Bowling. Conjuring up images of really funky shoes, really boring televised championship games and gutterballs, bowling is the beloved sport of the average Joe. Rarely does anyone's average score impress others and rarely does one manage to get more than three strikes in a row. Fortunately, the sheer fun and community of the game has inspired all generations of people to set forth and head out to the alleys. And, the youth of Ann Arbor is no exception to this rule.
Bowling. In technical terms, bowling is any of several games in which balls are rolled on a green or down an alley at an object or group of objects. It's the game many of us played in middle or high school phyical education classes when we thought we were getting away with something because it was just too easy. It's strikes and spares that have nothing to do with irate workers or flat tires. It's drinking with buddies and cheezy bowling alley music. For locals, it's Colonial Lanes Rock 'n' Bowl every Thursday night.
Why Rock 'n' Bowl? Why not Ypsi-Arbor Lanes, Detroit's Majestic or any number of others bowling venues? For University students, it all comes down to atmosphere. As said before, bowling just isn't bowling without bad music, alcohol and friends, and, lucky for them, Rock 'n' Bowl manages to have all of these qualities in abundance.
The only downfall of Rock 'n' Bowl, according to University student Dave LaMond (top score 183), is that the powers that be let DJ Reggie go. "DJ Reggie from last year was excellent. Now it's some other fool. It used to be good, cheezy R&B ... now it's everything from AC/DC to '80s hits."
But is this really enough to be upset about? To LaMond, it is. "DJ Reggie used to have a contest called 'Turkey Fest.' The first lane that got three strikes would win all sorts of prizes ranging from free CDs to T-shirts. Now it's not the same. There aren't any contests!"
Other students seem to feel that change is good. Cynthia Gordon, another Rock 'n' Bowl regular (her roommate scored a 180), feels that the new DJ, Romeo, still plays bad music, but that that's not all Rock 'n' Bowl is about. "In general, it's just a fun thing to do on a Thursday night," Gordon said.
In fact, she likes Rock 'n' Bowl so much that she's never even bothered to check out any other alleys. But, when pressured to talk about the current DJ situation, Gordon did have a few comments. "DJ Romeo didn't play our request. He also doesn't encourage dancing as (Reggie) did. There aren't any contests any more, but Romeo does do the 'Birthday Song.'" Really, what would bowling be without the "Birthday Song?"
An overwhelming comment of all Rock 'n' Bowl attendees was that a certain fraternity could be spotted there on a fairly regular basis. Beta Theta Pi has regular Rock 'n' Bowl nights, a chance to, as one patron put it, "Get loaded and have a good time."
Though he does wish they would play more bands, Newhauser said that when he manages to go to Rock 'n' Bowl, he's usually "too drunk to know."
As with any other Rock 'n' Bowl regular, Newhauser, along with Gordon and LaMond, felt that Rock 'n' Bowl was an experience not to be missed by any student and that, as LaMond put it, anyone who comes once will "be back!"
For those of you not interested in bowling to the oldies, Ann Arbor offers several other options for your bowling pleasure. There are Bel-Mark Lanes, Ypsi-Arbor, Dexter and others. And, for those of you with an affinity for Detroit, there is always the Majestic / Magic Stick, which manages to combine live rock 'n' roll, pool tables, bars, a nice restaurant and several bowling lanes in one tremendous building. Overkill for some, but for others, the perfect way to spend an evening with friends.
All in all, several Ann Arborites have found bowling to be the most enjoyable way to relax after a full day of classes. The most important things to keep in mind are that to bowl, one never has to be good - just willing to deal with a gutterball or two. Just remember, a bowling alley draws a diverse and interesting crowd, so be prepared to people-watch. Young, old, Greek or not, keep in mind that everyone wears funny shoes in a bowling alley and everyone is guaranteed to have a good time.
Chris Mayberry practices bowling at Colonial Lanes in Ann Arbor.