Tension is a PBA plus

Bowling Digest, Spring, 2004 by Brett Ballantini

LAST SEASON'S PBA ALREADY raised eyebrows and grabbed attention. The match-play format proved successful, and among many storylines, we saw one of the most dominant seasons ever from one of the tour's true superstars, Walter Ray Williams Jr.

But this season there's been an even greater sense of excitement and drama, with the switch to an all-exempt tour in 2004-05 (meaning 50 of each event's 64 spots will consist of this season's titlists and points leaders). The tension has increased, and while it would be wrong to say that in past years the tour pros were bowling merely for kicks or cash, the anxiety over the fact that players recognize they are bowling for their livelihoods has added a do-or-die dimension to the proceedings.

Through the first half, only eight bowlers were assured of spots in every event of 2004-05: Robert Smith, Norm Duke, Brian Himmler, Jason Couch, Steve Jaros, Patrick Allen, Ryan Shafer, Mika Koivuniemi, and Patrick Healey Jr.

That leaves some big names still in the balance. Granted, if the season ended today, superstars like Williams, Chris Barnes, Pete Weber, and Parker Bohn III would claim exempt spots for next season based on their total points, but every tournament brings risks to the points leaders. A player behind them in the points race immediately cuts in line for next year by winning any single event. Hugh Miller could knock Brian Voss out of an exemption; Del Ballard Jr. could steal a spot from Jeff Lizzi.

What's great about the exemptions for us as fans is that there's no long-term contracts out there. At best an exemption will last two seasons, like Healey received for winning the prestigious Tournament of Champions. Not to be unforgiving, but we want the best bowlers out there, and just because the name Williams or Weber is on your bowling ball bag, you'll get no special treatment.

Add the exemptions to the nervewracking match-play format and the PBA has succeeded in cranking up the tension at every one of its tournaments. But this tension doesn't make a tangle--it makes for the most essential tour watching in years.