This hockey news site notes that the entire Montreal Canadiens team went to a tenpin bowling center in the Edmonton area yesterday as a team-building activity instead of holding a normal practice. Defenseman Mathieu Dandenault unofficially declared himself as the team’s “king kegler” w/ an average of about 200.
Archive for February, 2009
Cross-training #80
February 11, 2009Cross-training #79
February 11, 2009The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Jahri Evans, an offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints, will hold a charity bowling tournament on Saturday (Valentine’s Day) at the Brunswick lanes in Feasterville, PA. Tickets can be purchased on Evans’ web site (which is linked in the above article).
47th Brockton USBC Bowling Association Championships unofficial results posted
February 9, 2009The unofficial results of the 47th annual Brockton USBC Bowling Association’s championship tournament have been posted, and Dan Robinson appears to have been the star, as a 794 score in singles helped him not only win that event, but also All-Events. He is the top bowler in both the handicap and scratch divisions in singles and All-Events, so it remains to be seen which prizes he receives.
Cross-training #78
February 9, 2009The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that Penguins players will serve as team captains at a Pens and Pins charity bowling tournament, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Thursday at the Crafton-Ingram Bowling Lanes. If you’re in the area and would like to participate, the article has a contact number.
50th annual Massachusetts State USBC Bowling Association Championships
February 9, 2009The 50th annual Massachusetts State USBC Bowling Association championship tournament will be held on weekends between April 25 and May 17 at AMF Airway Lanes in Springfield, MA. Events are five-man teams, doubles, and singles, with optional all-events. Entry fee is $26/bowler/event and $6 for All-Events, with the prize fund being returned 1 in 8 for team, 1 in 10 for singles and doubles, and 1 in 15 for All-Events, 60% handicap and 40% scratch. Handicap is 90% of 240, computed on a three-game basis. Entries close March 15, and re-entries will be allowed based on lane availability. Entry flyers with more information are now available at all Masschusetts tenpin bowling centers.
Having a day
February 9, 2009For the first time in a while, I had a very good day in a regular practice session, as I had a 673 series, which was highlighted by a 253 first game in which I had the front 6. I’m stinging myself for not being a better spare shooter today, though, as a missed 9 pin and a couple of missed “buckets” (the 2-4-5-8 leave for right-handers) prevented me from bowling my first 700 series, albeit unofficially. Bev printed out the score sheets for me, but I didn’t take them, as the series didn’t beat anything. I did tell the control desk people to show the sheet to Ray when he comes in tonight, however.
There was a moment of levity in the practice, too: I can no longer laugh at Chris Barnes leaving the “sour apple” (the 5-7-10 split) on a pocket hit, a la the World Tenpin Masters, as I’ve now left the split on a pocket hit myself. Oh well, at least I can laugh at myself for leaving it now! 
Mike Zeoli nearly perfect in Westgate Mixed League
February 7, 2009Looking at the updated standings in the other Wednesday night league, the Westgate Mixed League, I noted that Mike Zeoli posted the second 298 game at Westgate Lanes this week. Congrats Mike! 
Feb. 7 league standings update
February 7, 2009My team managed to pick up a position in the standings despite only gaining a split with “Backyard Bowlers” this week, moving to 4th place in the second half. It might have been a bad week for me, as well, as Eric Nordstrom fired a 684 scratch, 729 handicap series this week, nearly knocking me off of the men’s high series with handicap honor (as it is, Eric’s 684 is the best scratch series in the league to date).
“The Pin Pals” face “The Mustangs,” one of the teams tied for first place in the second half, this coming week.
January 2009 People’s Tournament results
February 6, 2009The People’s Tournament site reported Saykum Miya (E. Providence Lanes, 176 avg.) as the winner of the January 2009 event at Westgate Lanes. Miya defeated Joe Chan (Westgate Lanes, 190 avg.) by a score (with handicaps) of 223-210 in the title match. Westgate Lanes was well-represented in the top 32, as, in addition to Chan, Jason Sherwood (215 avg.) was in the semifinals, and Pam Lavallee (151 avg.) and Jim Yost (194 avg.) were also in the top eight.
Brian “Hawk” Earle posts 298 in Coke Classic League
February 6, 2009A quick scan of the available standings sheets on Bowler Express shows that Brian “Hawk” Earle rolled a 298 game this week in the Coke Classic League, which is the high game for the season in that league. The game qualifies for the USBC’s “11 In A Row” award, so congrats Hawk!
Blessing in disguise
February 4, 2009My first order of the night was to get my ticket for the Hall of Fame dinner, as I want to attend that to honor my old buddy Steve Travers. As I did last week, I also had a game of warm-up before league started.
Strikes were few and far between tonight, but the blessing in disguise was that my spare game was much better overall: only two misses on spares that weren’t either splits or washouts. I was leaving a lot of single pins (11) but only missed one of them (a 10 pin to end the first game). I was getting a lot of splits later on, but converted the 5-7 in the second game on a lucky break.
Result: 163-182-155=500
Average (63 games): 178 Last 9 games average: 168
Next week’s AVG+1 score: 558
Team only managed a two-point split because we got croaked in the last game. Rick Boerman, the “Backyard Bowlers” resident Yankee fan, threw a 200+ game at us in said last game to provide much of a 150-pin plus margin. Our star tonight was Pat, who was well over his average for the first two games.
Upcoming made-for-TV bowling
February 3, 2009Just wanted to mention a few made-for-TV bowling events coming up during the spring:
- The PBA, in partnership with Strike Ten Entertainment, has announced a new five-week series called “King of the Hill” that will air on ESPN on Wednesday nights starting April 22. It will feature the top ten bowlers on the PBA Player of the Year points list, plus a wild card. Basically, it’s two one-game matches each show featuring two bowlers in the first match with the winner going on to face the “king” (the PBA Player of the Year will be the “king” on the first show) in the second match. There will be $100,000 in prize money up for grabs in the series, which will be contested at the Kegel Training Facility in Florida.
- The article linked above also mentions the PBA Women’s Series Showdown, which will feature the five winners in the regular PBA Women’s Series events, plus Missy Bellinder, who finished second to Michelle Feldman when the latter won her second title of the season. This will also take place at the Kegel Training Facility, with a format to be announced, and will air on ESPN on April 12.
- Finally, Bowling’s Clash of Champions will return for a second season, and will air on CBS on May 9. An interesting development is that the husband and wife team of Chris and Lynda Barnes will be in the field, setting up a potential husband vs. wife final match, which will prove very interesting if it comes about.
Massachusetts USBC Women’s Bowling Association 46th Annual Championships
February 2, 2009The Massachusetts USBC Women’s Bowling Association will hold its 46th annual championship tournament in all weekends in May except for Memorial Day weekend at Gardner Ten Pin. It is a classified tournament with 4-women team, doubles, and singles events, plus optional all-events, with the average classes as follows:
Team: 600 and over, 599 and under
Doubles: 330 and over, 290-329, 289 and under
Singles and All-Events: 165 and over, 145-164, 144 and under
Squad times are 10 AM and 1 PM on Saturdays, 9 AM, noon, and 3 PM on Sundays.
Entry is $20/bowler/event and $5 for All-Events, with entries closing March 1 unless schedule is filled sooner. Doubles must bowl singles, and singles must bowl doubles. Entry flyers with more information are now available at local bowling centers.
Additional note: The association’s annual meeting will take place at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner on Saturday, March 14 at 9:30 AM.
Brockton USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame Weekend
February 2, 2009The Brockton USBC Bowling Association will hold its annual Hall of Fame Weekend on April 4 and 5. The festivities begin with the Hall of Fame induction dinner, which will be held on the 4th at the Holiday Inn in Brockton starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $35/person, and you may see Ray DiSanto Jr., Bob Young, or Roy Garrigus if you’re interested in attending. This year’s honorees are North Bowl Lanes manager Fred Delfino, along with bowlers John Ellis, Jim Ferguson, and Steve Travers.
The accompanying Hall of Fame Tournament, which will be an Eliminator-style handicap tournament, will take place on the 5th at Westgate Lanes starting at 12:30 PM. Entry fee is $35, and only walk-in entries will be accepted.
New association web site launched: I am also proud to announce that the Brockton USBC Bowling Association’s new web site is now online, and the link has been added to the sidebar under “Bowling Sites.” The home page is functional, though the individual pages needed to be uploaded and the links to those pages on the home page fixed at press time.
Work in progress
February 2, 2009Today’s practice was somewhat disappointing, as in the first game, I had 3 misses on spares that would be considered makeable, and had a rash of splits in the second game, but when I became mindful of my wrist position at the top of my backswing in the last game, I righted myself to shoot a 210 with the only open frame coming on a split. I had been getting good ball reaction in previous sessions since rejuvenating my ball, but the lane appeared tighter today, and I was playing closer to the 20 board in my stance near the end.
Cross-training #77
February 1, 2009The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette noted that outfielder Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a native of Pine Bluff, was in Springdale, AR for the Wilsons3 Foundation’s Strikeout Child Abuse Celebrity Bowling Event. Other major leaguers participating included Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, and former Tigers closer Todd Jones (now a free agent). The foundation is headed up by Vance Wilson, a veteran of eight major league seasons who recently signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, along with his wife, Bridget.
