If you have time to spare, strike a pose and strut your alley style

What do Ashton, Nelly, Paris and Nicky all have in common? Aside from being recognized by their one-name personas, they have all been seen sporting the latest fashion accessories. They’re not the designer duds you’d expect from such notable names. These trés chic threads aren’t from the runways of London or Milan – they’re from the alley … the bowling alley, that is.

“You never know when you’ll get a chance to roll,” said multi-platinum rapper Nelly when referring to bowling in a Time magazine interview. “And you should never waste a chance to have a good time.”

Bowling is now one of the hottest activities to do with friends and family. The popularity of bowling has been on the rise in recent years and doesn’t show signs of slowing down. It’s experiencing a renaissance of sorts, from the new Saturday-night disco bowling parties to the rising television ratings of the Professional Bowling Association (PBA) on ESPN; ratings have increased 40 percent since 2001.

Along with the celebrity cool factor, the sport’s visibility also has been raised by the involvement of professional athletes, both for recreation and as fund-raising events. The NBA’s New York Knicks host an annual charity bowling event and New York Jets quarterback, Chad Pennington, recently hosted a celebrity bowling benefit that included Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Byron Leftwich.

Bowling isn’t just for the famous. According to the PBA, 3 million people competed in a bowling league in 2003 and more than 8 million kids between four and 12 years old attended birthday bowling parties. Add to that the 10 million ‘tweens and teens who participated in “glow bowling,” which boasts heart-pumping music and flashing lights on the lanes.

The PBA also reports that nearly 70 million Americans, or 25 percent, bowled in 2003. These statistics ranked bowling among the highest participation rates of any sport in 2003.