First off let me start by saying anyone that knows me on here or that bowls with me knows I would be that last person in the world to whine or complain about anything when it comes to bowling, because to me noone controls anything in bowling except yourself. If I win $1000 or lose $1000 you will never hear me complaining about anything.
I have nothing but respect for the tournament directors that are around the area because theres no way I could deal with all of the complaining. I run a center as well as a pro shop so I know what you guys put up with at every event, however I lost all respect for John Parks yesterday and I told him to his face, but I would like to let all the area bowlers know what happened.
First off, he had 2 different flyers out with 2 different starting times, but whatever no big deal.
Get there the format which is below from his OWN post
"The format is 5 games of qualifying. Cut the field in half. The remaining bowlers will then bowl 3 games of matchplay. 30 bonus pins for each match won. Depending on entries we will then cut to the top 16 or 8 for single game elimination matches until we have 4 bowlers left. We will then have a top 4 stepladder finals to determine the champion. NOTE: After the first round pins do not carry over. 1st place 1000.00 based on 45 bowlers."
Now if I am in the wrong here someone please say so.
We are done the 1st game I shot 155 (yay) I asked John hey your are still cutting the field in half? He says yeah actually taking 14 outta 26 to make it it even. I asked do any pins carry over at all? He says no, I said good so I just wanna grind out and just get in for the top 14.
I barely make it and everyone comes up and draws a random lane for the match play round which is bowl 3 games with 30 pins bonus, I get lucky and win 1st 2 games, plus 104 i think, but keep in mind I was told pins don't carry over, so the last game, knowing I was in soft because the lanes were brutal, I start throwing different balls in the 3rd game trying to find something better than what I had, because im assuming because I was told pins won't carry over we will just draw random again. (This maybe my fault for not asking again but John did tell me pins don't carry over). Shoot 160 or 170 something, once again tryin different stuff.
Now all of the sudden he announces who is bowling where??? I asked how was this decided, and I quote "The total from the 3 games in round 2 determined seeding" WTF?
Where or when did you say that??? He then goes on to explain he thought that was the best way to determine it, I said well you might have wanted to tell people that.
Went to head to head elimination games, so im p*ssed because now after basically throwing away the last game and drew a guy that was getting a better look as the day went on instead of someone that was barely sneaking in, but once again that has nothing to do with my complaint. Win or lose im ok with it.
I lose but I was complaining before I lost, that has no impact on how I felt. I could have went on to win and still feel the same way I do about it.
Now heres another kicker, the < seed out of the 8 he says is guaranteed at least the 5th place check because he felt the leader deserved to at least cash. So I could have shot 299 and lost my match and he could have shot 99 and he'd be 5th LOL
This reminded me of a certain tourney director that ran tournaments for years in the area and changed the rules as the event went.
This will be the last time I ever bowl a John Parks event and will never promote any of his tournaments on this site again and I encourage any other tournament bowlers to do the same.
Once again I appreciate and respect all tournament directors, Walton, Baker, Mitchell, and all the guys from the Hagerstown-Chamberburg area. You guys do a fantastic job and deal with a bunch of headaches, I for one appreciate what you do.
Mike Leonard
(P.S. If you have an issue with what I am saying you know where to find me)
"Typical House Bowler"
Edited by Mike L on 3/5/2012 at 5:17 PM
Edited by Mike L on 3/5/2012 at 5:21 PM
