Yeah and I bet none of you criticize any other sports athlete in any of the other sports.  Yeah you are all kind and nice and cheer for every player and every team.  

You should be happy that I speak my mind and tell it how it is.  A lot of people here suck up to others and just bandwagon with what any other member has to say about anything.
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Current Arsenal
Brunswick Fury
Columbia 300 EPX T1
Storm X-Factor Vertigo
Hammer Black Widow
Lane #1 Cobalt Bomb Solid
Brunswick Quantum Helix
Brunswick Quantum Double Helix
Storm Recharge
Columbia 300 SuperBeast
Storm Hit Blue Pearl
Brunswick Target Spare Zone
Ebonite 14 Fun Ball
Averages: Fall/Winter Sub 2007 213.000 Fall/Winter Season 2006 206.467 2006-07 Year 213.067 2007 Tourney 178.029

2006-07 League Champions
2007-08 League Champions
2008-09 Three-Peat???

Hall of Fame BR Member Since: April 3, 2001


6'0" and ~210lbs @10% BF

Necro,

Some of your musings:

Revolutions and speed are what you admire most about bowling/bowlers.

Anyone who “fluffs” the ball (a la Norm Duke) even if purposely/strategically done (a la Norm Duke), is not exciting to watch, even if they strike/score better then others (a la Norm Duke), then blast opponents of such proficient practitioners for their lack of lane play/management (Chris Barnes) against bowlers who have the ability to play a different part of the lane because they are taking their hand out of the ball a little (a la Norm Duke).

Before Sunday’s telecast, you flat out said you don’t like seeing Norm Duke on television because he’s not a fantastic speed/revolutions dominant bowler such as yourself (which, of course, is a joke, as Duke can play any part of the lane and any which way he chooses to do so, whenever he feels like it, whether it be a “straight” ball or a banana-shaped cranking curve—it’s all about effectiveness, a concept you’re apparently not aware of).  

Then, after Duke won, you state that Duke is now the new face of the PBA (even though he’s older, which happens to be another quality you dislike), suggest that Walter Ray move over, and promptly proceed to anoint Chris Barnes (he who makes more TV shows and is the top money earner for the last half decade, at least) a choker.
 
Politics may be in your future, as you’re already a very well accomplished flip-flopper.

Having said all that, people like you do have a redeeming quality—you’re not inexorably corrosive—you only possess youthful obstinacy.

You’re young.  You’ll adjust.

For what it’s worth, I do enjoy reading your posts.  I look forward to “seeing” you perhaps take more mature stances in the future.

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Regards,
BowlingWolf

Edited on 10/27/2008 7:48 PM

Norm's an amazing bowler, but I didn't want him to win.

I am not a Barnes supporter. Not a fan of his persona on the lanes. That being said:

He and Norm are both BEASTS on the lanes. They can do so much on the lane. When Barnes first showed up on tour, I would see him on tv and envied his ability to play from ANYWHERE on the lane. Again, he is a beast.

He is obviously a stud during qualifying and match play---BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS THERE!!! You cant deny any of that.

That being said (and please read with an open mind and without your "I love Chris Barnes" glasses on):

Of the tops on tour---Tommy Jones, Sean Rash, Walter Ray, Duke, PDW, Couch, PA, Mika, etc, etc, etc---anyone you want to name-----How is it that when they are on the show, these types of conversations rarely come up? These conversations are dominant when Barnes is on the shows. When he made the move last year to pipe the pocket on 1 lane, I gave him his props---it was a sick move that won him the tourney. But typically for Chris, it hasnt played out that way. But for PDW, he pipes 10 on 1 lane and hooks it on the other to win. Or Duke plays out all week, and then has to hook it in the final 8 frames to win. These things have happened. Barnes has done it too---but he has had this type of situation play out alot on TV.

My point isnt that Barnes is a choker---I think that SOMETIMES he is versatile to a fault. He can do so much (which is a good thing), that he may be convinced he can do something BETTER than his opponent. Duke had the money look---for Duke. That wasnt the money look for Barnes---I dont see how anyone can disagree with that. Everyone says that if Barnes shoots 250 we are talking about a gutsy move. Right, but if he shoots 230 playing in, we are talking about how he just got beat because Norm had a better look. Whats wrong with that? Maybe Barnes can stay within a shot early in the match, and maybe Duke doesnt put up 250+.

How loose does your swing get when you are winning by 50 in the 5th frame??? Ask Barnes when he bowled Haugen---ok maybe not.....

I know Ill get flamed on this. I am not a pro. I offer no credentials that Barnes offers. I am a fan of his game and his skills but there is just something there. I do like that for how many years on this site people keep saying "Barnes will win POY", "Barnes will break out of this", etc, etc, etc. Ok, maybe he will---but Ill believe it when I see it.  

One last random thought:
Did anyone else find it funny that when striking out to beat Jaros, Barnes went into his tournament winning pose? Arms up, triumphant. He won the match, with a CLUTCH 10th frame (see that, I said he was clutch). But thats his end of the day, give me the big check and trophy pose. I thought that he would have had more of a pumped up, vocal reaction. I mean how many times do you strike out for 192 or whatever, to win a semi-final. I'd be trying to get myself fired up a little more than the "Im the man" pose.

Let the flames begin---unless you read this with an open mind. If you think about it, I dont know if you can disagree with anything Ive said...




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Only Losers Feel Pressure
www.myspace.com/crushgroovecg

Quote from Chris Schlemer:


"I would like to share with ya’ll since you weren’t able to see what happened just before the title match. Barnes knew he wasn’t going to beat Norm by playing in, so he made a ball change and jumped out to the right. Now folks, I’m not exaggerating when I say the Barnes never missed the pocket and threw a 10 bagger before the lights came on. In fact, both Norm and I felt the same after watching him warm up. Norm knew he was in for a battle and I left him with this. 'Before the title match of the U.S Open, you told me it was the greatest achievement of your career. I agreed. Now here we are six months later and you are going to bowl the toughest game of your career. I need everything you got the next 12 shots. Good luck!'"


Just thought that might show that Barnes didn't necessarily make a bad move.
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To say that Barnes choked this past Sunday is no where near being true. To say that he has choked some times in the past... Definitely.
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B-Car