i have meet and talked to a number of the pros, and most of them are very approachable.

the good ones I have come across are parker bohn III, brad angelo, marshall holman, carmen salvino (the nicest guy on earth), chris barnes, brian kretzer and brian himmler,  and some others were very very nice.

a couple of pros that came off as jerks to me could be walter ray (from what i've heard) ryan shafer (had an incident with him at last years us open) and george branham III (i met him when i was 12, bowling a junior pro am and he wouldnt sign ANY of the kids autographs)

Put Pete McCordic on the jerk list also.

I talked to a number of pros a few years ago when the made there stop in Dallas and all of them were nice, I talked to Waler Ray and he seemed very nice and answered my one or two questions I asked and signed an autograph for me.  The only person I came close to haveing a probelm with was Robert Smith, but he is a good guy it was my fault.  I thought he was done bowling and he was'nt and I was going to ask him about the Easter Grip.  I said I have a question if you don't mind, he calmy siad can you wait till I'm done bowling.  I felt bad like I was intrupting him at work.  Then after he was done bowling I asked him and he was real cool about it.  One person I had fun talking to was Danny Wiseman.  Did'nt get to talk with him much but he is a cool guy.
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I can hear the voice
But I don't want to listen
Strap me down and tell me
I'll be alright
I can feel the subliminal need
To be one with the voice
And make everything alright

I was talking with a former pro one day, and he taught me something that I hadn't thought about...

In baseball, basketball, tennis, or any other sport, the players are able to cool off after a match/game in the locker room, completely away from the fans.  When you're competing at that high of a level, some people have to put themselves into a "zone" to concentrate and be the best they can be.  Everybody is different, however.

This ex-pro that I spoke with told me how it would generally take him at least 30 minutes to come down and out of the mind set he was in while bowling.  The difference with bowling is, the pros can come right out of a match after losing by a pin or two, turn around, and somebody is in his/her face with something to sign or whatnot.

So it's usually not that they are jerks, but rather they need a "digestion" period after their big meal (match).  Leave it to me to use a food analogy!

Now some people, like Brian Voss for instance, can interact with a crowd while they are bowling, and might not need that wind down time after a match.  Everybody is different.  If you want to deem somebody a jerk or a nice guy, it might be more fair to wait an hour, then try to talk to them to see what they are like.  Remember, they are in the middle of paying their bills usually when you see them.  Their performance dictates whehter their electric bill gets paid this month.
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Brian
MichiganBowling.com
http://www.MichiganBowling.com

Famous Last Words of a Pot Bowler--"Ok, but this is my last game!"

I've met two and both were great ... just normal, everyday guys who bowl extremely well; met Eric Forkel in Albq, NM in '98 and Robert Smith at his home lanes in Simi Vally, CA.

Don't hate the playa, hate the game !!! LOL !!!

Robb in 1000 Oaks

I met quite a few at the TOC last year. Met WRW, he seemed kind of timid, although this could go back to the previous reply about him not wanting to be the center of attention. Met Chris Barnes, Pat Healey Jr, Randy Pederson and Brian Himmler. Also got to bowl with Brad Angelo over this past summer. He and I exchange email addresses and he gave me his phone # if I ever need "Professional" Advice. Angelo is great as well as all the others. Himmler seems like the kind of guy I can go grab a beer with!! That would be fun!
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I just close my eyes and throw the ball