My thoughts all along Steve, here is an exert from my recent 'Whats the Score Article'
Where has the rivalry and emotion gone? I remember bowling as a junior and playing for 5c a game between friends, it wasn’t even about the money it was about making every game count for something. I noticed when I grew up that the higher the stakes the higher the emotion and passion.
The good old days where Steve Lovell’s hip thrust was something feared by most opponents, Tom Kury’s stare could make even the toughest opponents into jelly. Back in the day there was emotion, passion and excitement. Top bowlers were enemies on the lanes, best friends off the lanes. It was a dream I always had, one day I’d be the one showing emotion and being feared, I loved it!
These days, walk into the final of a national adult tournament and you’ll be hard pressed to see any bowlers show any emotion on the lanes. Why? The formats haven’t changed, what has changed over the last two decades? Let’s look it......
Maybe it’s the money, competing for $3000 for first place in 1988 was huge, when the usual weekly income was around $250 winning that sort of money was significant. Imagine bowling for $10,000 instead of $2000, would you be a little more hungry for the win? I know I would. I think you would see more emotion as that sort of money is significant and can make an immediate impact on 98% of people’s lives.
If bowling prize funds would have kept up with inflation we would be competing for $10K every month........
I guess now instead of talking about the past we should be focused on what we can do now to better the sport. I think Tony from the Bowling Show is a tremendous start, let's hope he has created a snow ball here which only continues to getter bigger and better.
G