When it rolls good, it rolls good
Andrew Dodson
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Sports
While Sunday's are dedicated for studies in Hillsdale, for the rest of America, it's all about the Professional Bowler's Association's afternoon on ESPN. Okay, maybe not all of America, but face it at some point in your life, you've flipped through the channels and watched a few frames of bowling excellence. But to actually watch an entire championship event brings new knowledge, perspective and love for the sport. From the dry-fit-sponsored-covered polo shirts, to the witty, 'did he just say that?' commentary, the PBA should remain as America's favorite Sunday afternoon pastime.
This past Sunday, an epic showdown between the PBA's maverick, Pete Weber, and bowling's new face, Jeff Carter, went down at the Geico Plastic Ball Championship in Wheat Ridge, Colo. This retro tournament forced bowlers to take a glimpse at bowling's history by competing with a plastic ball, compared to the high-profile particle bowling balls that give extra control. ESPN anaylist, Dave Ryan, described today's particle ball like "chains on your tires in the winter time." The plastic balls of yesteryear lack control on the slick, modern lanes found across the country, but they are deemed the most comfortable ball for beginning bowlers today.
One might think plastic ball bowling is normal ball bowling, but consider this equipment change in other sports. What if Wimbledon forced competitors to use wooden rackets? How about wooden golf clubs at the Masters? It could show the world just how good Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal really are. This past weekend's classic plastic ball competition pushed competitors to focus harder on their technique more than they ever had in recent years, and it did not disappoint.
Weber, son of bowling legend, Dick Weber, took his 34-PBA-title résumé against Carter, who was riding a 122-title championship drought - the current longest drought in the PBA. When one sees Weber wearing his Ray-Ban sunglasses and hears his boisterous comments, you cannot help but laugh and take in a man who served a suspension for his alcoholism, and was not voted by his peers as player of the year - despite winning the player's championship and earning the most money on the tour that year.
This past Sunday, an epic showdown between the PBA's maverick, Pete Weber, and bowling's new face, Jeff Carter, went down at the Geico Plastic Ball Championship in Wheat Ridge, Colo. This retro tournament forced bowlers to take a glimpse at bowling's history by competing with a plastic ball, compared to the high-profile particle bowling balls that give extra control. ESPN anaylist, Dave Ryan, described today's particle ball like "chains on your tires in the winter time." The plastic balls of yesteryear lack control on the slick, modern lanes found across the country, but they are deemed the most comfortable ball for beginning bowlers today.
One might think plastic ball bowling is normal ball bowling, but consider this equipment change in other sports. What if Wimbledon forced competitors to use wooden rackets? How about wooden golf clubs at the Masters? It could show the world just how good Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal really are. This past weekend's classic plastic ball competition pushed competitors to focus harder on their technique more than they ever had in recent years, and it did not disappoint.
Weber, son of bowling legend, Dick Weber, took his 34-PBA-title résumé against Carter, who was riding a 122-title championship drought - the current longest drought in the PBA. When one sees Weber wearing his Ray-Ban sunglasses and hears his boisterous comments, you cannot help but laugh and take in a man who served a suspension for his alcoholism, and was not voted by his peers as player of the year - despite winning the player's championship and earning the most money on the tour that year.
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