Professional Bowlers Association

Rodney Dangerfield made an entire career out of getting “no respect”.
 
Based on feedback I constantly receive from the PBA Message Board, PBA on Facebook, PBA on Twitter, at the bottom of the escalator at South Point, in the men’s room at Carolier Lanes, in my e-mail, through phone conversations and on my voicemail, the number one single complaint most PBA members and fans want fixed is clearly:
 
“That’s the story of my life, bowlers don’t get no respect, I don’t get no respect at all.”
 
My thought is this: If bowlers do not respect bowlers, how can anyone else respect bowlers?
 
For every tournament, league, competition and television show, the conversations bog down to the same inevitable list of complaints.  Try to distinguish the following comments and tell me if they are coming from your local league, city tournament or the highest level of competition on the PBA Tour:
 
“The format was a circus sideshow, what ball was he/she throwing?”
 
“Why would I want to go and pay to watch a carry contest?”
 
“The lane surface favors a certain type of player.”
 
“Too much friction.”
 
“It was boring, lanes were too tough.”
 
“I would be just as good as him/her, if I had a coach and unlimited, free bowling balls.”
 
“The scoring pace was ridiculous, they must have put a wall shot out, the scores were too high.”
 
“The entire game is based on equipment selection; power, skill and accuracy don’t matter as much as 1-2-5-10-20-50 years ago.”
 
Bowlers that win are generally talented individuals, no matter what the level of competition.  There are always a few breaks, off hits and a bit of good fortune to every title along the way.  Yet after each and every tournament, out come the excuses and yes, LACK OF RESPECT, by the very audience that demands respect from everyone else.
 
There is a lack of respect for the greatest bowlers in the world.  It comes from bowlers themselves.  Yet, that voice demands respect from everyone else.
 
I see a game that has evolved.  Talent still reigns supreme.  Now you must also be an expert on lane conditions, surface-breakdown, ball selection, coverstock-surface-core and a dozen other factors working simultaneously.  A solid mental game is a must or your game is a bust.  Physical conditioning has never been more a part of the sport of bowling.
 
All of those factors working together present a compelling backdrop for world competition at the highest level on the PBA Tour.  Now toss in a tight time frame with limited opportunities to earn your keep as even more talented players from around the world jump onto the scene to ramp up the competition level even further.
 
Youth, power, skill, accuracy, finesse and conditioning combine to produce champions; a few wily vets outwit the ravages of time -- sounds like many other sports that are getting the respect we all want.
 
“I tell you, I just won a bowling tournament on ESPN against the greatest bowlers in the world, I don’t get any respect all.  No respect.”