A new chapter of the PBA season unfolds the first week of June at the first ever Tour Trials at Merrillville's Stardust II Bowl with a few familiar names participating. Those include Dave Arnold, Del Ballard, Jr., Eugene McCune, Ricky Ward, and David Traber. The final few weeks of the regular tour were especially frustrating for Traber, who despite a second place finish earlier this season, was the second highest player on the point list not to make the all-exempt 2004-05 tour, at least not yet. The five day format features nine games per day on each of the five PBA oil patterns with points and money awarded for each day. The top eight on the cumulative points list will join the other 50 for Year One of the really-new PBA road show. Remember, the other six are chosen from weekly qualifiers (rabbit squads), a commissioners' exemption, and an Elite Pro Am winner. At this writing, less than 50 bowlers had signed up. Why so low? I'm sure there are a variety of reasons, one of which might be the $1,500 entry fee and relatively low immediate payout. But that may not wash because some are used to looking at the immediate payout verses the year-long exemption and the guaranteed $2,000 per tournament which goes along with that exemption, plus a chance to get into the Top 50 in points for the 2005-06 season. So that may not be the case. Players signed up so far range from a few from the number 55-100 range on the points list to newer members who have bowled a few tour stops, but not on a regular or touring basis. Some players are waiting out for the 2005-06 regional point list exemptions where the top players will be exempt if he or she wants the exemption. Other tour players may have just had their fill of tour life and want to just compete on weekends in regional play while spending more time at home. More reasons will undoubtedly surface this summer.

     The 2004-05 PBA National tour schedule was released several weeks ago with a couple of surprises. The first of which will be Halloween Day inside a baseball park. The ABC Masters are moving to Milwaukee, sponsored by Miller Brewing, and the TV finals will be inside Miller Park. Now, assuming the Brewers are not involved in a potential World Series Game 7 AND the National League does not win the All Star Game, this should come off without a glitch. With the Green Bay Packers in Washington facing the Redskins at the same time, don't be surprised if there are spontaneous bursts of cheering at yet another Brett Favre touchdown pass. Not since a record crowd of 7,000 saw the '95 U.S. Open finals in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena could there be the makings for another memorable arena final, especially in a city and people enamored with the game

     Others include a return trip to Akron and Riviera Lanes, the site of 29 Tournament of Champions stops (back when we all just called it the Firestone), and the Dexter Tournament of Champions returns to its original April setting from its Fall/December timeframe to wrap up the season. Here are the stops for the 04-05 season as they were announced in late April.

     TV air times are always listed at pba.com or at espn.com, so double check those sites, especially if you plan to set a VCR or Tivo to record the action.

     Next month, I'll have a recap of a busy two weeks at Merrillville with the PBA Regional Players Championship, and the Tour Trials.