| This is a week why I
don't bother to spend much time looking at the applied patterns
on the wall. Each week a graph of the pattern is posted on the
wall in the locker room. If you were to look at the posted
pattern and watch balls go down the lane you would think it was a
mistake. There shows to be very little oil on the outside but
your ball tells you differently. There shows to be more than
enough oil in the front and middle part of the lane but with
each round there seems to be less and less. You can tell the
pattern is short but where is all the friction that should be
down lane?
For those of you that have never experienced PBA National
tour conditions, I don't expect you to understand how much
different the game is at this level. Recognition, versatility
and adaptability is becoming more and more of a priority. It
takes me a while to adjust my eyes when I watch balls go down
the lanes when I leave the tour environment. When I watch ball
reaction in most environments I see the ball easily push in
parts of the lane that the pattern shows heavier volumes. But on
tour, balls just don't push that easily. A grabby release, a
misaligned arm-swing, or any other mistake that allows the ball
to get inside of the pivot point is impossible to overcome.
Getting the ball to clear the 20 to 30 foot range the right way
is crucial in a bowlers development on tour.
We are in the 13th week on tour and things are becoming more
and more intense. The point list is getting a lot more
attention. At this point in the season everybody becomes a
little more sensitive and that sensitivity increases based on
their position on the points list. Critics are everywhere.
Opinions and facts are easily confused.
I am aware that many of my opinions are judgmental and may
sound critical. At this time of the year I would like to let
everybody who reads this understand how much respect I have for
the players, the PBA, and the fans. I am in a position that
requires the ability to make quick decisions based on
experience, knowledge and yes opinions. It is my job to offer my
opinions so others can make their own choices. At the same time
others are also responsible for offering their own opinions
based on their experience and knowledge. I want everybody to
understand the amount of respect I have for their position and
opinions.
To the players: I admire and respect your skills. I am not
sure everybody understands what it means to be one of the best
in the world. A player can practice all day everyday, he can
work out and prepare his mind and body for the season. He can
use all the coaching aides available to become a repetitive
machine. He can study everything there is about the lane
conditions. He can study all there is about ball reaction and
reaction theories. But when it is time to shoe up and challenge
others, the only thing that matters is matching up. There are
those that don't work near as hard as others. There are those
that don't look as fundamentally sound. When we get to this
point in the season it becomes clearer which group of bowlers
are matching up. Why do some match up while others do not?
That is my job that is why you hear my opinions but it is the
players job to make the decisions. I can only offer advise. To
the PBA: There is no other organization in the industry that
deserves the amount of respect you deserve towards the
development of our sport. It is a large task to undertake. The
decisions you make on how our sport should be showcased and grow
are based on the opinions and experiences of those you choose to
listen to. The wide range of opinions you are subject to come in
many different forms. I hear the complaints, suggestions and
presentations and wonder how you are able to sort through the
opinions. I have to assume it is based on experience, knowledge
and your own opinions. I admire your ability to make bold and
quick decisions with the willingness to adapt as necessary. Why
is it such a difficult task to grow the number one participant
sport in the world? The invisible aspects of our sport
are subject to experiences and opinions of everybody. As long as
the most important aspects of our sport remain invisible,
opinions will be based on limited experience and knowledge. It
is my job to help clear up the invisible aspects. I try and
paint verbal pictures of those challenges, these verbal pictures
are artistic opinions. I can only offer advise and adapt to the
real decision makers. To the fans: The purpose of this web
site is to connect the reality of the sport with perceptions.
Without a visual difference in the levels of our sport I attempt
to provide a verbal or written expression of the challenges.
Perceptions can only be based on experiences. I hope I am able
to express many of these experiences through this web site. It
is not all glamour and glory. There are emotions involved, there
are feelings to deal with. I have them, the players have them,
the PBA staff has them and it is important that you the fans
have them. Why do I offer my opinions? It is my job and
responsibility to the sport to offer my experience, knowledge
and opinions. Right or wrong. But I don't ever want to forget
that I am not the only one with the responsibility of having
opinions and making decisions and to those I want you to know I
respect you as I hope you respect me.
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