose tightening around his neck.

Going into the 2nd half of the season, there will be quite a large number of guys who will be feeling that their only way to stay on tour next year will be to win the whole shebang one week. Remember Eugene "My Week" McCune? Well, unless he wins a title this year, his career will end in March of next year. Ditto for his roomie, Frank Guccione, and a bunch of other guys.

Here are a few well-known names in the 51-100 spots on the points list, as of last weeks's Toledo Open:


52     Michael Gaither 5 21,100  
53     Jeff Lizzi 5 20,765  
54     Mike Aulby 5 20,695  
55     Roger Bowker 5 20,430  
56     Justin Hromek 5 19,620  
57     Del Ballard Jr. 5 19,495  
58     Nick Vogelgesang 5 19,185  
62     Rudy Kasimakis 5 16,540  
63     John May 5 16,515  
64     Tom Baker 5 16,440  
68     Eric Forkel 3 15,945  
78     Ryan Shafer 6 13,270  
80     Kurt Pilon 5 12,900  
81     Dave D'Entremont 5 12,870  
83     David Ozio 5 12,515  
84     Hugh Miller 6 12,450  
88     Eugene McCune 5 11,875  
98     David Billings 5 10,905

If the season had ended last week, Ryan Shafer, with 3 national titles, would not be exempt for next year. He'd have to bowl the week-long qualifier to try to earn one of the last 10 spots on next year's tour.

There's a big story here for any sports journalist who wants to pick up on it. The last few weeks of this season are going to be as intense as anything we've seen in sports, so don't be too surprised to hear that another fight broke out in the players locker room. Some guys might be leaving the bowling center on a stretcher.

Ain't this fun?

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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

charlest · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2003, 10:52:35 AM »

Personally, I think the new PBA corporate executives are using the bowlers as corporations use workers: to make money for the "stockholders". It's like all of corporate America these days, so, in theory no one can blame them, except all the people out of work. For the PBA, every bowler in the PBA organization will be in the same fix except for the 64 who "make the cut" for next year; the rest will have their "balls cut off", be out of work, so to speak, because they will be denied even the opportunity to make money to support their families. The average TV viewer could care less. I think Bowling, with a capital "B", will suffer, while the PBA corporation will make money, forcibly.

Kind of reminds me of the Roman Emperors and the gladiators. Their motto was "We who are about to die salute you."

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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

Next Level PS · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2003, 11:18:09 AM »

quote:
Personally, I think the new PBA corporate executives are using the bowlers as corporations use workers: to make money for the "stockholders". It's like all of corporate America these days, so, in theory no one can blame them, except all the people out of work. For the PBA, every bowler in the PBA organization will be in the same fix except for the 64 who "make the cut" for next year; the rest will have their "balls cut off", be out of work, so to speak, because they will be denied even the opportunity to make money to support their families. The average TV viewer could care less. I think Bowling, with a capital "B", will suffer, while the PBA corporation will make money, forcibly.

Kind of reminds me of the Roman Emperors and the gladiators. Their motto was "We who are about to die salute you."

--------------------
"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

" We who are about to die salute you"

That's some deep $--T. Let the PBA players now that Home Depot is hiring, Hey $13 a hour is not bad plus benefits they can't go wrong.
--------------------
www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

also know as VortexII

CountryClubBowler · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2003, 11:18:18 AM »

How does the new format make MORE money for the 'PBA Corporation'?

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Bowling makes me feel stupid. I don't know of anything else I do that frustrates me so much that I want to quit. Yet there I am the next day, waiting to take a lickin from the 2-8-10.

bennett · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2003, 11:26:41 AM »

This is something akin to what it going on the Information Technology field, that is more competition. Companies are now outsourcing IT assignments to India and China leaving American programmers out of a job. In addition, workers from India and China are coming over here and replacing American workers who have been in the IT business for 20+ years. They are coming over here on L-1 and H-1B Visas. Those that don't understand what is going on (pro free trade) are calling us programmers whiners.

But I have something for those free trade people. Just imagine what will happen when more workers come over here and compete for YOUR job. Employers are openly firing American workers and hiring these workers on these visas because they will work for much less money.

I have a lot of sympathy for the those on the PBA tour, but also plenty for myself and my colleagues. We've worked hard along with years of college only to now put up with a "change of rules" or a different "playground."

This is a bit off topic but maybe there are other IT workers here who can relate. I have to deal with off topic golf topics here, so I feel it is my right to compare this to something that really means something...that is the total destruction of the middle class is right at our doorsteps! Don't think for a minute this can't happen to YOU...

All fields are potentially at risk!

Here is just one link that I've found if you don't believe me:

http://www.zazona.com/ShameH1B/

charlest · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2003, 12:10:22 PM »

quote:

" We who are about to die salute you"

That's some deep $--T. Let the PBA players now that Home Depot is hiring, Hey $13 a hour is not bad plus benefits they can't go wrong.
--------------------
also know as VortexII

Maybe if they hired as managers. Around here, they're hiring at $8-9 per hour. One can die of malnutrition trying to support a family on that inNew Jersey.

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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

charlest · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2003, 12:15:04 PM »

quote:
How does the new format make MORE money for the 'PBA Corporation'?

--------------------.

Well, they're not making money now; they are breaking even, barely.
This "Exempt Tour" is intended to get more people to watch a smaller number of professionals bowl. Due to the limited number of shows and the small number of people actually shown on TV, the objective, as PBA management has expressed it is to get viewers to start rooting for their favorites. When the number of possible bowlers on TV is smaller, it's easier for kids (and adults) to find a favorite or small set of favorites. This is the way I interpret all the rhetoric they have published; check the PBA website and see if you see it differently.

The bottom line is to get more people watching; more viewers means more advertising revenue.
--------------------
"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

Next Level PS · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2003, 12:21:10 PM »

CharlesT,you are correct I know jack about Golf but I know is Tiger, Singh, and Duval are. limit field makes every thing noticable.
--------------------
www.bowlritelanes.com
www.nextlevelproshop.com

also know as VortexII

seadrive · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2003, 12:43:04 PM »

It's partly about guaranteed paychecks. The guys at the top of the food chain love the idea of an exempt tour, 'cause it guarantees they'll make a decent living, even if they have an off year.

It gets better/worse, depending on your point of view.

From this week's PTQ result:


1, Tim Mack, Garfield, N.J., 2,057. 
4, Tore Torgersen, Sweden, 1,985. 
18, Anders Ohman, Sweden, 1,863.
39, Jouni Helminen, Finland, 1,770.

Looks like Mack's buddies from the European scene are looking for a piece of the PBA pie.

If some guy like Tore Torgersen starts taking lunch money away from touring pros who've been out there 10+ years, I think it could get ugly.
--------------------
seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

janderson · « **Reply #9 on:** November 13, 2003, 12:59:27 PM »

charlest is correct about the "why" they're doing it. It is all about increasing TV ratings and fetching more sponsor $$$.

I've personally spoken with a half-dozen regional PBA members and 2 national PBA members. In addition to the above reason, they also feel that PBA is making the change for the following reason: (While I'm not quoting the 8 PBA members I've spoken to, I'm paraphrasing closely)

---
The PBA wants people to be able to watch the best of the best. What the PBA does not want people to see is two "pros" slugging it out on national TV where the scores are 168 to 155. The exemption makes sure the best bowlers from the previous season have a shot at every tournament and will be guaranteed a check every tournament. This will make it easier for the best of the best to make a living out of bowling and bowl every tournament. The exempt spots will be highly coveted because of that guaranteed weekly check. Because of this, the PBA feels that the competition will be more intense and the bowlers will work harder to throw something above 168....
---

The guaranteed check seems to be a good deal for the top pros. It seems unfair to the "hot" guy(s) that particular week. Plus, if the exempt guys start in the top 32 every week, it will be that much easier for them to stay in the exempt list even after their performance has declined.

I'm not sure why we see pros bowling 150's and 160's in the televised finals. There could be any number of reasons. Maybe they change the shot for the finals from what it has been all week and suddenly the players that were hot all week have to play to their weekness. (Even a pro has his/her "best" condition to play on). Maybe it is just pressure (So is adding the exempt pressure really going to make it any better?).

You'd think if the PBA wants high scores for the finals they would just put down a cake shot and find out who leaves a ringing corner pin. That would be boring for me, but for the non-hard core, non-bowling-addicted, channel-surfing, beer-swilling masses?

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Questions? Drop me a line: haestas-(at)-yahoo.com

Edited on 11/13/2003 1:56 PM

charlest · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2003, 02:18:28 PM »

I think part of the problem I see, that maybe I did not describe so well, is that the new PBA management seems to be doing a Steinbrenner/Yankke deal that was so popular in the 1980s and 1990s: "buy" the current best people, who may be older "workers/players", use them to win (make the PBA TV show popular) but this scenario would appear to forsake the future stars for the money won by the present stars.

Hey, I love seeing the best of the best bowl but, if this procedure dissuades future bowling stars from participating, is it the right thing to do?

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"Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it."

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2003, 05:43:30 PM »

It is the worst idea I've ever seen.

It creates a mental layer of seperation between the haves and have nots that will be difficult to overcome.

The PGA tour used to have 60 exempt but a field of 150 with qualifiers each taking all the other spots.

That was an ideal scenario and it allowed local hotshots to give a real shot at it!

Many a player came up from qualifying in both golf and bowling this way.

A guy named Julius Boros and another decent bowler name of Earl Anthony.

THe PGA tour is just as bad. If you fall off the PGA tour these days you have no where to play! You have a year where you are really not qualified to play anywhere not even the Nationwide tour!

One year not competing in your sport! I wonder what that does for your MOjo and momentum to the top!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS Have I mentioned - Sucky idea!

Author Topic: PBA Exempt Tour Pressures (Read 2799 times)

seadrive

PBA Exempt Tour Pressures

charlest

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Next Level PS

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CountryClubBowler

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bennett

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charlest

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charlest

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Next Level PS

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seadrive

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janderson

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charlest

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LuckyLefty

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