The 2,800 members of the PBA "are scheduled to vote on
whether to authorize their board to negotiate the sale of
the bowler-owned association" to former Microsoft exec Chris
Peters, according to David Bank of the WALL STREET JOURNAL.
Peters quit his "top job" at Microsoft two years ago and
"dedicated himself to becoming a professional bowler," but
his average "never crept up above 170, far short of the 200
minimum required for membership" in the PBA. Peters'
"strategy for bringing back the glory days" of bowling
involves the Internet. In addition to "global Webcasts of
tournaments," Peters "spins a version of viewers clicking to
instantly buy balls and other equipment used by their
favorite pros." Peters' group also "promises to pay off the
PBA's estimated" $3M debt and "to sweeten tournament prizes"
by $1M over the next two years. American Bowling Congress
has noted that while fewer people are bowling in leagues,
more than 54 million people over the age of eight bowled
last year, "making it the biggest participatory sport in the
country." If members vote to "move forward," the deal could
be completed in a month (WALL ST JOURNAL, 1/14).
