Unfortunately, sponsors only "sponsor" to make money. And since most people see bowling on ESPN ONLY because ESPN needs to put some content on opposite NFL football and pro golf…they aren't gonna get sponsors to line up.Originally Posted by GoodGravy
And I think bowling is a unique sport in that equipment and the game has made it so much easier and higher scoring; that the average bowler sees a pro bowler bowl a 259 and thinks, "thats pretty good…but I can see 6 guys do that at my Thursday league…so…who cares?" Granted, yes…the pros are doing it on harder patterns…and people don't see the 10-40 qualifying matches, etc… But if you're a good golfer, would you rush to tune in and watch a tournament of golfers that are "sort of" better than you?? Or a football game of players from your local YMCA? If most league bowlers struggled to break 200…and there was a small group of 35 pros that were rolling 270-300…it would be a "sight to see". But I can see a 300 game nearly every Friday…which is way more exciting in person than it is to watch 2 guys on TV score 278-258.
Not to mention…they're playing at the "Odor Eaters Championship" with high end sponsors like Dexter and Denny's and Motel 6.
It is what it is. I used to love to play paintball…but most people found it unwatchable on TV. And I grew up loving ice hockey…but it's still about the 5th most popular sport in the US in terms of TV ratings. Yet NASCAR is about #2…which I for the life of me can't figure out. I got bored watching electric cars go in circles when I was 7…but man…I've known my fair share of folks that RELIGIOUSLY will tune in to Nascar.
I don't get the NASCAR thing AT ALL, driving in a circle for hours,,,, not going anywhere!! LOL I agree with you on that Aslan!! LOL I know there is something there, I just can't figure out WHAT IT IS!
there is a way to turn this around,,, we need to solve the dilemma! Put on your bowing Hat, and think!!
I don't think Bowlmor has the solution for OUR AREA! WE are league bowlers! Not cosmic, light show glitter bowlers!
We are meat and potatoes types!!
Don't walk on Thin Ice!
I think you gotta make the game harder, increase grass roots league play down to the youth level to build a better base, and you need a better format. The most popular sporting tournament is NCAA March Madness. Why? Because it has a huge field, including cindarella possibilities. So, just brainstorming here, but why not on January 8th, start a nationwide qualifying period. Take the 20,000 USBC sanctioned bowlers with the highest book averages and put them in a 3-month qualifying tournament. Those player bowl two weekends a month at designated centers in their area, then we trim the 20,000 to 5,000. March through June, again, two weekends per month, that number gets trimmed down to 2500. Then, June-August, that number gets trimmed down to 128. And in the last 3 months, those 128 bowlers are put in a single elimination tournament where the final 8 bowlers receive money. If you make the final 8 you get $50,000. 3rd and 4th you get another $100,000 each. 2nd place takes another $400,000. Winner takes a million.
In this format, you have the PDWs and Norm Dukes and Walter Rays…starting at the same level as Iceman and vdub…and they spend month after month getting to that field of 128. Then, seeding based on averages to that point…and off ya go! You got 6 games. TV could choose each week which qualifier they want to televise…probably the region where certain better known pros are.
But this format serves more than just drumming up more interest. It serves the USBC and bowling as well. Because suddenly being sanctioned means a GREAT deal more. Only sanctioned averages count. And each bowling center gets a max number of spots…so if your bowling center is cheating or has easy conditions…too bad…they can only send a certain max number. And it makes league play more competitive because you're not just playing for a trophy…the better bowlers are playing for a ticket to Reno and a shot at 1 million dollars.
Qualifying tournaments would be going on every weekend…but the field only has to participate in two qualifiers per month…so they can still have their regular jobs and family stuff. And there can always be other incentives…like side pots at each qualifier or even best poker hand or things like that. Bowling ball manufactures will still have the opportunity as well as bowling apparel and accessories manufactures to add additional prizes at whatever qualifier they choose. Sponsors will still be needed to televise the various levels.
But I think the advantage of that style format over what we have now is…you're gonna have more "stories". Like reality television has shown…audiences want "stories". They want to hear the story of Iceman and how he went from the field of 20,000 to be in the final 16. Or the pro shop owner from Mississippi…or the guy who just joined his first league the year before. And you'll still have the celebrities…Norm Dukes, PDWs, Walter Ray…you can bet the "pros" aren't gonna suddenly disappear and give rise to an all-amateur tour. But rather than the pros playing in 32 tournaments and making $200,000 or less…they're playing for a chance at a million plus. And they still can get most of their money from their sponsors.
I think that format beats seeing the same 15 bowlers every month…having to add "gimics" to get people to tune in.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
NASCAR : "you sure do like goin left..."I don't get the NASCAR thing AT ALL, driving in a circle for hours,,,, not going anywhere!! LOL I agree with you on that Aslan!! LOL I know there is something there, I just can't figure out WHAT IT IS!
there is a way to turn this around,,, we need to solve the dilemma! Put on your bowing Hat, and think!!
I don't think Bowlmor has the solution for OUR AREA! WE are league bowlers! Not cosmic, light show glitter bowlers!
We are meat and potatoes types!!
Yeah he seems pretty funny. I thought it was liek back yard wrestling he did?
It was an actual organization, although one that is relatively lower tier...nothing like the WWE but everybody has to start somewhere.
Despite the fact that the outcomes are predetermined and you're supposed to do everything you can to prevent injuries, if you've never taken a fall in one of those rings, trust me it hurts
I'm guessing he retired because he didn't see himself being able to make it up to the WWE level as it does take a major toll on the body.
Ohhh gotvha
You mean like the AMF 600.00 in league tournament that was done the last few years. While that tournament covers the bases you listed the problem is there is little to no media attention which does not help the sport grow. In order for the PBA to have better payout then we must grow the sport and make the sponsors more profitable from local bowlers. Once that is done then you can have more sizzle when it comes to the televised events.
I think to garner the attention, you need the pro bowlers to take part. It has to be a USBC sponsored and PBA sanctioned event which would bring in the big name guys to bowl against everyone else. If it's just a tourney of league bowlers…I mean we already have the USBC open, regional USBC tourneys, TNBA tournaments, and the ABT. And guess what? Nobody except me, Bunny, and about 122 other people in the US can tell you anything about 3 out of 4 of those. The pros have to show up…and thats gonna be hard. Bowling has always been a very small group of pros…and they tend not to like the idea of bowling against some schlub because bowling is a game that can go either way. Pete Weber and Randy Perterson bowled against some amateurs at the last Spring Nationals and I think they got their *** handed to them. Some of the guys on this website, even on USBC patterns, when they get hot…can take down a pro. Maybe not in a series…maybe not 6/10…but in a "game"…I could beat a pro in a "game". If I had the game of my life and they twisted their knee…but still, it could happen.
In Bag: (: .) Zen Master Solid; (: .) Perfect Mindset; (: .) Brunswick Endeavor; (: .) Outer Limits Pearl; (: .) Ebonite Maxim
USBC#: 8259-59071; USBC Sanctioned Average = 192; Lifetime Average = 172;
Ball Speed: 14.7mph; Rev. Rate: 240rpm || High Game (sanc.) = 300 (268); High Series (sanc.) = 725 (720); Clean Games: 198
Smokey this is not 'Nam', this is bowling. There are rules. Proud two-time winner of a bowlingboards.com weekly ball give-away!
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