Lowe: Olympic bowling? Why not?

• By KENT LOWE
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Aug 18, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:15 a.m.

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OK, I know we are all enjoying the thrill of victory for Michael Phelps and all the things that are happening with our Olympic Athletes in Beijing.

The Olympics are something special, both the summer games and the winter games.

But, and I may be the only who has noticed, but there is a sport missing and that of course is bowling. Bowling is one of the few sports that do not have a spot in the Games. Bowling has tried without success for years to earn a spot in the Olympics and just missed making the short list for inclusion on the 2012 Games. So now the work is underway to try to get on the 2016 program.

Here is a key point that a lot of people have never really followed in this sport. There are world class events that the top bowlers have bowled in for world championships and events that are just as important as the events other athletes participate in for world championships. Remember the medals that Baton Rouge’s late Jon Juneau won on an international scale as part of Team USA.

Well, now the USA has stepped things up a good deal in the chance to show off its talent on an international stage. The professional bowlers are coming to bowl. A year ago a move was made to allow professionals to compete in world events paving the way for the sport’s best athletes to represent their countries at various events certified by the World Tenpin Bowling Association, the governing body for the sport on the world level.

Because of this, America will send its version of bowling’s “Dream Team” to the WTBA Men’s World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, starting on Friday. The reigning PBA Player of the Year, Chris Barnes, and Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr., are among the six Team USA Players who will compete.

The other members of the team are well-known pros Tommy Jones, Patrick Allen and Rhino Page and amateur Bill Hoffman.

The men’s world championship will feature more than 300 athletes from 56 countries competing in six disciplines — doubles, trios, team, singles, all-events and Masters.

Now don’t expect this team of pros to just go dominate the competition. There are some outstanding bowlers from other countries who will be formidable opponents. Many of them throw the “spinner” shot that has been able to plow through the type of lane conditions that are found on the foreign lanes. It will be an interesting contest and we’ll be keeping an eye on the U.S. team to see how they do in their first trip as professionals for Team USA.

But it’s just a shame that this competition isn’t taking place in China at the Olympics. It only leaves one question: Why not bowling?

Have to admit we just missed it, but congratulations go to the six teams that cashed in the 46th annual Baton Rouge Tournament of Champions for league winners from this past year. The event, held earlier this summer, was won by the Oh Spare Me team from Don Carter’s with a score of 3,505. The other cashing teams were: Get Your “RO” On (3,485, Metro); Cracker (3,484, Metro), Bad Bowlers (3,395, Don Carter’s); Show Stoppers (3,356, Metro); and, Lane Busters (3,350, Don Carter’s).