6
– MAY 2013
Bowling's First-Ever U.S. Open "Battle Of
The Sexes" Event To Make Sports History
Game Will Pit Bowling's U.S. Open Male and Female Champions Against One Another for the
Ultimate Championship Title at the 2013 Bowling's U.S. Open
COLUMBUS, Ohio - In an unprecedented moment for the U.S. Open brand, a first-ever "Battle of
the Sexes" U.S. Open exhibition contest will take place during the finals at this year's competition.
Announced today by the Bowling Proprietors'
Association of America (BPAA), following the completion of the men's and women's tournaments
at the 2013 Bowling's U.S. Open, the male and female champions will compete in a historic contest
to crown the ultimate Open winner.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN immediately following the finals of Bowling's U.S.
Open, which will air at 12:00pm EDT on Saturday, July 27 in Columbus, OH. This groundbreaking
match also represents the first time that a U.S. Open brand will put on a "Battle of the Sexes" event,
presented by Brunswick Bowling & Billiards.
"This event marks a milestone moment for bowling and professional sports. Taking a page from
the legendary tennis contest between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, bowling is now having its
own 'Battle of the Sexes' on the greatest stage possible - a live national TV broadcast on ESPN from
bowling's pre-eminent event, the U.S. Open," said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA.
"With the best male and female bowlers from across the world participating in this year's Open, this
competition will pit the absolute best of the best against each other in an electrifying and unprece-
dented finals match."
The Bowling's U.S. Open will kick off on July 20 at three host centers - Wayne Webb's Columbus
Bowl, Columbus Western Bowl and Holiday Lanes - and will combine both the men's and women's
tournaments. This year's Bowling's U.S. Open has the support of title sponsor 100% Natural Lipton
Iced Tea, and presenting sponsors The Brands of Ebonite & Columbia 300, Brunswick Bowling &
Billiards, Jani-King, Storm Bowling Products and Roto Grip.
Added Johnson, "Every year, Bowling's U.S. Open breaks new ground. After hosting the finals
competition from the 50 yard line at Cowboys Stadium followed by last year's outdoor contest under
the iconic Reno Arch, we're taking things a step further in 2013 with this groundbreaking 'Battle of
the Sexes' contest."
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
By Mary Lynly
Voting delegates at the 8
th
USBC National Convention numbered 864 and USBC President An-
drew Cain opened the meeting urging delegates to ―
reconnect and commit
.‖ BVL was awarded the
Great Non-Profit Award as one of America’s Best Charities and the BVL update told us there were
22 million Vets needing VA healthcare. Speaking on behalf of supporting America’s troops, Major
Oscar ―Sean‖ Friendly was an example of
The Power of
One and spoke of setting up the carpet and
bowling pins in the halls of the Pentagon
(not exactly with permission)
showing the special affect
these can have for our troops and what
One Person
can do to make a difference.
California continues to shine in fundraising for BVL with top total state donations of $142,187,02
and top local associations noted for their contributions were Citrus Belt - $21,321.30, San Diego and
Orange County as well as King’s County with a donation of $6.04 per member.
Delegates and guests cracked the traditional Glo Sticks as Cancer Survivors marched into the
room. Bowlers have donated nearly Ten Million dollars to the Susan B. Komen Cancer Fund over
the last 13 years. Their representative addressed the crowd and picked up the $844,924.70 check.
She said that USBC was honored with the
2012 Reach Award
for our efforts. Too bad we don’t see
the recognition anywhere. Bowlers are so dedicated to anything we do the sport deserves more
wide spread recognition.
Bowling is now forging an association with the American Heart Association which is a good thing
as more women die of heart attacks than any other ailment.
Keith Hamilton, President of the National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum and of Luby Publish-
ing who publishes Bowlers Journal International addressed the delegation. He told of BJ honoring
100 years of bowling and a video of covers of the BJI of the past were shown. He invited all to view
the outstanding Satellite Hall of Fame at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno where the portraits
of the women’s and men’s Hall of Famers are displayed. He told of the current efforts to integrate a
system so all records of the Hometown Heroes are together and can be accessed. He talked of the
expense of putting this system together and the donations flowed! Elaine Hagin started the ball
rolling with a $500 donation and pledges. Donations totaled $4,100 and Jeff Richgels pledged 10%
of his tournament winnings for the year!
USBC Star’s of Tomorrow were Joey Kopera of Orland Park, Illinois and Melanie Hannon from
Cheektowaga, New York. The accomplished winners will each receive a $6,000 scholarship.
President Cain addressed the delegates with a solemn reminder that membership had now
dipped under two million for the eight-year old USBC. He said, ―
The National Bowling Stadium was
built in 1985 and is now evolving to meet the needs of today’s bowling. Real change puts us on a
collision course with the unknown. He noted we live in a demand world trying to build for the future
and what we do today affects tomorrow. He said, ―Together‖ is missing.‖
Libby Fletcher spoke about USBC Strategic Planning, why it exists and what it does to achieve its
mission which is ―
To be the Leading Authority of the sport servicing the needs of our bowlers – who
are the stake holders and be the National Governing Body of the sport.‖
Chad Murphy, Managing Director of Youth Development, told us of: CBS televising our youth
event; 2102 spots sold in the Olympic Gold Tournament (1928 actual bowlers); 507 bowling centers
conducting qualifying events; and the value of Live Streaming allowing computer savvy members to
view events while they are happening. He said that 6,000 schools now have youth bowling pro-
grams and that we are creating a new generation of bowlers but the payoff will be in the future when
your kid’s kids are bowling. Murphy said ―
It’s no longer about memberships and bowlers. Awards
are in transition – hang in. Awards were not being used so there needs to be a change.‖
USBC Executive Director Stu Upson addressed what is on everyone’s mind – ―Why aren’t we in
the Olympics?‖ When a sport is dropped (as Wrestling just was) there is a possibility for a replace-
ment but you have to be on the ―short List.‖ Bowling is not on it. We are still trying and Kevin
Dornbrger, President of the International Ten Pin Federation is working on our behalf. This is how
the process works.
The International training and research Center in Arlington, Texas is sharing technology with the
world. The Global scene is growing. Our women’s Tournament is down; some due to people not
wanting to return to Reno so much and a group started a Mid West Women’s Tournament. The
USBC Women’s Tournament will go to four women teams, no handicap and expanded divisions.
Seems like we are returning to the ―way we used to do it.‖ Upson used the phrase
―It’s the Right
Thing to do‖
all through his presentation telling us that tough decisions needed to be made and they
will do it because,
―It’s the Right Thing to do.‖
Re-elected to the USBC Board of Directors were Michael Italia of Warrington, Pa., and Mark
Martin of Waterford, Mich., and they will be joined on the board by newcomers Anthony Colangelo of
Helmetta, N.J., and Jan Schmidt of Hales Corners, Wis. They will begin their three-year terms on
Aug. 1.
Andrew Cain of Phoenix, the current USBC president, recently was re-elected by the Athletes
Advisory Council to continue to serve on the board. The athletes also elected three-time Team USA
member Mike Fagan of Dallas to replace Wendy Macpherson, who did not seek re-election. When
Fagan was elected he said how pleased he was and that
―there is more to bowling than the pros and
(Continued on page 7)
USBC Convention – It’s The Right Thing To
Do California Shines
