What bowling needs in a bad way

[Aslan]

Chris Barnes pants had the most personality at last weekends Viper...

I know I'm gonna get criticism for "arguing for arguing sake" here...given we're talking about men's pants. But I gotta say...if we really want to spice up pro bowling in terms of fashion...Ernie Schlegel in bell bottoms and some sort 1/2 pirate 1/2 wonder woman shirt circa 60s/70s...I mean, there's really no beating that. The first time I saw the video I thought to myself, "wait...the PBA LET him wear that??"

Ice...I just think if you push the envelope with PDW or Rash/Belmonte...yes, great entertainment...more viewers. But ultimately you get to a situation where PDW goes into the stands after a fan or Belmo and Rash just start throwing punches. And NO MATTER how much it increases the ratings...even if it's hypocritical on their part to some extent...the PBA will condemn it.

Don't get me wrong...I definitely felt for Randy Pederson in regards to that fan....that was a tough loss. And if I were Sean Rash...I'd have long ago decked Belmo and knocked that smug look off his face. But you're talking about a sport where the biggest penalties are usually handed out for taking too much time between shots...I can't see the old timers that remember the Salvinos and Dick Webers finding a fight between two young punks wearing the most god awful looking flourescent jerseys THAT exciting.

And these guys don't get paid enough to make it worthwhile. What did Rash make last year in winnings? $193,000? What, another $200,000 in sponsorships? When you're an NBA player making 4 million a year...and you get a $25,000 fine for punching a guy...thats about on par with your alley fining YOU $315. You'd be aggravated...but you could pay it and still afford your rent. If Rash gets fined $25,000 for punching Belmo...thats like you getting fined $3200. I'm sure Iceman has an extensive savings...but that would take a healthy bite out of your vacation plans with the lovely and talented Mrs. Iceman I bet, no? A pro bowler makes 1/10 what big time pros make...making fines a rather big deal. So we have to find a way to make the game exciting in a non-fineable way. And they've tried just about everything without much success. Maybe it's just a "fact" that rolling a ball at 10 pins isn't that exciting??

It is for ME!! But I don't know....others tend not to agree. : (

[circlecity]

Where is Happy Gilmore when you need him!!! I can totally see Chris Barnes playing Shooter McGavin.

[MICHAEL]

Ice...I just think if you push the envelope with PDW or Rash/Belmonte...yes, great entertainment...more viewers. But ultimately you get to a situation where PDW goes into the stands after a fan or Belmo and Rash just start throwing punches. And NO MATTER how much it increases the ratings...even if it's hypocritical on their part to some extent...the PBA will condemn it. If punches are thrown they would have to wear protective gloves! (Can't damage their hands)!

Just think of how many crossover fans we would get from professional Wrestling!!! I could be hired as a prop,,, Pete jumping over the rail, and taking on Iceman! People would love it,,, Iceman would love it,,,,
America would love it!

[dnhoffman]

The only time bowling has been on Sports Center in the last five years is when PDW went nuts with the infamous "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? I AM!!,!"

[zdawg]

The only time bowling has been on Sports Center in the last five years is when PDW went nuts with the infamous "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? I AM!!,!"

I remember when I was a kid I used to love watching clips of John McEnroe outbursts on TV, and while I was very into tennis at the time and McEnroe was past his prime at that point, he just mesmerized me more than say the young guys of that era (Agassi when he had long hair, Ivan Lendl, etc). I guess its like a train wreck, I was just waiting to see what would happen next - and I still thoroughly enjoyed the tennis, just the outbursts spiced it up a lot. And while I'm sure some of the old timers (and most tennis officials) did not appreciate his antics, there is no doubt that McEnroe on TV = RATINGS and new fans.

[dnhoffman]

I'm telling ya, let me and Iceman bowl in a TV final wearing wife beaters, loser gets pepper sprayed and tapered by the winner. Off the chart ratings...

[Hampe]

Maybe it's just a "fact" that rolling a ball at 10 pins isn't that exciting??

I think for most people it really just isn't. For us, yea, it's cool and fun to watch the pros....we can appreciate what they're doing. But for most people, watching a bunch of stiffs roll one strike after the other really just isn't that interesting.

Sure bowling USED to be a lot more popular on TV back in the day when there were like 10 channels to watch....but there just isn't enough going on in a bowling telecast to interest the typical short attention span of 2013.

[MICHAEL]

I think for most people it really just isn't. For us, yea, it's cool and fun to watch the pros....we can appreciate what they're doing. But for most people, watching a bunch of stiffs roll one strike after the other really just isn't that interesting.

Sure bowling USED to be a lot more popular on TV back in the day when there were like 10 channels to watch....but there just isn't enough going on in a bowling telecast to interest the typical short attention span of 2013.

GOOD point Hampe, now we have 10,000 channels, and a much shorter attention span, due to GMO's, and Diet Choke! LOL What is the solution? How do we save this GREAT GAME CALLED Boring, and get the public back into the sport!

Iceman knows there has to be a WAY!

How about putting one of those Cardash-en Chicks on the payroll,,, Have her all dressed up to kill, with a hot outfit bowling Brad Pitt,,, ?? I think if that happened you would see a 100 percent resurgence in bowling with all the copy-cat-bowlers that would appear after seeing how Cool it was that a hot chick with no talent likes the sport, and that its a Guy magnet!!
I think bowling needs to look at REALITY TV, and try to figure out how to get some higher octane in the sport. MAYBE going into the bowlers life style, and family,,,, before each event! Going to their homes and following them through a day with all the drama you see in ALL REALITY SHOWS,,,, yawwwwwwwwn,,,,, double Yawwwwwwn...

It would not win me over, for I love to watch the sport, for what it is!! But average joe public, doesn't, and does like stuff like Judge Judy, and the over 100 different REALITY SHOWS that in my opinion are a total waste of my watching skills!!!!

But what ever WORKS!! There has to be a solution,,, could it be REALITY BOWLING??

The ship is sinking, and we here at Bowlingboard need to save this wonderful sport that we all love!! AMF having gone bankrupt twice,,,, we must end this downward spiral!!!

[J Anderson]

GOOD point Hampe, now we have 10,000 channels, and a much shorter attention span, due to GMO's, and Diet Choke!

While I do think that GMOs are an ecological time bomb waiting to blow up in our faces, I don't think they have anything to do with attention span. The attention span shortening is due to almost constant exposure to electronic media in childhood.

About 20 years ago a psychologist who had a syndicated advice column, addressed the growing problem of ADD/HD. This was around the time that many children were starting to be diagnosed as hyper-active, and being put on Ritalin.He described how when he was 8 or 9, he displayed all the symptoms of what is now called Attention deficit disorder. Due to the fact that he was being raised by a single parent who didn't have the time or money to take him to a doctor to be diagnosed and treated, and the fact that there was no such disorder back in the 1950s, his mother had to deal with this on her own. Her solution was to get rid of the television. I don't remember if she got rid of it completely, or just hid it in the back of a closet for a year, but within a couple of months her son had no symptoms of ADD/HD.

[Aslan]

It's not just bowling. I already went through this back when I was a big paintball player.

Paintball got very big in about 2002-2008. It was fueled by scenario play for woodsball folks and sppedball/XBall for the younger generations. And like bowling, it was fueled by huge technological advances in equipment. Leagues started at high schools and colleges and it even started showing up on TV and in video games.

But right around 2008/2009...it started to drastically drop off in popularity. Much of it was the economy. A byproduct of guns that shoot faster and are more exciting is a huge increase in paint cost (which is easily the most expensive part about paintball). What used to be 1000 rounds for a full day of play...became 2000-10,000 rounds for a day of play. 2000 rounds was about $50-$80.

But in my opinion, the biggest factor was online gaming. Why pack up gear, drive an hour to a field, unpack gear, get your gear working correctly (paintball guns are rather unreliable), run around in mud and dirt and bushes, and spend $200-$250 when you can sit in your shorts on your couch with XBox and shoot even cooler looking more realistic guns and missles at players from all over the country/world? All for a $99 annual fee and a $65 investment in the game itself?

Bowling is similar. Sure the equipment and easier conditions have attracted bowlers...and bowling is a relatively inexpensive sport in comparison...but every league night I usually have a $18-$75 food/beverage/bar tab...plus $10-$24 each night to play. It adds up quick. And like Hampe said, there's just so much competition online/cable/video games for people's interests nowadays.

Thats why I'm a firm believer in alleys really going out of their way to attract young bowlers. Even if it costs them money...if just 3-6 of the kids develop into bowlers and end up playing there in leagues...it'll pay for itself in the long run. But you gotta entice them off the couch and away from the XBox. The future of bowling, no matter what Bowlmor says, is and always will be leagues. You lose leagues...casual bowlers just cannot be counted on to provide sustainable business. And the best way to get future league players...teach young players how to bowl well at an early age...not just throw the ball in the gutter with the lights off and music blaring. Thats my opinion anyways.