http://blogs.post-trib.com/gorches/2009/03/malott-digging-a-bigger-hole.htmlMalott digging a bigger hole
By Steve Gorcheson March 3, 2009 1:41 AM
Last week the points leader on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), Wes Malott, stuck his foot in his mouth by explaining his absence from the Geico Plastic Ball Championship with a diatribe about Tiger Woods not being asked to use wood clubs in golf and Roger Federer not being asked to use wood rackets in tennis.
Malott decided to insert his other foot in his mouth this week after winning the Etonic Marathon Open in Indianapolis. And you know what happens when both feet are firmly planted in your mouth -- you don't have a leg to stand on.
Malott was chided the previous week on the ESPN show "Pardon the Interruption" by co-host and Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon. During Sunday's telecast from Woodland Bowl in Indy, Malott defended himself by saying it wasn't the plastic ball format itself that led to his backing out, but the timing of the event. He said it was placed between the USBC Masters and the Etonic Marathon Open, which are the two longest, most grueling formats on tour this season.
He has a point, but how come Pete Weber made the TV finals in back-to-back weeks?
Didn't seem to affect him.
And how did Chris Barnes make the show the same two weeks?
Didn't seem to affect him.
I guess Malott just can't handle the strain on his poor little hands ... boo hoo hoo!!!
If it sounds like I'm being too harsh, too bad. Malott made himself look bad by not bowling the plastic ball event, no matter what his excuse, then made himself look worse with his challenge of Wilbon, who happens to be one of the best sportswriters in the country.
"If he wants to drill his high-performance ball, I'll be glad to drill a plastic ball and we can shoe it up anytime," Malott said in an interview during the telecast.
Wilbon didn't back down from Malott on Monday by saying he would bowl against Malott as long as he got 50-something pins since he's not a pro bowler. I don't need 50 pins, but we'll get to that later.
After clinching the title, Malott really came across as less than professional.
"Wilbon, maybe it's just the fact that I want to throw some of the best balls on the market," he said while sitting down after his 10th frame.
What? I can't believe the PBA would not at least sit Malott down and explain to him what being a professional is all about, let alone reprimand him in some way.
So many bowers across the country have expressed concern over the years about scores being too high due to ball manufacturers creating explosive orbs that rip pins and oil conditions apart like they were paper. That's why Sport Bowling is growing in popularity. That's why Sport youth tournaments are becoming popular, especially in northern Indiana with the Indiana Youth Scholarship Bowlers Tour and other programs. But Malott's last quote, coupled with his previous comments that he hasn't denied, basically show he doesn't care about the integrity of the sport and cares only about those wonderful proactive balls in his hands.
And yes, Malott does not deny most of his words. He said so on the PBA Forum under the screen name "Big Wes."
"Yes I said that about golf and tennis and I'm not going to deny it at all, I don't really agree with taking technology away from any sport. The part that they failed to quote me on was I didn't have a problem with the tournament; I just didn't like the placement of the tournament. They placed it between the Masters and the Marathon tournament, 2 very long and grueling tournaments. This is the main reason why I didn't bowl."
He went on to blame reporters for taking things out of context. This reporter isn't going to do that. I'm just taking the context I'm reading and deciding that Malott is not promoting the integrity of the sport.
And for the record, Malott added that he wanted to spend time with his two sons during the week off ... but that came after defending himself about missing the week for other reasons. He could have taken the Marathon event off instead. I would have more respect for him if he did that.
Anyway, so Wes wants to challenge Wilbon, who is a casual bowler who is busy as one of the best sportswriters in the country? I have a challenge for you Wes ... bowl me. I'll take you up on the same challenge ... you throw one of the purple plastic balls and I'll throw one of those "high-performance" balls that you love. Let's go, mano-a-mano. I may not be at Wilbon's level as a sportswriter (though I'm working on it), but I'm a better bowler.
Heck, we can do it for charity of enough people are willing to show up. Hey, maybe a local pro shop or bowling center will get behind it financially for charity. I'm willing to put myself out there on the line because I love the sport of bowling and believe in old-school principles. From your sound bytes, I believe you don't.
Put your money where your mouth is instead of caring so much about the balls that you get paid good money to throw.
