Cyber Report #1000

You Read That Right: The Cyber Report Turns 1,000

News of President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky had not yet become public, and Vice President Al Gore had not yet finished “inventing” the internet, which meant email usage wasn’t nearly as popular as it would become.

But that didn’t stop Jim Dressel, then the Editor of Bowlers Journal International, from approaching Luby Publishing Inc. President Keith Hamilton with a technology-driven idea.

“I still remember where Jim was standing when he told me about his idea. I had just moved into [LPI founder] Mort Luby’s corner office in the Borg Warner Building,” says Hamilton. “It took me all of one second to give the okay.

“It wasn’t weekly at first, but that was Jim’s vision. By the time Super Bowl 1998 rolled around, it was being sent out every week.”

“It” is this very publication you are reading: The BJI Cyber Report. Today, The Cyber Report marks edition No. 1,000.

Contacted by phone, Dressel, who retired shortly after the 100th anniversary issue of BJI was published, said that the Report was distributed primarily by fax at the beginning. He would produce it during the day, and then it would be set up for a “broadcast fax” after hours.

“The idea was inspired by other industries,” he said. “I was publishing a baseball faxed report at the time, so it was really an offshoot of that. I thought it was a good idea since we were in the news business, and to deliver news [more frequently than monthly] made sense. The technology was there.”

Added Dressel: “I wasn’t thinking of the posterity, just the importance of getting a report out. Anybody could do a half-assed job, but if we were going to do it, it would be something different and special. We’d do it right.”

Now, 999 issues later, The Cyber Report continues to be bowling’s weekly source of business news, today supplemented by the BJI website and Facebook page, as well as BCM magazine’s website, on which the Cyber Report is archived.

P.S.: We’re happy to report that Jim sounded good on the phone.

Kielich, Jost Elected to Top 2 USBC Posts

The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors has elected Karl Kielich of El Paso, Texas, to serve as USBC President, and Karen Jost of Tumwater, Wash., as Vice President starting with the 2018-19 season.

Kielich will take the reins from Frank Wilkinson of Staten Island, N.Y., while Jost assumes the role held by Cathy DeSocio of Wichita, Kan. Both Wilkinson and DeSocio are closing their final terms, having reached term limits.

Wilkinson will remain a director through the 2018-19 season, while DeSocio has two seasons remaining on her current three-year term as a director.

Kielich was elected to a third term by delegates at the 2017 USBC Annual Meeting.

“I’m am honored for the opportunity and appreciate the support and trust my fellow board members have shown by selecting me,” Kielich said. “I want to thank Frank for his leadership these last three years, and I look forward to working with Karen, the board and USBC staff as we continue USBC’s focus on being an effective national governing body and providing quality service to our membership.”

Jost begins her third term with the 2018-19 season after delegates re-elected her during Thursday’s Annual Meeting.

Kielich and Jost will assume their new roles on Aug. 1. More: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/kielich-elected-usbc-president-jost-selected-as-vice-president/.

New Specs for Bowling Balls Announced by USBC

The USBC Equipment and Specifications Committee has established new specifications designed to sustain the playing field both currently and in the future. The changes were unveiled at the USBC Convention last week in Reno.

A new specification has been established for the oil absorption rate of bowling ball coverstocks, the first time such a specification has been set, and a specification to eliminate balance holes while increasing static weight allowances also has been approved.

In addition, new rules will be put into place to allow only a dry towel to be used to clean bowling balls during competition, and to keep bowlers from changing the static weight (i.e. drilling grip holes deeper) of bowling balls during competition.

The new oil absorption specification for bowling ball coverstocks will require that for a new ball to be approved, submitted ball samples cannot have a rate of oil absorption under 2 minutes and 15 seconds (2:15), and must adhere to the 0.6% non-conformance rate.

The initial step on the oil absorption specification will begin Aug. 1, 2018, when bowling ball manufacturers are required to submit oil absorption data as part of the USBC bowling ball approval process. Manufacturers have been provided a standard operating procedure (SOP) to determine oil absorption rates.

The specification requiring a bowling ball’s oil absorption rate to be more than 2:15 for the ball to be approved will take effect Aug. 1, 2020. Also, any ball models tested where the average oil absorption rate is under nine minutes and 30 seconds (9:30) will require additional balls to be tested.

The specification eliminating the use of balance holes will go into effect Aug. 1, 2020. Balance holes, also known as weight holes, are meant to correct static imbalance in bowling balls, but more recently have been used to change the design intent of balls. By allowing bowling balls (for balls weighing more than 10 pounds) to have up to three ounces of static side, thumb and finger weight — which is up from one ounce — and up to three ounces of top weight, there no longer will be the need for a balance hole to correct static imbalance in the typical ball layout.

The specification increases in static weights take effect Jan. 1, 2020, which will allow bowlers the opportunity to plug balance holes prior to the elimination of balance holes starting Aug. 1, 2020.

With the elimination of balance holes, bowlers may have up to five holes for gripping purposes, and all gripping holes must be used on every delivery.

The change allowing only a dry towel to clean bowling balls during competition becomes effective Aug. 1, 2019. It eliminates the use of liquid cleaners of any kind during competition, which aligns with other changes to ensure equipment is not manipulated during competition. The change prohibiting a bowler from adjusting static weight during a competition by drilling grip holes deeper goes into effect Aug. 1, 2020.

18 Lanes Included in New Cinema Entertainment Center

Cinergy Cinemas & Entertainment has again partnered with QubicaAMF on its newest location.

Cinergy pioneered the Cinema Entertainment Center concept by anchoring theaters and bowling within its entertainment facilities. Its newest location in Amarillo, Texas, will include 18 lanes of bowling featuring the BES X Bowler Entertainment System, TMS String Pinspotters and white bowling lanes to complement the rest of its entertainment offerings.

Exploring options to grow their business, Cinergy chose to include bowling as an anchor attraction in its new facilities beginning in 2016.

“We strive to offer a unique experience for our guests, and believe Cinergy has been successful because we offer the perfect mix of entertainment,” said Jeff Benson, the company’s CEO.

Jay Buhl, Senior Vice President and General Manager of QubicaAMF, said, “Cinema Entertainment Centers have been a tremendous area of growth for the bowling industry, and it is partners like Cinergy who have led the way. Our relationship has been mutually beneficial as bowling has leveraged revenue growth to different areas of their business, and allowed us to introduce the top participatory sport and entertainment option to new and excited consumer base.”

Added Wendy Smith, Director of New Business Development for QubicaAMF: “Cinergy Entertainment has been a valuable partner with QubicaAMF, and it is great what they have been able to do for the cinema industry by adding bowling to their product mix. We are excited to see their continued growth and be a part of their expansion.”

Dallas, Texas-based Cinergy Entertainment Group, Inc. is a regional operator of three Texas cinema entertainment centers with 29 screens and 18 lanes of bowling. The company has four additional locations under development, representing 38 screens and 71 lanes of bowling.

All Cinergy centers feature dine-in luxury electric recliner seating, serving alcoholic beverages and a tempting array of restaurant-quality food and beverages. In addition to upscale cinema amenities, all Cinergy locations feature a unique selection of interactive games and a variety of other amenities, including bowling, virtual reality games, full bars, laser tag, escape rooms and Sky Walker, an elevated ropes course.

Forget Ocean’s Eleven; Ocean5 Opens in Gig Harbor

The long-awaited opening of Ocean5 occurred earlier this month in Gig

Harbor, Washington.

The complex features 12 lanes of tenpin bowling with string pinsetting machines and 50-ft. lanes. The center also has 10 lanes of duckpins, laser tag, an arcade, Latitude 47 restaurant, and meeting and banquet space for 600.

The bowling installation was handled by US Bowling, and includes Murrey MML-3000 Bowling Lanes, the PULSE Scoring Entertainment System, US Bowling Mega Media Mask, and US Bowling Z-Bump Bumpers, gutters and capping.

Thanks to Greg Olsen of the Washington State BPA for letting us know.

On its website, Ocean5 is described as being “designed for epic get-togethers.” It’s named after the world’s five great oceans. “Just like they’re all connected, so are we — to each other and to our planet,” the website notes. “That’s the big idea behind Ocean5. We know that even the simplest efforts can add up to make a big impact, and together we can make a difference.”

To read about the center’s positive environmental impact, go to: https://www.o5social.com/about.

England’s Ten Entertainment Acquires 2 Centers

Ten Entertainment, a United Kingdom-based bowling company, announced it has agreed to acquire two sites in Leeds and Luton, growing its total center count to 44.

Following completion of the acquisitions, Ten Entertainment will have added four new units to its estate in fiscal year 2018. MFA Bowl is selling the centers.

“These latest acquisitions are a further sign of the group’s ability and opportunity to strengthen its national estate in new markets with anticipated good rates of return on invested capital,” said Nick Basing, Ten Entertainment’s Chairman. “We are happy with our performance so far this year.”

PBA Announces Return of the Fall Swing

The Lanes at Coffee Creek in suburban Tulsa, Okla., will host the 2018 revival of the PBA Fall Swing Oct. 14-20.

The multi-event tournament package, open to a field of 120 PBA members only, will be covered exclusively on Xtra Frame, PBA’s online live streaming service.

The Fall Swing — which will award Wolf Open, Bear Open and Tulsa Open titles —will precede the U.S. Open, which takes place Oct. 24-31 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan. The Fall Swing and the U.S. Open, the final major championship of 2018, are both part of the 2018 Go Bowling! PBA Tour schedule.

More: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/pba-announces-tulsa-as-host-of-multi-event-fall-swing-in-october/.

Briefly…

* Throwing two pressured-filled strikes in the 10th frame of the title match, Lennie Boresch Jr. beat PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke in the championship match to win the PBA50 National Championship Presented by Spanish Springs Lanes and Radical for his first PBA50 Tour major and fourth career title. Boresch, a USBC Hall of Famer, defeated Duke, 198-192, to also win his third title at Spanish Springs Lanes in The Villages, Fla., after winning the Sun Bowl in The Villages in 2017 and also in his 2012 rookie season. More: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/lennie-boresch-jr-wins-pba50-national-championship-for-first-major-and-fourth-career-pba50-tour-title/.

* Shayna Ng of Singapore captured her first PWBA title, winning the 2018 PWBA Las Vegas Open Saturday night at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas. Ng, the No. 2 seed, defeated top-seeded Diana Zavjalova of Latvia, 231-211, in the championship match. Full report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/singapores-shayna-ng-wins-first-career-pwba-title-in-las-vegas-open/.

* The two-time defending champion Shipyard Dallas Strikers will carry their bid to become the first three-time OceanView at Falmouth PBA League Elias Cup champion into the semifinal round after a thrilling extra-frame victory over the GEICO NYC WTT KingPins, but standing in the way will be a determined Sysco Philadelphia Hitmen team that has its collective eyes focused on winning its first Elias Cup. In the first semifinal-round match that will air on ESPN this Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern, the Barbasol Motown Muscle, who have never won the Elias Cup, will meet the two-time past champion Go Bowling! Silver Lake Atom Splitters. Read more here: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/pba-league-dallas-strikers-philadelphia-hitmen-advance-to-semifinal-round/.

* The USBC Hall of Fame grew by six members on Wednesday with the induction ceremony of the 2018 class at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. The 2018 USBC Hall of Fame class includes Tennelle Milligan and Danny Wiseman, who were elected in the Superior Performance category, Kendra Gaines and John Janawicz for Outstanding USBC Performance, Jeri Edwards for Meritorious Service, and Tim Mack in the Pioneer category. For comments from the inductees, click here: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/usbc-hall-of-fame-inducts-class-of-2018/.

* With looming deadlines for the biggest BCM issue of the year, the Cyber Report will resume its regular Thursday schedule with a special double edition on May 10. Meanwhile, visit bowlersjournal.com for breaking news from the world of bowling.

* CONTACT: Please send business news, event information, etc. to Bob Johnson at bjibob@aol.com. For breaking business news, visit bcmmag.com or bowlersjournal.com, and “Like” Bowling Center Management and Bowlers Journal International on Facebook. BJI Cyber Reports are now archived at bcmmag.com.