This installment of The One Board originally appeared in Bowlers Journal International, March, 2023
Early March is an optimistic time of year. Spring might arrive in the northern hemisphere, fall might arrive in the southern hemisphere, Jason Belmonte might arrive in time for his match with BJ Moore. At this point in 2023, the PBA Tour has completed four events and we’ve already guaranteed one competitor the Player of the Year Award. Four champions have shaken hands with four runners-up, uttered a sincere, “Good bowlin’” and then exhaled in triumph and exhaustion before having to muster more energy for the media blitz.
Throughout the rest of this month and two days into April, the PBA Tour will have completed four more events and guaranteed a different person the Player of the Year Award. Four more champions will have shaken hands, maybe even added a half-hug or back pat, expressed “Good bowlin’” and happily signed dozens of autographs for patient fans.
Good bowlin’.
Literally, the phrase requires only a single additional letter to define: good bowling. Throwing a hearty “Good bowlin’” at someone is a nice compliment on the act of having bowled well.
Getting into its deeper meanings, “Good bowlin’” has immense sportsmanship connotations. Players trade this phrase with each other preferably but not always in sincere appreciation. Even if the players don’t always mean it, they still say it; if a guy overcomes an opponent who rolls five Brooklyn strikes, the winner might say “Good bowlin’” purely to be a good sport but he certainly won’t mean it literally.
Better is when both players bowl well, so the loser can say “Good bowlin’” knowing he tried his best but didn’t quite succeed while the winner can say “Good bowlin’” knowing he worked extra hard to get his deserved victory, which not only shows sportsmanship but can also bolster his confidence going into the next match.
Even within the inimitable bowling vernacular, language evolves. “Good bowlin’” has also become somewhat of an honorable mention, or a kudos, or a statement of consolation, or even, “Hey, nice try.”
Digression: as much as we at The One Board would like fans to be more vocal and involved at all events, is there any worse way for a fan to be involved than by saying “Nice try” to a professional who just missed a nearly impossible split late in a match that cost him $50,000? Good rootin’.
With its many nuances, “Good bowlin’” is simultaneously the utmost compliment and slyest consolation.
There are variations, the most frequently used being “Great bowlin’.” This is often used by a winner who thought either there was a legitimate chance he might lose at some point, thus expressing extra relief with the upgrade from good to great, or by a winner who knows he got away with some lucky breaks and needs a stronger word to convey his reverence for his opponent. By saying “Great bowlin’” to the person who bowled better but lost, the winner can alleviate any guilt over getting a much larger paycheck.
“Great bowlin” is often extended into “Great bowlin’ all week,” while “Good bowlin’” usually exists without any modifiers. To avoid confusion, we won’t get into how “all week” often means “yesterday.”
“Good bowlin’” is simultaneously a genuine show of sportsmanship, an authentic congratulations and a heinous insult. The phrase “good bowlin’” actually comes from the Latin “tu terribilis es,” meaning “You’re terrible.”
Appropriately, “Good bowlin’” has one more meaning, which is simply “goodbye.” This definition is generally conjured at the end of the final qualifying round of an event. Players shake hands with their pairmates and say “Good bowlin’,” which more directly translates to, “I can’t believe I was able to make the cut with you on my pair and I am extremely grateful you’re going home now and I’ll never see you again but I’m polite so I will bid you farewell with an outright lie.”
Good lyin’.