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Midwest report
March 28 , 2008

Jeff Crowley

Bowling Skins Game

With all do respect to the Little River Band, I wasn’t walking through the park, but I was walking through Franklin Lanes reminiscing with Dave King about the “Good Ole Days” of bowling in Evansville. We started talking about the Bowling Skins Game on WEVV and TSN Channels 44 and 63 in the 90’s.

Dave said, “Pat Rayburn organized the local proprietors to join forces. Pat had a marketing plan to get local bowling back on TV. Pat’s plan was to use the golf skins game format.”

“We decided on a “pins over average” to qualify, and bowlers would qualify using their league scores. Every adult league member was eligible by paying a $2.00 entry fee. All the league winners would go to the center for that week’s TV show and bowl in a one game qualifying tournament. The four bowlers, bowling the most pins over their average would bowl on TV the following week.”

“The TV show was a five frame skins game, with a total purse of at least $500.00. The 1st frame was worth $50, 2nd $75, 3rd $100, 4th $125, and 5th $150. The money went to the bowler with the highest pin count on one ball. If two bowlers tied for the highest count, the money carried over, with all bowlers still being eligible.”

“The fifth frame was different. If there was a tie, only the bowlers involved in the tie continued bowling. When there was extra time, there was a split challenge. Each player would attempt to make the 5-7 or 5-10 for $25.00. If a bowler did not win any money, we gave them $25.00.”

Pat Rayburn said, “We worked as a group, but this was my baby. I sold sponsorships in advance to underwrite the $20,000 cost for the half hour broadcast. I sold the idea to WEVV and TSN.”

Beth-Ann Patmythes Katz was the Executive Producer and Producer of the show. Beth said, “Pat was the driving force behind the show. He had a marketing plan and the ability to get people to work together.”

Beth said, “I enjoyed the bowling show a lot. We had people on TV who were young and young at heart. The things I remember the most about the show were Pat correcting me if I said bowling “Alley,” instead of “Center” and the enthusiasm. It was an exciting event. People still tell me that they remember and enjoyed the show.”

Adam Alexander was the original host of the Bowling Skins Game show, and is now a NASCAR broadcaster with Speed-TV and Direct-TV. Adam said, “I never thought I would be involved with a bowling show, but I was the logical choice, because of my involvement with sports. I enjoyed co-hosting with the proprietors. Each brought a different perspective and rotating them each week helped to keep it fresh. They all did a nice job with the show.”

“I was shocked at the following of the show and the popularity of bowling in our area. I received more feedback on the Bowling Skins Game than anything I’ve ever been involved with in local television. It was very enjoyable to be a part of the show and Beth-Ann did a great job of organizing the show and took a great deal of pride in seeing that it was executed properly.”

Bill Vukovich said, “We were lucky to have Adam. You could tell he was a real pro and was going places. Off the air he told me, I don’t know much about bowling, but you couldn’t tell when we were on the air. Adam made me feel at ease doing the color for the shows at River City Recreation.”

Tom Allen appeared on the show twice, once in Feb. 94 and in Jan. 95. Tom said, “I remember holding a Gatorade cup on the approach at Willow Lanes, being interviewed by Adam Alexander. I’m not shy, but I was nervous on TV. It affected my bowling. I rolled the ball harder than I normally do. I won $375.00 the 1st time, and $350.00 the 2nd time.”

“The second time, the Gatorade cups were gone, but each us received a shirt for the show. The second time was at Meadow Lanes, I bowled better and was more relaxed. Mike Seiler commented on how well I was rolling the ball.”

“I liked the fact that the proprietors were working together for the betterment of the sport. The production crew was professional and had great camera angles. We always had good crowds watching live, as well as on TV. I had several people tell me they saw me bowling on TV. We even got two new teams from GE to join a league at Franklin Lanes.”

Carl “Pop” Horstman bowled on the show at Diamond Lanes and won over $300.00. Pop said, “I really wasn’t nervous. I knew the other bowlers on the show and we would talk waiting our turn. I bowled first in the fifth frame and was the only bowler to strike. I remember telling Ellis Wright, ‘Now the monkey is on your back’.”

Two other local people involved with the show were Chris Goodman, now with Channel 14, and Joe Herrmann, Athletic Director at Mater Dei High School. Chris filled in a few times for Adam as the host of the show in 1996, and Joe was a camera man.

Will Evansville have another local bowling show? Pat Rayburn said, “I would welcome the thought of us doing something again.” Bill Vukovich said, “Pat did a good job getting us all together and we worked well as a team. I’d be for it, but TV is expensive.” Dave King said, “I don’t think it can be done financially, the way we did it. If a TV station wanted to have a bowling show it could work.” Debbie Bush, VP/General Manager of WFIE said, “I never say never, but you have to look at local interest. However it is not in our plans.”

Until next time, may the high scores be yours!

Jeff Crowley covers bowling for the Evansville (IN) Courier Press. He has graciously allowed AlabamaBowling.Com to republish his articles. Jeff can be reached by e-mail at CrowleyJA@thegleaner.com

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