Commentary -- Record Binge Shows Bowling's Too Easy

The most sacred record in bowling, the famed Budweiser team's score of 3,858, has been broken by an unknown team from Luzerne, Pa.

Little wonder it fell in this age of too easy lanes, too explosive balls and too light pins. To be blunt, the game is too easy.

In the past seven years, every record in bowling has been erased - often by inferior bowlers.

On March 12, 1958, in the Masters League at Floriss Lanes in St. Louis, the Buds set the record that seemed destined to stand forever. Leadoff man Don Carter contributed a 754 set, Ray Bluth 834, the late Pat Patterson 736, Tom Hennessey 759 and Dick Weber 775. All five went to national ABC Hall of Fame honors.

On Feb. 23 in the Empire Arcare Classic League at Chacko's West Lanes in Luzerne, the Hurst Bowling Supplies team blitzed a record 3,868 series. Bob Buckery led off with 754, Jeff Piatt rolled 810, Carmen Marsit 770, Howard Holly 738 and anchorman Brian Snear 796.

Not to be disrespectful, but those five will be lucky to make the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

Weber, contacted at his home in St. Louis, was not surprised the Buds' 36-year-old record finally had fallen. "With today's new equipment, it had to be expected. I'm sad in a way, but I'm happy for the other guys," Weber said.

Carter, contacted at his home in Miami, took a different view. "We still have the upstairs record," he said, hesitating a few seconds before laughing and adding, "We bowled our score on the

second floor of the bowling center.

"The record was nice while it lasted. But to be honest, I never expected it to last this long with scores being as high as they are today."

Scores are too high for the good of the game, and the primary culprits are bowling balls.

When the Buds set their record, each player entered Floriss Lanes with one rubber bowling ball. Since then, ball technology has gone bonkers - plastic surfaces, urethane and now the reactive resin urethane.

Most bowlers today enter centers with four to six different type balls. Instead of changing lines, hand positions or speed to carry strikes, they just change balls.

I have always advocated high scores. But they have gone too far. Soon this game will be void of league heroes like Dick Weber, Don Carter, Allie Brandt and Glenn Allison.

That will be a shame.