For a record ...To Bowl Or not to Bowl

[Hot_pocket]

This was taken from a friend who posted this on FB.

"Had a debate with a fellow bowler & I'd like to share the topic. Here's a question:

Jeff Carter holds the USBC record for the highest single season avg(261.74). You go into week #36 with a 261.75 avg and your team is in 2nd place with a chance to win 1st.

Question is do you bowl that 36th week to try & help your team capture 1st and risk your avg dropping below the record OR tell your team to take your 251 a game blind score(753 series) and become the new record holder. This dude said he wants the record because that opportunity may never happen again & there are plenty of years ahead to win a league."

What would you guys do in this situation whats most important?

[J Anderson]

This was taken from a friend who posted this on FB.

"Had a debate with a fellow bowler & I'd like to share the topic. Here's a question:

Jeff Carter holds the USBC record for the highest single season avg(261.74). You go into week #36 with a 261.75 avg and your team is in 2nd place with a chance to win 1st.

Question is do you bowl that 36th week to try & help your team capture 1st and risk your avg dropping below the record OR tell your team to take your 251 a game blind score(753 series) and become the new record holder. This dude said he wants the record because that opportunity may never happen again & there are plenty of years ahead to win a league."

What would you guys do in this situation whats most important?

One: Records are made to be broken, and once they are nobody remembers the previous record holder. The only exceptions are people who break milestones, like Roger Bannister breaking the four minute mile, or Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier.

Two: How does your friend know that somebody in another league doesn't have an average of 261.76?

Three: I may say that I'm not competitive ( long running joke with my wife over every game from cards to Trivial Pursuit ), and I do have a good time bowling win or lose, but I'm there to try to win!

Four: I consider this completely different from what Billf is planning to do with the 24 hour thing, which is as much about testing his limits and raising money for a good cause, as it is getting his name in the record book.

[GeorgiaStroker]

When you make the commitment to bowl on a team then I think the team comes first. You should make every effort to show up every week and bowl your best. By sitting out you are saying to your team "Screw you guys, my individual achievements are more important than any of yours." If the guy decided to sit out he would have to find another team to win the league with next year. Just my opinion.

[Fatal]

The blind score of 251 isn't bad at all. I'm not sure what I would do. Most likely bowl, because thats what I do..

[RoccoRock]

All I know is if he's on my team, and doesn't bowl, and we lose by a few pins, then we have a problem. So I guess ask this question, is it worth losing friends, or your team over. If you bowl, and you miss it, at least you showed some balls, and loyalty to your team.

[striker12]

me i would show up to bowling with that high of a avg and focus on trying to get it higher everyweek yes it might go down but you are able to get it back up main thing if he just bowls his avg all the way till the last like 10weeks he can throw like 30 pins below his avg in each game and not lose avg but me i would bowl to see if im truely good enoph to keep that avg.

[chrono00]

if you sit to get the record, that's kind of the cowards way out of getting it in my opinion

[billf]

Screw the record, get the win. Better yet, get both and do so with integrity!

[Hot_pocket]

The blind score of 251 isn't bad at all. I'm not sure what I would do. Most likely bowl, because thats what I do..

alot of people brought up that point a 750 series isnt guaranteed but in his case it is ...his blind is a 750 series which is sick but i would bowl to because if i did it the whole season i dont think it would change

[Hot_pocket]

All I know is if he's on my team, and doesn't bowl, and we lose by a few pins, then we have a problem. So I guess ask this question, is it worth losing friends, or your team over. If you bowl, and you miss it, at least you showed some balls, and loyalty to your team.

so my question is if you lose by a few pins do you blame him? because he sat out and gave you a guaranteed 750 series with a blind of 251 a game. I understand the bowling for the team though.