So how did it go? Hopefully, some of tips helped. I can't tell you how many customers have been through my pro shop and say how hard this game really can be. They have also said their golf swings and bowling swings have the same timing problems. But why do those same problems continue? I'm sure a sports psychologist could tell you in 25 words or less, but here's another take. Most bowlers talk about getting better, but few really take that road. It takes effort and a willingness to depart with those old comfortable ways. Many like that familiar comfort zone, but those who do take that plunge often find a new comfort zone, or at least one which has better scores. The choice is yours, my friend.

     If you have read the USBC and PBA website forums lately, the hot button topic is the USBC Women's Challenge wrapping up its five week run on ESPN2. I have to admit the first thing I thought of when this was first announced was a 1982 Bowlers Journal layout featuring women of the WPBA Tour. The fact that the gals were in Vegas-showgirl outfits caused the most outrage, if you could call it that. Mind you, this was the early 80s, which for those of you under 25 may not be aware featured a much different mind set. The wave of protest was focused on the cheapening and glamorizing of these athletes for physical beauty over their athletic skill. These very tasteful pictures did appear in Bowlers' Journal, not in GQ, Vogue, or even on "Entertainment Tonight." The core readership knew of these ladies talents, but professional bowling was a different beast back then. The general public didn't blink when that issue hit the streets, nor was there an uproar reported on SportsCenter. Now, fast forward nearly 25 years and you see a huge difference in marketing. Professional sports is a much more crowded arena these days with some people not watching TV unless it has a mouse, a keyboard, and a harddrive attached. Who would have even thought Monday Night Football would be on cable? Chris and Bo not on Saturday afternoons at 3:00 Eastern, 2:00 Central, are you kidding me? Then, everybody saw at least a portion of that show. Now, most of the general public thinks pro bowling is a distant memory. Read that last statement over again a few times. C'mon, read it. Sadly, it is true. The whole purpose is to show bowling in a positive light while showing the talent of these women. They represent the best to those who don't know pro bowling at all. If this is enough to get some outside interest, chat, or general talk in the outside world going about bowling, then this series was worth it. Bowling can't pick and choose anymore. The days of the sitting-on-your-hands marketing are gone, too. The industry has been on the outside of the bigger picture looking in for way too long. So should a group of PBA pros have their own show featuring makeovers? Why? They are already on TV and as of last check aren't going anywhere (Oops, that's a column for another time).

     According to a reliable source, there are plans for a few more of these Women's Challenge shows. Again, the whole idea is to present bowling , not just women's bowling, in a positive light. If you saw the documentary, 'League of Ordinary Gentlemen, ' one major point brought up was the ABC-TV format got old and didn't change while the sports-watching public did. It fell into what marketers refer to as the 'audience dying off.' That means there are not any newer viewers replacing the present ones as they age. It fits numerous high-profile businesses using a 'sitting-on-your-hands' approach to exposing your product to people who have never seen the product before. If you are one of those wondering why things are changing so fast, I am truly sorry. There are more and more things to do and bowling isn't among them for too many people. But that is slowing starting to change. Please keep in mind, there are not five channels of nothing on anymore, but are at least 57 channels of nothing on, according to Bruce Springsteen. People who can remember the days of five channels are not the ones being marketed to as heavily as they were when they were younger. The Women's Challenge is NOT marketed to us, the few remaining hard core bowlers. There is a whole generation and demographic, who for one reason or another, has never seen bowling on TV. The Women's show is mostly for them, not us. We need new people to at least watch these talented women at work. That in turn can attract new sponsors and perhaps a tour for then down the road. One step at a time, please.

     The look of bowling is changing, even as I write this. New bowlers are coming into centers all over the country and open bowling when they want. There are people who would have never have been caught dead in a center thinking about trying this activity. They want an activity to so with family or with friends. There are even those who even go as far as to buy better performing equipment. Once this new crowd is found by advertisers (and they are out there), who knows, a whole new era could open up for this game. This crowd sees makeovers on TV all the time and doesn't give it a second thought. Big deal, they say. There are bowling pros on TV? Wow, they are really good! Why don't we go to the lanes and bowl ourselves

     Showing bowling in a positive light while showing off the cream of the crop. Now what's wrong with that?

     Next month, the PBA Tour opens with Norm Duke joining Dave and Randy in the booth on the weeks he doesn't make the show.