Document text
P/SUNNY Temp: 57 °F Wind: NNE at 4 mph Sunday, April 20, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 9, 2003 PBA Notes PBA changes could help protect the top players By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Vast changes in the Professional Bowlers Association have done far more than scratch the surface. Since its purchase nearly three years ago by a trio of former Microsoft executives, the PBA has enjoyed dramatic increases in prize money and exposure, the schedule was changed to reflect the traditional bowling season and television agreements now provide for consistent, same-time, same-day, same- channel programming. But have the alterations scratched the PBA’s itch to explore new ways of doing things? Hardly. The Medford Open at Lava Lanes this week almost became a testing ground for yet another concept: Reward and protect the top qualifiers each week by giving them byes through two rounds. They would be slotted into the Saturday Round of 16 for match play. The upside, of course, is that the best players would have a much better chance to make the TV finals. "From a marketing standpoint," says Mark Brisbing, the PBA’s vice president of tournament operations, "you want to see certain guys in there." There are a couple of prominent issues on the downside, however, which led the PBA to rethink the matter. First, such a format could give the impression the playing field is not level. "Even though it would be great for the top eight," says Brisbing, "we’re not sure it’s really fair. That’s a pretty big advantage for them when you get to a match-play format. "We don’t want to do something that’s rigged or doesn’t look right." Secondly, the format would call for roll-offs of some kind on Saturday that would jeopardize press times, particularly on the West Coast. This, of course, would be the antithesis of the expanded exposure the PBA has worked so hard to achieve. The idea of rewarding the top qualifiers is not completely dead. The format might get tweaked and it or a new plan could surface down the road, likely during a PBA regional event or two. One change has been made that should benefit the best players. The first round of match play is a best-of-seven format, up two games from last year. The theory is, the more games you play, the better the odds the stronger player will come out on top. CHRIS BARNES GETS the same question over and over. When are you going to win? "It’s a legitimate question until I take care of it," says the PBA’s No. 2-ranked performer. "I know it comes with the territory." Barnes has had a remarkable season in a couple of respects. He’s the only player on the PBA Tour to have made it to match play every tournament. He’s not only made four TV shows, but he made it to the championship match in each — and he has yet to triumph. "I haven’t broken through nearly as much as I’d like to," says Barnes, of Flower Mound, Texas, "but I keep knocking on the door. I guess I’m the only person who’s not worried about it. You can always get better; pretty soon, I’ll finish it all the way through, and I can’t think of a better place to do that than Medford." Barnes, who was overtaken by Walter Ray Williams Jr. for the points lead last week and remains third in earnings, has more ties to Southern Oregon than most PBA players. He rooms with Roseburg’s Bryon Smith — he and his family are staying with the Smith’s during this part of the swing — and he was here in the summer of 2001 to help christen Lava Lanes as a PBA Tour stop. CAN’T MAKE IT TO Lava Lanes to see the action? Try the PBA’s Web site at www.pba.com . In addition to player bios, stats and the like, the site features webcasting. It shows live coverage of the Round of Eight at 5 p.m. Saturday, and taped coverage of the Round of 16 is available Monday following the tournament. There is a $5.95 monthly fee to subscribe to the PBA’s webcasting service. Brisbing doesn’t know of any other sport that provides video coverage in addition to live scoring. "We’ve gotten very positive feedback," he says. "People have just raved about it. It’s not like watching it on TV, but it’s pretty good." The PBA tested the system last year, then incorporated it with this year’s first event, the Wichita Open in October. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S