Bowling champions needed more than trophies to make a living. Four careers reveal the day jobs and uncertain paychecks behind the PBA and PWBA spotlight.
Kelly Kulick won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open, then watched the PWBA Tour stop operating that same year. She kept competing while working part-time in her father’s auto body shop. When she beat Chris Barnes to win the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions, the coverage still mentioned her day job. A historic victory and a dependable living were two different things.
Dede Davidson had nine tour titles and a women’s Triple Crown. Kim Adler had fifteen titles. Neither record could keep the women’s tour running. Their stories expose what career earnings leave out: the years required to earn them, the cost of staying on the road, and what happens when the next tournament disappears.
Tom Smallwood’s route ran through a metal shop and a General Motors assembly plant. Losing the factory job pushed him back toward bowling, but entering another tournament meant risking money his family needed. His story ends with a major championship and an answer to a call from GM. Together, these four careers show why winning on television never guaranteed a steady paycheck.
The ebook behind this story
Buried
The scandals hidden in plain sight. Instant PDF, $9.99, yours to keep.