The rules don't say how, they say how many. On this day Rick got more. It doesn't matter if he throw 5 Brooklyns, he won fair and square. I was not aware of the foul situation, so maybe he won with some odds against him???
Rick's game will never be considered pretty, but he repeats shots like a mother! His mental game is terrific. He is solid at the line, and at release point. I've beat him some, but lost to him more. (Don't know about head to head matches) He's a super nice guy, hard worker, and I guess the best compliment would be that he's a good Christian. I'm not getting off on any religious tangent, I'm not a good Christian in my opinion, but I know one when I see one.
If WRW had gotten those same breaks, we wouldn't even be talking about this. If Angelo or Couch had gotten and taken advantage of similar breaks, we wouldn't be talking about this. Some of you are tearing Rick down, like HE TRIED TO carry those hits. With WRW having been on TV more than anyone else, 145 times???, I guarantee he has had two similar breaks, it just has to have happened. WRW would have taken them in a heart beat, and probably have been thankful (just like Rick).
In 1989 I won a PBA Regional in Albuquerque NM, on ABC TV affiliate. For the title I bowled Todd Thompson, then of Vegas I think. He was touring at that time. Threw the ball awesome, stuck every shot, or should I say posted. Perfect knee bend, follow through, etc, think he made a couple shows around that time. Dick Ritger did the color for the show, he even commented about how great Todd threw the ball. Commented how I fell off many of my shots, losing leverage. (The approaches were very slick there, no humidity, being from Houston, I had a hard time with those approaches.) I tripped the four once, and slow messengered the ten pin once. I got the breaks that day. Mr. Ritger even said, that's how it goes, sometimes you get the breaks and sometimes you don't. My title was not lessened at all, Todd didn't whine, shook my hand and told me to come out on tour!
In about '98 I came in second in a regional in El Paso, TX. I shot around 800 my last three games of match play to get to second place, to bowl Chris Barnes for the title. The title match was on the same pair that I just finished bowling a 270 game. I struck all 4 of my practice shots. I WAS ON FIRE!!! I KNEW I WAS GONNA WIN!!! Started off with about 4 nine counts in a row, missing a 10 pin, Chris started the front 6-7. He wins 24?-23?. It wasn't as close as the score. All of my shots were flush, but I didn't carry, I thought they were bad breaks. But that doesn't lessent Chris' first PBA title. I'm proud to say that I jump started his career! LOL! If I had beaten him, he might have went home forever!! LOL!!!
That's the way it goes sometimes. WRW will get his titles, he will win the most ever, money and titles. He is a great bowler. He's pretty laid back, he doesn't have any ill will towards Rick, if he does, then he needs to grow up too, along with some others around here.
Sorry so long....
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Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
Storm VIP Shop Member
Brunswick Pro Source Member
Drilling and Tech Advice BirdDogbowling.com
Driller to many "Stars" and Tony Melendez too!
Onward through the Storm!!!!