Traveling Masters

Perhaps the greatest bowling league ever! Many have asked if it will ever happen again? Most likely that answer is no, unfortunately. There are more reasons why it will never happen than for it to happen. Job security, income, family, league fees being higher, sanction fees being higher and the ever-changing league rules, just to name several reasons.

     Even today, I miss some of the great competition we had in the Vantage - Miller Lite Traveling Masters scratch league. The best sweeper by far with the 2004 prize fund being the record with $8478. $2573 in total added money from sponsors, Mr. Stats and our sensational Strike Pots. Two four game brackets were contested and the winner of both with a $10 entry could have driving hom e with $375. We have had three $1000 cashers with Ken Hosp, Mr. 900 doing it twice.

     The league had the most unique format partly due to being a scratch league. Since the league had a president who wanted a better league like I did, he let me organize the sweeper and offer more optionals (and I do mean many more optionals from other scratch leagues, in fact any league). In 3 seasons, the league went from 12 teams to a full house at Tucson Bowl with 24. This shows if you'll promote your league, who knows how big it could be.

     They say OptionVille is one reason why they came! After the league doubled in size, these side events became crowded because most every bowler wanted in on the action. Add FREE MONEY and then 85% of all bowlers were entering optionals to make me work a little more, to keep track of point standings for bracket bowlers, Tournament of Champions standings and Bowler of the Year. The last two seasons, I offered a few more events that didn't get many entries. Bowlers can spend only so much! But that didn't stop me from trying! March Madness always worked as it was just one time. Traveling brackets were run but had limited interest. The optional Doubles league got 2/3rds of the league to enter for just $5 a week with 100% being prize fund. The travel Eliminator didn't

go over as well as I thought until you could win a FREE entry into the sweeper Eliminator! Offering these FREE EVENTS is why the bowlers responded! MORE

OPTIONAL EVENTS increased entries for the weekly brackets and the weekly

Eliminator!

       AND NOW, just below, I'll show you my TOP 10 reasons why they bowled in the GREATEST LEAGUE AROUND! And why several still want it to come back.

        AND THEN, below my top 10, I'll show you articles I wrote for the Deset Bowler, copies of the stats I kept for the league and the weekly newsletters I wrote publicizing all the GREAT SCORES from the week! More stats than any other league made it unique as well as traveling to five different centers!