If you honestly think they are playing favorites, then I have a bridge to sell you in NY...cheap.
The answer I think is multi-faceted:
1) As Dave Beres said (Congratulations on a great performance by you and your teammates sir) partly due to the introduction of last year''s winning team, logistics make it easier to give them a pair next the aisle, so they don''t walk down 40 lanes while practice is starting, or delay practice while they do it when time is already compromised.
2) All the teams/individuals being streamed would be concentrated on the same sets of lanes so that the camera and set-up wouldn''t have to be moved all over the place or have multiple set-ups all over the stadium.
3) Bleacher seats are concentrated in section of the Stadium. These teams draw the biggest crowds, so it makes sense they are concentrated where the bleachers are to accomodate the larger crowd.
Now let me add, I am not naive enought to think that if Riggs, or Mr. Beres team asked for something to happen that was within the rules of the tournament, that they wouldn''t get first preference over other teams. Fair or not, maybe, maybe not.
As far as the 11:30 D/S shift, I think it comes down to 2 things, how quickly you get your money in, and the dates you select. There are groups with as many as 60 teams all coming together. If you select a day that includes a group like this, you may be bumped to the 11:30 D/S squad so that they can bowl together for D/S, or have the most of them they can do that, regardless of when you got your money in. Also, a lot of teams pay for next year''s entry fee, at this year''s tournament. So even if you sent you final installment into the USBC early, depending on how many paid on site, you could get bumped to the 11:30 D/S squad. The only favoritism they may be is that they would want to avoid having the more watched teams on the 11:30 squad as to assure the most people the opportunity to watch them. Is that favoritism to the team, or to the spectators??? I say more for the spectators then anything.
Just my .02.
--------------------
Jorge300
Edited on 4/16/2010 12:21 PM
