One thing people can do is promote the sport.
Do you make the effort to get people to go to City/Association, State and National tournaments like the Open? When I was a new bowler, I only knew about the State Open because it was being held in my home center. Sure, there were flyers available, but most league bowlers don't pay a lot of attention. Same with the Open, I kind of stumbled on it by accident. The experienced bowlers could, with minimal effort, "introduce" other bowlers to a side of the sport that they never knew existed.
How about stepping up for the youth programs? Either as a volunteer or even be willing to be a doubles partner for some of the Junior/Adult tournaments?
Being on the local association board or a volunteer also helps to promote the sport. How about actually attending the annual meeting of the local association where the officers/board members are elected? It would be easy enough to replace them with minimal effort for most associations I suspect.
How about the advertisers? For example, what brand of shaving cream do you use? There is one brand(Barbasol) that has been promoting the PBA for a few years now. Advertisers spend money to promote their brand, why would they continue to buy ads on PBA broadcasts if we, the bowling community do not buy their product to show appreciation for their support?
If we as bowlers do not support the organizations who are trying to better the sport, then we don't deserve a respectable sport.
Where in my post did I mention "business"??
I said the "sport of bowling", two completely different things.
Of the "bowlers" who bitch, moan and complain, how many of them put effort into making the sport of bowling better? I would wager it's not 1 in 500.
Most of whom don't know how or don't have the power to. If I pay for a burger somewhere, and it comes out cold and not how I ordered it, is it my responsibility to go get a job there so I can make the burgers the right way?
Now, I'm not arguing with you or even saying that you're wrong, because you're not, but objectivity requires taking an honest look from all sides. If you're paying for something, as bowlers are, and you aren't getting what you paid for, you have a right to complain with zero obligation on your part to do anything more. After all, your money is a contribution, a contribution that should allow those in power with the responsibility of making bowling better to do so.
However, if people are really concerned enough to pout and moan about it like you said, they really should do more, because again, objectively, if you're unhappy with how things are going, and you think you could make a difference or contribute, do it! Just throwing money in and saying, "well, I'm contributing," isn't going to make a difference if you're giving money to people you have no confidence in.
How do you get involved or make any changes unless you get involved with the business? You either have to become a coach, get on your local board, work at a center, work at a pro shop, etc,. There's not much you can do for the sport of bowling without getting involved in the industry, which makes it business. If paying dues and participating doesn't qualify, there's really no other way to get involved. Maybe I'm just not seeing your angle, care to expand?
