Stars of Today and Yesterday Attend PBA Tournament of Champions Welcome Party; PBA TV Ratings on ESPN Get a Boost.

By Dick Evans

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – When you blend the greats of today with the greats of yesterday you get the Great of the Greatest and that’s exactly what is happening at the Red Rock Hotel/Casino/Bowling Center this week.

Before the H&R Block Tournament of Champions started, 54 players gathered for a celebration in the 12-lane VIP section of this ultra-modern Center.

There was Sean Rash, current USBC Masters champion and one of the Tour’s brightest young stars, cruising around the area asking players from today and yesterday to sign his Tournament of Champions framed poster.

And there were an elated array of past champions gaining recognition from the Tour’s young guns.

Possibly Del Ballard Jr., the 1989 Tournament of Champions winner when it was held at Riviera Lanes in Akron, best reflected the old days by wearing the old white T of C jacket given to all champions on the old PBA tour.

It was required wearing during the T of C dinners at the parties conducted at the Firestone Country Club.

The white jacket still looked impressive and so did Del, although he was slightly heavier than in his prime bowling days.

Dave Husted brought his entire family from the Portland area where he was in the process of buying a second bowling center. His father, Champ, who bowled on Tour in the infant years of the 50-year-old PBA, looked fit enough to shoe it up and throw a few strikes.

Mark Roth, without doubt one of the all-time great bowlers, appeared a more relaxed bowler than in his youthful years.

Dave Soutar brought along wife Judy as a cheering section and possibly as a coach, although coaching is not allowed during competition.

Dave and Judy along with Don and Paula Carter are the only husband and wife teams today who have been inducted into bowling halls of fame

During the practice round earlier in the day here came Walter Ray Williams, the man who broke Earl Anthony’s 41-titles record, pushing a baby cart instead of bowling balls.

“He’s an amazing father,” said mom Paige.

There is one thing that Walter Ray has in common with all fathers…he seems more impressed with a smile from four-month old Rebecca than five consecutive strikes.

Speaking of proud fathers, Amleto Monacelli brought son Amleto Emmanuel with him from Venezuela. “We flew into Orlando first to get my green card renewed and then flew out here for the tournament,” said Amleto, the 19-time Tour champion.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the young Amleto enjoys kicking a soccer ball more than rolling a bowling ball.

Hugh Miller flew in from Seattle with son Quinton, who is an avid and talented young bowler.

Wes Malott, who won two weeks ago in Medford, was not going to bowl in the doubles tournament that preceded the Tournament of Champions because of a sore bowling hand. But when he was teamed with Columbia teammate Chris Barnes, Wes decided to bowl.

Malott rested his sore bowling hand during the practice session but said he would be ready for the 32-games leading up to Sunday’s telecast, which will start at 12:30 Eastern time this Sunday.

The PBA staff will get a week off because after the live Tournament of Champions telecast Sunday they will tape the doubles finals for showing Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

If cold weather continues to plague the nation then the PBA ratings on TV could soar. Last week the combination of cold weather and a late starting NFL game enabled the PBA to garner a tremendous 1.39 rating.

With no NFL game Sunday, the PBA TV ratings could soar once again.

Keep your fingers crossed that it’s cold in the East.