Today and tomorrow, ESPN will show the first installments of the GEICO Team Shootout. You can catch it today from 12-2 PM Eastern, and tomorrow from 4-6PM Eastern.
Of course, the infamous "Bottlegate 2" incident between Sean Rash and Jason Belmonte has been the talk of the bowling world here of late, but, from what I understand, the bowling action itself is exciting in its own right and well worth watching for its own sake. So, I hope you'll tune in and enjoy it.
Below is a short PBA promotional video of the event.
"For bowling fans who may think the GEICO Team Shootout was a so-called ‘silly season’ exhibition, I think they will find out otherwise. It was a fierce competition for the second annual Manufacturer's Cup, with significant money and a great deal of pride on the line. It featured 20 of the best players in the world bowling with one goal - to win - and that shines through in this series."
Many were wondering what would happen to Sean Rash for his profanity laced tirade (see video below) against Jason Belmonte at the GEICO Team Shootout recently. Even though the incident won't be shown on TV until the first weekend of July, video clips of it have made the Internet rounds, and there has been much discussion of it on this and other bowling blogs as well as bowling forums.
Belmonte even weighed in Monday with a very strong public statement denying that he deliberately sought to distract Rash with his water bottle and expressing profound disappointment with Rash and others for impugning his character over this. Yesterday, I posted my "blow by blow" breakdown of the incident and said what I thought about it.
Today, the PBA announced that they're fining Rash "an undisclosed amount for conduct unbecoming a professional." Your guess is as good as mine as to how much the fine will cost Mr. Rash. I suppose I could ask him at the all-day bowling clinic I plan to attend this Saturday at Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights, CA, but I think I'll pass on posing that particular question to him. Perhaps you'd like to mosey on over and ask him yourself.
I will say, as I did yesterday, that I don't think Rash should be punished too severely for his outburst, but he and the other players should be strongly discouraged from future very public behavior of this kind. As for Belmo, a lot of people think he should be fined too. But for what? I still think the "Bottlegate" incidents with Brad Angelo and Rash were accidental and that, in any case, there's no proof that they were intentional. However, I think Belmo needs to be officially warned, if he hasn't been already, to keep his hands off his water bottle at crucial times during his matches with opponents, and if he fails to do this, then the PBA would be justified in imposing sanctions.
What do you think? Do you think Rash should have been fined or otherwise disciplined? If so, how much, or how? What about Belmonte?
ESPN's telecasts of the PBA GEICO Team Shootout, complete with "Bottlegate 2," get underway this Saturday and Sunday, the 25th and 26th, and conclude next Saturday and Sunday. Unlike past summer team competition, this event is held in an upscale Chicago bowling center instead of outdoors at an amusement park, and it features several different kinds of singles, doubles, and team competition.
Word is, the competition is unusually intense and high quality for an off-season event, and, of course, Sean Rash calls Jason Belmonte a "bottle bitch" for making a crinkly noise with his water bottle. So, it sounds like it has something for everyone, and maybe, unfortunately, something that is NOT for everyone.
Interestingly enough, I'll probably be getting a bowling lesson from Sean Rash at a bowling clinic on Saturday while the first episode is being shown, so I'll have to watch the program on my DVR later.
Jerry Schneider has the lowdown on the competition and this weekend's telecasts here.
