Greetings and Salutations! Welcome to this week’s edition of Striking Spotlight. Wow there has been a lot going on here at Striking Spotlight and hope you all are doing well. To start off I would like to announce the birth of our new son Masen Connor Hirsch Born 10/12/12 6.2lbs 19.5lbs and Mommy and Baby are doing very well.
This week we will hear from players from the US and abroad on how much harder the WTBA tournaments are now that the PBA players are bowling more of them? Does it make the tournaments harder and is there a feeling that the PBA guys will show up for an easy win? This sparked my interests as I have seen tournament clubs try to force out the higher average bowlers and make it tougher for them to bowl team and doubles events. I have bowled a tournament where the team cap was at 800 (200 Avg), so I wanted to see what the touring players had to say on the issue. Here is what a few players had to say about this:
“Bowling is a world sport, the PBA needs to expand and along with it, it’s players. I’ve been traveling since I was 16 and I’ve seen firsthand how fans from around the world react when watching PBA players bowl on their lanes, THEY LOVE IT. It is however more expense, time away from home and pressure on the players to travel, but it is what must be done if bowling is to grow” Jason Belmonte
“For me there is two ways to look at it. Off course it makes it tougher to make any money and that’s already tuff. But it also makes the sport more interesting and I like to compete against the best. Overall I think it’s a good thing for bowling!” Martin Larsen
“In order to have something to bowl in, the US players don’t have much of a choice! As far as being good or bad, I don’t see anything wrong with it. We’re one big happy world, right!?” Jodi Woessner
“My understanding the better international players are happy to finally have PBA players coming to bowl. It helps everyone get better, even the PBA guys because bowling in other parts of the world is much different than here in the United States. Plus it shows other countries that they are competitive and helps bring attention n potential new sponsors for bowling around the world. It’s a win/win situation for everyone.” Chris Schlmer Storm/Roto Grip Tour Rep
“THE WORLD TOUR NEEDS ALL THE BEST PLAYERS to bowl…Otherwise what’s the point?” Sammy Ventura
“The two times I have been overseas I have been nothing but welcomed by both the other players as well as the tournament organizers and I would like to add the fans as well. It’s awesome to go half way around the world and have people know who you are and want pictures and autographs!!!!” Tom Hess
“I think with the amount of tournaments available for the top players to bowl in now a day’s how can anyone fault them for going wherever they need to go to try and make a living!!, and if that means going over-sea’s then that’s what they will do .I think for the most part the bowlers in the other countries don’t mind if the top players come over and bowl, I think it only adds credibility to the entire event anyway and who wouldn’t like that?” Eric Forkel
“Well as for me I am one of those players coming into other peoples countries, but as for what we have to bowl anymore this is the only way that we can compete as much as we want to. Its a world thing now, unless we get back to the 20-25 week season like the PBA use to have then I do not see anything slowing down with world travel to bowl tournaments.” Dan Macelland
“I have been travelling and bowling the European Tour for around 6 years now. We always receive a great reception and are very well looked after from each host country/federation. The bowlers and fans in these countries are huge fans, so when the PBA bowlers have ventured over and started to tour the world, they have always been treated very well and it has been great for the bowling environment worldwide.” Dominic Barrett
I would love to hear what YOU think on the issue & please comment below. Hope you have enjoyed this week’s Striking Spotlight and until next time….. Get out there and GO BOWLING!!!!!
Brian Hirsch grew up in Bronx, New York. After moving to Arizona and seeing bowling on TV there was something about it that brought him to the lanes that next Saturday and to this day the PASSION for the sport is still there!!!! Off the lanes you’ll find Brian cheering on the New York Yankees at every chance he can! When not working, Brian can be found Coaching, working at Bowling with LEVERAGE Pro Shops and spreading the word about Bowling, Brian is a proud member of the MOTIV, Turbo and High 5 Gear Staff. Please follow me on Twitter @Onefrombills
