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Jim King's Bowling World by Jim King

PBA Seniors no longer invisible
as reprinted from BTM Magazine

In March, 49 yr. old Tom Baker won the 2004 PBA World Championship. It is arguably the most valuable victory in PBA history, because it guaranteed that Tom would be exempt for the next five years on the regular tour.

This is a noteworthy championship, not entirely because of Tom’s age (There have been older champions), but because it assures that for the next five years, there will be a Senior PBA member out there on tour every week, competing with the kids. Regardless of his success, and I’m sure he will hold his own (he can flat out bowl), he will be visible to the bowling fans of America. Moreover, he will be old. Over fifty years old!

Now, you may ask why is this noteworthy? Well, it means that at least one Senior PBA member will no longer be invisible. Ever since the PBA was purchased by Chris Peters and company, it seems that the Seniors have been just that…invisible. Their TV shows were, for the most part, done away with. The number of tournaments have been reduced. The total prize money has been slashed, while the dues have not! Such a deal!

The PBA head office, I’m sure, is experiencing at least mild consternation at this latest development. The word is that the overriding rationale for this decline of the PBA Senior Tour is that the Seniors are no longer marketable. Mark Roth, Dave Soutar, Dave Davis, Bob Handley, Dale Eagle, Gary Dickinson, Bob Glass, Pete Couture, Steve Neff, George Pappas and company just were not marketable any more. And if Tom Baker hadn’t picked up a 7-pin to beat Mika in the title match, he wouldn’t have been marketable in a few months either. Well…Bullhockey!!!

These guys have always been and still are extrememely talented. That’s right, talented! What in the Sam Hill is more marketable than talent? Isn’t that what agents the world over spend a lot of time looking for…talent? Why? Because they want to market that talent and fulfill dreams and make all involved a lot of money.

This group of bowlers represent the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. More stars are coming. Ozio, Holman, etc. Their ability is still as awe-inspiring as it ever was. They still have dreams and the most dogged competitiveness you will see in any sport…and I mean any. No baseball player goes all out every play more than George Pappas. No ice skater or gymnast is more graceful than Gary Dickinson or Dave Davis. Linebackers? How about the intensity of Handley, Glass and Roth. Conditioning? Take a look at Dale Eagle. Durability? Who more than Soutar? Comeback ability? Pete Couture. Ability to repeat athletic movements? Neff and Ozio. And you know what? Each one is approachable, affable and is an ambassador for the sport we all love. You can’t say that about far too many modern athletes. The fact that the PBA chooses not to exploit these assets on television doesn’t diminish those skills. Its such a waste. Sad even. Golf has found a way to market their Senior members and their skills have lessened, I would suggest, much more than today’s top Senior bowlers.

The new PBA claims to be gaining market share and nearing profitability. I don’t think a concerted effort to market some of the greatest bowlers that ever lived could hurt the present agenda. The bonus is that it could, and I believe, would help the new PBA immensely. It would leave a more balanced impression of our sport on the American TV viewer and on millions of potential bowling fans. Bowling is one of the few lifetime sports that has a professional tour. It’s a shame that only one talented bowler over fifty will be earning a living wage next year.

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-- Jim King has long been an accomplished bowler and coach in the South Texas area. He was the youngest certified instructor in America at the age of twelve. Jim has run bowling clinics and given individual and group lessons to thousands of bowlers. He is a former PBA member and the author of 33 300s and 23 800s, including the highest series shot by a Senior, 867 in 1998. He is currently the tournament director for the South Central region of The Ebonite/SASBA Senior Tour. He most recently made news in San Antonio by winning the 1999 Iron Man Championship in runaway fashion. Jim writes for and serves as editor of Bowling This Month Magazine

To contact Jim, email to jking68@attglobal.net

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