The Fast Lane

The cigar trend? Over. The 70s? So mid '90s. The Spice Girls? Pass the salt!

But Bowling? Hot! Hot! Hot! Here's some proof.

The Numbers: Bowling attendance is now at an all-time high. Some 91 million folks put on those funny shoes between September 1995 and September 1996. Roughly 222 million people have done the deed at least once in their lives. That's 85 percent of the population.

The Big Lebowski: The big pin game gets much play in this Coen Brothers film. The Jeff Bridges and John Goodman characters who bowl in the movie aren't necessarily cool. But the fact that the Coens made bowling a focal point — and, of course, the Coens are way cool — automatically makes this a hip activity.

Dream With The Fishes: The sport of pinheads had a great moment in this small 1997 flick. The two main men wind up bowling with prostitutes in the nude. Hot stuff!

The Old School Try: There's a big push right now from bowling factions to make bowling a varsity sport in American high schools. A dozen states have succumbed so far.

If It's Cool Enough For The Media. . . In recent years, the sport has become a fun diversion for celebrities and the media elite. At New York City's Port Authority Lanes, for instance, Kevin Bacon, Robert Sean Leonard, and Marilu Henner bowl annually to raise money for the Second Stage theater group. Even the ultra-chic staffers of Conde Nast (the magazine group which includes Vanity Fair, Vogue, and G.Q.) have reserved lanes there. In fact, the forces behind this very Web site partook a little over a year ago. Need we say more?

Everything's Rosie: Rosie O'Donnell recently spent a big chunk of her show re-living an excursion she and son Parker made to New York City's Chelsea Piers Bowl. Needless to say, they had fun. And what kind of power does Rosie have? Do you recall what happened to sales of the Tickle-Me-Elmo doll after Rosie featured it on her show?

Back to The Big LeBowlski

Lane Change
Don't Be A 'Powder Puff'!
A Shrine To Bowling's Legendary Rollers

Written by Rob Medich with graphic design by Emily Fader