Bowling Bytes--4/23/10

~ Japan's Aizawa Leads Japan Cup Qualifying; 18 of 20 PBA Stars Advance to Match Play Eliminations -- "Hideaki Aizawa of Japan averaged 233 to earn the top qualifying position in the 25th anniversary DYDO Japan Cup Friday at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Bowling Center, topping Professional Bowlers Association star Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, by 60 pins as the top 48 players advanced to the match play elimination portion of the event..."

~ Bowling community reflects on Ladewig's passing -- "Reflections from around the bowling community on the passing of Hall of Fame bowler Marion Ladewig on April 16, 2010. For a look at the career of Marion Ladewig, click here..."

~ Remembering "Queen Marion": Ladewig's journey from rags to bowling royalty -- "Marion Ladewig looks out from behind the pins one winter afternoon as she fills in for an absent pinboy. It is a vantage point from which she sees how the best shots differ from the way she throws the ball herself; they are slower, they approach the pocket from more of an angle, and they always push all ten pins back into the pit where she waits to set them up once again. Ladewig does not know that she has just discovered the thing that will win her the first of three National Women’s High Average awards, the thing that will nudge her closer to the bowling royalty she’s destined for..."

~ New York team sets Women's Championships record -- "Bowlers Choice Pro Shop of Tonawanda, N.Y., had the highest team total in the 91-year history of the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships on Wednesday night, coming out on top after a three-team shootout for the record. The team, which featured defending USBC Queens champion Liz Johnson, fired games of 1,160, 1,085 and 1,179 to finish with a 3,424 series, surpassing Together Once Again of North Richland Hills, Texas, record-setting score of 3,350 shot in 2006. Bohn Zone Chicks of Jackson, N.J., previously held the scratch team lead this year with 3,191, shot Tuesday night..."

~ Defending champion falls short at USBC Open Championships -- "Under the watchful eyes of many spectators at the National Bowling Stadium, Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., attempted to become the first bowler in USBC Open Championships history to claim back-to-back Regular All-Events titles. Although Vokes fell short in his quest to repeat, he posted the second-highest all-events total of his 25-year tournament career. The 50-year-old right-hander shot 673 in singles, 673 in doubles and 614 in team for a 1,960 total Wednesday..."

~ Twins celebrate 25 years at USBC Open Championships -- "Vernon and Victor Hoffman of Wichita, Kan., have been inseparable all their lives. They dressed alike when they were children, shared the same interest in bowling and cars and competed together on their high school wrestling team. The 45-year-old twins also made many memorable trips to the USBC Open Championships to watch their father, Robert, compete, and they dreamed of joining him on the tournament lanes some day..."

~ Walter Ray Williams Jr. Scheduled to Make PBA Senior Tour Debut in Senior Miller High Life Classic May 2-5 -- "PBA Hall of Famer and reigning Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr. is scheduled to make his PBA Senior Tour debut in the Senior Miller High Life Classic May 2-5 at George Pappas Victory Lanes in Mooresville, N.C. Williams, who is currently competing in the DYDO Japan Cup, will be among more than 130 of the world’s top Senior Tour players (age 50 and over) who will compete in the third stop of the 30th Senior Tour season..."

~ Jason Thomas: Women's Series Showdown TV Recap -- "Before I begin my belated recap of Sunday's PBA Women's Series Showdown (thanks to my DVR for not understanding that two PBA episodes listed back-to-back means to record BOTH), I just want to say (so I'm going to say...well, OK write) how much I hope the ladies are back again next season. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching them compete this year, and with Kelly Kulick's victory in this season's T of C, no one can any longer argue the obvious, incredible skill these ladies possess at the sport of bowling..."

~ Mike J. Laneside: The Signature Event -- "Each professional sport has a signature event that loyal fans as well as casual and some non-fans put on a “don’t miss” schedule once a year. What is professional bowling’s signature event? Horse racing has the Kentucky Derby, auto racing fans have the Indianapolis 500, tennis has the U.S. Open, golf has The Masters, pro football has its Super Bowl; there are many examples of signature professional sports events that attempt to capture the attention of those sports’ loyal fans, casual and non-fans for one big week of media coverage. What is professional bowling’s signature event? The new PBA Tournament of Champions featuring a million-dollar prize fund and a $250,000 first prize check will be..."

~ Interviewing the Bowlers...While They Bowl -- "Throughout the PBA Tour on ESPN, occasionally, out of nowhere, announcers Rob Stone and Randy Pederson ask questions of the bowlers. This makes sense, as they're the commentators and they want to get the bowlers' takes on what's going on. But the thing that strikes me as odd is the fact they ask these questions while the bowlers are on the approach and ready to roll. The bowlers have an earpiece in, allowing Stone and Pederson to talk to them without shouting across the lanes from their announce position, but it's always bothered me, more as a bowler than as a viewer..."