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Author Topic: Meeting the Professionals...  (Read 1632 times)

SteveAustin2808

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Meeting the Professionals...
« on: July 31, 2005, 11:59:48 AM »
I was just wanting to put in a thread on here for just the FASTTrackers and ask which professionals have you met and what was your impressions of them? I have listed some below with my thoughts on them and some I would really look forward to meeting...

Bob Learn Jr. "Mr. 300" -- Even though he didn't earn an exemption for this touring season, he was the very first professional tour bowler I met back in April of 2003. Of course, being a part of the Track staff I was going to list him first. This was a few months after I rolled my first 300 game as a youth bowler and the first question he asked was, "How did it feel?" And it was great to just tell him all about it. I also asked him some questions as well and I'll never forget the one question I asked him while we were watching him bowl against Walter Ray Williams Jr on the television because they had a archive of his greatest moments, I asked, "how did it feel to be bowling what arguably most people consider the best bowler in the world?" And I'll never forget his response because it has helped me tap into my mental game even more...he said, "Walter is one hell of a bowler, but any time you make it to a television show, you gotta go out there with the mentality that the other person your facing is just another bowler and just another person!" And he said it so confident like, not to sound cocky, but just assertive that it made an impact. Bob also worked with me on my game for quite awhile, even after everybody left, I was the last one gone but he took extra time with me and a buddy of mine still in youth at time, it was the best coaching I had ever received from a pro! I hate it that he is not going to bowl on tour anymore!

Kendra Gaines -- I met her while doing one of Hammer's Ebonite (HSSS, bad words) like Demo Days and she was just super. Even though I wasn't throwing the product she and John use, she was very nice and treated me like a true professional. She was one of the few that looked and said that out of everybody she seen at the demo, that I had the smoothest delivery and told me to keep on going on the pace I was at, and that I would accomplish something very big at a bigger level one day. It was a nice bit of encouragement and it was a pleasure meeting her as well.

Kim Terrell -- What more can I say except the fact that this girl can bowl! She was showing off a exhibition for us before we tried out the new Ebonite products. I wasn't impressed by Ebonite or Hammer, but I was impressed at the fact she was also very nice as well. She worked with me on my game and tweaked a few things from the stuff that I told her about Kendra working with me on. Great impressions from all aspects.

Brad Angelo -- The most recent professional I met was Brad. His bowling camps are very informative but...due to time restraints he did not get to work with me as much as I would have liked for him too, not to mention I wasn't going to pay $85 an hour just to have private lessons from him. The good parts were though he was very technical in his teachings and his demostrations were very helpful and he was very audience oriented also. The only dislike about Brad is that I felt obligated to have to purchase a "Brunswick" (whoops, another bad word) product. Another dislike is that a person of his caliber who claims to have worked in a pro shop before didn't know whether or not a Phenom was particle or reactive. Again, if you were not throwing a Brunswick product, he didn't seem like he had the tips to give you whereas if you did throw Brunswick, he could help you in all aspects. A great technical coach, but just too much overwhelming pushing his product.

I would really like to meet the following professionals in the future if possible:
* Walter Ray Williams Jr.
* Norm Duke
don't get me wrong, there is a list full of others, but these two are the ones I would really like to meet! So FASTTrackers, how about you guys? Who did you meet and what were your impressions of them? Just a fun thread for all the FASTTrackers, have a great week and God Bless You All!

--Michael--
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Edited on 7/31/2005 7:54 PM
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spanky

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2005, 09:01:14 PM »
Tim Mack: a super nice, down-to-Earth guy. We talked quite a bit, some bowling and some non-bowling stuff.

Randy Pederson: Again, a really likeable guy. Always making jokes and cutting up.

A couple others I met, Tore Torgerson, Ahmed Shaheen, Lasse Lintila...all nice guys.

I've heard there are those "not so friendly" types out there, namely Mika. Hey, never met the guy, but more than one have told me. Also heard of a similar encounter with WRW in Hawaii.

SteveAustin2808

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2005, 09:41:12 PM »
I'm getting mixed feelings about Parker...a buddy of mine met him in Orlando and he said he was a total prick and just didn't say much...as that being said, I guess its all in how and what people think and feel...I've also heard the same about Walter, but who knows? I'm not all that interested in meeting Parker, don't know why but I'm just not...anyways...keep them coming FASTTrackers! God Bless!

--Michael--
--------------------
One Thing to Know About Humans:
Everybody's Got A Price!

Ball Companies I Dislike:
Hammer Sux!

What Are You Waiting For? Get on the FASTTrack to success!!

Track Amateur Staff Wanna-Be!
Michael Price - Office Manager
McCorvey's Bowling World Staff - Phone: (256) 539-1560
Hammer Amateur Staff
michaelp@mccorveysproshop.com

bighook69

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2005, 09:43:53 PM »
quick list -

Parker Bohn III - talked to him for a while at a pro-am, just about bowling and how the lanes were playing, very nice guy.

Pete Weber - also a nice guy, talked with him for a while and got a compliment on my sunglasses

Byron Smith - very nice guy, extreamly tallented bowler

Brad Angelo - Nice guy, talked briefly, he was in a rush to another pair of lanes

Joe Chiccone (sp) - another great guy, very good release.

D.J Archer - talked bowling balls with him for a while, man can this guy hook that ball

Jason Couch - fun guy, lots of jokes, told us alot of inside things about the PBA, like getting paid in beer instead of money from miller

Tommy Jones - was talking on the phone and to me, what raw talent to do that , great bowler as well

Chris Barnes - Man, hot bowler, very powerful, but also a great guy to talk to.
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Dyno-Joe

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2005, 09:51:00 PM »
I've met Tony "Chalupa" Reyes. Coolest guy I've ever met. Saw Brian Kretzer, Brian Himmler, Mika Kouvinemi (sp?), and I talked with Nick Volgelsang briefly and he heard about me which was pretty cool. Most pros I've seen or talked to are local.
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Scolai

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2005, 10:22:46 PM »
Almost too many to mention, but then again, I'm a pro so what can I say?

Parker Bohn III - nice guy.  I was a little rattled when I met him because he was always like an idol to me.  We talked for a little while before he had to run to lace up.

David Ozio - super nice.  We talked about his defeat of Del Warren on TV many years ago an about some of the bowlers who used to be out on tour.  We also talked Dexter shoes, since that was what I was wearing at the time.

Danny Wiseman - just like you'd expect him to be.  Casual, cool, and likeable.

Tony Reyes - a class act.  Never said a harsh word to/about anybody whenever I saw him.

Eric Forkel - have met and talked with Eric on multiple occasions.  He's interesting, knowledgeable, and extremely talented.  Just saw him a few months ago at a mini-gathering we had at Creekside.

Norm Duke - pretty nice guy, though I don't think he really likes signing autographs.  I didn't get to talk to him much, but he was kind enough to sign my yearbook.

Walter Ray - I've met and talked with WRW many times, most recently this past May.  He was a jerk the first time I met him over 3 years and nothing has changed since.  Fame just goes to some people's heads.

Patrick Allen - like I said, fame gets to some people.  PA was pretty OK the first couple of times I talked to him.  As soon as I got my card it was like I became the enemy of his career and he just shut me out.  I've tried talking to him casually since then; it's like talking to a wall.  It usually ended with him walking away.

Tommy Jones - a classy guy.  Not many like him out there.  I voted for him for POY.  I first met TJ in Burlington at a national tour stop there.  He had just closed out qualifying with a 300 game.  Super nice.

Joe Firpo - met him a couple of times.  We talked about his time on TV, we bowled together, we shot the sh*t.  He's a good guy; too bad he's not still out on tour.

Kendra Gaines - we sat together during match play of a tournament where we chatted about the general attitudes of some of the guys bowling.  She's a pretty funny lady; nice, willing to talk.  Not bad to look at either.

(going back a few years)

Dana Miller-Mackie - real nice lady.  Her brother is Mike Miller of no-thumb fame.  I used to watch her bowl on TV all the time.

Lisa Wagner - again, nice lady.  Took the time to chat with me about her experiences with Mark Roth.

Leila Wagner - I almost couldn't talk to her because I was dazzled by her looks.  Beautiful woman and nice to talk to.

Nikki Gianulius - she stopped, signed an autograph, and walked away.  Not much talkign going on there.  No problem - I just went back to watching Leila Wagner...

There are probably more that I haven't mentioned, but this is how a few of them I've met come to memory.


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DukeHarding

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2005, 10:50:47 PM »
Off the top of my head...
Ned Day (when I was a young kid)
Marion Ladewig (when I was a young kid)
Buddy Bomar
Carmen Salvino (many times around Chicago)
Don Johnson (in New Orleans on his Honey Moon)
Don McCune
Norm Meyer
Johnny Petraglia (when he was about 19 at the Waukegan Open)
Mark Roth (many times at Riviera Lanes, Melrose Park, Il)
Earl Anthony (every time he was in the Chicagoland area)
Marshall Holman (at the Waukegan Open)
Dick Weber (a really genuine person)
Pete Weber (at a few rgioanls)
Mark Fahy
Arnie Goldman

A few others, from years ago, that I can't remember.




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sdbowler

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2005, 07:31:57 AM »
During the tour stop in Birmingham got to meet a few there. Most of them on Brunswick staff. Had the chance to meet Brad and his wife, Parker and his wife, Jon and Kendra Gaines, Mike Machuga, and Mika. Got to meet Paul Fleming a few years back, his wife grew up here in South Dakota when ever they would come back up here to visit her family he would stop and bowl at the center I use to manage. Looking forward to meeting more this year.
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Rock77

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2005, 07:38:21 AM »
I have met a few. The list includes:

Walter Ray Williams Jr. - Not really impressed with his personality. He was very boring and didnt say much.

Brian Himmler - This guy is a wild man. He is very fun to be around. The type of guy you want to take to your bachelor party!

Randy Pedersen - Very nice guy to talk with. He cracks jokes every now and then. Nice guy with a good sense of humor.

Brad Angelo - I bowled with Brad at one of his camps and was fortunate to have him work directly with me for most of the day. He is a very nice guy and has a good amount of knowledge. He is one great spare shooter.

Norm Duke - Probably the nicest guy I have met. Very friendly.

Patrick Allen - He is the biggest prick I have ever met. He was a complete, arrogant a-hole!!

Honorable mention, Steve Jaros, Tommy Jones, Chris Barnes. All pleasant to talk with.
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Edited on 8/1/2005 7:36 AM

Los300

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2005, 08:04:41 AM »
I have met many pros over the years. Many PBA and many PWBA members. Here's a quick list:

Walter Ray Williams
Parker Bohn
Rudy Kasimakis
Nelson Burton, Jr.
Joe Firpo
Phil Ringener
Bill Oakes
Patrick Allen
Doug Kent
Ryan Shafer
Ernie Schlegel
Lonnie Waliczek
Jim Tomek, Jr.
Danny Wiseman
Tim Criss

PWBA:
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard
Cathy Dorin-Lizzi
Kim Terrell
Leanne Barrette
Liz Johnson
Michelle Feldman
Lisa Bishop
Tammy Turner
Kim Adler
Jennifer Swanson
Cara Honeychurch
Tiffany Stanbrough
Kendra Gaines

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Rev_O

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2005, 09:14:44 AM »
pro's that I've met and had a chance to chat with:

Pete Weber
Dick Weber
Parker Bohn III
David Ozio
Bob Learn Jr.
Dave D'entremont
Liz Johnson
Mike Haugen Jr.
Randy Pedersen
Jason Couch
Jeanne Maiden
Brian Voss
Norm Duke
Brad Angelo
Mika

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mumzie

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2005, 10:37:12 AM »
Lots.
The first one I remember meeting was Billy Welu.

Yep - I'm old. Of course, I was 3 when I met Mr. Welu.

Carmen Salvino
Dick Weber
Earl Anthony
Gary Dickenson
George Pappas
Roy Buckley
Steve Neff
Donna Adamak
Nikki Gianulius
Kim Terrell
John Handegaard
Mark Roth
Leanne Barrette
Dede Davidson
Kelly Kulick
Jim Tomek, Jr.
Tim Mack
Norm Duke
Brian Voss
Parker Bohn
Hugh Miller
Dave Traber
Pam Buckner
Betty Morris
Helen Duval
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard
Del Ballard

and our local celebrities:
Ernie Schlegel and
Dave Husted

That's all I can think of right now. There are LOADS more. Out of all of them, the two I liked least were Hugh Miller (surprise), and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard.
No - Dave Traber was perfectly nice!

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WSUstroker

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Re: Meeting the Professionals...
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2005, 12:40:25 PM »
Chris/Lynda Barnes- I met them at a Pro-Am many years ago back before they were pros.  Very nice people, impressive games.  

PBIII, Mika- Met them at the ABC Masters last year, also very nice people.  I was able to get a picture with them and some other guys from my college team.

Doug Kent, Jason Couch, Tommy Jones-  Met the, at the ABC masters as well at the Ebonite Booth.  Nice guys, but I got the feeling that Jason Couch was there thinking that everyone who came to the booth wanted to see him, a wee bit errogant.  Fresh and TJ were more reserved but would talk when people asked them questions.

Adam Apo- See this guy often as he is the one who drills my stuff.  Good guy, knows the game in and out.  


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