My first (but not last) Bowl Expo

By Joan Taylor

I have returned from five days in Las Vegas for the annual Bowling Writers' Association of America (BWAA) convention, held in conjunction with Bowl Expo.

Since the merge of the ABC (American Bowling Congress) and WIBC (Women's International Bowling Congress) into United States Bowling Congress (USBC), the BWAA wasn't able to meet during the ABC (now USBC) Convention Week, as in past years. In those days, the writers could attend their meetings and dinners, and had the option of bowling in the national tournament, in addition to seeing the ABC Hall of Fame inductions. During the BWAA gathering in Baton Rouge in 2005, John Berglund, Executive Director of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) made the writers an offer they couldn't refuse. They could come to Bowl Expo and attend the seminars and the Salute to Bowling fundraiser for the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum. They could attend the general sessions and be included in press conferences with the keynote speakers, Rudy Giuliani and Ed McMahon. They could use the same hotel as the BPAA (the Las Vegas Hilton) for their meetings and vendor presentations for a comfortably-reduced room rate. The only negative aspects of the Hilton were that they allowed smoking by the elevators of the non-smoking floors, and charged hotel guests $20 per day for the use of the exercise facility. All in all, it was an amazing experience. After several months of labor pains, the BWAA agreed to merge with the National Women Bowling Writers Association (NWBW). There will still be many items to be worked out, but it only seemed natural in the wake of the ABC-WIBC merger. This will strengthen the membership of the BWAA by more than double. The two treasuries will merge, and the NWBW always had a great fundraising project every year. Perhaps that can continue with proceeds going to the Pezzano Scholarship Fund, or National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum. Periodically throughout the week, one could see the great bowlers of the past and present pro tours: Barry Asher, Billy Hardwick, Mike Aulby, Brian Voss, Tim Mack, Steve Jaros, Norm Duke, Chris Barnes (who recently signed a $1 million contract with Columbia), Jason Couch, Brad Angelo, Glenn "Mr. 900" Allison, Dick Ritger, Pete Weber, Dave Davis, Johnny Petraglia, and Parker Bohn III. They were present for the Columbia 300 dinner and at different booths at the Expo. If that weren't enough, hearing and then meeting Rudy Giuliani was a thrill. What does he have to do with bowling? Well, he did say that he bowled in high school in New York City.But his presentation was more motivational and was centered around his six qualities of leadership. Then there was Jerome Bettis' (Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl Champions Running Back) induction into the National Bowling Hall of Fame in the new Celebrity category. 'Way before thinking about playing football, Bettis loved to bowl. His mother, Gladys is a certified coach. Further discussions concerning possible bowling promotions with Bettis took place, if his contract with NBC sports doesn't take up all of his time in the fall. Steve Sanders, tournament promoter extraordinaire, held a large press conference to unveil his ambitious Generations Senior Bowling Tour. This will be a regular multi-stop tour, similar to, but not conflicting with the PBA Senior Tour. The events will be held in more than 30 states across America. Five major events will offer a first prize of $25,000 and "regular" tour events will award $13,500 for first. "The GBT will host over 9,000 entrants in its first year including some of the greatest professional bowlers of all-time such as Nelson Burton Jr., Dave Davis, Marshall Holman, David Ozio, Johnny Petraglia, Mark Roth, and Dave Soutar." Each tournament will offer two age divisions: 50-59, and 60-plus. What a great opportunity for fans to see their favorites of yesteryear!Quick Side Notes: Jason Couch said that working with the Blue Collar Tour guys (Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy) was a riot. "They're exactly the same when the camera isn't on them as you see them on TV." A $250,000 Bowling Shootout has been announced by three promoters who have put that money into an escrow account. This will start on the local level and has a modest entry fee. National finals will be held in four divisions in Las Vegas when the top 500 finalists bowl. ESPN will televise final rounds on May 20, 2007, when this becomes a bowling "skins game" with Chris Barnes and Pete Weber, and the top two surviving amateurs. Pictures of Rudy Giuliani and Jerome Bettis courtesy of Joan Taylor. The pictures were taken with an Olympus E500 camera.