Bowlers Journal International - April 2008 - (Page 10)

BOWLITICALLYINCORRECT BY JIM DRESSEL ARLINGTON: DELIVERANCE OR FIASCO? Bowling's leaders are singing the praises of USBC's move to Texas. It could also turn out to be a calamity. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD FOLKS BEMOAN THE state of the sport the last two decades or so, then proclaim that the best way to fix it would be to blow up Bowling Headquarters in Greendale, Wis., and start all over again? In a way, that's what happened recently. True, there was no overt evidence of weapons of mass destruction, or their actual use. The United States Bowling Congress merely voted to move to Arlington, Texas, to share office space with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. But for those who once feared that, in a figurative sense, the fox was being invited to enter the henhouse a few years ago when USBC allowed proprietors on its Board, USBC now has decided to move its henhouse into the fox's den. You wonder how long this has been in the works. Especially recall the failed attempts to move Bowling HQ to Orlando as long ago as the late 1990s. But on that occasion, the thought of any move seemed to be spawned by the Bowling Congresses. As for this latest migration, there is suspicion — if not outright evidence — to believe that it was orchestrated. A strong arm by the bowling proprietors was blamed, their mushrooming clout having been apparent in the Power Polls conducted by this magazine the last two years when BPAA Executive Director John Berglund and USBC President Jeff Bojé, exPresident of the BPAA, were voted Number One. But so what? If this latest move proves to be a home run for bowling, who really cares if it was an out-of-the-park jack of Ruthian proportions, or an inside-the-park job with the bunt sign on because the "fix" was in? On the other hand, if it proves to be an unmitigated catastrophe and the nation's bowling centers go silent from unrolled bowling balls, then you've got to believe what will roll will be some heads even if only in a symbolic or historical sense. USBC's monetary incentive — apart from reasons commonly cited (lower taxes and cost of living, etc.) — seem M.I.A. Sale of the current Greendale buildings is expected to net about $7 million, unless the real estate market really tanks. That would cover USBC's half of an Arlington move. Ultimately, the move came about because bowling's membership leaders — be they USBC or BPAA — seem to believe a sufficient monetary return will accompany the new industry vision of "growing the sport." Yet that can't happen at least initially. USBC expects to lose 10 bowlers journal international APRIL 2008 more than 50% of its remaining 200-person workforce, so there has to be a drop-off in service. "That's a big issue," says USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger. "We've got to make sure we have the least service disruption possible, so we need to keep the key people." If they don't? You do the math. There won't be any "long hallways" between the two groups, either. USBC and BPAA staffers would be working in very close proximity to one another in regard to clerical functions common to both groups. "I want them to be talking to each other a lot," insists Dornberger. He doesn't seem worried by any potential conflict or undue influence between those responsible for the governance of the game and those concerned with the business, or vice versa. Should he be? The soaring platitudes of ABC and BPAA leaders about how great this move would be made it sound like the empty rhetoric of a political speech. What about the nuts and bolts? As it turned out, the biggest expectation of the cohabitation is a smoother and more efficient implementation of bowler- and membership-generating programs launched by either group. Jeff Bojé shared his unique view of that situation. As President of both associations, he had seen that each has had good programs but ones plagued by marginal execution. "We don’t have a problem developing sound programs," he says. "The problem has been implementing those programs properly. You could say they could do that in different locations. But having been involved with both groups — even with good intentions — it is a real struggle when you're not in the same building working on these programs together." He believes a joint Bowling HQ could address an even bigger problem that is holding bowling back. "There are many centers that are bad, evil operations which are run like dumps — and some of them even look good — which battle their local associations and which don't serve bowling well," says Bojé. And yes, he said evil. "They cause big problems and are not in the best interests of bowling. "I can also show you some local associations that are just as bad and should have their charters pulled." Which is where Bojé figures a shared HQ building comes in. "I am hoping these two groups, working cooperatively, can identify the areas of the U.S. where they can count on good execution from the proprietors and/or local associations. Then, when new programs are introduced, they can work through whichever entities are best able to implement them." The rationale sounds good, but good enough? After all, the bottom line is that BPAA put up $7 million for USBC to move to Texas. As one bowling insider said, "It can't just be a gift. If the 'policemen' of the game are being paid by the people who are there to be policed, that can't be a good thing." Conversely, how well have they been policing the sport? Which gets us back to the WMDs and "starting over." Yes, this is a major move of monumental proportions. As such, it has the potential to blow up in everybody's face. Or, giving the benefit of the doubt to the principal players, it also could be the best thing ever to happen to bowling. It sounds lame, but only time will tell which one this will be.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bowlers Journal International - April 2008

Bowlers Journal International - April 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Calendar Par Bowling The Coach Frame of Mind Inside Line The Truth Be Bowled Tournaments Pro Bowling PBA Bayer Classic PBA Pepsi Championship PBA Don Johnson Classic Regional Roundup Cover Story Up Close Senior Tour The USBC Move USBC Convention Pattern Play Anniversary Flashback Time Capsule Media Beat No Holes Barred Shop Talk Spotlight Marketplace Hall Marks Profit Prophet Advertisers' Index Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - April 2008

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