It hurts to lose.

In my case, it really

hurt to lose.While bowling in the state tournament recently at Freeway Lanes, I concluded the team portion of my bowling by taking a tumble during the 10th frame of our third game.My right foot planted and stuck while the rest of my body chose to keep on going. My left foot caught some oil and I did an impression of someone slipping on ice that any Hollywood actor would be proud of.Only this was no act.My left leg hyperextended and my left hamstring pulled, creating much pain and a noticeable limp for the next couple of weeks.As I lay on the approach, writhing in pain, I couldn’t get one particular thought out of my mind.Injured in bowling? Seriously?I played backyard tackle football for years and never got hurt. Decades of baseball and softball never yielded anything more than a slight ankle sprain.Basketball, street hockey — nothing.And it’s bowling that takes me down?There had to be an explanation.After some research, the only answer I could find from the Internet was that I didn’t warm up properly, I’m overweight, out of shape, and the combination caused my eventual downfall.Thank you, world-wide web. I love you, too.Surely I’m not alone in this bowling injury thing.After more answer-seeking, I discovered I’m not.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 20,000 people with bowling injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year.Many of these are smashed fingers or broken wrists, primarily through not paying proper attention to the ball return. One guy suffered a broken toe when his girlfriend lost control of the ball on her back-swing and it landed on his foot.Heart attacks have occurred on the lanes from excessive sweating.My brother knew of a guy who shattered his leg so badly from “sticking” during his approach that it was eventually amputated.Wrist, back, shoulder, hip and knee injuries have occurred through bowling. Repeated stress on muscles and joints can cause all of these things.And, yes, slips and falls are at the top of the list in terms of common bowling injuries. Improper shoes cause many of them.I am not alone.Of course, I was not bowling well prior to my injury that day. In fact, through 15 games combined this season in the county and state tournament, I managed to bowl my average in none of them.The physical injury of a pulled hamstring heals.The mental injury to one’s pride runs much deeper.Maybe taking that tumble served as a bit of symbolism for my lack of performance on the scoreboard.Nah.I’ll be back — wounded pride and all.