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Little known facts and  history of bowling.

How old is the game of bowling?

Very, very old. Bowling pins and other bowling equipment have been discovered in an Egyptian child's grave dating back to 5200 BC. Bowling games have been popular all over the world.  The Germans in 200 AD rolled stones at nine wooden clubs called kegels (bowlers in Germany are still sometimes called "keglers").  The English were bowling as early as the 1100s.  The Dutch are the ones who introduced the sport to America in the 1600s.  They called it "Dutch pins" and Dutch colonists in what is now New York City liked to bowl in a particular section of the city so much that it acquired the name "Bowling Green."

Why did an extra pin get added to the game of bowling?

People used to bowl at "nine pins" rather than "ten pins."  According to bowling historians, the practice of using ten pins in the game of bowling actually originated in colonial America as a means of getting around a gaming law that forbade "bowling at nine pins."  The colonial authorities tried to quash the sport because too many colonists were gambling on it.  To avoid punishment for disobeying the law, bowlers decided to add an extra pin and call it ...ten pins. ("Hey, there's no crime here, officer. As you can clearly see, we are NOT bowling at nine pins.")

Why isn't bowling an Olympic sport?

Bowling isn't an Olympic sport yet, but the International Bowling Federation would like it to be.  According to the IBF, bowling is like many other Olympic sports in that it requires accuracy, stamina, concentration, and muscle control.  The IBF points out that bowling meets the minimum requirements set by the International Olympic Committee for gaining acceptance (the rules state that an Olympic sport must be contested in 75 countries for men's competition and on four continents, and 40 countries for women on three continents.)

What is a "turkey" in bowling?

Three strikes in a row!

Who made the catchphrase "hambone"  so popular recently in bowling?

"Hambone!"
According to wikipedia, Rob Stone is a commentator for ESPN who has covered various sports from soccer to football.  While announcing a PBA tournament along side 13-time PBA titleist Randy Pedersen, he asked, "if three strikes is a 'turkey", why isnt there a name for four strikes?".  Stone launched the hambone phrase in the following week's final TV finals, and it soon took on a life all its own despite criticism from traditionalists, some media and (at first) even a few bowlers on the PBA tour. 

Though many bowlers were slow to embrace the catchphrase, it has become extremely popular with PBA management, and even more so with bowling fans who now bring "Hambone" placards to flash on camera whenever someone rolls four straight strikes.  The 'hambone' has also proven to be a ratings booster for PBA matches televised on ESPN.  In a February 17, 2008 match, Hall of Fame bowler Pete Weber, after rolling a fourth consecutive strike, pointed to Stone in the TV booth and shouted over the cheers, "Rob Stone, here's your hambone!" while performing his trademark chop.