On The Lanes
One of the USBC and bowling’s more interesting rules is the one that handles the situation wherein a player gets up, gets set, and then proceeds to throw his or her ball down the wrong lane. Most often, the opposing team player will follow and toss his or her ball down the wrong lane also. It is a case of the blind leading the blind. It happens far too often today, especially since the monitors over each lane clearly announce who is up and where. Yet, even with that, I would venture to guess that it happens at least 10 times throughout the season in every league in the county.
I once was involved in a situation where the first four bowlers on both teams had rolled on the wrong lane.
The truly funny thing is that when it happens, the guilty players will bounce around with their arms up in the air and a puzzled look on their faces as if they are the injured party. The rest of the players on both teams are looking at them and wondering if they can read. It is actually pretty funny.
Of course then, realization sets in. “What do I do now?” is usually what runs through their minds. Thank heavens for a rulebook. It clearly states that when such an event takes place the player is required to erase the result of his or her incorrect frame, move to the correct lane and then bowl over. It is a pretty simple correction to a very embarrassing moment.
But, last week, I was involved in a very unique extension of this problem. And, as they used to say during a NFL TV game: “You make the call”.
During the first game of my league last Monday, my opponent, Allen Gency (I have changed the name to “protect the innocent”), started off with a solid strike. And, as the game progressed, he continued to strike, until eventually, he had 7-in-a-row. Of course, he was just crushing me in the process, but then a situation happened. Good old Allen, got up in the eighth frame, got set, and then proceeded to pull the ball badly and ended up leaving the 3-6-10. So much for his run at a perfect game.
But wait. As it turned out, he had actually lined up on the wrong lane. And after an apology, he erased the errant shot, lined up on the correct lane, and buried the ball for his eighth strike in a row. Then, a few minutes later, he continued his string and tossed number 9. And, that got me to thinking. What if he throws a perfect 300 game? Is it really perfect?
It turned out to be a moot point because he ended up sparing in the 10th, but the question still stands. Had he shot a 300 game, was he really perfect? He actually threw a 7-count in the eighth frame. And, although it was on the wrong lane, he did indeed throw something other than a strike.
Of course the rulebook says he can erase the frame on the wrong lane and move to the correct lane, and then throw again. But, as you think about it, is it a fair rule-especially in this case had he thrown a 300?
There are a dozen ways to look at the situation. And, certainly, Allen could have thrown a strike on the wrong lane just as easily and then would have been forced to erase it. His next ball on the correct lane could have been a 7-count, which would have stopped his run toward the perfect game.
But, I can think of no other sport where you get a “do over”. And allowing a person to “do over” when it was their own error that put them in that situation to begin with, just adds insult to injury.
I am sure you have seen bowlers get up on the wrong lane and throw a horrible split, then erase it and toss a strike-which could be a game winner. And, you have probably seen just the opposite, where a strike gets erased and becomes a split. There are all sorts of possibilities, but the point still remains here that Allen threw a ball during a possible 300 game, and he did not throw a strike.
Maybe the rule should say that after the “do over”, the player must take the worst of the two outcomes. If he or she gets a 7-count spare on the wrong lane, then tosses a strike on the correct lane, the 7-count spare must be used for the score.
I don’t know. You make the call.
CARLO: Carlo Ross, who bowls at Manor Lanes on Thursday and Monday nights, just never ceases to amaze me. After spending most of last season battling one illness after another, he makes a comeback during the summer months by bowling practice games nearly every day. His intent was to get himself back into bowling shape.
So, keeping in mind that he is perennially about a 185 average bowler, I would have to say he came back with a vengeance. Last Monday, during the Manor Majors league, he tossed games of 193, 213, and 234 for a series of 640. That in itself is outstanding, but when you consider that he finished last year with a 176 average, that makes this past Monday even more special. His big series was 112 pins over average, which according to the USBC is worthy an award.
Yet, not only is that great bowling, but also Carlo is 75 years young! So, that is exceptional.
Congratulations, Carlo. You have certainly taught us all what grit and determination can accomplish. I hope you have a fantastic season.
BOWLING NEWS: Uniontown resident Gary George writes a weekly bowling column for the Herald-Standard. If you have any bowling news, contact George, a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1997, via email at probowler48@aol.com
or fax at 724-438-7290. Information is welcome from all area bowling establishments. Leagues that submit their scores directly to the Herald-Standard may continue to do so.