Tuesday's news that the United States Bowling Congress and the New York State Bowling Association settled their differences was presented, as you’d expect, with both sides proclaiming that they came to an agreement “in the best interests of the bowlers.”
What the press release didn’t address was the fact that both the USBC and the NYSBA share responsibility for having this dispute drag on as long as it did and, borrowing a phrase from previous USBC news releases, for “holding the state’s organized bowlers hostage.”
For those not familiar with the proceedings, the problems began last October when it was discovered that the NYSBA’s former manager, Steven Donahue of Weedsport, embezzled $274,000 from the association’s treasury, including part of the prize fund of the NYS Men’s Tournament.
When the national USBC found out, it immediately revoked New York’s charter and turned the reins over to the New York State Women’s Bowling Association. The NYSBA wasn’t about to stand for that, and proceeded to file a lawsuit against the USBC.
(By the way, Donahue has pled guilty to grand larceny).
In my opinion, the USBC acted impulsively by revoking the state’s charter. Instead, it should have – after conducting an investigation – given the NYSBA the opportunity to work with the USBC to “right the wrong” and work toward restoring its credibility.
The lawsuit, which included a temporary restraining order, affected the state bowling tournament. Prior to the settlement, last year’s tournament money winners had not been paid and this year’s tournament had been in jeopardy.
The USBC entered the fray with its guns loaded and, according to my sources, took the attitude that “we don’t lose, so you better do as we say.” When it saw that the state’s legal maneuvering carried some weight, it backed down – leaving the door open for the former state leaders to create a new open association by electing a new board of directors within 90 days.
The USBC also agreed to let Dennis Light of White Plains, former NYSBA president, and Bill Collins of Rockland County, the state’s acting manager, run the state tournament in Utica from April 18-24, with USBC supervision.
Now that the verbal and legal sparring has ended, what can both parties learn from this sad episode in New York State’s bowling history?
To the USBC: While you were justifiably concerned over Donahue’s action, you should have practiced what you preach – cooperation and working together according to established policies and procedures.
To the NYSBA, checks and balances are in place to safeguard the funds contributed by your members. A state board of directors is not a one-person show and no amount of intimidation should supersede the right of others to verify the financial accounts on a regular basis. It will be interesting to see if your current directors survive this crisis, or if they find themselves voted out of office.
--o—
TWO PERFECT ‘DOWN SOUTH’
A pair of right-handers from the southern part of the Genesee Region USBC Association posted their first 300 games in a combined 60 years of bowling last Friday.
In the Friday Night Fours League at Perry Bowling Center, Jason Hurlburt of Perry rolled 215-300-212—727 on lanes 3-4.
In the Friday Early League at Letchworth Pines in Portageville, Butch Illerbrun of Gainesville fired 231-300-234—765 on lanes 7-8.
Hurlburt, 36, said he got a lucky break in the 10th frame.
“Every ball was in the pocket, but on the 12th ball, the 10-pin stood for a couple moments before a pin came across and knocked it down,” said Hurlburt, who works for Halo Farms in Perry. “When I saw it standing, I said, ‘Darn, a 299’; then I saw it go down and I couldn’t believe it … a 300.”
Hurlburt, a bowler for 23 years, has a 192 average in that league, and also bowls in three other leagues in Perry. He also coordinates a tournament in Perry to benefit the high school wrestling team. He is part of a bowling family as his wife, Diane, and his three children also are avid bowlers.
For Illerbrun, perfection came in his 37th year of organized bowling and on the heels of a 299 game earlier this season.
“Finally,” the 56-year-old father of six said. “I’ll admit on the last ball I was shaking. I was worried I would get tapped again (as was the case in the 299). Fortunately it was buried (in the 1-3 pocket).”
Illerbrun has a 222 average in the league. Previously, he rolled a high series of 791.
He works at Markin Tubing in Wyoming.
-- Honorable mention: In the Thursday Intertown League at Letchworth Pines, the Tallman Brothers team exploded for a 1,256 scratch game last week and a 3,282 series (including 24 pins handicap). Scores in the big game were: Jeff Schillaci 206, Rich Kemp 232, Mark Comstock 254, Norm Vetter 298 and Dana Freeman 266.
At Perry Bowling Center, Ron Bacon and Marty Weaver each popped a 289 game in the Thursday Giant League.
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BOWLERS ‘BEN-WARE’ IN CALEDONIA
Bowling to fill out a squad in the Livingston County Fire Police 3-person no-tap tournament last week, Cal Bowl proprietor Ken Benware made the most of the experience, leading his team to victory. Benware, Brenda Neely and Rich Kaness combined for a 2,461 score to take the $300 first prize. Benware also won the single portion with an 854 no-tap series.
Other teams that cashed: Tim Chriscaden, George Crawford, Marty Lindner (Caledonia), 2,362; Floyd Kofahl, Bruce Szczepanski, Don Perrault (Rochester), 2,360; Paul Wheatley, Tom Schey, Frankie Martin (Rochester), 2,310.
In the Thursday Men’s League at Cal Bowl, left-hander Tom Hendrickson shot a 299 game, leaving a 10-pin on the final ball.
--o—
AN ALBION, MEDINA ‘CO-OP’
Oak Orchard Lanes in Albion and Medina Lanes have formed a “cooperative” to provide Orleans County residents with additional opportunities to bowl.
-- Moonlight Bowling/Rock & Bowl. When they have no more room for their weekend party crowd, both Randy Hanks at Oak Orchard and Bob Foss Jr. at Medina Lanes have no problem checking with each other to see if lanes are available down the road.
-- They’ve also established after-school bowling clubs for Medina and Albion Central students (the next session is at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Albion) with an eye toward competition in the future. Maybe this could be the start of interscholastic high school bowling in our area!
-- And there’s talk about an Albion versus Medina Challenge series – along the lines of the established Karl Marth Challenge Cup which features bowlers from the former Batavia Bowling Association divided into North and South teams.
These may not be earth-shattering developments but, as the saying goes, “From small beginnings come great things.”
(Mike Pettinella’s Pin Points bowling column appears every Thursday during the bowling season. If you have an item of interest for his column, please contact him at mikepett2002@yahoo.com or at 343-3736 or by mail at 55 Edgewood Drive, Batavia).