THE PRO TOURS: THE INSIDE STORY
(Editor's Note: Each month, Bob Johnson and Lyle Zikes take you behind the
scenes of what's happening on the PBA and PWBA Tours. Here is their report
for the October issue of BJI.)

THE PWBA IS BETTING ON LAUGHLIN

Las Vegas and Reno are no longer the only Nevada gambling meccas that host
national professional bowling events. Add Laughlin, the resort town nestled
in the Silver State's southeast corner, to the list, now that the PWBA has
arranged to bring the Women's U.S. Open to the Riverside Resort Bowling
Center.

That's right, we said the PWBA brokered the deal, just a short time after
securing licensing rights for the 2001 Open from the BPAA. Furthermore, the
PWBA players who planned to boycott the tournament over the gender equity
issue (BJI, September) will be bowling after all, and for a purse that
figures to be much more lucrative than the $187,500 originally announced by
BPAA.

Things began falling into place when BPAA agreed to physically separate the
women's tournament from the men's, thus eliminating any appearance of an
unequal "coed" event. That opened the door to PWBA securing a licensing
agreement similar to that negotiated by the PBA for the Men's Open.
Interest in the Women's Open was bolstered by support that the PWBA players
received from the Women's Sports Foundation, an influential organization
founded by tennis great Billie Jean King.

"[We're] delighted to be part of this historic athletic competition," said
Richard Turner, Director of Marketing for the Riverside complex. "We fully
support the goal of achieving equity in sports." And he's putting the
resort's money where his mouth is, contributing to the tournament prize
fund which now figures to top $300,000, according to PWBA Chairman John
Sommer.

If there's one loser in this whole scenario, it could be Fountain Bowl in
Fountain Valley, California, which signed to host both tournaments and now
is left only with the men's. However, looking at the big picture, the
bowling business could be a big winner, as professional bowling will occupy
a full three-hour block on ESPN on December 9. The Men's Open championship
round is scheduled to air from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern, immediately followed
by the Women's Open finals from 2:30 to 4. The one potential down side: The
telecasts will be going head-to-head with NFL football.



EARL'S PROUDEST FEAT

One might think that ranking as the PBA's winningest player would be Earl
Anthony's proudest achievement. Yet, within that framework, Anthony
frequently expressed the greatest pride in the record he holds for winning
at least one PBA title in each of 14 consecutive seasons - from 1970
through 1983. Don Johnson and Brian Voss are tied for second on that list
with titles in 12 consecutive years. "I was a Touring Pro for 14 years and
won each year," Anthony had said. "It's something I feel good about being
able say."

Now, given the change in the National Tour's structure - making the ABC
Masters a full-fledged major PBA title - Anthony's consecutive season
winning streak record should be extended to 15 years. Even though he
retired prior to the Fall Tour in 1983, he came back to bowl the Masters in
'84 and successfully defended his championship. Being able to win the
Masters some nine months after his final PBA event, the '83 Waukegan Open,
illustrates that Anthony's initial retirement came when it should for great
athletes: while he was still at the top of his game. In fact, he was in
the midst of his sixth Bowler of the Year season when he decided he no
longer had the motivation to bowl on the Tour.

During his subsequent comebacks (1987-91 and 1996-97), Anthony frequently
lamented his inability to perform at the level he desired, despite managing
to win seven Senior Tour titles. His occasional tests on the National Tour
proved disappointing, as the highest finish he recorded was a 14th in
Peoria, Illinois in 1987.

Anthony concluded his career once and for all by bowling two Senior events
in Florida in September of 1997. In each tournament, he cashed in 53rd
place - low in the money. "I'm bowling terrible," he said over and over
before announcing his final retirement.



PRO-POURRI

The PWBA expects to maintain a rotating group of TV commentators through
the remainder of 2001. Still in the mix alongside Jan Schmidt are Carolyn
Dorin-Ballard, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Kim Adler and Marianne DiRupo....

Wendy Macpherson helped promote the Paula Carter Classic during a Sept. 11
appearance on Nickelodeon's Games and Sports network....

Brenda Norman participated in Janette "Black Widow" Lee's Celebrity 9-Ball
Tournament in Indianapolis last month, benefitting the Scoliosis Assn.
Scoliosis is a spine ailment from which the women's billiard champ has
suffered since childhood.