Spares & Strikes

By Roger Marcotte

September 10, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Steven, as we discussed earlier, I was saddened that you could not find a Sport League in Austin. I will keep you posted on my adventures on the lanes here in Tucson. You keep me posted on your adventures in Georgetown. If you are bowling with some folks from Austin, mention my name, I lived in Austin for a few years, and was active in the Austin bowling scene, I may know some of the folks you are bowling with. Well good luck with the Cheetah, remember straight up 3 board, and chase it inside as the lanes breakdown. I will be in touch. Roger Marcotte (aka)Doctor Doom

By Roger Marcotte

September 19, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Well Mr. King, I promised to keep you informed about the Sport Bowling scene in Tucson Arizona. There are at present 3 Sport leagues in town. The one I bowl in, is a six game doubles format, with an optional singles format built in, and you move one pair right after each game. The lane transition, happens fast, and often, so you need to pay attention to that fact. Last night on the Viper, I almost accomplished one of my goals for this year, which was to shoot a Sport Pattern 300 game, I shot a 299, stoned a ten pin in the 12th. How are you doing on the Cheetah?? Keep on rolling, talk at you later.

By Kay McMurtray

September 23, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

As far as, “Sport Bowling, Dead or Alive,” nevertheless, I believe that area bowlers should not be supporting an out-of-town association and trying to make it justifiable by saying it’s a challenge for them either because Waco has bad lanes or does not support a sport’s shot. I have been bowling for quite some time and the lanes in Waco have always been challenging to me. Also,if you can adjust to them, you should be able to bowl on any lane or shot put out. It’s like koppleburg 74 said, you make adjustments and get away from all the technology. Start remembering how you were taught to bowl. If you can’t adjust, there is not a ball or shot out there to your advantage. And, if a bowler is serious enough to be traveling great lengths in order to find a sports shot, I’m pretty sure the PBA still has one and all it takes is an application or bowling in a PBA tournament. Good luck! Now, the reason that we can’t have scratch leagues in Waco is a very lengthy one but here goes….during the late 70’s, early 80’s, Westview had its Men’s Monday Night Majors and Lake Air had its Men’s Wednesday Night Classics. In order to become a bowler on one or both of these “elite” leagues, bowlers had to maintain a 170 average. Bowlers had to work on the skills and techniques of bowling to be on a competitive edge. If you could not consistently maintain a 170 average, you were not considered a top dog! And, maintaining a 170 average was not easy before reactive balls and synthetic lanes. There wasn’t any swinging it, you actually had to hit a target. The line had been drawn and it was a line for bowlers of distinction. It separated the average bowlers from the skilled bowler. It gave the average bowler the initiative to be a better bowler to become one of the top dogs! There were about two bowlers in Waco that could even carry a 200 average back then and luck was not a factor! Here’s your answer….then in the late 80’s, early 90’s, the line for bowlers of distinction was erased by lowering averages of these elite leagues to a 150. Since then, it has strictly been handicap leagues and will continue to be the same until another line is drawn. I would like to see it happen. That’s how excellent, competitive bowlers are born, wanting to be a top dog and working their way up to it! Charlie McMurtray

By Steven King

October 1, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

I see no need for a blog post on this, so I will just add a comment. Most that visit and post on this blog know me. I have found a small minority that disagrees with my decision to bowl and be a member of an additional association. Let’s use some simple logic. In order for a logic problem to work it has to be true both ways. That means if a bowler from another association comes from DFW or Austin and wants to bowl in Waco, for whatever reason, we tell that person “No, go bowl in your own association”. I can tell you that will not happen. So, that logic is flawed and makes the logic problem false. I do bowl in Waco, and more importantly I work for our bowlers in Waco. I believe that I represent Waco very well, as a diplomat and my bowling scores,(from the challenging conditions in Waco.) I sit down with every bowler that is our opposition and let them know who I am, from Waco, and invite each of them to come bowl with us. If just one team or one person came to Waco, that’s a blessing. I let these people know they will be welcome, just as I have been welcomed in Georgetown. Maybe it’s our geography that give some a narrow view of bowling only in your own back yard. I know in more populated areas around the country it is common for bowlers to be in multiple local associations. Do I have reasons for bowling out of town— yes! Can I justify that action— you bet! Bowling on a sport shot is a valid reason, if it were not, then USBC would not offer separate awards for sport bowling. Will I earn one? At present time, not in Waco. My goal is to improve my bowling using tournament conditions without the expense of entry fee. Most of my fellow Waco bowlers, who are at the top of the average list, got your experience by going out of town—- yes?

By Mallory Sharp

December 31, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Seriously? Not to be rude to my elders or anything, but Im not quite following the reverse logic? The original comment did not state that other cities would not allow you to bowl there, just simply stated why are you going out of your way to find an amateur travel league with a sport shot, when you can just bowl in waco and be fine. Because we all know the variations weve had in with waco’s oil patterns, and if you can adjust to that, then you can adjust anywhere. Granite it may be a little tougher, but theres nothing stopping you adjusting other than maybe the simple head up your butt situation! The previous comment also does not state that you should only bowl in waco, just simply stated that if you think you are ready for sport shot why not just go ahead and apply for PBA? And also how are you going to say that it’s our geography that narrowed the above persons view on bowling? Last time I checked the above person attended many national tournaments and amatuer pba tournaments, so how is that narrow??

Also why would you state ” who are at the top of the average list”? All bowlers started somewhere whether they have traveled out of town or not, probably got their experience from practice and/or coaching advise from either better bowlers or simply fellow league members. I even remember when you first started. So no I did not get my experience from going out of town. Yes I did bowl in travel leagues in youth, yes I have attended many tournaments out of town, including one nationals trip to Reno. But that’s not what made me the bowler I am or that I can be. So I thank Brian rhinehart, Blake Padgett, and David Harger for many long saturdays just making me practice over and over and over again. I also thank Charlie Mcmurtray, Batman, Burchfield, and even sometimes my Dad for giving me that extra advice when I just couldnt seem to adjust! And the rest is thanks to myself for game in and game out of practice. I wouldnt classify myself as an excellent bowler at this point in time, but I know that I can be any day that I want to give up the time!

By Kay McMurtray

January 8, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Hi, Mallory! Kay Mc here. Ok, here’s a non-bowler’s two cents on this sport’s shot, traveling league, whatever you what to call it topic. Having thought about both sides, I don’t think the heat is over these Waco bowlers supporting out-of-town associations or leagues. I believe it was the timing that these bowlers chose. A bowler’s decision should be made considering the importance of “the right timing in accomplishing the right actions.” And, choosing to bowl in another association’s league on the same night that their association has its only men’s league was very distasteful; especially when our Waco Centers are struggling for bowlers. Also, geography, you have got to be kidding! It’s the more skilled and competitive bowler’s dedication and putting what is important to them, first. I’m no mind reader but I’m pretty sure their thought process is, “I’m bowling in Waco, Texas with the rest of the guys on Wednesday nights.” It’s their “backyard” barbecue kind of thing! There isn’t any thing to understand and a narrow view, I don’t think so! I know for sure that Charlie McMurtray doesn’t have a narrow view of only bowling in his own backyard. I have seen him bowl in many backyards. Fertilizing a few and in turn, getting some fertilizer thrown on him. So, please don’t go using that narrow view stuff. Yes, there are some extremely good bowlers in Waco and I would think these particular bowlers would want to be bowling amongst them on Wednesday night. I commend any bowler on wanting to improve their game, I myself am a bench warmer. I really believe all of this heat is because of the night that these bowlers chose and not the type of league, association, etc.