This Illinois newspaper report notes that the Chicago Bears ended their voluntary offseason program with a bowling outing organized by head coach Lovie Smith.

This Bainbridge, GA-based newspaper bowling column notes that James Butler will be running a celebrity bowling tournament in that area next weekend. A quick Google search identifies Butler as a safety for the world champion New York Giants. The article said that several NFL players would be participating, but it did not say if these would be Butler’s Giants teammates or other NFL players making their offseason homes in the area.

A non-NFL story for a change…

The Orlando Sentinel featured a story on a bowling appearance by Magic star Dwight Howard as a promotion for Glaceau vitaminwater. Howard donated his appearance fee to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. Video is available in the article linked above.

The OTA period in the NFL seems to be a popular time for teams in that league to run bowling tournaments. This Detroit-area web report notes that Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson fired a 243 in their intrasquad tournament.

A Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel blog post notes that Green Bay Packers running backs coach Edgar Bennett ran a charity bowl-a-thon for the cancer charity Angel Fund. You may assume at least most of the Packers players were involved.

The Arizona Cardinals reported that Ken Whisenhunt, for the second straight year, took his team bowling instead of closing out week three of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) with a practice. The winning foursome won the right not to have to run “gassers” (post-practice sprints) next week.

This Chicago-area web report notes that linebacker Danny Clark, who recently signed a two-year contract to play for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, will be running a celebrity bowling tournament as part of a two-day charity event to benefit his high school alma mater’s football program.

The Pittsburgh Steelers reported on their site that the team opted to go bowling recently instead of having an OTA (Organized Team Activity) practice. Punter Dan Sepulveda had the high game of the day (a 237) and rookie Dennis Dixon also did well, shooting a 207 game. A photo gallery from the event is available from the page linked above.

From a North Carolina newspaper report…

Carolina Panthers safety Terrence Holt had an interesting dilemma before attending a bowling event that was connected to his team: should he allow his more famous brother, long-time St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt, to tag along? Torry has expressed interest in joining his brother in Carolina.

According to this Boston-based web report, Boston Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen donated a total of $15,000 from his “Bowlin’ Strikes For Schools” charity tournament to the Boston public school system, the second year he has done so. Delcarmen is a graduate of the former West Roxbury High School.

I’ve been struggling with the decision to post this one…

The Dallas Morning News reported that the ever-controversial Adam “Pacman” Jones began bonding with his new Dallas Cowboys teammates by participating in Jason Witten’s charity bowling event. This much can be said about Pacman, however…he’s a decent bowler, bringing his own ball and having the high game of the event (189).

According to this web report, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward’s Celebrity Charity Weekend, which includes a celebrity bowling tournament, is set to take place at the end of May in Atlanta. Several current and former NFL players are slated to participate. The event benefits Ward’s “Helping Hands Foundation.”

This West Virginia TV station site gives us a story about a charity bowling event hosted by New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington in his Huntington, WV hometown, benefiting Pennington’s 1st and 10 Foundation. Former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and current Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith were participants.

This Ft. Myers, FL area newspaper site gives us yet another celebrity bowling fundraiser, hosted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham. The event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Florida.

The USBC posted this feature on Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas, who is apparently also among the growing number of professional athletes who enjoy bowling in their leisure time.

The USBC announced that a promotional spot featuring New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul will air tomorrow night during an NBA playoff game between Paul’s New Orleans Hornets and the Dallas Mavericks, which is being aired nationally by ESPN.

From USA Today…

While his team, the New England Patriots, builds its future at the NFL Draft, nose tackle Vince Wilfork will be at his fifth annual bowling party and fundraiser, which will benefit diabetes research.

This Boston Globe celebrity news item reported that New England Patriots backup QB Matt Cassel participated in a celebrity bowling tournament at Kings in downtown Boston. Former Patriots offensive lineman Max Lane also participated.

The St. Petersburg Times did an interview with new Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Cliff Floyd about his other love, bowling. He says he averages about 210, hopes to get into league bowling when his baseball days are over, and maybe even get good enough to go on the pro tour. He said Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa gave him some competition as well, with DeRosa bowling a 240 against Floyd.

A note in today’s “Inside Track” on the Boston Herald’s site said that Boston Celtics stars Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and P.J. Brown traded high-tops for bowling shoes at Kings in downtown Boston recently.

This press release announced yet another celebrity bowling tournament hosted by a major professional athlete, this time Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Shaun Smith. It will take place April 12 @ Cleveland’s Corner Alley to benefit Smith’s 91 Ways Foundation.

This article from the San Jose Mercury News reports, via the Denver Post, that Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is putting lanes in the new home he is building in the San Jose area.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis has been bowling with several friends nearly every night since arriving at spring training. No word on what Markakis has been averaging, though.

Dallas’s PegasusNews.com reports that Dallas Mavericks star Josh Howard hosted a celebrity bowling tournament at the 300 Dallas Bowling Center in Addison, TX. Many of the Mavericks, including Jason Kidd and coach Avery Johnson, participated.

Major League Baseball issued a release reporting that their umpires held their inaugural BLUE for Kids World Series of Bowling charity event at AMF University Lanes in Tampa, FL. BLUE for Kids is a foundation started by umpires Marvin Hudson and Mike DiMuro which, among other things, provides tickets to major professional sporting events to underprivileged children.

New York’s Newsday, via the Times-Herald-Record, noted that the New York Knicks are holding their annual “Knicks Bowl” charity event tonight at the 300 New York lanes on Chelsea Pier.

This BleacherReport.com article reports that Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James put a bowling alley in the home he built in Bath, OH. No word on if he invited New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul (who is featured in a promo for the USBC) over to try the lanes out.

Via the Malden (MA) Observer, it is reported that Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett will once again host “Beckett Bowl”, a charity bowling tournament, on July 10 at Town Line Ten Pin in Malden.

This CarDomain blog entry mentions that current NASCAR charity auctions are giving winning bidders the opportunity to bowl with either “King” Richard Petty, his son Kyle, or Jimmie Johnson.

A report from the St. Petersburg Times said that Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Brett Myers had a 279 at a local bowling alley that lifted him and 3 other teammates to a victory in a round-robin tournament (I’m assuming that only Phillies players were involved in this). Myers was on a team with 2006 National League MVP Ryan Howard, who rolled a 177 himself.