11 JUL 06: THE 3-6-10 MAFIA
Special Olympics Georgia brings its annual "Masters Bowling Tournament" to Columbus this weekend. But after several years at Peach Lanes, the event is moving to another city next year. If the Miss Georgia contestants had accepted their challenge to a showdown, the crowds would have been much bigger.
The big bowling center in Phenix City has given some people a jolt recently. Bama Lanes has turned Monday night into a "twilight night," which seems aimed at a younger crowd. When there's a sign at the front table warning against shooting off firecrackers, you know it's different....
Someone actually DID shoot off a firecracker inside Bama Lanes last week. Supervisor T. Jones admitted that to your blog Monday night, confirming reports being spread online. As if the sound of falling pins isn't loud enough for some people?!
A visitor to Bama Lanes on Monday night last week was repulsed by what she saw and heard. She spread e-mail claiming "twilight night" sets a bad example for teenagers -- not only with the firecracker going off, but loud rap music and dance contests. Oh, for the good old days when all these bowling centers had was karaoke.
The e-mailer declared Bama Lanes was so filled with loud music, dark lighting and teenagers that it wasn't a proper place for families. So what's going on here on Monday nights? Is there trouble with a capital T, which rhymes with B and stands for bowling?
T. Jones has a capital T as well, but he says what Bama Lanes is doing actually IS a "family night" with bowling. The Monday night specials began about six months ago - on a night which probably isn't that busy with bowling leagues. People who want collisions on Monday nights don't need bowling pins, when they have football and pro wrestling.
The e-mailer complained the Monday night special had a two-dollar cover charge, which she'd never seen a bowling center do before. She would have been more unhappy this week - because the price has jumped to three.
Yet that's not keeping people away from Bama Lanes. "The lowest number we've had is 320," T. Jones told me. Now that's impressive - considering the highest number I usually have at a bowling center is around 100.
The e-mailer also alleged Bama Lanes sold alcohol to high school students, without checking their identification. Yet I was left with the impression the ID was checked and customers were stamped when they paid their cover charge. Maybe the dark lighting makes those driver's licenses hard to read.
T. Jones denied any alcohol is served to minors. In fact, he notes the Russell County Sheriff's Department is at Bama Lanes to help keep order -- along with "the Y.D.C." As in the Columbus Youth Detention Centers?! Is the staff displaying bright orange bowling shirts?
T. Jones confirmed the e-mailer's claim that Phenix City Police showed up at Bama Lanes on Monday night last week. But he said HE called police for crowd control, after someone shot off the firecracker. In fact, I wondered a bit if this whole atmosphere isn't a set-up for a Metro Narcotics Task Force sting.
T. Jones says the Monday night crowd has been younger during the summer break from school -- but says before that, Bama Lanes attracted mostly families. The groups in the parking lot certainly looked like teenagers to me. But then again, none of them seemed to carry iPods or Blackberrys.
T. Jones told me some of the activities are different on Monday nights, including a dance and step contest. This shocked the e-mailer - who I assume never gets emotional about bowling two strikes in a row.
On top of that, T. Jones says visitors to Bama Lanes on Monday nights can win $100 prizes. When my Dad bowled in leagues two nights a week years ago, he was happy simply to escape paying in the beer frame.
I was unable to stay at Bama Lanes, to hear the alleged loud and dirty rap music that DJ's play late on Monday nights. T. Jones invited me to stay awhile to see what happens, but I explained I had to go home to blog this story on the night of July 10th. Yes, bowling fans - I had to do a 7-10 split.
BLOG UPDATE: There's a new sign that Spectrum signs are on the way out. Circle K logos are now on the doors of at least one Spectrum store near downtown Columbus. So before long, use a charge card for your gas and it'll be K-owed.
Now some quick stops at the Monday headlines:
+ Which woman has filed a complaint with the Georgia Ethics Commission against State Senator Ed Harbison, based on his credit card records? Should Mr. Harbison be concerned about this woman stealing his identity?
+ Advance voting began for the Georgia Primary election. The Columbus Urban League announced it's offering free rides to the polls, so you.... hey, wait a minute! You mean the Urban League, as in State Senate candidate Reginald Pugh?! What sort of a script are the drivers required to read?
+ The Cathy Cox campaign released one more TV attack ad, claiming Mark Taylor has told "too many lies to be trusted as Governor." After Cox's denial about stating her name in the Investor Protection Trust messages, apparently she's now arguing the candidate with the fewest lies should win.
+ Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Steve Earles of Pine Mountain to the "Georgia Board of Massage Therapy." Wouldn't you love to attend one of these meetings?! Instead of pounding a gavel, the chairperson probably slaps other members on their bare backs.
+ Phenix City Mayor Jeff Hardin began a trade trip to Asia with Alabama Governor Bob Riley. If the Mayor can't find a company in China or South Korea to fulfill his movie theater promise, he might have to surrender.
+ Fort Benning posted signs warning hand-held cell phones no longer can be used while driving. Uh-oh - yet another tempting reason for soldiers to park their cars on Victory Drive....
+ The Columbus Catfish lost to Rome 7-3, in a game interrupted by a bench-clearing stare-down. At one point, a Muscogee County Sheriff's Deputy was on the field - and any Rome player who's heard of the Kenneth Walker case probably returned to the dugout in a hurry.
+ My Monday night dating instruction course "How to Get the Guy" did NOT appear at its usual time on ABC. The last two episodes are missing, pulled from the network web site - and the network showed "Supernanny" instead. But isn't this switch a bit of a jump? Shouldn't there be a celebrity wedding show first?
+ Instant Message to WYBU TV-16: Are you happy to finally have "Elimidate" off the air, so you can show 24-hour Christian programming? What are single guys like I supposed to do - when the female preachers you show such as Paula White are all married?
BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.73 a gallon at Dolly Madison on Victory Drive (c'mon WRBL, drive around a little).... 2-liter sodas for 50 cents at Wal-Mart on Airport Thruway (higher in Phenix City).... and head-butting to make a comeback in pro wrestling, after what Zidane did at the World Cup....
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