Bowling, The Wright Way - October 15, 2004 by Don Wright
Another 900 Series

I won't go into all the details about how Jeff Campbell bowled the 900 because I wasn't there, and then again, neither was anyone else. All the particulars on how it was supposedly rolled have been well documented in other papers, on numerous web sites and public forums on the Internet. But, I'll condense a few things for clarity. Campbell bowled unopposed, alone, in a different center from where his team actually bowls league, and rolled the 900 series in the first three games of a four game block. No league officer's were present and no one from the league knew he was going to pre-bowl.

Another bowling columnist, Bill Herald of Florida had many questions regarding ABC rules and the league rules governing the league which bowls out of New Castle, Pa. and he posed those questions to ABC's Jack Mordini. Herald wanted to know how ABC could honor this 900 series when it violated Rule 110b which states, "Individual unopposed bowling is prohibited, unless the league adopts a rule permitting this type of competition." According to Herald the league had no such rule.

Mr. Mordini's reply to Herald is condensed as follows - "As we explained, we did verify with league and association officials that all ABC and League rules were adhered to in the case of the 900 series. Bill, as you know from you reading of the rule book and your years of experience, rule 110b item 3 states, "Individual unopposed bowling- prohibited, unless the league adopts a rule permitting this type of competition."

While the league did not adopt a written rule to this effect it has, by policy and precedent allowed teams and individual bowlers to bowl unopposed. ABC's long standing policy in this area is that if a league adopts a practice that is not specifically prohibited by rule, through the establishment of precedent, then that rule is as binding as if it were listed in their rules. Our understanding is that the league has allowed individuals to pre-bowl unopposed at other times during the season. It is on this basis that the score was recognized.

Our responsibility is to review the facts and make a decision on what we know, not what we think might have happened. Based on what we could document we have no reason to believe any improprieties occurred.

I hope this helps you understand our position.

As far as the Glenn Alison score is concerned we know the lane dressing distribution did not meet the patterns allowed at that point in our history."

Personally, I think Mr. Mordini is wrong. Why have rules if the rules aren't going to be enforced? The fact that the league allowed pre-bowling without a WRITTEN rule in their league constitution is a direct violation of the ABC rules each time they allowed it.

In my association that would be reason enough to disallow any scores ever bowled in violation of the ABC rule.

Further, most league constitutions, at least in my association, end with the following statement -" In the absence of specific rules adopted by this league, appropriate ABC and WIBC rules will govern." In other words we don't make it up as we go along.

What Mr. Mordini is saying is we accept illegal behavior if everyone agrees with it.

I find his statement about Allison's 900 series to be an absolute cop-out. We don't even check lane dressing distribution anymore following honor scores. ABC Hall of Famer and award winning columnist John Jowdy calls them award scores. I tend to agree since there is little honor to them any more.

If we checked lanes after every 300, 800 and 900 series, in addition to the long hours and expense to the association, they probably wouldn't accept half of them.

I don't know Jeff Campbell and if he put together 36 consecutive strikes I envy him. I'm happy when I have 36 clean frames. It isn't a question about Jeff Campbell, it's a question of rules, integrity and the authority of the ABC.

This decision simply fans the fires of bowling's nay-sayers. At a time when doping issues, performance enhancing drugs, and questionable records are found in all sports, bowling cannot afford to have this type of publicity.

If the rules can be violated by simply stating, "that's they way we've always done it," than the governing body needs to stand up and say, "That's not good enough!"

I thought the ABC had committed one wrong with Allison, now they have committed another. They need to have the courage to stand up and correct those two mistakes.

See you on the lanes.