There is obviously a lot that has to change to make the PBA a marketable product again and bring back better prize money.  I don't have an issue with the world series of bowling concept as it was out of necessity. When you are not bringing in viewership revenue then you have to reduce production costs by filming 8 tournaments over a short period of time. If you want to attract international bowlers to come to America you have to give them an opportunity to complete in more than one 20K tournament. The international bowlers were never afraid to bowl against the U.S. it just wasn't worth the airfare.  My son has dreams of bowling in the PBA, so I sure hope they find a way to turn it around in the next couple of years but I fear it will be nothing more than a weekend hobby and that the days of "making a living bowling are over"

I think that getting rid of the exempt tour is a good step.  That really limited what the PBA can do financial wise.  In todays economy, if the TQR had 100 bowlers but they only take 3 or 4 people, my chances to make the show were slim to none.  So, was it worth the cash to enter?  Not really.  Now by making it a non exempt tour again, I think more bowlers will think they have a better chance to make the show and entries will increase.  They wont have to beat 97 other bowlers for 3 spots.  The USA is not short of amazing talent.  Just look at the US Open and Masters.  How many entries are at those 2 tournaments compared to the others?  Granted that doesnt mean that we will see 400 entries at every stop.  But I could maybe see as much as 150-200 at times.  So maybe with that in mind, they could possibly become a "tour" again as opposed to bowling half the stops in Vegas?  Another thing they could do is instead of a 20 week season, they could have a season similar to the PGA; make it a 9 month long deal with a 2 week break every 8th week and have a "playoffs" at the end of the season based on points; 1st week take the top 80 in points, 2nd week take the top 60 in points, 3rd week take the top 40, and the last week take the top 20.  It isnt as though the bowlers want to stop bowling as they go overseas to some tournaments when they are not bowling any tour stops.  Another idea, is the Summer months would be a great time to have stops because tv wise, they wont go against NCAA/NFL Football, NCAA/NBA Basketball will be over.  The only thing they would go against would be MLB and NASCAR.  Summer Leagues are typically smaller as alot of bowlers take the summer off.  So, why not maybe even have a fall season, say maybe 20 weeks, take a month off and then have a Summer Season with another 20 weeks?  The PBA can get creative but I think maybe the first thing to do is have Tom Clark let go for someone who is an embassador to the sport, like a Brian Voss or or someone of that caliber to take over and run things. 

If you really want to know how the pros feel,ask them.If you are a fan of certain PBA stars

on Facebook.Ask them. They are not happy.

No lefthander winning in over 50 years.That says volumes. 

 No left hander winning in 50 years?  HUH?  Did Jason Couch switch hands when he three-peated the TOC?

 

The PBA players are unhappy?  Boofreakinghoo.  Then they need to get off their asses and do something about it.  Quit waiting for somebody else to set the table.  Re-organize.  Produce your own shows and market them to the highest bidder.  Demand a say in when your match is going to televise.  Go out and show potential sponsors what you can do.  Get rid of the exemption except for the top twenty five point earners like it USED to be.  Where the hell is the spirit of the original PBA that gave a guy $50 and organized the PBA decades ago.  If they love the sport enough to try and make a living at it, they need to get involved and take control of their own destiny.     

I know my post is meant for the sport in general, and not just the PBA.  I agree that the exempt tour was stupid.  They needed to open up the fields, but the problem now is with open fields you'll have even more bowlers that won't find it worth it to go and bowl against the best on planet earth for $10k top prizes.  Sure you'll find a few suckers that want the experience.

 

I disagree with the talent being there...there's just no way bowling has declined as much as it has and retained a similar number of top tier talent.  Not saying there aren't great bowlers, but there are very few of them now compared to 20+ years ago.

 

I just think it's more than coincidence that in the same time USBC has declined as much as it has the PBA has declined too.  It's not the PBA's fault (they aren't helping themselves either) that USBC won't grow a spine and do what is necessary to save the sport.

If people didn't come and bowl a TQR for $200 against lesser competitors, where you only had to finish sometimes in the top 12 to be guaranteed a cashers check in the tournament than nobody is going to pay $500 to bowl against the whole entire PBA field for a chance at making $0 money.

 

Were people unable to understand that bowling for $200 against a lesser field gave you a better chance at making money? 

 

PBA 1986 is not coming back anytime soon, with fields of almost 300 bowlers each week.      300 people are going to travel around the country for $10,000.

 

The World Series of bowling has been loosing 50 entries a year since the first year it was started, and these are all "open" tournaments to PBA members.  There are almost 4,000 PBA members but you can't get 300 to show up for a tournament.

 

No money = nobody wants to bowl....and even if there was money I don't think many people would bowl.   The game is too complex anymore, and you need a rocket scientist degree, a ball rep and unlimited bowling balls to compete against those who have those same luxuries. 

 

People do not mind losing $$, but people don't like to just give $$$ away. 

 

When I was young, towns would pool money together to put local young guys on tour.  Bowling centers would sponsor their talented players on tour.  The proprietor would bend over backwards for somebody who might be able to put their small little bowling center or town on the map.   There was a sense of pride and accomplishment that everyone took part in to get their local "hero" out there against Roth, Holman and Anthony.     The whole soul of the game has been lost.   The proprietor doesn't care one bit, the bowling community doesn't care one bit.  

 

You can't even get a proprietor to oil the lanes for somebody to practice on.   There is no sense in pride or dreams of accomplishment at your local center.

 

The game is lost....and its not coming back. 

 

I'm reminded of a story from both Norm Duke and Del Ballard about how they scraped and clawed and came up with about $10,000 to go out on tour.  Leaving home not even old enough really to be men yet.   Leaving home with a suit case and an old dilapidated vehicle.    In search of a dream, and an opportunity to live out that dream. Bowling had a soul once, and a purpose.  It gave any rag tag young man a chance to give it his best shot.    $10,000 and a dream was all you needed.    There might be young people out there today that "dream" but there is nothing to dream about in bowling,  no journey,  nothing that teaches them about life, travel, good times and bowling.  Nothing to reach out for and accomplish.   

 

Bowling without question has lost its soul.  

 

 

Edited by Xx 12 X 300 xX on 4/19/2012 at 3:38 PM