Bowling Philosophy-May 2011

A Man's Man
by Thomas Scherrer

With one step comes a giant leap for Scott Norton.

   Before we discuss Scott Norton, allow me to address one of the greatest flaws of social media and blogging-anonymous incompetence.  As I was filing through my notes this past week, I came upon two messages: one detailing the harrowing way in which Mika Koivuniemi lost the US Open to Norm Duke (US Open Live Diary).
   The other related to Kelly Kulick's historic win and in some respect, to the lack of big game chops Chris Barnes has shown over his career. To take up space for this person's comments, here it is:

Anonymous said...

I was mostly in agreement with your premises until you got to the piece about the TOC and Kelly Kulick. Really? No matter what your opponent bowls, a HOF bowler would beat them if they're a "non-winner", whatever that is... ( I "assume" that non-winner means no prior men's PBA title.) Seems like you've overlooked the obvious. She posted a 265 to win the TOC. That's a high end score for ANY title match. I won't even bother mentioning the rest of her credentials. So, you're essentially saying that any HOF candidate would always post the winning score, when "he" reaches the final match and is playing against a "non-winner". That notion is so patently absurd that I didn't bother to read the rest of your article.

   First of all, I appreciate the feedback of course-glad I have fans!  Secondly, I wished you read the rest of the article because I do happen to give Barnes his proper due as a player-it is totally absurd on my part to think for one second that this isn't one of the 20 greatest players in bowling history, not PBA.  But back in 1998, the talk was that Barnes was the "next one"; the natural successor to Walter Ray and he has disappointed from a standpoint of winning over his career.  One note that is important now: a friend asked me what it will take for me to think he is a first ballot HOF'er last summer.  My response was simple: win the World Championship.  Done and done.  He went out and showcased his talents that night to win the final piece of the Triple Crown.  Historic in that he joins a select cast of players to do it.  He walks into the PBA HOF the first year he is eligible.  Overall, has Barnes been a success in his career?  Yes, but not to the extent we all thought he would be.  Finally, don't be afraid to put your name on your statement-nobody likes lurkers in the shadows.  Be proud of your beliefs as I am of mine.

   Which brings me to Scott Norton.  I stand before my readers today as a 27-year-old man and I can safely say this: Scott Norton is more man than I will ever be, here going forward.  Norton, the 2010-11 PBA Rookie of the Year took one brave step by announcing on May 19th that he is a gay athlete.  For the first time in sports history, and active participant of the sport they are in has come out of the closet.  Truthfully, there should be no closets to come out of anymore but the fear and backlash gay athletes feel they might have has kept them in the shadows for far too long.  For Norton, he has come out and he is proud of it, stating that being gay does not define who he is a person.  He is just like everyone else-a human being.  He just happens to like, date, and be in relationships with men.  
   Admittedly, it is real easy for someone who is heterosexual-like myself-to applaud Norton's decision to come out because I didn't have to live with that secret inside his soul.  It is also easy for me to applaud because I have no problems with anyone who is gay or lesbian or even bisexual.  In bowling, unity means more to this group than other sports mainly because of the already false stereotypes that have been portrayed in media and in TV and movies (you should know this now but I have watched "Kingpin" and it makes me sad to think that this movie is used as an example of bowling), so Norton's decision carried even more weight.  Why?  Because there are others in bowling.
   When I worked in Syosset Lanes, every Monday night during the fall the Monday Fourplay league would take place and the league featured mostly people of an alternative lifestyle.  Just like anyone else, they have jobs like bankers, teachers, cops, and just like anyone else, they used bowling for recreational relief from their jobs.  Were they more open and flirtatious with someone like me?  Very...however, I never had the pleasure of working a Monday night while I was there.  But just like any other people, those league bowlers would come in to practice, have a drink, talk life with you.  You know, actual normal activity that some other people who are far more close-minded would not even consider gays and lesbians to have.  That should make you sick to your stomach that people still think that way but it does happen and you can't change that.  
   In some respects, bowling has been trying to elevate itself from being a lowest common denominator on the sporting food chain to something far more respectable in the public eye and Norton, in some roundabout way, might have officially helped start this movement.  Norton's candid, honest, and brave admission puts him on the upper echelon of those people in bowling trying to elevate it.  In one fell swoop, Norton is the biggest man on the PBA Tour going forward and he did by being himself and giving us to who his true self is.
   If we were all like Scott Norton, bowling would be in better shape, but certainly society would be.  

For those with a love and knowledge for bowling...this is Bowling Philosophy.  Namaste.