Howard Stern Show’s Scott "The
Engineer" to Bowl in PBA World Series

Scott "The Engineer” Salem, an avid league bowler who serves as an engineer for SiriusXM satellite radio star Howard Stern, will compete in the Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling this fall. The iconic talk show host plans to follow his longtime staff member’s progress for weeks leading up to, and during, the kickoff event for the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season.

The PBA World Series of Bowling, which will be webcast live in its entirety on pba.com's Xtra Frame streaming video service, is a multi-event competition to be held at South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Oct. 24-Nov. 6.

Salem, who carried a 218 bowling average in his league last season, accepted the PBA's special invitation to compete in the World Series live on Stern's show last Thursday. Millions of listeners heard his acceptance and Stern's permission to compete.

"I was like a deer caught in the headlights," said Salem. "I'm very excited. It will be phenomenal to get to bowl against these top of the line, world class guys."

Stern has long made Salem the brunt of jokes due to his bowling prowess.

"Scott has been talking about what a great bowler he is for years," said Stern on Monday's show. "Now Scott's going to get his shot. And we'll see. I guarantee he'll choke, bowl a 130 and his excuse will be they oiled the lanes differently. Or maybe it will be a 'Rocky' story and he'll have the game of his life. I can see him working out in a meat locker to get ready now."

The PBA expects an increase in attention from Stern's audience for the WSOB. Currently, a poll on howardstern.com asks users to vote for how they expect Scott "The Engineer” to perform.

"Scott is a legitimate high-average league bowler and he is a big fan of the PBA," said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark. "Hopefully bowlers like him across the country will live vicariously through his experience at the World Series.

"The Howard Stern Show is a pop culture phenomenon," Clark said. "Stern's legions of passionate fans will be extremely interested in how Scott 'The Engineer' does against the best in the world."

Salem, 57, mentioned on air that he was looking forward to meeting PBA stars Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Chris Barnes. "I don't have high expectations because I know how hard it will be," Salem said. "I understand the conditions they bowl under are much more difficult than typical league bowling. As the date gets closer I'll probably freak out."

Salem is preparing for the opportunity by beginning a renewed practice regimen and has scheduled an Oct. 8 coaching session from PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia, who recently became the second player to win PBA titles in six decades. Brunswick is providing Salem an arsenal of equipment.

In addition to Stern’s SiriusXM Satellite Radio stations 100 and 101, Stern's "HowardTV" pay-per-view on-demand television plans to cover Salem's experience leading up to and throughout the PBA World Series of Bowling.

Stern fans, like all other PBA fans, can follow the exploits of the entire WSOB field by subscribing to pba.com’s Xtra Frame video streaming service. Subscriptions to the upgraded Xtra Frame, with improved video quality and a number of other new features, are available by clicking on the Xtra Frame logo on pba.com’s home page. A special Howard Stern fan Xtra Frame rate for the first five days of the WSOB will be made available soon.

PBA World Series of Bowling telecasts begin on ESPN on Nov. 28, with the PBA World Championship main event airing live Jan 14-16.