Should There Be a USBC Open Senior Division?

Should the USBC Open Championships have a senior division? Roy Rasmus of Bay City, MI thinks so. Here's his letter to this month's Bowlers Journal International:

I have bowled in 33 ABC/USBC Open Tournaments, but at this point in my life, at age 62, I can no longer compete against the younger bowlers and the PBA card-carrying members who are allowed to bowl. The average or even better-than-average bowler has little chance. I can adjust to most conditions and I expect a tough shot, but how many bowlers can play inside the third arrow or deeper? Maybe it's time to break this tournament into age groups to give us seniors a chance.

Women's Bowling Alliance Tries to Revive Women's Professional Bowling

In case you didn't know it, and I didn't until today, there's a new organization called the Women's Bowling Alliance that is trying to step in for the defunct PWBA. Here is its mission statement on its Web home page:

Who are we? 


An Alliance of women who have a passion for bowling.


Since the demise of the Professional Women's Bowling Tour (PWBA) in 2003, no one has "stepped up" to bring back any tournaments but the Majors. It is up to us, the bowlers, to support and create our own destiny. 


Our mission is to raise money from personal donations and develop tournaments throughout the year for women bowlers. Our goal is to have 10,000 people donating $1 or more, per month. We can create 3 tournaments with $40,000 added money before any manufacturer sponsorship.


I wish them the very best with their endeavor to revive high-stakes competitive bowling for women in this part of the world. Please click here to help them do it.

Tom Clark Interview With Bowlers Journal

In the December, 2011 issue of Bowlers Journal International, Keith Hamilton interviews new PBA Commissioner Tom Clark, and here is what Clark has to say about his goals:

"I always wanted to be part of the PBA, but in that [collegiate] tournament, I remember bowling near Paul Fleming...He was so much better than me; I realized that I needed to concentrate on journalism...The constant goals [as PBA Commissioner] are to get as many people as possible interested in, respecting the ability of and following the greatest players in the world. We want great PBA players to be rich and famous. There is much involved with that, including TV deals, building the stature of events and making sure the best players are in the PBA. Other goals include improving the partnerships with our endemic and non-endemic sponsors to give maximum bang for the buck, and integrate sponsors in ways that are mutually beneficial. We also want to increase PBA membership by bringing younger players along and into the PBA, as well as to have continued increases in international participation and membership. But we always have the big goals in mind: The cover of Sports Illustrated, thousands more watching Xtra Frame, record-breaking ESPN ratings and prize funds for major events, increased sponsorships, and great partnerships with the industry."

Click here for Tom Clark's official PBA biography page.

Video--Preview of 2011 PBA World Championship