Iceman thought he was FINISHED BOWLING!!

[MICHAEL]

My wife and me went to Pre bowl so we could watch the Denver/New England game today.... (Go New England), and I bowled a 163, 176... and at that point I set down to check my pulse!! I thought I might be having the big one!

It was Fresh oil, had not been used, and I was having a hard time getting a fricken Strike!!!! I told my wife well, This Is IT,,, my last day of bowling league!!!!!!!

I was putting good rev's on the ball, was hitting my FRICKEN MARK, but nothing! The balls were all in good shape, surface, used my most aggressive balls, the Freight train, (matte),, and my Virtual Gravity nano!

NOTHING!!! VERY WEAK GOING toward the pocket!! I was embarrassed,,, had my usual fan club of kids watching, thinking I was Santa bowling in the off season... each waiting for a Santa Clause Strike, which didn't happen but a couple times! The look on their faces, was like the kids that got Coal for Christmas!!

Well, just when I thought it might be time to go to the hospital, James, the local Pro Shop guy came in through the door to practice.

He said that all the lanes had a Sports Pattern called: ( The White Pattern)!!

God was I glad to HEAR THAT!!!

I went to the front desk and the manager was new, and didn't know that their was a difference between the house pattern and the sports patterns!

I told him we did not want to Pre Bowl on a fresh sports pattern for a house pattern league!!!!

Anyway, we did not have to use those scores, and will either pre bowl today/Sunday, or just carry our average!

We did bowl two more game on that White Pattern, and believe me all you guys with 220/230 averages, on sports leagues are TRUE BOWLING GODS!! It puts the SPORT BACK into the game of bowling! It gives you a NEW APPRECIATION of what the SPORT OF BOWLING COULD BE if they required different patterns each and every week!

It would give new Value to the 300, and 800 game! (Not to mention it would cut the numbers of award games down a WHOLE BUNCH!!) ((maybe then they would be GOLD, with a huge 3 carrot diamond in the center))

I now want to find a sports league this summer, REAL BAD!! I want to learn the HOW's of bowing like the Big Boys!!

Pro's make it look so easy!! And maybe it is if you have their skill, and knowledge! Knowledge, is Power!

iceman has a LONG WAYS to go in regards to Sports Patterns! But nothing in life worth having is EASY!!

BRING IT ON, Says ICEMAN!!!! LOL

[bowl1820]

My wife and me went to Pre bowl so we could watch the Denver/New England game today.... (Go New England), and I bowled a 163, 176... and at that point I set down to check my pulse!! I thought I might be having the big one!

It was Fresh oil, had not been used, and I was having a hard time getting a fricken Strike!!!! I told my wife well, This Is IT,,, my last day of bowling league!!!!!!!.................

I went to the front desk and the manager was new, and didn't know that their was a difference between the house pattern and the sports patterns!

I told him we did not want to Pre Bowl on a fresh sports pattern for a house pattern league!!!!

Anyway, we did not have to use those scores, and will either pre bowl today/Sunday, or just carry our average!


Lets see you pre-bowled didn't like the scores. So your not going to use them and get to rebowl them on a easier pattern or just use your blind instead.

Any league I've been on or see that would never be allowed , if that story got out there would be a Riot!!!

There would be so many accusations of cheating you'd never hear the end of it.

And I'd agree that wouldn't be right, if you started a pre bowl session those low scores should stand and you take your lumps .


As for the White Pattern, I believe it's not technically a Sport pattern because it has around a 4 or 5:1 ratio (unless its been changed) . But it does have a higher volume than most THS and more oil out near the gutter and longer (41').

I suspect you didn't have enough surface on your ball.

[vdubtx]

The usbc white pattern is just a modified house pattern. The tournament in Tulsa I bowled in was on this pattern and is the pattern I got my last 300 game on.

For prebowl and post bowl you have to use whatever the center puts down. They cannot guarantee any pattern or even oil on the lanes. You are at the mercy of the center as they are accommodating you on an off day or time from your normal league.

I agree with Bowl1820, never had a league where you were able to bowl pre or post and not submit scores that you bowled.

[MICHAEL]

I was NOT TOLD that all the lanes had FRESH Sports Pattern OIL! If I would simply been told, the whole situation would NOT HAVE HAPPENED! I know the difference between sports and easy house oil!

I think the manager should have told me!! I ask him why he didn't mention it was sports oil, and he said: "Whats the difference"!

Hey HAS this ever happened to someone else???

I was not trying to cheat, I WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE OIL was SPORTS OIL!!

I would not have stopped bowling due to low scores on a house pattern!! And If the league thinks what happen to me is just to bad, then so be it! I WOUNDER HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS, a person comes to pre bowl, and is not told that the oil is sports pattern!

ICEMAN does not cheat,,,, as far as I am concerned, I could give a rats ask, about the whole thing!! Its VERY low on my lifes priorities!!!

I will talk to the league president, and explain what happened, If he thinks I should take a lose for the 4 games, then so be it! LIFE WILL GO ON! I am VERY UPSET with the management for not TELLING ME!!

Remember, I just ask if it was FAIR me not being told that I would be pre bowling on sports oil!

IS THAT TO MUCH TO ASK? :mad:

[MICHAEL]

The usbc white pattern is just a modified house pattern. The tournament in Tulsa I bowled in was on this pattern and is the pattern I got my last 300 game on.

For prebowl and post bowl you have to use whatever the center puts down. They cannot guarantee any pattern or even oil on the lanes. You are at the mercy of the center as they are accommodating you on an off day or time from your normal league.

I agree with Bowl1820, never had a league where you were able to bowl pre or post and not submit scores that you bowled.


OK,,, I am new to bowling and I can see I have a lot to learn! This was a learning experience. I am calling the AMF today and dropping out of the Big 22 league. End of discussion... One thing I will never be a part of is cheating in any way SHAPE or FORM!

[bowl1820]

I was NOT TOLD that all the lanes had FRESH Sports Pattern OIL!

I think the manager should have told me!! I ask him why he didn't mention it was sports oil, and he said: "Whats the difference"!

Hey HAS this ever happened to someone else???

I was not trying to cheat, I WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE OIL was SPORTS OIL!!



Did you ask before you started? They aren't required to tell you whats out there. Now a sharp counter man might give you a heads up if they knew.

But Like vdubtx said
"For prebowl and post bowl you have to use whatever the center puts down. They cannot guarantee any pattern or even oil on the lanes. You are at the mercy of the center as they are accommodating you on an off day or time from your normal league. "

I didn't think you were cheating, just saying if someone heard that story look out.

[bowl1820]

Now for a tip

Unless it's busy when you come in to prebowl/post bowl and are limited to just those games .

Come in a little early, Bowl a practice game or two to get warmed up and get a read on the lanes before you do the actual for score games.

[MICHAEL]

Did you ask before you started? They aren't required to tell you whats out there. Now a sharp counter man might give you a heads up if they knew.

But Like vdubtx said
"For prebowl and post bowl you have to use whatever the center puts down. They cannot guarantee any pattern or even oil on the lanes. You are at the mercy of the center as they are accommodating you on an off day or time from your normal league. "

I didn't think you were cheating, just saying if someone heard that story look out.

I DON'T Cheat!! Yes, I did ask the mgr, if he had any fresh oil! HE SAID YES 17 and 18 had not been bowled on!
This is the manager that said to me after the fact, that he didn't know there was a difference... My wife was standing there when he said it!

I understand, that you take what's given on PRE BOWL,,, I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETLY!! But this goes into another area completely. If your the manager of a bowling lane, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE difference between a House pattern, and Sports!

This is the first time I have ever had to Pre-Bowl, and what a FRICKEN learning experience!!!!!

I know the questions to ask in the future NOW!! YES worn out house oil,,,, not knowing the condition of burned up oil is one thing. But not telling a pre bowler that the lanes are fresh, or even used sports oil should be a given!!

This has upset me VERY MUCH, and being honest, AND UPSET WITH WHAT HAPPENED, the best thing I can do is
apologize, and drop out! I will still be bowling on 3 other leagues, but this one has a BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH!!

[bowl1820]

This has upset me VERY MUCH, and being honest, AND UPSET WITH WHAT HAPPENED, the best thing I can do is
apologize, and drop out! I will still be bowling on 3 other leagues, but this one has a BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH!!

No reason to drop out! If you finished the set just use those scores, if not just do whatever they tell you. Probably they'll say just take the blind and be done with it.. Live and learn.

[circlecity]

I agree that you should have been told about the sports shot if you were pre-bowling and not just open bowling. In your 10 minutes of warm up you should have figured this out pretty quick that it wasn't your THS shot. But why QUIT a league because of your crappy scores on a hard shot? It isn't your leagues fault

[vdubtx]

ICEMAN, no reason to quit just because if a tough day on the lanes. We all have those tough days and power through them. They will make you a better bowler.

[MICHAEL]

ICEMAN, no reason to quit just because if a tough day on the lanes. We all have those tough days and power through them. They will make you a better bowler.



I agree that you should have been told about the sports shot if you were pre-bowling and not just open bowling. In your 10 minutes of warm up you should have figured this out pretty quick that it wasn't your THS shot. But why QUIT a league because of your crappy scores on a hard shot? It isn't your leagues fault

We only threw a few balls in warm up, and yes it was CRAZY to me then!! Hitting mark and not making it back to the pocket! But I have never even heard of SPORTS PATTERNS being laid down at THIS BOWLING LANE! They don't even have ONE SPORTS LEAGUE at this establishment!

So I had no idea to even imagine that it was a White Pattern!! It was a combination of many things! I think what upsets me the most is that I almost did something that is unethical!!

This is my first Pre Bowling experience, and I know you don't quit just because your not happy with your scores! I get it, you TAKE WHAT YOU GET, this usually means burnt up house shots.

I like the manager that doesn't know much about bowling, who worked restaurants in the past with no experience in the bowling area! He is a great guy, he apologized to me and my wife for not knowing that there was a difference between house and sports patterns.

I thought it was ME in the warm ups,,,, Even My wife was having problems, but KNOWING this establishment does not have Sports Leagues, ,, ,, Well it never even crossed my mind to ask if the OIL that he said was unused was SPORTS... GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

I feel so bad about this whole situation, that tonight, when we bowl the Sunday Evening league, I am going to have them take me off this league!

((( I CAN grantee this WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN))) I now know what to ASK, before, even if an inexperienced manager, (who is a great guy IMHA), doesn't know squat about oil!

I thank you all for your commits, this was ONE HUGE STUPID situation, that has scared me for life!! It was a huge life lesson on pre-bowling under weird circumstances.

Crappy scores on a tough shot is not what upsets me! LOL,,, its the fact that I was not told it was a fresh, or even used Sports shot! I ask for the freshest oil out there,,, he game it to me, but HE DID NOT KNOW the difference between Sports and house,,, as I said, he appoligied for not knowing the difference,, (HE IS A NICE GUY!!)!

I really thought ABOUT ENDING MY BOWLING league at that point,,, (((WE only bowled two games before I found out that it was SPORTS))) We then went to the hospital where I got a blood transfusion!!

[tr33frog]

How often do the guys up front really know what pattern the guys are laying out. I know way back when I worked at a bowling ally, they guys in back never told the people at the counter what they were doing. I don't know that I would ever even consider them as someone that would know for sure. Just because they don't have a sport league, doesn't mean some regular didn't ask for it. The only person that would know is the person that laid it out. Are you positive that they don't have a sports kid league? I can't find any league info online there. I know there are a couple of those here in the south.

I don't think I see why you would quit the league though.

[sprocket]

The 41' white pattern is basically what I was practicing on this morning. They had a senior tournament using about 2/3 of the house. I played around first arrow, pointing the ball and averaged 234 for the first 7 games including a 276 game. Then I had a couple of 180 games but still averaged over 220 for 12 games. There were three of us bowling and the other right hander didn't have much of a shot for the first six games. He ran out of $1's so we quit playing for $1 a game. I had won five out of the first six. Two games later he bowls 299! Now he had a good line and mine wasn't so good. I got lined up again for the last few games.

The seniors had some high scores. I believe it took about a 210 average to cash. Bowling on that much oil takes practice but it still comes down to getting lined up, finding some margin for error and hitting your target with the right speed and rotation. I used the same two balls I always use and just my normal release.

[sprocket]

Iceman, if you want to save yourself any controversy regarding your scores just take the two you bowled and bowl one more. I assume you are a pretty popular guy and there is no point in risking any bad feelings. Just explain what happened and that you quit after two games because you thought it wasn't fair but then after thinking about it decided the right thing to do was to just take the scores. In fact you may want to consider just taking a blind for the third game because if you turned around and bowled 268 for that third game, that might not look right either.

If you do that, you will look like you have a great deal of class (which you obviously have anyway) and in the big scheme of things those scores won't make much difference anyway.

[dnhoffman]

Sorry, I came as quick as I could but I got stuck in a different thread about how bowling was too easy. So, what's going in here? :p

[Aslan]

This is why people should just bowl when their leagues bowl instead of "deciding" to pre/post bowl because they don't feel like bowling on league night. But I digress.

As a imparitial observer…my non-binding on the arbitration regarding this dilemma is that Iceman keeps his scores.

Why? Well, because the white pattern is not "really" a sport pattern. If it was something strange like a Scorpion or Chamelion or USBC masters pattern…then okay. And I don't think it's "necessarily" the fault of the center because I've bowled in many different centers and it's very possible that the staff doesn't even know what the oil pattern is or how much oil was put down or when the lanes were even oiled last.

I've only pre/post bowled ONCE…and I didn't like it.

As to Iceman quitting/dropping out…thats just silly talk. If bowlers quit every time they bowled and did crappy…well, there wouldn't be any bowlers. I bowled Monday to practice and couldn't break 191. Couldn't figure ANYTHING out. I was all over the place…moving feet, moving targets…trying EVERYTHING to find a decent line to the pocket. Then Friday I bowled my best series that I've bowled in that league to date. Thats how things go.

And if a person gives up because they had a bad series on a tougher pattern…THAT is EXACTLY whats wrong with ego and bowling. THAT is why THS shots are so easy and so few people bowl in sport leagues and why so few try tournaments. For some reason, and I have no idea why it's SO rampant in bowling….it just seems that bowlers are unable to check their egos at the door.

[bowl1820]

I think everyone has miss read why ICEMAN is saying he wants to quit (which is load of malarky).

It's not because he had low scores, He's worried they'll think he was trying to cheat!

[tccstudent]

I think everyone has miss read why ICEMAN is saying he wants to quit (which is load of malarky).

It's not because he had low scores, He's worried they'll think he was trying to cheat!

I get that but I think the bowling alley has a responsibility in this to. Unless they are putting out sport shots all the time and all the bowlers know about it. Then they should of notified Iceman's team about the different conditions that were laid out there.
If the manager dont know the difference in patterns then he needs to learn if he is going to be an effective manager of a bowling alley. This is one of my pet peeves with AMF they bring in managers that dont know crap about bowling. If you want to hire these guys there needs to be a better training program to teach them about bowling and about the things that is going to be a concern for the people that come in on a regular basis.

I would have no problem with the scores not being used and allowing them to just use their blinds. When you normally walk in you dont expect a special pattern to be laid out. It is the managers fault for not knowing that there is a difference and not passing the information on to Icemans team.

[bowl1820]

When you normally walk in you dont expect a special pattern to be laid out.
That's true


It is the managers fault for not knowing that there is a difference and not passing the information on to Icemans team.
While it might be good PR for them to, the house isn't required to inform them.

In regards to pre/post bowling your suppose to bowl on the lanes you would have bowled on at the regular time. If those are unavailable you take whatever the house gives you and it is basically the same for conditions If those are unavailable you take whatever the house gives you.

Also a lot leagues require a league officer there to observe, though a lot don't. Some also require you get a printout of your games to include with the score sheet.

Also your supposed to request permission 48 hours in advance to pre/post bowl, also Individual unopposed bowling isn't allowed unless the league has a rule saying it is allowed

[tccstudent]

I am making an assumption here. Iceman stated that he was on fresh lanes. So I assume that he asked about the lanes. If my assumption is correct then they did have the responsibility to tell him.

[Aslan]

I think everyone has miss read why ICEMAN is saying he wants to quit (which is load of malarky).

It's not because he had low scores, He's worried they'll think he was trying to cheat!

I still don't get it. You're in a league…play.

"But they might think I cheated!!" They might think you're ugly. They might think you smell bad. They might think you're an "***hole".

Moral of story: Who cares what other people think? If I quit things every time someone thought I was an ***hole….I'd never be able to do anything. I couldn't even sit down…or breathe….because my very "existence" will sometime cause people to think I'm an "***hole".

And of all people…Ice would be the LAST guy I'd think was afraid of "what other people might think".

Did you cheat? No. You bowled, got a couple lower scores than you'd like….found out a possible reason…and now next time you learned to ask the center about the pattern BEFORE bowling on it. Lesson learned. GIJoe claims "knowing is half the battle"…so there's that.

[circlecity]

In regards to pre/post bowling your suppose to bowl on the lanes you would have bowled on at the regular time. If those are unavailable you take whatever the house gives you and it is basically the same for conditions If those are unavailable you take whatever the house gives you.

Also a lot leagues require a league officer there to observe, though a lot don't. Some also require you get a printout of your games to include with the score sheet.

Also your supposed to request permission 48 hours in advance to pre/post bowl, also Individual unopposed bowling isn't allowed unless the league has a rule saying it is allowed Aren't you suppose to get the same amount of warm ups as a league night? This Saturday I saw a team in my league pre-bowling and they were given the normal 10 minutes of practice.

[bowl1820]

Aren't you suppose to get the same amount of warm ups as a league night? This Saturday I saw a team in my league pre-bowling and they were given the normal 10 minutes of practice.

Well I've never seen anything specifically said, but any of the times I went as a a observer they got warmup if they wanted it.

[MICHAEL]

This has been ONE HUGE learning experience for Iceman!! I decided to apologize for my lack of knowledge in regards to this Weird Set of circumstances! THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGIN, I can assure you all! Wow!!!

I decided to drop out of that league, so that their could be NO Crying, of foul play! I am still on 3 leagues, and that's enough anyway.

Had a good day Sunday,,, we won all four, and on house oil, NOT THE WHITE Pattern! LOL

Hey,, I am more upset with MYSELF then anything else in regards to this whole fiasco!

Sunday, the same day as this Big 22, I had a 214, 257, and 225 for a almost 700 694.

I am bowling much better now that I went back to wearing sandals, instead of bowling shoes!

[Mudpuppy]

I still don't get it. You're in a league…play.

"But they might think I cheated!!" They might think you're ugly. They might think you smell bad. They might think you're an "***hole".

Moral of story: Who cares what other people think? If I quit things every time someone thought I was an ***hole….I'd never be able to do anything. I couldn't even sit down…or breathe….because my very "existence" will sometime cause people to think I'm an "***hole".

And of all people…Ice would be the LAST guy I'd think was afraid of "what other people might think".

Did you cheat? No. You bowled, got a couple lower scores than you'd like….found out a possible reason…and now next time you learned to ask the center about the pattern BEFORE bowling on it. Lesson learned. GIJoe claims "knowing is half the battle"…so there's that.

Good advice Aslan.

[Aslan]

The true value of this thread is that I've learned Iceman's weakness. Soon, when he and I are bowling on the PBA in a title match…I'll just accuse him of cheating and he'll quit. BAMM…win by default.

Iceman…did I "quit womanizing" after the first girl I asked out lied about having a boyfriend? Or for that matter…the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or….well…the point is…no…I did not. I persisted. And now…I'm creeping out an entire new age group and state of women…that would not have been creeped out had I given up so long ago.

So…think about that the next time you cry, throw a tantrum, and quit your league.

However…super jealous you're in 3 leagues. I'm trying to fund the one I'm in plus maybe join a 2nd in March…but it's not looking good.

[Mudpuppy]

The true value of this thread is that I've learned Iceman's weakness. Soon, when he and I are bowling on the PBA in a title match…I'll just accuse him of cheating and he'll quit. BAMM…win by default.

Iceman…did I "quit womanizing" after the first girl I asked out lied about having a boyfriend? Or for that matter…the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or….well…the point is…no…I did not. I persisted. And now…I'm creeping out an entire new age group and state of women…that would not have been creeped out had I given up so long ago.

So…think about that the next time you cry, throw a tantrum, and quit your league.

However…super jealous you're in 3 leagues. I'm trying to fund the one I'm in plus maybe join a 2nd in March…but it's not looking good.

I learned in sales a long time ago it is all about the numbers. So if you ask 99 girls and get slapped but the 100th says yes well that is a win and worth the 99 slaps.

[MICHAEL]

.

Iceman…did I "quit womanizing" after the first girl I asked out lied about having a boyfriend? Or for that matter…the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or….well…the point is…no…I did not. I persisted. And now…I'm creeping out an entire new age group and state of women…that would not have been creeped out had I given up so long ago.

http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg546/imagine686868/aslanscore_zps5712f33a.jpg (http://s1243.photobucket.com/user/imagine686868/media/aslanscore_zps5712f33a.jpg.html)

"Thanks for giving me a chance Aslan!" "Are we still on for tonight??" "I will never,, NEVER forget last night!"
"You were all strikes with me, my Lion Guy!" "If you can Spare the time, would like to see more of you!"

[Mudpuppy]

Iceman we should patent some bowling sandals - a 300 on each shoe to signify your 2 300 games.

[Aslan]

That picture looks like the fat dude from "Butterfly Effect". A solid movie...although quite depressing.

Sorry fat dude from Butterfly Effect. I only date old men who have white hair, are former iron workers, wear sandals, and have a very loose grasp on reality.

[tccstudent]

well now we have a type for you we can start narrowing down the search.

[MICHAEL]

well now we have a type for you we can start narrowing down the search.

I agree!! Thanks Aslan! T H A T,,, narrows it down to ANYTHING THAT is breathing, and can walk!! LOL I guess the lady with the sword on her/his chest is out of the question for a repeat date??

Aslan,,,, YOU DO HAVE ( COLD BLOOD)! Maybe the ball matches your demeanor! This just might be YOUR Big WEEK!