"The Hammer brand was a huge success. My partner and I got into the business because we wanted to make bowling balls, and we wanted to make a living. We wanted to make the best bowling balls available, and we did for that for a long time. It was a very good run for the company."
--John Wonders Sr.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Bowling Bytes--6/1/10
~ Long journey ends with success at USBC Open Championships -- "Not even an erupting volcano could keep the United Kingdom's Ken Iredale from the 2010 USBC Open Championships. Although his trip to the National Bowling Stadium was delayed by a month, he wasted no time finding his way to the top of the Classified All-Events standings with a 1,810 total Wednesday. Harry Arnold of Falls City, Neb., previously held the lead with 1,796..."
~ USBC Hall of Fame adds new category -- "To recognize top performers in United States Bowling Congress competitions, USBC will have a new Hall of Fame category starting in 2011. The Outstanding USBC Performance category will recognize efforts by bowlers in USBC national events. This will cover performances of bowlers in tournaments such as the Open Championships, Women's Championships, Queens and Senior Queens, and Masters and Senior Masters..."
~ Junior team USA members impressed with the ITRC -- "Members of 2010 Junior Team USA had the chance to train at the International Training and Research Center during a camp held this week at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. The training camp for the 20-member Junior Team USA started May 23 and team members were impressed with the new facilities..."
~ Mohr Takes PBA Senior Northern California Classic First Round Lead -- "Reigning PBA Senior Tour Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, averaged 234 to take the first round lead in the PBA Senior Northern California Classic at Harvest Park Bowl Monday. Mohr, who is trying for his fourth career title and first of 2010, rolled games of 215, 274, 233, 241, 249, 257, 216 and 190 for an eight-game total of 1,875 pins and a nine-pin lead over Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, Mich. Darryl Traber of Waterford, Wis., was third with 1,864 pins followed by Ken Croucher of Grants Pass, Ore., at 1,832; Ted Staikoff of Black Hawk, S.D., at 1,801, and Senior Tour rookie Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., at 1,776..."
~ Kalfas Revives Game in Time to Win PBA Regional Players Championship -- "Riga Kalfas of Florence, Ky., revived his game just in time to win the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. Kalfas, a 42-year-old truck driver by day and bowling pro shop operator by night, defeated Chris Collins of Savannah, Ga., 236-216, to complete a near-perfect day and claim the $7,500 first prize along with a guaranteed berth in the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, a record $1 million event with a $250,000 first prize..."
~ 2010 PBA Regional Players Championship--Match Play Rounds
~ PBA West Region Senior Leaders Through June 1, 2010
~ Mai Genge Jensen, Robert Andersson Lead top 8 into Round Robin Match Play finals -- "Day one leader Mai Ginge Jensen (pictured left), Denmark, and Swede Robert Andersson (right) finished the 18-game preliminaries in the 3rd European Bowling Tour Masters 2010 Tuesday morning at Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark, atop the women's and men's leaderboard and lead the top 8 players into the Round Robin Match Play finals. Jensen won her second 400 Euro bonus on the combined oil pattern averaging 219.33 for the block and finished with 3906 pinfall total or an average of 217.00 for 18 games. Her compatriot, two-time defending EBT Masters champion, Kamilla Kjeldsen, was 58 pins behind in second place with 3848..."
~ Justin Lim, Cherie Tan set the early pace in 43rd Singapore International Open -- "The 43rd Singapore International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships is underway at Orchid Bowl at Orchid Country Club in Singapore. The tournament, which will be held from May 25 through June 5, 2010, offers 25,000 Singapore Dollars to the men's winner of the men's Open Masters Division and 5,000 for the women's champion. Local bowlers Justin Lim (pictured left) and Cherie Tan (right) set the pace in the qualifying as of Sunday, May 30, with 950 and 937 4-game total, respectively...PBA pro Tim Mack and his mother Joan Mack, United States (pictured left), tested the lanes at Orchid Bowl on Sunday. The former world champion and international standout posted (226,00 ave.) to move into second place in the Overseas Pool. Mack is currently sandwiched between Dilbir Singh (930) and Dhruv Sarad (868), both India..."
~ Missouri bowler joins 50-Year Club at USBC Open Championships -- "John Wonders Sr. of Florissant, Mo., added his name to the record books at the USBC Open Championships when he became the 129th bowler in history to compete in 50 tournaments. The 75-year-old right-hander has competed in 33 cities in 20 states and made his ceremonial march down Center Aisle surrounded by family and friends at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Overall, his five decades on the championship lanes have been memorable...Wonders has been a major player in the bowling industry for much of his life, and he was a co-founder of the Hammer bowling ball brand, which still is a recognizable name on the lanes..."
~ USBC Hall of Fame adds new category -- "To recognize top performers in United States Bowling Congress competitions, USBC will have a new Hall of Fame category starting in 2011. The Outstanding USBC Performance category will recognize efforts by bowlers in USBC national events. This will cover performances of bowlers in tournaments such as the Open Championships, Women's Championships, Queens and Senior Queens, and Masters and Senior Masters..."
~ Junior team USA members impressed with the ITRC -- "Members of 2010 Junior Team USA had the chance to train at the International Training and Research Center during a camp held this week at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. The training camp for the 20-member Junior Team USA started May 23 and team members were impressed with the new facilities..."
~ Mohr Takes PBA Senior Northern California Classic First Round Lead -- "Reigning PBA Senior Tour Player of the Year Ron Mohr of Eagle River, Alaska, averaged 234 to take the first round lead in the PBA Senior Northern California Classic at Harvest Park Bowl Monday. Mohr, who is trying for his fourth career title and first of 2010, rolled games of 215, 274, 233, 241, 249, 257, 216 and 190 for an eight-game total of 1,875 pins and a nine-pin lead over Harry Sullins of Chesterfield Township, Mich. Darryl Traber of Waterford, Wis., was third with 1,864 pins followed by Ken Croucher of Grants Pass, Ore., at 1,832; Ted Staikoff of Black Hawk, S.D., at 1,801, and Senior Tour rookie Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., at 1,776..."
~ Kalfas Revives Game in Time to Win PBA Regional Players Championship -- "Riga Kalfas of Florence, Ky., revived his game just in time to win the Professional Bowlers Association Regional Players Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes Monday. Kalfas, a 42-year-old truck driver by day and bowling pro shop operator by night, defeated Chris Collins of Savannah, Ga., 236-216, to complete a near-perfect day and claim the $7,500 first prize along with a guaranteed berth in the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions, a record $1 million event with a $250,000 first prize..."
~ 2010 PBA Regional Players Championship--Match Play Rounds
~ PBA West Region Senior Leaders Through June 1, 2010
~ Mai Genge Jensen, Robert Andersson Lead top 8 into Round Robin Match Play finals -- "Day one leader Mai Ginge Jensen (pictured left), Denmark, and Swede Robert Andersson (right) finished the 18-game preliminaries in the 3rd European Bowling Tour Masters 2010 Tuesday morning at Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark, atop the women's and men's leaderboard and lead the top 8 players into the Round Robin Match Play finals. Jensen won her second 400 Euro bonus on the combined oil pattern averaging 219.33 for the block and finished with 3906 pinfall total or an average of 217.00 for 18 games. Her compatriot, two-time defending EBT Masters champion, Kamilla Kjeldsen, was 58 pins behind in second place with 3848..."
~ Justin Lim, Cherie Tan set the early pace in 43rd Singapore International Open -- "The 43rd Singapore International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships is underway at Orchid Bowl at Orchid Country Club in Singapore. The tournament, which will be held from May 25 through June 5, 2010, offers 25,000 Singapore Dollars to the men's winner of the men's Open Masters Division and 5,000 for the women's champion. Local bowlers Justin Lim (pictured left) and Cherie Tan (right) set the pace in the qualifying as of Sunday, May 30, with 950 and 937 4-game total, respectively...PBA pro Tim Mack and his mother Joan Mack, United States (pictured left), tested the lanes at Orchid Bowl on Sunday. The former world champion and international standout posted (226,00 ave.) to move into second place in the Overseas Pool. Mack is currently sandwiched between Dilbir Singh (930) and Dhruv Sarad (868), both India..."
~ Missouri bowler joins 50-Year Club at USBC Open Championships -- "John Wonders Sr. of Florissant, Mo., added his name to the record books at the USBC Open Championships when he became the 129th bowler in history to compete in 50 tournaments. The 75-year-old right-hander has competed in 33 cities in 20 states and made his ceremonial march down Center Aisle surrounded by family and friends at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Overall, his five decades on the championship lanes have been memorable...Wonders has been a major player in the bowling industry for much of his life, and he was a co-founder of the Hammer bowling ball brand, which still is a recognizable name on the lanes..."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Gone Fishing, Figuratively Speaking, Until Next Tuesday
I'll be too busy the next few days to post here. But I hope all of you in the States have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and the rest of you a great regular weekend. And I'll be back next Tuesday to update you on the latest developments in the bowling world, a choice quote and video, and an entry about a rising young star in the Sacramento area.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Bowling Bytes--5/27/10
~ MIKE J. LANESIDE: WSOB--A Major Way to Start the Season -- "What if you and I were having a cool beverage and I told you a story about a professional bowling organization that decided to add a cool half a million dollars to its prize fund for its season-opening event? Can we personally think of any pro or even non-pro bowling group that has ever done that? Would you be interested in participating in that event or watching it unfold on national television or following the proceedings online? How about seven opportunities to compete for a title on national television at that season-opening event, does that have any appeal for you?..."
~ Las Vegas Will Host 2010 World Series of Bowling -- "Last year, the PBA Tour debuted the World Series of Bowling--a large concentration of bowling and events in one local area--in Detroit, Michigan. Many criticized, or at least feared, the taping of the first six PBA shows. In this very blog, I routinely took shots at the taped events. Others feared it was a sign of a failing sport that it had to record so many events in such a short period of time. Obviously, finances play a huge role in the logistics of the World Series of Bowling. But last year's WSOB turned out to be very entertaining for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of my favorites..."
~ Jesper Agerbo overtakes second place in qualifying at Bowltech Aalborg International -- "Jesper Agerbo (pictured left), Denmark, led the third of 14 qualifying squads Wednesday at Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark, en route to overtake second place overall in the Bowltech Aalborg International 2010. Agerbo, a silver medalist in Masters at the 2008 World Championships (he lost to the great Walter Ray Williams Jr., three-games-to-none), rolled games of 254, 235, 209, 200, 247 and 246 for 1391 six-game total and an average of 231.83..."
~ The 11th Frame: Scores keep heating up in Reno -- "One popular theory is that scores pick up later in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships because the track is wearing in on the new lanes. However, that theory doesn't apply to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, where the lanes were last replaced prior to the 2006 USBC Women's Championships. (At convention centers outside Reno the lanes are new each year.) Still, the scoring pace has been hot recently in Reno, with the latest barrage including three perfect games and three significant changes in the standings in just 15 hours, USBC reported. Clint Roth of Orange City, Fla.; Lou Gorcos of Crown Point, Ind.; and Frank Barefoot Jr. of Hesperia, Calif., rolled the 20th, 21st and 22nd 300s of the year and made it five consecutive days with a perfect game on the tournament lanes, while one-time PBA Tour titlist Dave Wodka of Chatsworth, Calif., cracked the top 10 in singles and all-events..."
~ The 11th Frame: Traber set to defend PBA Senior Tour titles -- "Coming off beating the "youngsters" in winning the PBA Midwest Regional in Oak Forest, Ill., May 15-16, Dale Traber is set to defend the two PBA Senior Tour titles he won last year. The Cedarburg righty last year won the Northern California Classic at Harvest Park Bowl in Brentwood, Calif., and the United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters in Las Vegas.The Northern California stop starts Sunday, and is followed by two Senior majors -- the Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast and the USBC Senior Masters -- both in Las Vegas..."
~ A "Grand Time"--Kulick "Slams Door on History -- "History beckoned Kelly Kulick pretty much all season long. Teased her. Dared her. Challenged her. Called out to her. In some respects, forced her. Kulick responded with one more major moment by running down top seed Liz Johnson in the 2010 US Open title match, 233-203 to not only affirm that Kulick, not Johnson is the world's best female kegler, but signed off on what can arguably be considered the greatest season in women's bowling history. Sorry. I meant to say bowling's history..."
~ Koff siblings selected to Dexter/USBC All-America Team -- "Andrew Koff of Miami, Fla., has been named to the 2009-10 Dexter/United States Bowling Congress High School All-America Team for the third consecutive season and is joined on this year's team by his sister, Ana. Andrew Koff, who recently graduated from Gulliver Preparatory School, is the first person to make the Dexter team three times. He also was named to the team in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Ana, a junior at Gulliver Preparatory School, won the Florida High School Athletic Association state singles title this season..."
~ Tiny Squad 6 -- "It was very disappointing that very few entries were recived for the late Thursday squad, just 13 players and a pacer meant that there were just two players per pair of lanes. Standouts when the roster as published had Danes Jimmy Mortensen and Johnni Adsbol, along with England’s talented Stuart Williams as leading contenders but things seldom go according to plan and they didn’t tonight..."
~ Ironic justice? -- "Arson was suspected. Shortly thereafter, Steve Smink, the operator of nearby Pike Lanes, was charged with setting the fire..."
~ Questions on coverstocks, lowering scores and ball speed -- "Q: What is the difference between “pearl” bowling balls and “solid” bowling balls?...Q: Many bowlers in my area feel that the way to lower scores and make the game fairer for all would be to raise the weight of the bowling pin. What’s your opinion?...Q: How do I get more revs on the ball?...Q: I’ve always been a speed-dominant bowler (18.75 to 19.25-mph) and feel good about it. People tell me my speed overpowers my revs so the ball does not read the mid-lane. I took my pro shop tech’s advice to back down on the speed, or try to match my revs and speed evenly for a better read. How do I take away the muscle and let gravity work?..."
~ Las Vegas Will Host 2010 World Series of Bowling -- "Last year, the PBA Tour debuted the World Series of Bowling--a large concentration of bowling and events in one local area--in Detroit, Michigan. Many criticized, or at least feared, the taping of the first six PBA shows. In this very blog, I routinely took shots at the taped events. Others feared it was a sign of a failing sport that it had to record so many events in such a short period of time. Obviously, finances play a huge role in the logistics of the World Series of Bowling. But last year's WSOB turned out to be very entertaining for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of my favorites..."
~ Jesper Agerbo overtakes second place in qualifying at Bowltech Aalborg International -- "Jesper Agerbo (pictured left), Denmark, led the third of 14 qualifying squads Wednesday at Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark, en route to overtake second place overall in the Bowltech Aalborg International 2010. Agerbo, a silver medalist in Masters at the 2008 World Championships (he lost to the great Walter Ray Williams Jr., three-games-to-none), rolled games of 254, 235, 209, 200, 247 and 246 for 1391 six-game total and an average of 231.83..."
~ The 11th Frame: Scores keep heating up in Reno -- "One popular theory is that scores pick up later in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships because the track is wearing in on the new lanes. However, that theory doesn't apply to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, where the lanes were last replaced prior to the 2006 USBC Women's Championships. (At convention centers outside Reno the lanes are new each year.) Still, the scoring pace has been hot recently in Reno, with the latest barrage including three perfect games and three significant changes in the standings in just 15 hours, USBC reported. Clint Roth of Orange City, Fla.; Lou Gorcos of Crown Point, Ind.; and Frank Barefoot Jr. of Hesperia, Calif., rolled the 20th, 21st and 22nd 300s of the year and made it five consecutive days with a perfect game on the tournament lanes, while one-time PBA Tour titlist Dave Wodka of Chatsworth, Calif., cracked the top 10 in singles and all-events..."
~ The 11th Frame: Traber set to defend PBA Senior Tour titles -- "Coming off beating the "youngsters" in winning the PBA Midwest Regional in Oak Forest, Ill., May 15-16, Dale Traber is set to defend the two PBA Senior Tour titles he won last year. The Cedarburg righty last year won the Northern California Classic at Harvest Park Bowl in Brentwood, Calif., and the United States Bowling Congress Senior Masters in Las Vegas.The Northern California stop starts Sunday, and is followed by two Senior majors -- the Senior U.S. Open presented by Suncoast and the USBC Senior Masters -- both in Las Vegas..."
~ A "Grand Time"--Kulick "Slams Door on History -- "History beckoned Kelly Kulick pretty much all season long. Teased her. Dared her. Challenged her. Called out to her. In some respects, forced her. Kulick responded with one more major moment by running down top seed Liz Johnson in the 2010 US Open title match, 233-203 to not only affirm that Kulick, not Johnson is the world's best female kegler, but signed off on what can arguably be considered the greatest season in women's bowling history. Sorry. I meant to say bowling's history..."
~ Koff siblings selected to Dexter/USBC All-America Team -- "Andrew Koff of Miami, Fla., has been named to the 2009-10 Dexter/United States Bowling Congress High School All-America Team for the third consecutive season and is joined on this year's team by his sister, Ana. Andrew Koff, who recently graduated from Gulliver Preparatory School, is the first person to make the Dexter team three times. He also was named to the team in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Ana, a junior at Gulliver Preparatory School, won the Florida High School Athletic Association state singles title this season..."
~ Tiny Squad 6 -- "It was very disappointing that very few entries were recived for the late Thursday squad, just 13 players and a pacer meant that there were just two players per pair of lanes. Standouts when the roster as published had Danes Jimmy Mortensen and Johnni Adsbol, along with England’s talented Stuart Williams as leading contenders but things seldom go according to plan and they didn’t tonight..."
~ Ironic justice? -- "Arson was suspected. Shortly thereafter, Steve Smink, the operator of nearby Pike Lanes, was charged with setting the fire..."
~ Questions on coverstocks, lowering scores and ball speed -- "Q: What is the difference between “pearl” bowling balls and “solid” bowling balls?...Q: Many bowlers in my area feel that the way to lower scores and make the game fairer for all would be to raise the weight of the bowling pin. What’s your opinion?...Q: How do I get more revs on the ball?...Q: I’ve always been a speed-dominant bowler (18.75 to 19.25-mph) and feel good about it. People tell me my speed overpowers my revs so the ball does not read the mid-lane. I took my pro shop tech’s advice to back down on the speed, or try to match my revs and speed evenly for a better read. How do I take away the muscle and let gravity work?..."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Bowling Quote of the Day--Chris Barnes as Lost's Ben Linus
Is he a bad guy? A good guy? Victim or perpetrator? That would be Ben Linus in a nutshell, as Lost coyly hid the motives and the morals of the show's slipperiest character up until the very end. Fans feel very much the same way about Barnes, not sure whether to cast the talented 12-time champ as a hero or a villain in the PBA drama. Part of the problem may be that Barnes certainly displays both sides of his personality on the lanes...the intense desire to win at all costs no matter who or what might get in the way, then the good-guy, charity boosting, family man - often all during the same telecast. I like to believe that, in the end, CB will end up a good guy like Ben.
--Jason Thomas
--Jason Thomas
Bowling Bytes--5/26/10
~ 18-Year-Old Matt Gasn Continues Trend of Youth Excellence in PBA Events -- "The youth movement in PBA competition continued last weekend when 18-year-old Matt Gasn of Laurel, Md., won the PBA East Region Non-Champions Open at Faxon Lanes. Gasn’s win is the latest in a wave of outstanding showings by youth bowlers in PBA regional events. Bowling as a non-PBA member, he had a 7-1 match play record, averaged 233 and defeated Michael Bohner of Allentown, Pa., 2-0 in the best-of-three championship match to win a $1,500 scholarship for his SMART account...He bowled in his first regional three years ago at age 15 finishing 12th and has a previous best regional finish of fifth...Among Gasn’s other accomplishments in PBA competition include a seventh-place tie finish in a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour TQR narrowly missing the Shark Championship field in December 2008. In April 2009, Bowlers Journal named him as one of seven bowlers to watch in future PBA Tour seasons, but for now school remains the priority..."
~ Xtra Frame Top Moment #4: U.S. Open Position Round Shocker -- "This week's Top Moment may have been THE top moment I witnessed the entire season. It was definitely the most shocking. The Open was an extremely pivotal event, even aside from the fact that it's often considered the most prestigious event on Tour. Bill O'Neill, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Mike Scroggins were each jockeying for Player of the Year positioning and all were in contention for spots on the telecast. O'Neill, Scroggins and Tommy Jones were safely in (they bowled for the top three seeds), but Williams (the eventual PoY winner) was involved in a five-way battle for ONE spot..."
~ Caroline Lagrange, Art Oliver Jr. are the Canadian National Champions -- "Caroline Lagrange (pictured left) of Montreal, Quebec and Art Oliver Jr. (right), Hamilton, Ontario are the 2010 Canadian National Champions. Defending women’s national champion Lagrange led the women's field by 78 pins to win her second consecutive national championship. Oliver had a comfortable 206-pin lead in the men's divison to cruise to his first title. Both Lagrange and Oliver are multi-year Team Canada members..."
~ Marcelo Suartz wins XIX Copa AMF Brazil -- "Marcelo Suartz won the XIX Copa AMF Brazil to earn the right to represent his country in the 46th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup at Bowling 300 Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia (Oct. 15-24, 2010)..."
~ Three players move into top 10 in qualifying at Bowltech Aalborg International 2010 -- "Three players from qualifying squad 2 moved into the top 10 in the qualifying of the Bowltech Aalborg International 2010 Tuesday at Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark..."
~ Harry Smith for Manhattan (1948)
~ "Easy" House Shots -- "You may have read, heard, or experienced the phrase "easy house shot." But what does it mean? Is any shot in bowling actually easy, especially for a beginner?..."
~ Breaking free from the house condition mindset -- "A bowler can come to harbor many delusions over the course of 20 years in house shot leagues, but few compare to the delusion that I myself once entertained as a member of the same league as the great Bo Burton at Stuart Lanes in Stuart, Fla. in the 2004-2005 season. There, as I watched Bo rack up one 700 series after another and, on occasion, an 800 series, I almost believed that the discrepancy between the 214 average I myself recorded there and the 235 average that Burton maintained was merely a matter of 20 pins or so. After making the leap from that walled-up house shot to local sport shot leagues and tournaments, I very quickly realized that the discrepancy was not merely one of pins, but also of a wisdom that I could only hope to possess with some very hard work and skilled coaching..."
~ The 11th Frame: Wolfe and his Blue Hammer smash Reno again -- "For years, the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., was known as a haven for left-handers. One of the most visible instances was the triumph at the 2002 Masters by relatively unheralded lefty Brett Wolfe, who used an old urethane Blue Hammer throughout that tournament...On Sunday and Monday, Wolfe and his Blue Hammer -- the same model but not the same ball he used in the 2002 Masters -- resurfaced in the headlines by slamming the Stadium again, moving into second in all-events at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with a 2,245 total, USBC reported. The score is behind only the all-time record 2,326 of -- you guessed it -- fellow southpaw Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn. With Minnesota lefties Steve Bohn and John Kreyer Jr. also leading doubles at 1,514, this year as shaping up as the most lefty-friendly USBC OC since 2006 in Corpus Christi, when lefties populated much of the upper reaches of the all-events leaderboard..."
~ Xtra Frame Top Moment #4: U.S. Open Position Round Shocker -- "This week's Top Moment may have been THE top moment I witnessed the entire season. It was definitely the most shocking. The Open was an extremely pivotal event, even aside from the fact that it's often considered the most prestigious event on Tour. Bill O'Neill, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Mike Scroggins were each jockeying for Player of the Year positioning and all were in contention for spots on the telecast. O'Neill, Scroggins and Tommy Jones were safely in (they bowled for the top three seeds), but Williams (the eventual PoY winner) was involved in a five-way battle for ONE spot..."
~ Caroline Lagrange, Art Oliver Jr. are the Canadian National Champions -- "Caroline Lagrange (pictured left) of Montreal, Quebec and Art Oliver Jr. (right), Hamilton, Ontario are the 2010 Canadian National Champions. Defending women’s national champion Lagrange led the women's field by 78 pins to win her second consecutive national championship. Oliver had a comfortable 206-pin lead in the men's divison to cruise to his first title. Both Lagrange and Oliver are multi-year Team Canada members..."
~ Marcelo Suartz wins XIX Copa AMF Brazil -- "Marcelo Suartz won the XIX Copa AMF Brazil to earn the right to represent his country in the 46th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup at Bowling 300 Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia (Oct. 15-24, 2010)..."
~ Three players move into top 10 in qualifying at Bowltech Aalborg International 2010 -- "Three players from qualifying squad 2 moved into the top 10 in the qualifying of the Bowltech Aalborg International 2010 Tuesday at Lovvang Bowling Center in Aalborg, Denmark..."
~ Harry Smith for Manhattan (1948)
~ "Easy" House Shots -- "You may have read, heard, or experienced the phrase "easy house shot." But what does it mean? Is any shot in bowling actually easy, especially for a beginner?..."
~ Breaking free from the house condition mindset -- "A bowler can come to harbor many delusions over the course of 20 years in house shot leagues, but few compare to the delusion that I myself once entertained as a member of the same league as the great Bo Burton at Stuart Lanes in Stuart, Fla. in the 2004-2005 season. There, as I watched Bo rack up one 700 series after another and, on occasion, an 800 series, I almost believed that the discrepancy between the 214 average I myself recorded there and the 235 average that Burton maintained was merely a matter of 20 pins or so. After making the leap from that walled-up house shot to local sport shot leagues and tournaments, I very quickly realized that the discrepancy was not merely one of pins, but also of a wisdom that I could only hope to possess with some very hard work and skilled coaching..."
~ The 11th Frame: Wolfe and his Blue Hammer smash Reno again -- "For years, the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., was known as a haven for left-handers. One of the most visible instances was the triumph at the 2002 Masters by relatively unheralded lefty Brett Wolfe, who used an old urethane Blue Hammer throughout that tournament...On Sunday and Monday, Wolfe and his Blue Hammer -- the same model but not the same ball he used in the 2002 Masters -- resurfaced in the headlines by slamming the Stadium again, moving into second in all-events at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with a 2,245 total, USBC reported. The score is behind only the all-time record 2,326 of -- you guessed it -- fellow southpaw Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn. With Minnesota lefties Steve Bohn and John Kreyer Jr. also leading doubles at 1,514, this year as shaping up as the most lefty-friendly USBC OC since 2006 in Corpus Christi, when lefties populated much of the upper reaches of the all-events leaderboard..."
~ Bowling ball manufacturers: Interview with Ebonite International, Inc. -- "I recently had a chance to interview Brenda Green, who serves as marketing services manager for Ebonite International, Inc. since she joined the company in 2003, She oversees the company’s pro shop support programs as well as leads and coordinates the marketing activities between brand managers, communications agencies and sales teams. She is currently a Silver Level USBC Certified Coach and organizes a youth bowling league in Clarksville, Tenn., with approximately 150 youth, ages 3-22..."
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