Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on May 12, 2004, 04:19:41 AM
What is your most memorable moment in bowling? It could be your first 300 game, your first 600 set, you first 800 set even, OR you could go the route I am going to go---mine is a bowling moment spent with my father and some good friends.
It was probably my 2nd year bowling. My father had been bowling since the mid 70s. A buddy of mine had just finished his 1st year of bowling. We were all set to go and bowl in our local city tournament. The first time for me and my buddy. Since we were both really new to the game, and reactive had only come out a year or two prior our averages were low. Before that tournament we had used urethane, but all of us invested in a reactive ball about a month before the tournament.
My average at the time was 165 or so, my buddies 155-160. My dad and my buddy's dad both averaged about 175-180. So as you can see we had handicap on our side.
I cannot really remember our scores right off, but I do remember roughly. A friend named Willie Brown bowled 712, My dad and Donnie's dad each bowled 650-660s, I had 640s and Donnie bowled right around 600. Our ending score was 3495.
Up to that point my dad had not won so much as a league championship, same with Donnie's dad. So we were thrilled that we were in the lead. ONE PROBLEM though!!!!! There were 2 squads remaining after ours. We were so excited and so nervous at the same time.....we kept calling and calling to find out if we had been knocked off.
It was not until the 11pm news that we found we had won. Being able to win a championship so early in Donnie and my bowling careers was special, but being able to share that with your fathers was totally AWESOME.
It is THE time in bowling I will never forget. Sharing something that special with my dad was priceless. He is still alive, and still bowling. He is the person that got me into bowling at the age of 16. Bowling was something for him and I to do together. Add to that winning a city tournament, something that could never be taken away from us. No matter how good or bad of bowlers we were at the time, we accomplished something that can only happen once a year.
WELL, there you have it, that is my bowling story.
Lets see what yours is!
-EX-
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop
Post by: a_ak57 on May 12, 2004, 07:29:20 PM
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-Andy
Man, why can't my house put up a THS?...
Post by: sdbowler on May 12, 2004, 07:35:03 PM
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nothing fancy or catchy to say in my signature
Post by: WSUstroker on May 12, 2004, 07:42:11 PM
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"If you are a 12 year old girl, and high on marijuana, don't ride your bike."
Edited on 5/12/2004 7:41 PM
Post by: a_ak57 on May 12, 2004, 07:46:49 PM
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-Andy
Man, why can't my house put up a THS?...
Post by: agroves on May 12, 2004, 07:58:50 PM
My grandfather raised me from the time I was in 7th grade until I was 18. He taught me to bowl at a very young age but my parents and I moved away when I was 6 or 7. I would visit my grandfather every summer and we bowled all the time. I can't remember a time where we when more than a couple of days without going bowling. My grandfather was good, very good back then. He averaged 200 with a wine u-dot and was always near the top in tournies and such. (It seems todays conditions and age have diminished his abilities some) He would coach the youth bowlers every Thursday. We got two free hours of bowling as long as he was there to coach us. We always bowled a few games head to head and I always lost. We were bowling head to head one afternoon and I was on pace to beat him. He struck out in the tenth and I had to spare to win. I went high on my first ball in the tenth and left the 7, 6, 10. I picked it up and beat him for the first time.
The other great memory I have is the year I won State Scratch singles in YABA. It was my senior year of hs and I had been close before but never won. He bought me a Speed Demon for Christmas that year. We bowled at River Lanes in Tulsa, Okla. I had never done well in that house before. I shot 221 my first game, I started with the front 9 the second game, left a 10 pin, spare for 279. Then I shot 189 my last game for 689 to win. I will never remember the look on his face. He was proud and I was happy I won.
Andrew
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FUFU
"Act like you've been there before"
Post by: a_ak57 on May 12, 2004, 08:03:16 PM
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-Andy
Man, why can't my house put up a THS?...
Post by: Krumpy300 on May 12, 2004, 08:05:00 PM
K300
Post by: a_ak57 on May 12, 2004, 10:23:08 PM
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-Andy
ATTENTION EVERYONE!!
Everyone log on at 9 PM Eastern Time on May 13, 2004! Let's set a record!
Oh yeah, and WOOOO!!!
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Post by: loose5682 on May 12, 2004, 10:52:41 PM
actually...i've got a couple...
In chronological order...
In our Northend Junior Traveling League (yea NW Chicago!) the only year that I bowled, after the first half of the year, we were in dead last out of 24 teams. 15 weeks later, we had either taken 5 or 7 points 14 out of the last 15 weeks and were tied for first place in our division with another team. Position round comes up and we lose the first game. I shot 257 (back 7) the second game and 258 (front 8) the third game to shoot 680 something with 15 in a row and we won both games. It was very exciting to say the least.
Next, at a collegiate tournament in Dayton, the first year my team traveled out to that tournament, I had a rough day and in the second set I shot 132, 187, then started the next game with the front 6. Lane breaks down for about 10 minutes, throw the next 2, lane breaks down for another 10 minutes. I throw the 9th and 10th with no problem. At this point, people are starting to gather as the afternoon shift begins to enter. I go up for the 11th shot and the lane breaks down again! 15 minutes later I step up and bury the 11th shot, and as much as I'd like to say that I buried the 12th also, I unfortunately missed the head pin right and left a 1-2-8...the ball was so far right that at the arrows, you here "awwwww" from the crowd as everybody knew it was gone, including me.
Finally, my collegiate teammates and I bowled in the city tournament this year, highlights included my friend John shooting his first ever 300 (coincidentally, it was the first game he had ever bowled in this particular bowling alley) and we ended up winning the entire tournament. We shot 4037 for 3 with handicap, no team had broke 4000 in about 2 or 3 years, and three of us were under average too...I can only imagine what would have happened if we all got hot...probably around 4300...
An hour later, those are my bowling memories!
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Andrew Loose
"King of Them All"
"Evolutionary. Revolutionary."
Post by: HamPster on May 12, 2004, 11:00:57 PM
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The whenever-I-feel-like-updating-my-signature series by Hamster, presenting a quote from Shrek 2.
"Shrek?"
"For you baby, I could be . ."
Post by: Doug Sterner on May 12, 2004, 11:38:50 PM
One bowler in our house thinks he is king crap and there isnt anyone good enough to match him.
I drilled a Trauma ER for him 2-3 years ago and he has used it successfully but he decided to go elsewhere for his next ball because I suddenly was not good enough nor smart enough to get him the equipment he needed. He came in all cocky with his new Phenom Unleashed and we just happened to bowl him in position round that night and we both bowled anchor.
I didn't have the best track record against him because he can be a real butt nugget and I don't do well with adults acting like children. Well to make a long story short, I turned it all around that night.
Games of 256, 238 and 212 put him in his place. And the most satisfying part of it all was the fact that I did it while he was trying to get into my head with comments and moving around on the lane trying to mess up my shot.
To me that is the most satisfying and memorable moment of my bowling career thus far.
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
The Cherry is the Bomb
but the Nugget is Golden!!!
Now accepting VISA/MC and Discover for your purchases
Post by: MSC2471 on May 12, 2004, 11:46:52 PM
My second memory happened in the fall of 1990 during my sophomore year at UMass Lowell. Missing the team van to go to a conference match in Newburgh, NY, I drove myself 3 and 1/2 hours to the bowling center and beat the team van there by 45 minutes. After beginning the day with a 175 game I proceeded to bowl 220 and 290 in the team event for 685, and then reeled off another 682 in the doubles match. My coach shook his head but was very happy to see me average 227 for the day, as was I...
Matt
Edited on 5/12/2004 11:46 PM
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on May 12, 2004, 11:49:00 PM
SO hopefully my dad will be there for an honor score some day. He did witness a 299 (yet another 8 pin). But that just is not the same.
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop
Post by: WSUstroker on May 13, 2004, 12:04:00 AM
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Dan Chambers
Winona State University Bowling
Post by: the shadz on May 13, 2004, 12:10:05 AM
Post by: MetalGod666 on May 13, 2004, 12:13:15 AM
Post by: bygnel on May 13, 2004, 01:28:01 AM
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FALL, DAMN YOU FALL!!! "I'm so tired of being a wannabe league bowler.. I WANNA BE A LEAGUE BOWLER!!"
Post by: LuvThatWhiteDot on May 13, 2004, 07:38:24 AM
207-300-154/661. At least the last game was still 3 pins over average
(Side note: The next week I promptly shot three games in the 140s)
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White Dot
Making life miserable for 10 pins everywhere
http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/FBL/mkting.html
Post by: Jeffrevs on May 13, 2004, 07:57:55 AM
Also,....summer of 2002 right after I got back into it again (Oct '01) I joined 2 scratch tournaments....in my second tournamnet EVER, I cashed! 7th place out of 92 entries! Not bad for practically a 'newbie' at the time........
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JEFF
Off-season = Practice tme!
Get a Grip...Roto Grip!
www.rotogrip.com
Post by: Pizzaguy on May 13, 2004, 08:24:58 AM
I was bowling in a summer sport league, bowl 2, switch pairs and opponents, bowl 2. I had been bowling terrible, and this night, the first two games were no exception. As I'm putting my gear on the rack, my opponent looks at me and says, "This will be an easy six points". I didn't care what it took, he was going down, and I drilled him by 60 pins in each game. When it was over, he was quite annoyed, and I looked at him and said, "You were right. It was easy".
Second story. I'm practicing on the end pair in the summer. It's hotter than hell, and all the doors are open (why I'm there with no A/C I have no idea). Including the ones to the machine area, and the one behind that to the outside. Now, I don't have a lot of hand or speed, but I throw at a 10 pin, and the ball jumps out of the gutter, rolls thru both doors and out into the parking lot. It took a few seconds to recover from the shock, and after a minute of changing my shoes, out I go into the parking lot. The ball had rolled under the mechanic's car, who naturally had just come back from lunch. By the time I got the ball out, I had a White Dot that had one flat side to it. Made a hell of a paperweight though.
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PIZZAGUY
Making the world safe for tweeners
Post by: sheppy335 on May 13, 2004, 08:45:33 AM
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!
Sheppy
Post by: deuceman300 on May 13, 2004, 09:26:13 AM
The second week of April this year, bowling in a league with my Dad for the first time in almost 10years, I was able to put up two honor scores that I could tell he was just as proud of as I was. He's been bowling for 30years and is a consistent 200avg bowler. But, he has never posted an honor score. He's come close on numerous occasions. He taught me how to bowl as a youth adn I probably wouldnt love the sport as much as I do if it werent for him. That night, after posting scores of 278 and 264 in my first two games, I knew that my first 800 was a real possibility. In the last game, I kept my composure and concentrated on getting the bowl out and hitting my mark and I continued stringing strikes. By the 7th frame with all strikes, I knew that the 800 was in the bag. My next goal was to finish it off for my Dad. The 10th frame came and I hit the first two. On the last ball, the hit was kind of light and it wasnt one of those shots where you automatically know its 10 in the pit, it took some pin action for that final pin to fall. I threw my arms in the air and could hear my Dad yelling and screaming over all the other people gathered around. He gave me a huge hug and he it almost looked like he teared up a little. I could tell this was special for him and it was definitely special for me.
By the way, 278+264+300=842 Not bad for my first 800
(highest set shot in that house)
Post by: debs130 on May 13, 2004, 04:05:12 PM
My first 600 series (1975).
My first 200 game (1973 - 214).
My first 250+ game (in an East Meadow tournament, circa 1980s).
Converting the 4-6-7-10 on my 28th birthday (many moons ago).
Debbie
Post by: livespive on May 13, 2004, 05:51:14 PM
Not that the spare was hard, but when I picked it up
the foul light went off.
Now the three people on this site that have seen me bowl know that
there is NO way on Gods green earth that I can foul. That is what made
it so funny, everyone was looking up saying "Did Eric foul...Nah no way he
could foul." So they gave me the mark.
Back before a few injuries I had a VERY deep knee bend. couple that with
stopping 6 feet (YES FEET) behind the line, and if I sit the ball down sooner
sometimes I will hit the foul line.
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Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member
http://www.visionarybowling.com
Post by: ThongPrincess on May 13, 2004, 06:31:56 PM
My 1st 200 game was a major accomplishment. That was something everyone else did, not me.
My 1st 600, I couldn't sleep that night. I just kept expecting someone to tell me I hadn't really shot the 626. A friend and his mom were on the lanes next to me, I had just gotten contacts and it was the 1st time I wore them to bowl. The last game I need a 130 to hit 600 and I was thinking about it. My friend said relax, just keep stroking the ball, you've got the 6. I relaxed and shot a 156. His mom came over and told me she had wanted to ask me all night where my glasses were but saw how well I was bowling and didn't want to jinx me. My teammates told me to wear new contacts every week.
My 277 game in travel league, something like 8 strikes in a row to start the game after shooting a 130 and 160 something game.
Then there is this season, a 689 in singles of CA State tournament and a tie for 2nd. My 279 game, a turkey, 9/, and off the sheet. A few weeks ago shooting my first 700 with consistent games and 29 clean frames, 27 of them in a row.
I expect there will be many more memories in the years to come. I know we were to share our most memorable, but which is the most memorable, I couldn't say. If I had to say what is most memorable, it's the people I have met, especially those from this board. I have learned so much from the people here and several I keep in contact regularly. Okay, this is becoming a novel so I'll end.
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Age is only a state of mind. Since I lost mine years ago, I must be really young
Edited on 5/13/2004 6:30 PM
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on May 14, 2004, 01:07:07 AM
December 2, 03 was a pretty cool night. My dad and I were on opposite ends of the house. I left his team because another team really needed a 5th bowler this season and our team had 7. Well, the second game of the night is what made it special. There was my dad on lanes 13-14, and me on lanes 3-4, my dad spared and went off of the sheet that game, 290. He said that he didn't have time to even be concerned with his game because he kept coming down to watch me bowl, I shot 299 that same game (damn 8 pin, got me several times this season). If it were possible I would give him my first frame, the joy he would have had to shoot 300 would be awesome.
Another memory comes from the same season that we won our local city tournament. My dad and Donnie's dad were on a different team than Donnie and I were. We had to bowl them in the championship. All week long they were harrassing us. How they were going to pound us, and this and that....blah blah blah. Well, we ended up beating them. It was not even close. The funny thing is afterwards I went up to my dad to say "nice bowlin' ya", **L** he would not even talk to me. Mr competitive.
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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop