Bowling, The Wright Way - March 1, 2000 by Don Wright
Hall of Famer Pete Weber Suspended!

The following is a Professional Bowlers Association Tour press release -

PETE WEBER SUSPENDED BY PBA TOUR

AKRON, Ohio -- Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Hall of Famer Pete Weber has been suspended from PBA tournament competition effective immediately and will not be eligible to compete in PBA events for the remainder of the year.

Weber, a 37-year-old from St. Ann, Mo., received a conduct fine for "conduct unbecoming a professional" during the PBA Tour event at Bay Lanes in Bay City, Mich., last fall. Weber was already on probation when this incident occurred.

According to Article VII, Section 4, Paragraph IV, of the PBA's rulebook, "Any conduct offense while on probation will, if the Member is deemed guilty, result in suspension and a possible fine, the length and amount to be determined by the Commissioner."

PBA Tour Commissioner Mark Gerberich suspended Weber for the incident in Bay City. Weber then appealed the decision of the Commissioner as outlined in the PBA Constitution, but the decision was upheld. Weber still had the right to appeal the decision to the PBA Board of Directors, but decided to drop his right of appeal following the Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship (which concluded Feb. 27) and accept his suspension.

Therefore, Weber's suspension took effect Feb. 28, 2000, and will run through Dec. 31, 2000. During this time Weber will not be eligible to compete in PBA national, regional or invitational tournaments. Following the nine-month suspension, Weber will remain on probation for a period of 18 months through June 30, 2002.

Weber, who was the 1980 PBA Rookie of the Year, trails only Walter Ray Williams Jr. on the PBA Tour's all-time earnings list with more than $2.2 million. His 25 career titles (including one this year) rank him seventh all-time. He is one victory behind his legendary father Dick Weber, Mike Aulby and Don Johnson, who are tied for fourth on the all-time list.

Weber, who was inducted in the PBA Hall of Fame in 1998 in his first year of eligibility, is one of only four players (Aulby, Billy Hardwick and Johnny Petraglia) to have completed bowling's Triple Crown (Tournament of Champions, PBA National Championship and U.S. Open). He was off to a fast start in 2000, having won the Parker Bohn III Empire State Open in Latham, N.Y., and finishing second at the recently completed Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship in Akron, Ohio.

Personally, I am absolutely amazed at this decision. It is clear that Commissioner Gerberich has the authority to determine the length of the suspension, but having spent forty years in law enforcement I know that punishment should fit the crime. What Commissioner Gerberich has done is prevent Weber from earning a living. I realize that Pete isn't the most laid back person and I have no first hand knowledge of what the "conduct unbecoming of a professional" was. But, Darryl Strawberry was suspended from baseball for a year for his third cocaine positive. I think Weber was punished for all his actions simply to make a statement.

Gerberich needs to understand that bowling needs its best people. There are ways to enforce the rules and discipline misbehavior. Preventing them from making a living, and failing to put the best people on the Tour does nothing to enhance the sport.

In a time when bowling needs a shot in the arm, the Commissioner's decision seems excessive. Bowling is an emotional sport that gives little in return for the effort of the participants. Pete Weber wears his feelings on his sleeve. I can name a lot of them over the years.

Weber appeared to be on a come back and I was looking forward to a great year for him. The Commissioner needs to understand that people will buy a ticket to see Pete Weber bowl.

Dennis Rodman of the Dallas Mavericks said it best when he said, "referees need to understand nobody buys a ticket to see them," the same holds true for the Commissioner.

I have no particular axe to grind here and I am sure the Commissioner anguished over the decision. As a leader of a professional sports association he must make the tough decisions. However, I just find it ludicrous that he would impose that severe a punishment on the second leading money winner and a popular PBA draw.

I have heard all the stories about "if he wasn't Dick's Son he would have been gone long ago." I don't buy into that either. Maybe if one reporter or interviewer would say, "Pete, how are you feeling today?" Instead of "Pete how does it feel to be closing in on your Dad?" He might be more amenable to answer.

If the Commissioner believes Weber is the only bad boy on the Tour he hasn't walked among the bowlers during a Pro-Am. And, if he believes for one minute that suspending Weber is good for the Tour than so be it.