“When will they ever learn..... when will they ever learn?”
- from “Where have all the Flowers Gone”
I was amused to read Jim Dressel's column in the Feb. 2006 issue of Bowlers Journal International Magazine entitled, “Move Over, Nostradamus” in which he states, he read my Dec. 27 column in which I made National Enquirer-type (tongue-in-cheek) bowling predictions and wrote a similar column without Nostradamus's help.
However, my amusement quickly turned to disappointment when I read the interview with USBC President and Chairman Michael Carroll in the same issue. In this interview, Carroll starts out with optimistic observations for the future of bowling under USBC, but then reiterates the same old pie-in-the sky stuff we have heard for more than 30 years.
Carroll admits the USBC is operating at a deficit this year. Where are the savings we were supposed to see with the formation of USBC? Is this the start of the campaign and justification for a dues increase amendment at the 2007 USBC Convention already?
Carroll goes on and talks about what I used to call the “trickle-down theory of bowling” describing the failed practice of driving bowlers into centers by whatever means necessary and eventually by osmosis they will become members. Carroll states he would call this a success if it happens. It hasn't worked when they tried it for the past 30 years, so what new efforts will insure it works this time around?
Carroll further states the USBC is pouring $800,000 a year into Strike Ten Entertainment and considers that an important investment. Are you kidding me? The ABC and WIBC originally funded Strike Ten Entertainment with millions of dollars a few years ago and supposedly severed its relationship with this failed group when it settled those previous loans and investments for pennies on the dollar. Now, we are back funding them with no successes to show for it?
Carroll further states, as we continue to analyze the System of Bowling, we will end up doing the right thing the right way at the right time. When is this right time? When will they conclude what the right thing is and the right way is? When we are all dead and buried?
Carroll states they are going to continue to have summits (i.e. - like the two they already had with ball manufacturers and got burnt), focus groups, and planning sessions. He further states he is not a detail person and has learned the most effective people are not problem-minded, but are opportunity-minded and that he likes to feed opportunities and starve problems.
If this is the philosophy the new USBC leader believes in and wants to achieve, then as Susan Powter used to say in her infomercials, “Stop the insanity!”
Carroll further states whether or not you are merging, or wish to remain as a non-merged association, we expect to see a lot of new faces. Really? Where are you going to get them and where are they coming from? Volunteers (and I mean true volunteers) are hard to come by in this day and age of “what's in it for me.” You are only going to get out of a volunteer what a volunteer is willing to give you for free without compensation.
Carroll goes on to say if we can grow the sport and build the pyramid with the stars at the apex, then I think we have an opportunity where more media buzz will be created. Then advertisers and sponsors will want to come in and help fund that growth. It's something we really have to work at. With a philosophical outlook as infantile and naive as that with no details on how to achieve these lofty goals and obtaining sponsors, then the bowling's future looks just as bleak as it did before. When will they ever learn?
I was amused to read Jim Dressel's column in the Feb. 2006 issue of Bowlers Journal International Magazine entitled, “Move Over, Nostradamus” in which he states, he read my Dec. 27 column in which I made National Enquirer-type (tongue-in-cheek) bowling predictions and wrote a similar column without Nostradamus's help.
However, my amusement quickly turned to disappointment when I read the interview with USBC President and Chairman Michael Carroll in the same issue. In this interview, Carroll starts out with optimistic observations for the future of bowling under USBC, but then reiterates the same old pie-in-the sky stuff we have heard for more than 30 years.
Carroll admits the USBC is operating at a deficit this year. Where are the savings we were supposed to see with the formation of USBC? Is this the start of the campaign and justification for a dues increase amendment at the 2007 USBC Convention already?
Carroll goes on and talks about what I used to call the “trickle-down theory of bowling” describing the failed practice of driving bowlers into centers by whatever means necessary and eventually by osmosis they will become members. Carroll states he would call this a success if it happens. It hasn't worked when they tried it for the past 30 years, so what new efforts will insure it works this time around?
Carroll further states the USBC is pouring $800,000 a year into Strike Ten Entertainment and considers that an important investment. Are you kidding me? The ABC and WIBC originally funded Strike Ten Entertainment with millions of dollars a few years ago and supposedly severed its relationship with this failed group when it settled those previous loans and investments for pennies on the dollar. Now, we are back funding them with no successes to show for it?
Carroll further states, as we continue to analyze the System of Bowling, we will end up doing the right thing the right way at the right time. When is this right time? When will they conclude what the right thing is and the right way is? When we are all dead and buried?
Carroll states they are going to continue to have summits (i.e. - like the two they already had with ball manufacturers and got burnt), focus groups, and planning sessions. He further states he is not a detail person and has learned the most effective people are not problem-minded, but are opportunity-minded and that he likes to feed opportunities and starve problems.
If this is the philosophy the new USBC leader believes in and wants to achieve, then as Susan Powter used to say in her infomercials, “Stop the insanity!”
Carroll further states whether or not you are merging, or wish to remain as a non-merged association, we expect to see a lot of new faces. Really? Where are you going to get them and where are they coming from? Volunteers (and I mean true volunteers) are hard to come by in this day and age of “what's in it for me.” You are only going to get out of a volunteer what a volunteer is willing to give you for free without compensation.
Carroll goes on to say if we can grow the sport and build the pyramid with the stars at the apex, then I think we have an opportunity where more media buzz will be created. Then advertisers and sponsors will want to come in and help fund that growth. It's something we really have to work at. With a philosophical outlook as infantile and naive as that with no details on how to achieve these lofty goals and obtaining sponsors, then the bowling's future looks just as bleak as it did before. When will they ever learn?
The Citizens' Say
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