I noticed during the Chameleon Championship, it appeared that Brian Kretzer was having shoe issues when he slipped at the foul line and his ball missed everything leaving (of all things) the 1-5-8-9 (???) and promptly missed it, and on the next frame he goes to his trusty shoe brush and sticks on the next shot and promptly leaves The Big Four (OUCH!!!).

I then heard Randy Pedersen mention that Brian was breaking in a new pair of shoes during the week, and it was because Kretzer's old shoe brand (Linds) was no longer registered with the PBA as approved equipment on the Tour, and even one guy at J.D.'s Pro Shop (run by John DeWitt at my home bowling center, All Star Lanes in Silverdale, WA) was told the same thing when competing at a PBA regional event that he could no longer wear his Linds shoes in PBA competition and he had to get a new pair of 3G shoes to even bowl in that event or risk a possible DQ and forfeiture of his entry fee.

It wasn't that long ago (up until 1995) that 90% of all of the touring professionals wore Linds, including most notably, Mike Aulby, who in 1990 (not in person, just watching him and other Linds staffers on TV) inspired me to get a pair of Classic White Linds as my first real bowling shoe (I have since switched in 1997 to the Dexter SST-5 [stone/ivory] and in 2005 the Dezter SST-5 LX [all-white] exclusively).

I just want to pose this question, has anyone else who is a PBA member registered on this board had this issue lately???

This issue was discussed at a local regional recently, but nothing was done about it. I will watch closely to see if that is the case, here. I saw no publications about it. I do know of 2 proshops who now no longer carry them, and this was a recent move.

I prefer Linds Pro Classics. So, this may affect me too.

(Taken from the PBA Newsletter for its members)

"The PBA members notice of 9/3....


9/3/2008

This is an update to let our members know that Linds
footwear and Lane Masters/Legends bowling balls are both
illegal in all PBA competition starting Oct 1, 2008."

The preceding was taken off of this thread:

http://www.bowlingcommunity.com/b/ubbthr....html#Post66135

OK, I remember the Lane Masters thing. I sort of overlooked the Linds thing. Lane Masters upsets me more.

I really liked the feel for the Linds. I had 3 different pair. I went through 2 of the classic white ones and a pair of the green and black ones (still have them at home somewhere). Feet started to widen as I got older and I wanted to try the removeable slide pads so I went with my Dexters SST 5s cause Linds had the disc system back then. I have had them for years but never changed the soles at all. I am thinking about digging out my old Linds and trying them again.

I am guessing that Linds didn't want to pay the PBA the juice that ask from all of the sponsors. Since it looks like most of the PBA uses Dexter or Etonic, you can't blame them.

I find this to be interesting. About a week ago, I was watching a NJ Devils game, they were playing the Oilers and they mentioned on the telecast that the Oilers goalie was using pads manufactured by a company that had not paid sponsor fees to the NHL. He could still use them because they were made without the name of the company on them. I think this could be an acceptable approach for the PBA to take.

Mark

I guess I am totally illegal now. What towel can I use?

Glad all my stuff is still OK for local USBC tournaments, State, and other events.

Mark:

A buddy of mine used to run a Pro Shop near St. Louis. He would drill equipment for guys who bowled in Regionals all over that area. They all had logo shirts from his shop. If they wanted to wear his shirts in their photos for the PBA program, he had to pay the PBA. They could wear them in the tourneys, just not the photo. This was only Regional guys though.

Just goes to show you. Everyone wants a piece of the action.

Thank God I am still an amateur, although years ago I wanted to be a PBA champiopn like my idol, Brian Voss.

Here is one of the outfits I wear in league, all featuring my Dexter SST-5 LX shoes in classic white:



I guess that because I wear a Raiders' shirt (I also have a Raiders mock neck and a Raiders polo as well in rotation for league night [like tonight]), along with all Raiders' gear including ball bags (or converted Raiders duffel bags that act as ball bags), towels and accessories, along with a pair of Oakley Jet Black/Black Iridium XX (Twenty) shades (for that PDW look), that I am illegal too (by PBA standards). Garbage like not being able to wear and use what you want just completely turns me off from getting involved in any pro sports altogether.

Bo Burton once said "It's not how, it's how many", but now it seems like it matters to the PBA what you use to win the title or even keep your Tour card with.

Thumbs down for the PBA for making yours or my favorite gear/garb illegal just because they won't pay the $$$. BOO!!!

The PBA figures that if you use X company equipment, that is advertising which equates to dollars in X company sales. They want a portion of that. Otherwise they see it as free advertising.

When I get a new car, I ask them to take the dealer plate cover off and the emblem off the back. They always look at me weird. I tell them that if they want to pay me for advertising their dealership, they can keep it on.