Guest Author - Gary King

One of the biggest mistakes ABC ever made, and now USBC is making is in the way they are regulating averages on Membership Cards. We have tried, time and time again, to let them know about this problem, and not only do many officials seem to look the other way, they continue to let the problem exist. The sad part is that in coming tournaments, there may be more and more bowlers who are disqualified because of the average SNAFU.

What is the SNAFU? On our current ABC cards, there is an average listed for our average last season. I bowled in three associations so I received the card with an average for a league in the association where I joined. That was in the Sigourney BA (Bowling Association in Iowa. That average on that card reads N/A (which I assume means not applicable. They have given me every reason why that average can be that way and actually does not need to be the average I had. In any case, it was determined by someone, somewhere that I had an average in the Sigourney Association of 193. So everyone told me that was the average I used in tournaments for this year.

They are wrong because you use the highest average you had in any league with more than 21 games last year. BUT, no one bothers to ask, when you sign up at a tournament, if you bowled in any other associations or to check to see if a person did and what their average was in any other association. I know of some bowlers who bowled in tournaments I bowled in who have higher averages than what was reported to tournament officials.

Last year, I also bowled in the Iowa City Bowling Association and Cedar Rapids Bowling Associations and I average higher in both of those associations than I did in the Sigourney Bowling Association. BUT NO ONE BOTHERS TO ASK! I average 200 in at least one league in the Cedar Rapids Assn. and 198 and 199 in the Iowa City Assn.

The bottom line is that it is no wonder we have people who sandbag. I have just let it go, year after year and as each year continues and bowling quality and integrity continues to decline, I keep thinking more and more of quitting. At one time I thought about possibly trying out for the Senior Tour, but after doing some checking and investigating some of the things going on, I decided to pass. Bowling is not the quality sport or does not have the kind of integrity golf does and never will until someone, somewhere gets off their duff and quits sweeping things under the rugs.

I conducted some unofficial surveys among open bowlers and many of them agreed with my feelings on numerous things: I have mentioned them on several occasions, here at Bella, at my Winning Strategy Site, and elsewhere, but to no avail. And the recent survey I took about what people think about the new USBC was 90% are against the idea. They all agreed that the problems that existed before will now be worse.

Can you imagine what will happen if YABA or young bowlers were to bowl in some of the leagues we do and experience the CRUDE and MISFIT behavior of many of the bowlers I bowl with. The finger at the 10-pin; the swearing; the naked women on cards, and only God knows what else. And then someone at USBC Headquarters has the gall to say bowling is getting better. HOGWASH! I average 200 as a Senior Bowler and I have had two 300 games and consider myself a decent bowler. I do not swear on the lanes, I treat people with respect, and I do not drink or play cards with naked women on them or bet.

We have the new USBC and they say bowling will and is improving. But when does it start and where. Many officials will look the other way when it comes to thinking they will lose money; many will not stand up to be counted when some things are pointed out to them. And officials will, as usual, tell you it is your problem in your leagues, rather than correct the problems.

As for me, I like to think that USBC stands for (U)You Sure Better Change to our way of thinking because we don't have much to say. The dues will probably go up, the continual barrage of chatter of "how we are improving" will continue, but the naked women on cards will also continue; the swearing will also continue; the finger at the 10-pin will also continue; and the right of higher average bowlers to have as many balls on the rack as they want with lower average bowlers allowed one ball on the rack will continue; the higher average bowlers will, if they want, pick up someone else's ball and use it at will......and they say bowling is improving.

I have one or two questions of the new USBC: When will it start improving and where will it start. AND will you ever start playing fair at tournaments and check it all out to fit in the sandbags? Or will we continue on our current trend to play the game the way SOMEONE wants who does not compete in the same arena we do! I challenge USBC to prove I am wrong!

Gary King, Bowling Host, Bella OnLine and USBC Bowling Member.