Bowling Video of the Day--Funny Sean Rash Commercial for ESPN

Bowling Quote of the Day--PBA Should Disclose Amount of Rash' Fine

"Why won't the PBA disclose the amount of his fine? It seems to me that the main reason to fine somebody is to act as a deterrent to others engaging in the same behavior. How can that deterrent be effective if the amount of the fine is unknown?"

--Comment in PBA Forum regarding the PBA's "undisclosed" fine amount of Sean Rash

Sean Rash Apologizes, Sort Of

In the wake of the PBA's announcement yesterday that Sean Rash was being fined "an undisclosed amount for conduct unbecoming a professional" over the "Bottlegate 2" incident with Jason Belmonte that has yet to be aired on TV but has made the Internet rounds, Rash today released this arguably grudging apology for his actions:

To the PBA, my fellow bowlers, and fans:

I would like to apologize for my poor choice of words used during the taping of the 2011 GEICO PBA Team Shootout which will air on ESPN over the next couple of weekends. I would like everyone to know that this is not the type of image I want to portray as a professional bowler.

As for what happened, it is important to note that I stepped off the approach twice during the match against Jason Belmonte because I could easily hear the water bottle crunching. For the first water bottle crunching, I did not acknowledge the distraction, but after the second incident, I felt that it was more than coincidental and had to call him out on his unusual gamesmanship. The fact is that Jason has been warned before about his untimely bottle crunching, and I did not appreciate that he had not learned from his past actions and was continuing this tactic against me.

While I do apologize for my choice of language, I do not apologize for my actions on calling out Belmonte. In the heat of the moment, the words came out well before I could even think about what I was going to say. I can assure you that I will most certainly call out Belmonte or any other player who tries to use these unprofessional tactics against me in the future, but I will be sure to use a better choice of words.

While I have a great deal of respect for Belmonte as a fellow competitor, the fact is that he is still my competition on the PBA Tour, and bowling is a sport with intense competition. When I step onto the lanes, friendships are set aside. This is our chosen profession and our livelihood, and at times, things get heated.

As for how things are between Jason and I, let’s just say that we will settle it on the lanes.

Sincerely,

Sean Rash

Are you satisfied with Rash's apology? Do you think he even needed to make one?

Ron Mohr Seems Unbeatable in PBA Senior Competition

"The dream continues I guess—it’s absurd. What can you say but that I’ve been extremely fortunate this year. It’s all been so unexpected coming into this season after not having bowled competitively for seven months."

--Ron Mohr

It seems as though the only thing that will definitely stop Ron Mohr (watch a video clip of his shooting 300 in last week's Senior U.S. Open here) from winning the next PBA Senior Tour tournament is a wedding. That's right, Mohr won't be competing in the USBC Senior Masters in Columbus, Ohio in August because he'll be attending his stepson Justin's wedding instead. If not for that, you'd have to make him the solid favorite, judging by his amazing accomplishments this season.

Of the six PBA Senior Tour tournaments that have been held so far this season, Ron has placed second, third, fourth, and won three titles, including last week's PBA Senior U.S. Open in Las Vegas, and this week's PBA Senior Northern California Classic in Brentwood, CA.

He achieved the latter yesterday by defeating PBA Hall-of-Famer Mark Williams 3 games to 2 in the Round of 16, two-time regular tour titlist Kent Wagner 2 games to 1 in the Round of 8, PBA and USBC Hall-of-Famer and last year's PBA Senior Player of the Year Wayne Webb 223-195 in the Semifinal Round, and 7-time regular tour titlist Hugh Miller 223-215 in the title match.

Miller, who has been called one of the most underrated PBA bowlers ever, scorched the lanes the day before by averaging a near record 264 for the second round 8-game block on games of 238, 237, 300, 268, 279, 248, 300, and 247 and led second place Walter Ray Williams Jr. by nearly 200 pins in qualifying while Ron Mohr was sixth in qualifying. But Mohr continued to show his indomitable spirit and skills in match play all the way to yet another title and a huge, if not overwhelming, lead in the Senior Player of the Year race.

I really wonder what this guy might be able to do on the regular tour.

You can read Jerry Schneider's official PBA.com recap of Mohr's victory here.

Leanne Barrete-Hulsenberg Looking Forward to 2011 U.S. Women's Open

As I was leaving the bowling center last night after my sport league, I ran into Gary Hulsenberg, husband of female professional hall-of-famer Leanne Barrette-Hulsenberg. Gary and Leanne operate a pro shop at Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights, CA. They're departing for Texas today so that Leanne can compete in the U.S. Women's Open.

Leanne has appeared in televised bowling competition over 100 times, has won 26 PWBA titles including the USBC Queens Championship in 1999, was twice voted PWBA Player of the Year, and is a member of the USBC Hall of Fame in the Superior Performance category, but she's never won a U.S. Women's Open.

But Gary says she's been bowling very well lately and that he and she both like her chances this year. For one thing, the U.S. Open format favors her game because it's a long tournament where the lanes will have a chance to break down and Leanne can keep moving left into her wheelhouse and open up the lane with her unusually powerful release. This gives her an edge over all but a handful of elite female bowlers who'll be competing this year.

I hope to see her in the televised finals broadcast live from Cowboys Stadium on July 2 at 6 PM Eastern, and I'd love to see one of The Strike Shop walls adorned with a bigger-than-life copy of the $50,000 first place check for winning the title.

Go, Leanne.

Bowling Quote of the Day--Tom Clark on GEICO Team Shootout

"For bowling fans who may think the GEICO Team Shootout was a so-called ‘silly season’ exhibition, I think they will find out otherwise. It was a fierce competition for the second annual Manufacturer's Cup, with significant money and a great deal of pride on the line. It featured 20 of the best players in the world bowling with one goal - to win - and that shines through in this series."

--Tom Clark, PBA COO and Deputy Commissioner

Walter Ray Takes on Wayne Webb at PBA Northern California Senior Classic

If you have PBA Xtra Frame and a way to watch it this evening, check out the featured match coming up between Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Wayne Webb in the Round of 8 at the PBA Senior Northern California Classic. The match begins around 5 PM Pacific. I won't be able to see all of it before I have to leave for my sport bowling league tonight, but I look forward to catching all of this very promising match in the Xtra Frame archives later.

Wayne Webb looks very sharp coming off knee surgery and his outstanding showing last week in the PBA Senior U.S. Open, and he seems to be picking up from where he left off in this week's tournament in Brentwood, CA.

Catch him and Walter Ray if you can and let the PBA know that you value their Xtra Frame webcasting service and senior bowling.