From: aki <aki@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
Subject: Re: Re:
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A771FFA45B032631@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
X-Xxdate: Thu, 7 Jan 93 20:41:24 GMT
Organization: The World Bank
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d16
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 20:44:18 GMT

In article <1993Jan07.140740.34776@watson.ibm.com> Andy Cookingham,
cookinga@vnet.ibm.com writes:
>Should we start a thread about how the ABC should regulate things better?
>

Sure, but I think the problem ABC has with lane conditions is that
all houses are in it for profit, plain and simple.  If a house gets
labeled as a "tough" house, alot of "weekend" or "once a week" bowlers
would either quit or move to another house.  They just can't afford
to make the lanes too difficult to bowl in.  Most houses are (in their
own words)  "just getting by".  Anything that might tip the boat
just to keep the serious bowler around will lose money.  It's obvious
that any house has a much higher percentage of 160-180 male and
140-160 female bowlers than professional or ProAm style bowlers.
If the house can "inflate" the averages by setting up the lane conditions
to keep the average bowlers averages higher than it would be in other
houses, it almost guarentees that bowler will come back which equates
to more $$$ for the house.  Most houses (IMHO) could care less about
the Probowler, that's not where the money's at, it's the average joe they
want coming back..it's sheer numbers that they make the money on.

Look at how much flak the ABC got, not only from the houses but also
from the bowlers when they instituted the 3 unit oil!  Can you imagine
how much gruff they would get if they required all of the houses to
establish a standard that would make it harder to bowl 200's or even
a 300?  Sheesh, most of the premodonnas would bitch and moan and
probably just quit bowling.  Then they would bad mouth bowling and
prevent any new bowlers from taking up the sport.  Personally, I would
hate to be in ABC's shoes, they've got a tough job in an industry that
has been on continual decline.  On one hand they want the game to be
more competitive, but on the other hand they want more people
interested in the sport.  Very few other sports have such varying
conditions as a bowling lane can have, and yet still be within the
established guidelines.

Yes, I've seen alot of true 200 plus bowlers frustrated with the
current lane conditions, especially when they seen a "straight" bowler
bowling with a ten year old plastic ball average 200 and they are
only averaging 180 or 190 but what can we do?  If we get rid of
the "true" 160-170 average bowlers, we have just killed the sport
and just about every house in the world would go bankrupt.

Oh well...off my soapbox...just my 2 cents worth...



*************************************************************
Aki Damme                    "How come the best ball
The World Bank                for me is ALWAYS the
Washington D.C.               one I didn't bring, or the
PBA #2294                     one I don't own?"
*************************************************************
All usual disclaimers about my employer and my wife apply 
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