A Modest Proposal for Next Year's Dick Weber PBA Playoffs

I've posted several entries on the televised Dick Weber PBA Playoffs that concluded last Sunday. Much of what I've had to say since Sunday has not been as complimentary as I would have liked it to be.

I criticized Dick Allen for acting like...well...a dick. I blasted the blaring "horns from hell" that marred what might otherwise have been good about the telecast. I voiced objections about the formats of the qualifying and final rounds. And I shared comments and criticisms from other people who watched Sunday.

About.com's Bowling Guide Jef Goodger has posted an excellent column (PBA Playoffs a Great Idea, But Could Be More Meaningful) that, among other things, offers suggestions about how the PBA might improve the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs to make them a better season-ending playoff event. Although I recommend that you read the entire column, here is the crux of his advice:

"Take the top 16 point leaders from the season and put them in the finals. This way, it's a true playoff...Give them all a payday and let the fans see the world's best go against the world's best for a few weeks to determine the ultimate PBA Playoffs champion."

What do you think of Mr. Goodger's suggestion?

Bowling Quote of the Day--Is it Dick or Ritchie Allen?

"What is Allen's name? He used to bowl as Ritchie Allen, but recently he said he wants to be called Dick Allen. We oblige, and he wears a shirt with "Richie Allen" on the back."

--Jef Goodger, About.com Bowling Guide

When Are Bowlers Too Competitive and Too Nice?

Jef Goodger, the bowling writer for About.com, recently posted an excellent article titled "Barnes, Belmonte Show What Bowling Can Be." Referring to the final match of last Sunday's PBA telecast, he writes: "Was it the best bowling match ever? Definitely not. But yesterday's final match-play contest between Chris Barnes and Jason Belmonte was one of the most entertaining I've seen in a long time." I agree. The final scores weren't close, but the road to those scores was paved with abundant excitement.

Jef goes on to write about how there's been a lot of talk lately about sportsmanship or the lack thereof in bowling and other sports, and how he likes to see good sportsmanship amongst the bowlers, but he also likes to see bowlers who really want to win and who effectively balance good sportsmanship with competitiveness in a way that commands our attention and fuels our excitement. He concludes by saying:

"To clarify, I'm a proponent of sportsmanship. I don't think bowlers need to be at the point of taunting each other on the lanes, as is what happens in most more popular sports like football, hockey and basketball, but that doesn't mean a bowler should have to hide his emotions. You can be competitive and a gentleman at the same time. Yesterday, we saw that out of Barnes and Belmonte. I'd like to see more of it out of more people."

Again, I agree. But how far can competitiveness go before it becomes unsportsmanlike, how far can sportsmanship go before it becomes monotonously if not sickeningly sweet and nice, and how can we tell the difference? What's more, does achieving a wholesome balance between competitiveness and sportsmanship make one the best bowler he can be, or does someone need to be more competitive than nice to be the best bowler possible?

You can read Jef Goodger's entire article here.

Bowling Quote of the Day--Overblown Bottlegate

"I don't believe Belmonte intended to get into Angelo's head, and I understand why Angelo was annoyed. Moreover, I don't care. So a water bottle popped and a guy got annoyed? Bad break? Yes. Worth the PBA using this tiny incident to try to promote their show? I don't think so."

--Jef Goodger