Why hasn't bowling caught on in America? (1 Viewer)

[Monkian]

Bowling was a very big spectator sport and pasttime back in the fifties and sixties, IIRC from reading about it.

https://priceonomics.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-professional-bowling/

"Harry Smith, the top bowler in 1963, made more money than MLB MVP Sandy Koufax and NFL MVP Y.A. Tittle combined."

"In 1964, “bowling legend” Don Carter was the first athlete in any sport to receive a $1 million endorsement deal ($7.6 million today)."

 

[RokNRole]

Just need some cheerleaders and dancers and they can be right back on top.

 

[James Daulton]

Because there have been no epic @El Floppo drunk rants during bowling matches (?)

That kind of endorsement would surely put bowling over the top (of badminton at least).

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

The sport managed to "Munson" itself.

 

[beercat]

I think they're getting away from it now but one thing I never understood when watching it on TV was that everyone had to be quiet until the bowler rolled the ball. You didn't need silence when learning how or in league play why do you need it when bowling just one other person.

 

[E-Z Glider]

No offense to the bowlers here, but Id guess the clientele is a big reason why bowling isnt more mainstream. It's one of the last places left where people still smoke cigs.

 

[Eephus]

There's recently been a hipster renaissance with outfits like Lucky Strike and Brooklyn Bowl but I don't think that helps Johnny Petraglia's merchandise sales

 

[otb_lifer]

No offense to the bowlers here, but Id guess the clientele is a big reason why bowling isnt more mainstream. It's one of the last places left where people still smoke cigs.

i wish  :(

i can barely smoke on my own damn property up 'round here - no ⚁

 

[Mr. Ected]

10 Pin? Candlepin ? Duckpin?

Candlepin is the correct way to bowl.

 

[otb_lifer]

There's recently been a hipster renaissance with outfits like Lucky Strike and Brooklyn Bowl but I don't think that helps Johnny Petraglia's merchandise sales

this is veryvery true ... but it's quickly being usurped by Dodge Ball and Kick Ball. 

won't be long 'til these ironically facial haired slugs are skeet shooting in very sensible shoes. 

 

[RokNRole]

No offense to the bowlers here, but Id guess the clientele is a big reason why bowling isnt more mainstream. It's one of the last places left where people still smoke cigs.

I didn't think anywhere allowed indoor smoking anymore

 

[dino259]

Back in the day, 1950s or so, bowling was a much bigger team sport.  The top bowlers were on 5 man teams.  The primary sponsor of these teams was beer.

The famous Budwieser's had a then record 3858 team score

Other's were Flalstaff, Stroh, Pabst, Hamms, and Meister Brau.

 

[msudaisy26]

There is no money in it. My husband used to bowl with a guy that owned his own pro shop and was one of the best bowlers in Michigan. He always got asked why he didn't go pro and he always said he couldn't afford the pay cut. 

 

[HellToupee]

Candlepin is the correct way to bowl.

many jabroni can get a spare with big balls

 

[RokNRole]

There is no money in it. My husband used to bowl with a guy that owned his own pro shop and was one of the best bowlers in Michigan. He always got asked why he didn't go pro and he always said he couldn't afford the pay cut. 

BS excuse. If Shaq and Dickerson could take a pay cut to go pro so could he.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Earl Anthony down?

?

Guppy Troup?

 

[Osaurus]

Prolly because most people don't know the band Camper Van Beethoven

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I used to rent a room above a bowling alley but they kicked me out for making too much noise.

huh, I live in a single room above a bowling alley and below another bowling alley.

 

[boilerdave]

Bowling was a very big spectator sport and pasttime back in the fifties and sixties, IIRC from reading about it.

My dad grew up good friends with **** Webber in Indianapolis. 

**** was a big time celebrity in St Louis during that time.

 

[sbonomo]

The alltime bowling attendance record is 8k

Well that is at least 7,800 more than i thought it was.  

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

...needs more Jesus...

 

[Zow]

It's a million times more entertaining to watch than golf.

You shut your mouth.  You do not know of what you speak. 

 

[Zow]

People think the scoring is hard? WTF? 

 

[Eephus]

People think the scoring is hard? WTF? 

You score 300 points for knocking down 120 pins.  Seems fishy.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I'd rather watch bowling than soccer

Honestly WNBA might be the only sport I'd take soccer over

 

[Kafka]

I'd rather watch bowling than soccer

Honestly WNBA might be the only sport I'd take soccer over

How about "fishin"...I know the Bass Pro Am has a pretty mean circuit,  but surely...

 

[Dan Lambskin]

How about "fishin"...I know the Bass Pro Am has a pretty mean circuit,  but surely...

Yeah I'd take fishing easily.   At least the flopping would be legit

 

[Arodin]

Two pages and no one has mentioned the lack of defense?

Put both bowlers on opposite ends of the same lane.  People will watch...

 

[Kafka]

Yeah I'd take fishing easily.   At least the flopping would be legit

You do it well...

 

[Ned]

You can't even kick the balls. 

 

[BoltBacker]

I don't think the two-handed release should be legal, fwiw.

Then just don't go to the same massage parlor I go to mister government overreach. 

 

[tonydead]

279. Suck it. 

 

[Politician Spock]

I'd rather watch bowling than soccer

Honestly WNBA might be the only sport I'd take soccer over

I'd watch soccer players try to bowl. With those crappy shoes, you know one of them is gonna try a header 10 feet in front of the pins.

 

[matuski]

Took my kids bowling this weekend.  $150 for the family, there for maybe an hour.

Kind of ridiculous.

 

[matuski]

Maybe more like 90 mins.

 

[The General]

Only redeeming factor of bowling is it embraces drinking alcohol. Pretty much the worst.

 

[RokNRole]

Took my kids bowling this weekend.  $150 for the family, there for maybe an hour.

Kind of ridiculous.

They really should rethink their business model. 10 frames is nothing.

It should be 3 games, 30 frames for that price.

 

[RokNRole]

279. Suck it. 

Wii?

 

[ShaqAttaq]

Guppy Troup?

Guppy's kid Kyle. has crazy hair to go with the stupid pants

 

[eoMMan]

279. Suck it. 

I have a 300 game but that was close to 20 years ago...I suck now.

 

[Ned]

279. Suck it. 

Meh.

I bowled a 300 in league play while drunk and high.  I rolled 19 in a row that night.

Then the last game was like a 160 after too many free shots.

 

[msudaisy26]

Took my kids bowling this weekend.  $150 for the family, there for maybe an hour.

Kind of ridiculous.

How many kids do you have, 20?

 

[Politician Spock]

Took my kids bowling this weekend.  $150 for the family, there for maybe an hour.

Kind of ridiculous.

Next time don't let each kid get their own XL pizza and pitcher of root beer. 

 

[dino259]

Open bowling is expensive.  Bowling Centers are at the point they would rather have open bowling than league play.  The only benefit to league play is that you know they will be there every Tuesday for the next 30 weeks.

 

[Statorama]

Took my kids bowling this weekend.  $150 for the family, there for maybe an hour.

Kind of ridiculous.

Wow you must have drank a lot of beer

 

[Short Corner]

catch this via Kodi on the reg 

folks who grew up in NYC during the '70s will remember "Bowling For Dollars", hosted by N.Y. Mets shill Bob Murphy ... was on Channel 9 up here (WOR),  and had regular schmoes, schlubs, and broads literally rolling for coin:  "OK, Morty from Forest Hills, pick up this spare, and go home with TEN DOLLARS!!"

I remember seeing that in California.

 

[Eephus]

They really should rethink their business model. 10 frames is nothing.

It should be 3 games, 30 frames for that price.

The first game is the most fun.  Most people, especially kids, reach a point of diminishing returns pretty quickly.

 

[matuski]

Wow you must have drank a lot of beer

couple sodas, my wife had a glass of wine, a beer for me.  

and some cheese sticks.

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

Have a relative that bowled a 856 series.  Still is the highest in that area.   300, 279, 277      lanes were blocked up nice.    Was lucky to get his 300 sanctioned.   He ended up averaging close to 230 for the league.   

 

[msudaisy26]

Have a relative that bowled a 856 series.  Still is the highest in that area.   300, 279, 277      lanes were blocked up nice.    Was lucky to get his 300 sanctioned.   He ended up averaging close to 230 for the league.   

I have never heard any one not getting sanctioned on their 300. That is an awesome series.