We just thought we'd seen bowling leagues. But after perusing the requirements and details for the USA Junior Gold Bowling Championships in town from July 10 through July 16, we realized that what we really saw were uniformed drinking teams with stats and non-rented balls and shoes. Over the course of the tournament held by the service-oriented Young American Bowling Alliance, junior bowlers will compete in an effort to secure spots on Junior Team USA by way of qualifying matches, round-robin match play and, in general, serious adolescent competition. No alcohol, no culottes, no flash photography (just a few rules in the guidebook). It's serious business. It must also be serious fun to attract almost 1,500 youths from across the country (the generous scholarships help, too, we're sure). The tournaments are open for free public viewing at Don Carter All Star West Lanes, 10920 Composite Drive; Forum Bowl, 2001 S. Great Southwest Parkway in Grand Prairie; and Fort Worth's Don Carter City View Lanes, 6601 Oakmont Blvd. Time slots, parent tourneys, details and results are available at www.bowl.com. --Merritt Martin
A NOBLE Cause
7/11
From July 10 through July 15, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) will hold its annual training conference and exhibition at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. The theme is "United on the Forefront of Change." It all sounds very, ahem, noble and, well, a little boring. We're pretty sure cops wouldn't even want to talk about being cops for almost a full week. The bright spot: On July 11, attendees will be united on the forefront of the first tee at the L.B. Houston Golf Course, partaking in a four-player Florida Scramble-style tourney to raise money for scholarships. There will also be a $10,000 hole-in-one contest. Tee time is at 8 p.m. Call 214-671-3936 or 214-671-4045. --Zac Crain
Set Sail
7/9
Retro is so hip these days. Whether it's fashion, video games or TV shows, all the latest must-have items hearken back to simpler times. That's why we think this weekend's Dallas Summer Boat Show should follow suit and dig into the past. Not just a few decades, though; we're talking about clipper ships. The kids would come in droves for that Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria style, right? Then again, boat fans who dislike month-long, scurvy-ridden journeys across the Atlantic to seek Persian spices may prefer the 19th annual event in its non-conquistador format. Dallas Market Hall at 2200 Stemmons Freeway hosts the huge sale of yachts, fishing boats and the like, but you won't find jet skis or other small watercraft, since this show features only vehicles that would crowd your duplex. Both this weekend and next, the show is open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for kids. Check www.dallasboatshow.net for information. --Sam Machkovech