Love it. Hate it. Love it. Hate it.
Everywhere I went last week, whether on the lanes, in the paddock, or in the virtual world of the discussion forums, that was all I heard. For every person that embraced the plastic ball concept, another couldn’t wait for our sport to snap back into modern reality and kick retro back to the 70s where it belonged.
I could spend a whole lot of time sharing my personal pros and cons list pertaining to the GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, but I’m pretty sure that there’s nothing it contains you haven’t already heard or haven’t already thought of on your own. Most weeks I try to offer a different perspective through my writing, not just rehash what you’ve already heard in the news (hint: this usually makes for more attentive readers and far less eye-rolling). For that, I need to quickly borrow a short blurb from Jason’s TV Blog: “Well. That worked.”
What makes for great sport? If this were 20, 30, or 40 years ago, I would imagine most people may quickly answer, “physical contest,” “determination,” or perhaps “succeeding against all odds.” So maybe that last description is a little vague, but remember when everyone used to just love the underdog story (ahem, does Rocky ring a bell?)? In the fast-paced 21st century where HD, celebrity gossip, and live scoring rule, however, I believe the definitions have changed. Sure, there may be some overlap between then and now, but the focus has shifted. Debate and recognition is what makes for great sport these days, and love it or hate it, that’s what the Plastic Ball Championship managed to create this week in Denver.
I used to hate hearing about how bad publicity was better than no publicity. I’m starting to learn that the truth is that sometimes bad publicity is just one of many methods to get on someone’s radar (I never said I liked the fact or that it’s consistent with my personal value system, just that it works). Unlike poor first impressions, which can be permanent, negative publicity can be the spark that gets people to talk about you, or in this case, your sport. Bowling was knocked around on both Pardon The Interruption and Around The Horn this past week on ESPN. Does anyone remember the last time that happened? Put a checkmark in the recognition column and thank Woody Paige the next time you see him.
Now why do I think debate makes for great sport these days? Let’s start with the obvious: the two ESPN shows I just mentioned. Those, along with a multitude of viewer call-in programs, all have one purpose – to debate what is going on in the sports world. Debate-oriented programs are mainstream these days, and they serve to get the viewing public interested. “My team is better than your team,” “this guy will beat the snot out of this guy,” and “Tiger will, guaranteed, win every match 9 and 8 this week.” Bowling needs more debate. Real discussion, the kind that analyzes strengths and weaknesses of players and opponents (you know, the type of chatter that surrounds other, more popular sports?), not just the kind that assumes the laneman will fix the outcome for some particular player. We need more controversy, whether it is of the
Lincoln-Douglas or Jerry Springer variety. But I think we’re on the right track. No pun intended.
Another plus from this week is that I don’t have to elaborate on my ball choices and my strategies. It was all quite simple: I had three identical navy blue/purple bowling balls, two with big weight holes, and one without. One was shiny and two had surface. The best part about this week was seeing how many guys used towels to wipe off their balls. Modern reactive balls absorb oil at an alarming rate (if you run out of sponges while cleaning your house, consider that used ball as a desperate alternative), but plastic does not. The obvious reason for wiping off the ball is to get the oil off for a more consistent reaction on the lane, but I think the real, unpublicized reason is so that you could manage picking up an otherwise slippery plastic sphere off the ball return without dropping it.
I had a relatively mundane qualifying block on Thursday, shooting a pair of 180ish games, but having nothing over 250. Consistent, yes, but not enough to sneak into the cut. However, I did have enough maple moxy (for you, Randy) to make some kind of a charge in the late games in the night block, something I haven’t managed to do all year. Small victories…small victories. It was nice not to finish in the lower 40s to 50th place range, but something about cracking the 30s makes a player hungrier for more (I ended up 38th). I wanted to make the cut as much out of necessity for points as for simply bowling on Friday in the elimination matchplay. My physical game felt better and my mental outlook was far clearer than in past weeks. I think I can attribute a lot of that to having some time at home with my family. If I have learned anything out on Tour this year, it’s that you can’t underestimate the value of going home. Like I’ve said before (well, and Dorothy too), there’s no place like home. After Vegas I spent a couple of days at home recharging before flying to Denver, and then made a quick exit from Denver on Friday after missing the cut. Hopefully the Etonic Marathon Open will hold more promising results, but I feel confident that regardless, my performance will be much more up to par.
Now for the wrap-up…Andrew’s “first” of the week. Other than the tournament itself deserving a “special” (which can have varying definitions, depending on who you ask) place in the annals of PBA history, I have to award it to Jeff Carter for reaching a career milestone in a milestone tournament. Jeff has persevered and realized the PBA dream that all of us who haven’t won a title hope to achieve. As we move toward Indianapolis and the next stop in the PBA Extreme Swing, keep watching, reading, and debating what will happen next…remember you can write to
Andrew@andrewcainbowling.com or catch me right here next Wednesday. Thanks for reading!