Professional Bowlers Association

Wow! That's one word you can use to not only describe the drama caught on tape during the Summer Series. It was also the word that immediately came to mind when I learned of another incident involving Jason Belmonte and his now infamous bottle of water.

The details of the incident involving Belmonte and Sean Rash have been discussed ad nauseum. The intent, and integrity, of Belmonte have come into question. So too have issues been raised by Rash's choice of words used in his reaction to the water bottle incident. Both have released press statements clarifying their involvement in the heated interaction and the airing of the incident on television last Sunday provided more insight into the stalement that now exists between the two players involved (Belmonte called Rash a "clown" while Rash said he would not stand for any future attempts at what he feels was gamesmanship/unsportsmanlike conduct).

While I'm not personally offended with Rash's use of profane language, I can surely understand why many were. You can't say those kind of words on television without expecting some kind of repercussions, and you don't want to shove those words down the throats of families who strive to keep their children from using or hearing this type of language. He did the right thing by issuing an apology for his words but not necessarily his actions.

Belmo's statement seemed as if he were very sincere about his bottle noise being more of a preshot routine than a tactic he would employ to gain an advantage over his competition. I don't believe in labeling him a "cheater" as a player for either his revolutionary game or how some may perceive his use of gamesmanship. Good or bad, these series of bottle incidents have only added to the intrigue that surrounds Jason Belmonte. The fact is no one will ever truly know the intent of his actions but him. Which in a way makes him all the more fascinating.

As discussed in my piece on gamesmanship and the PBA Tour, getting into an opponent's head is far from being a new fad. With these current events, the debate is if Belmonte manipulating his water bottle is a tactic of mental warfare or simply nervous energy that could be exerted in a less distracting manner...like squeezing on a rosin bag or on one of those goofy-looking stress balls.

Whatever the solution to the Bottlegate issue turns out to be (maybe we'll see Belmo using that sippy cup Tommy Jones handed him mid-interview?), it makes any future match involving Belmo (regardless of the opponent) something to watch. Especially if he and Sean are bowling one another!

The ball, you could say, is in Belmo's hands. Let's just hope for his sake he puts the bottle down while his opponents have the ball in their hands.