A Natural in Nashville -- New Lyrics for an Old Sport Bowling Song By Dick Evans

Brandi Chastain of soccer fame delivered a winning keynote speech to kick off a United States Bowling Congress national convention that was big on harmony and rejuvenating interest in bowling as a sport...especially among elite women bowlers.

Chastain's soccer/bowling talk resulted in a standing ovation of about 1,500 delegates and officials at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel...and she did it without even having to take off her jersey, a maneuver that was seen around the world after she made the winning shot in the 1999 World Cup championship match against China.

She kept the crowd – including this Doubting Thomas – captivated with her words of wisdom and a smile that would stretch from the 7 pin to the 10 pin.

The two biggest announcements made during the news heavy convention illustrated how the entire bowling industry is pulling together to pull bowling back to its old lofty perch and to elevate professional women's bowling as a major sport.

Fred Schreyer, CEO and commissioner of the Professional Bowlers Association, was greeted with loud applause after announcing that the PBA was going to crown four female champions on its upcoming fall national TV tour.

Later Roger Dalkin, CEO of the 2.5 million member USBC, announced a Women's U.S. Open would be held for the first time in four years.

Details were sketchy but one thing was clear...the USBC and the PBA and Bowling Proprietors Association of America are enjoying unprecedented harmony that will only help grow the sport.

There will be two parts of the U.S. Women's Open, which will be held Aug. 13-18 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

First will be the regular tournament format, which requires a $250 entry fee. Then there will be a special side event that will cost $750 if a talented woman bowler wants to try to earn one of the 16 spots under a new PBA mini-tour format that will be carried by ESPN.

But just to get to this point, the BPAA had to agree to give up rights to the U.S. Open name.

And on top of all that, was the election of Jeff Boje, a Florida bowling proprietor, as president of the USBC Board of Directors. Thirty years ago the membership organizations and BPAA were bitter enemies, today they are close associates and that bids well for the future of the sport.

"Jeff's election is not only historic, but more importantly will serve as a catalyst for unprecedented levels of cooperation between bowlers and proprietors, which shall only serve to grow the great sport of bowling," said John Berglund, executive director of the BPAA.

And Dalkin added, "Jeff was elected because he's a passionate bowler who cares about the sport, not because of his previous positions (including former president of the BPAA). The past offices he has held only better prepare him to lead the USBC through these times of change."

Schreyer realizes that "the PBA does not exist if bowling isn't taken seriously as a sport."

The Berglund/Boje/Dalkin/Schreyer/Schumaker quintet sounds like a winner in the bowling industry's quest for recognition as a sport that demands ability, dedication and competitive venues.

A new PBA summer TV series should help bowling get more recognition as a sport. Schreyer said that the PBA will hand pick 16 super players to participate in 15 half-hour Sunday bowling shows on ESPN starting June 24. The setting will be unique – on outdoor lanes installed at the Six Flags Theme Park in St. Louis.

The delegates accepted one big amendment proposal – record scores bowled under pre-league conditions will not be honored – but rejected another – requiring associations like in Daytona Beach to merge by March 15, 2009. Another big announcement coming out of the convention was about a $1 million donation made by bowlers to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of cancer campaign. Bowlers also dug deep in their pockets last year and raised almost that much for active service men and women plus veterans by giving to VA hospitals and sending phone cards and portable bowling lanes to Iraq and Afghanistan.

There were so many different facets to the convention that it is difficult to know where to start so here goes my impressions:

USBC HALL OF FAME: Hats off to the USBC for a much improved program, from an awesome cocktail party to a colorful introductions ceremony. But the bowlers all sounded unanimous in wanting the ceremonies on bowling lanes, where they achieved their fame. A later convention date next year will make it possible for PBA players to attend. This year the PBA elite were competing in the Tournament of Champions at the same time the USBC Convention was in session.

EBONITE TRIP: Ebonite International, which is located in nearby Hopkinsville, Ky., sent buses to pick up members of the Bowling Writers Association of America for a tour of the factory. Everyone was impressed with the facility and message.

CONVENTION PROGRAM BOOK: This was a masterful job of including everything from how to get from the airport to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and also included concise maps of the meeting rooms, which were a superb touch.

GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL: This was a giant and baffling facility that was not friendly to people who had trouble walking long distances.

Three delegates reported they lost their shadows and couldn't find them because they couldn't find the hotel's lost-and-found department.

Most delegates thought the hotel was overpriced, one telling me that they spent more than $1,000 during a five-night stay despite leaving the hotel to find some cheaper food. However they brought a spouse and that adds to the food cost, especially if you ordered one of those $40 steaks.

DECORATIONS: The USBC did a masterful job of decorating the area where everyone registered for the convention. And thankfully the banners honored bowling stars. This was a refreshing touch after the bowling industry has tried over the years to make bowling spokesmen out of gymnastic stars, champion boxers, football heroes and several NBA hot shots with little to no success.

PBA: For the first time in memory, the PBA really made an impact on the USBC delegates through Fred Schreyer's announcements and his presence at the convention.

There was a great deal of conversation about who would be named PBA Player of the Year. Surprisingly, Pete Weber seemed to be the sentimental favorite. That feeling probably stems from the fact that Pete never has been named Player of the Year plus the love and admiration everyone has for Pete's father – the late Dick Weber who never failed to light up a former ABC Convention with his presence.

NWBW DINNER: I was not there because of a family gathering, but from all reports the final dinner of National Women Bowling Writers association was a big success from a nostalgia standpoint. The NWBW members and Bowling Writers Association of America have merged and the combined associations will meet in a joint BWAA convention June 24 during the BPAA Convention in Las Vegas.

Hopefully the old BWAA guard will be able to help NWBW members learn new bowling techniques and the former NWBW members can help BWAA run more efficient meetings.

BOWLING PROPRIETORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: Joe Schumacker, president of the BPAA, and his running mates were seen at almost every turn in the Gaylord Opryland – and that was no small feat since there were so many turns in this 3,000-plus room hotel complex that was very complexing.

Unfortunately, Jeff Boje had to fly home early because of illness and was not present when elected president of the USBC Board of Directors.

ELECTIONS: With the election of Jeff Boje as president and Darlene Baker as vice-president, the USBC Board of Directors has two outstanding new leaders. Five also were elected to the USBC Board of Directors – pro bowling great Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Sherisa Nailor, James Peters, Michael Italia and Jim Sturm, who won his position when slated rival Jack Moran withdrew.

The only segment of the bowling industry that appears to be lacking on the Board is a veteran bowling writer like Chuck Pezzano or Steve James.

DELEGATES: With more than 1,300 present, there were more than 1,300 stories to be told.

But let me tell you about Linda Kirkpatrick and Diane Boudreau, president and manager, respectively, of the Green Mountain USBC Association in Vermont. I happened to ride the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel and got to know a little about them.

They were at the convention to learn and have fun and they succeeded in both. They attended seminars and the convention during business hours and then went on a river-boat ride and toured some of the downtown music highlights at nights.

During the WIBC Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Linda and four sisters and their mother made a Miami TV station's sportscast for their 'family that bowls together stays together' team trek to South Florida.

The USBC's new emphasis is focusing on bowling as a sport, which is great. But bowling also is a great recreational vehicle for people who just want to have fun, knock down a few pins and make lot of friends.

Kirkpatrick and Boudreau know how to do that.

Email address: Evans121@aol.com