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The Nation's Leading Bowling Tournament Newspaper Since 1940
J o a n Ta y l o r ’ s
Te n P i n R a p . . . .
Are pro bowlers athletes? You gets on the lanes at 1 p.m., rolls
have heard that question before, qualifying, then might advance to
and you will hear it again and the semi finals and then the
again. Of course they are. stepladder finals. By the time he's
Dictionaries inform us that an finished it could be 9 p.m. He bowls
athlete is one who contends for a on changing lanes, and generally is
prize. The word books also define out there by himself for eight solid
an athlete as anyone trained or fit hours. At the end of the tourna-
to contend in exercises requiring ment the winner has gone through
physical agility, stamina, and often a real workout, yet nobody looks at
strength. him as a great athlete. This could
The pro bowler, male or female, be the same kid who pitched the
fits, with the possible exception of shutout."
strength. Though strength is help- There is a question as to which
ful, it isn't vital because the type was the more demanding test.
necessary in bowling is not the Top ranked bowlers roll more
The tenth Annual Pro Image Bowling Camp staff: Al Jones, Fred Borden, Jeri Edwards, Walter Ray brute strength so needed in the games in a week than the average
Williams III, and KenYokobosky. heavy contact sports. bowler rolls in a year. They proba-
Despite two days on and off the Ken Yokobosky set up a mock every three weeks. Go back to a In bowling, timing, coordination, bly spend more time in actual com-
lanes, and some sore muscles, the televised match with lighting, and coach for private sessions every and a delicate touch add up to a petition than any other sports per-
enthusiasm was still there on Day fans surrounding the tournament six weeks. The four integral parts high degree of finesse needed to go former. Pro bowlers are often on
Three of Bowling Boot Camp. The lanes. He provided commentary of bowling are the delivery, the along with selected force to score the lanes more than seven hours
highlight of the day was the arrival throughout and interviewed both lane, ball (especially the cover consistently. Top bowling takes and the total time involved, back
of the reigning world’s best bowlers during the competition. Ty stock) and the brain. rhythm, balance, and skilled mus- and forth between squads, prepa-
bowler, Walter Ray Williams, Jr. picked Al Jones to be his in-tourna- cular effort. The muscles must be ration (checking and drilling or
He spoke to the students about ment coach and it was game on. supple and toned, in shape, strong, changing balls, practicing, etc.) can
some humorous and not-so-funny When it was over, Williams posted but not necessarily rock hard. more often than not add up to 12
experiences on the Professional 269 to Ty’s 189. He was awarded a A pro bowler must be competi- hours in a single day.
Bowlers’ Tour over the past 27 free campership for next year, val- tive. He pays to play, unlike other There is little relaxing, at any
years. He has nearly as many sec- ued at more than $600. “I would sport players who are paid to play. stage. Each and every roll of the
ond place finishes as his 47 titles. have paid and gone anyway,” a The bowler's pay is what he wins, ball counts in qualifying and match
But he reflected on that, saying delighted Aquiliano said. The and he cashes only with superior play. A must is the ability to concen-
“I’ve discovered that it’s okay to Sparta High School senior already performances. trate under constant pressure, on
lose.” After lunch, Walter Ray averages 192 and said “I owe it all Dedication is a must for any ath- TV, and in a sport where you're
stepped up on each lane and spoke to Al Jones. He built me from the lete. A star bowler must spend long always in a crowd, yet always all
with the campers, threw mostly ground up.” The camp improved hours for many years building, per- alone. Spectators are only a few feet
strikes, gave autographs, and Ty’s approach, hand placement, fecting and maintaining skills. away from competing bowlers, but
coached. and he learned much more about There is a growing school of it is still you and only you against
After an elimination process of the surface of bowling balls. Ty Aquiliano and Walter Ray thought that today's bowling the lane conditions and the pins.
each camper picking off a corner While the entire three days can’t Williams III equipment might be better than the Elite bowlers must learn about
pin from a full rack of pins, the last be put into a short column, there This being the tenth camp at players and this cuts down on the equipment, lane surfaces, lane fin-
man standing was Ty Aquiliano, were highlights. Fred Borden, the Rockaway Lanes, I asked Rich time needed to get to the top. True ishes, lanes dressings, and other
Hopatcong, a 17-year-old who has head coach of Bowling Boot Mark, owner-proprietor, why he or not, too many times a pro bowler variables, each worthy of deep
only been bowling for a year and a Camp, said that bowlers should would give his center up for those is classed with the average fun and study and plenty of homework.
half. have a plan, and then revisit it three days year after year. “I want recreation bowler. That's akin to The sport looks simple. It is, sim-
to create an awareness about the equating a touch football game at a ple to play, difficult to master,
Sports Reporter sport of bowling,” he said,” and picnic with the Super Bowl. impossible to conquer. Each higher
this is one of many ways to do it. Former PBA tour tournament average plateau is a new challenge,
Teaching the sport is something director Harry Golden always and the pro side is the highest peak.
Editor/Publisher - Dan McDonough pointed out how much time and There are millions upon millions of
that will grow it. I’ve always done
Pat McDonough - 1967-1996 things even if they cost money physical effort a pro had to exert, bowlers. Few are high on the aver-
purely to expose bowling. For the and all-time great Carmen Salvino age list and those good enough to
Circulation Manager Editorial Assistant
students, the camp reinforces explained how many great athletes make a living at the sport can be
Henry Allen Immaculatta D'Elia
bowling as a lifetime sport.” from other sports had trouble counted in the hundreds.
Contributing Writers
Chuck Pezzano George Faytok Joan Taylor I thought about the $615 fee, and keeping up in bowling. Is a bowler an athlete? Add up
Dick Evans John Jowdy by breaking it down per bowler per One of the keen students of the the definite skills and knowledge,
Martin Michel Vince Albrech Joe Rizzi hour per coach, the camp was truly sport, Hall of famer Johnny physical and mental, needed for
For information regarding advertising, a bargain. For about $25 per hour Petraglia weighs in, "If a kid pitch- success at the higher and pro levels,
subscriptions, or editorial content call: the 48 students received classroom es a shutout in Little League for six and top bowlers must be ranked as
innings everybody considers him a outstanding athletes.
(201)865-5363 Member
instruction, on-lane instruction
from a host of world-class certified great athlete. A typical game takes And bowling must heed the
coaches, and resources to reinforce two hours so the kid is on the words of Petraglia, "It's got to be
Fax: (201) 865-6246 mound about an hour, gets a break brought out to the rest of the world
E-mail - Sportsreporter@mail.com all they learned. They got to meet
the Big Pro one-on-one, and every 10 minutes or so, and you can that a bowler is an athlete, whether
Sports Reporter formed new friendships with each even call timeouts.” people believe it or not. The indus-
P.O. Box 1491, Secaucus, NJ 07094 other and with their coaches. You "That same kid could bowl in try has got to help get that message
can’t really put a price on that. Junior Bowlers Tour events. He across."
September 1 - 7, 2010 SPORTS REPORTER 3
4 SPORTS REPORTER September 1 - 7, 2010
908-687-9300
247, and Tony Ferlise and Ben
Geffken each posting a 593 set
while contesting in the Tuesday
AL BRIDGES, MANAGER
6 SPORTS REPORTER September 1 - 7, 2010
Walter Ray Williams Jr. Horseshoe Update Keith Urquhart 744 at Stelton Lanes
Walter Ray Williams Jr. isn’t in five years against me with an him, but still quite a bit less than
PUSCATAWAY, NJ – Keith Urquhart led the scoring in the Wednesday
playing horseshoes at the same unbelievable amount of bad luck, what I am capable of. I basically
Doubles League at Stelton Lanes firing games of 259-242-243 for a high
level he was when he won six kind of like someone getting pitched the worst I have ever
series of 744.
World Horseshoe Pitching pocket splits and taps as he had pitched at the world tournament
Joe Obst shot 246-238-228-712, Rob Lawless 209-276-244-709, Joe
Association championships, but a about nine ringers bounce off of having two of the worst games I
champion always seems to show the stake,” Williams said. “I have pitched since I was 10 years Grillo 267-225-210-702, and Nichole Toto 226-232-237-695.
his stripes. pitched a decent game against old.”
The reigning PBA Player of the
Year finished a disappointing
11th in the 2010 World Horseshoe
Pitching Championships in Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, on Aug. 6, posting
a 9-10 “match” record. But in the
process, he handed horseshoe
superstar Alan Francis of
Defiance, Ohio, his only loss of
the competition – a 41-36 deci-
sion that forced Francis into a
playoff with Vermont’s Brian
Simmons for the title. Francis
won the playoff, 40-12, for his
eighth consecutive world title and
his 16th overall.
“Alan had about his worst game
September 1 - 7, 2010 SPORTS REPORTER 7