Press Room Honor For Chuck Pezzano
Since the formation of the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958, no one has contributed more to the organization in so many different ways than PBA Hall of Famer Chuck Pezzano. In recognition of the 81-year-old Clifton, N.J., native’s contributions to the PBA, his name will be permanently attached to the organization beginning with the introduction of the Chuck Pezzano PBA Press Room during the PBA Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas, Jan. 15-22. The Chuck Pezzano PBA Press Room also will welcome the news media at all future Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events and it will have a permanent home on pba.com for all news media visitors who visit the PBA’s official website.
“It think it’s a pretty nice honor,” Pezzano said. “It came as a complete surprise.”
Pezzano first became involved with the PBA as a top-flight competitor and charter member; he was the first collegiate bowler in the United States to bowl an 800 series. But his legacy off the lanes far surpassed his credentials as a player as he evolved into the most prolific bowling writer in history.
His weekly bowling column has been published in The Record in Hackensack, N.J., every week for more than 50 years. He has written stories for every leading bowling publication in the country. He has written books, worked as a consultant on television, movie and instructional videos, and traveled the country serving as an emcee and guest speaker at hundreds of bowling functions. And to this day, his nationally-syndicated columns appear in bowling publications across America.
Pezzano also was heavily involved in PBA business affairs, running the PBA East Region for 20 years. He was secretary of the PBA Hall of Fame for nearly 20 years, and served as the organization’s official historian for longer than that.
Pezzano and fellow New Jersey entrepreneur Frank Esposito – who together created the PBA Regional program – were the first Meritorious Service inductees in the inaugural PBA Hall of Fame class in 1975. He was elected to the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1982, and was recipient of the Bowling Writers Association of America’s Luby Hall of Fame Award in 1974. That’s just a small sampling of the awards he has won.
“I don’t think anyone has poured more of his heart and soul into the PBA than Chuck Pezzano has over a span of more than 50 years,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Fred Schreyer. “Chuck Pezzano deserves to have his name attached to the PBA Press Room not only in recognition of all he has done for the PBA, but as an inspiration for all future bowling journalists.” “Unveiling the press room for the Tournament of Champions honors all of the writers of the past who appreciated the greatness of what I always called the Firestone,” Pezzano said. “(The Tournament of Champions, sponsored by Firestone for 29 years) was far above the other events. From a writer’s viewpoint, it provided everything you needed, and that’s why it has been the best event in history from the start.
“I appreciated it because it gave me an opportunity to meet and get to know the greatest players in the country, along with a lot of news media guys who weren’t necessarily assigned to bowling,” Pezzano continued. “The TOC put bowlers on the same plane with other athletes. In the early years, first prize was $25,000 and some of the greatest players in baseball only made $40,000.”
The 2011 Tournament of Champions will award a $250,000 top prize as part of a PBA-record $1 million prize fund.
“Every writer who covered the Tournament of Champions had to look for something beyond what happened on the lanes. It could be whether or not the old veteran would last until the end, a story about the new kid on the block, the Mike Durbins (the first three-time TOC winner) who were always underrated, or the so-called discovery of a Dick Ritger, who really was one of the greatest bowlers of all time, but never got the credit until people saw him bowl in the Tournament of Champions.”
“I would never have thought about an honor like this,” he added, “but it ranks right up there with any honor I’ve ever won.”
The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo
Bowlers: This week the tip is for all bowlers to truly assist you on how to best use the dots and arrows on the approach as target aids.
When preparing to execute a bowling shot, whether it is a strike or spare, you must be prepared to understand the path down the lane you intend your bowling ball to take. With this in mind, when stepping on the approach you should have a focal point, simply the point from which the ball will roll off your hand in the direction you intend it to go, picked out.
If you throw a hook ball, you will be rolling the ball toward the intended break point....the spot on the lane you expect your ball to change direction. If you are rolling the ball straight, the pocket or pin/pins will be your intended target.
The tip: Look at your intended target and bring your eyes back to the spot on the lane that you are most comfortable looking at....whether it be the dots or an arrow.
To play the modern game, the sooner the ball comes off your hand the better. If you are looking at an arrow and tend to throw or hit up on the ball instead of rolling it off your hand, bring your eyes more toward the dots.
If you are a bowler that tends to play more across the boards with a lot of rotation, your focal point should be as far right (or left if you are left handed) as in between the lanes to get the ball to the correct break point.
If you play a straighter game with a small hook, your correct focal point may be toward the 3-pin if bowling right handed.
Remember, there is no substitute for making a good shot. If you combine good shots with good thinking, your scores will increase.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is an Advisor along with being involved with Special Events with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by telephone at 435-720-7939 or via email at mikel@stormbowling.com
Since the formation of the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958, no one has contributed more to the organization in so many different ways than PBA Hall of Famer Chuck Pezzano. In recognition of the 81-year-old Clifton, N.J., native’s contributions to the PBA, his name will be permanently attached to the organization beginning with the introduction of the Chuck Pezzano PBA Press Room during the PBA Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas, Jan. 15-22. The Chuck Pezzano PBA Press Room also will welcome the news media at all future Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events and it will have a permanent home on pba.com for all news media visitors who visit the PBA’s official website.
“It think it’s a pretty nice honor,” Pezzano said. “It came as a complete surprise.”
Pezzano first became involved with the PBA as a top-flight competitor and charter member; he was the first collegiate bowler in the United States to bowl an 800 series. But his legacy off the lanes far surpassed his credentials as a player as he evolved into the most prolific bowling writer in history.
His weekly bowling column has been published in The Record in Hackensack, N.J., every week for more than 50 years. He has written stories for every leading bowling publication in the country. He has written books, worked as a consultant on television, movie and instructional videos, and traveled the country serving as an emcee and guest speaker at hundreds of bowling functions. And to this day, his nationally-syndicated columns appear in bowling publications across America.
Pezzano also was heavily involved in PBA business affairs, running the PBA East Region for 20 years. He was secretary of the PBA Hall of Fame for nearly 20 years, and served as the organization’s official historian for longer than that.
Pezzano and fellow New Jersey entrepreneur Frank Esposito – who together created the PBA Regional program – were the first Meritorious Service inductees in the inaugural PBA Hall of Fame class in 1975. He was elected to the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1982, and was recipient of the Bowling Writers Association of America’s Luby Hall of Fame Award in 1974. That’s just a small sampling of the awards he has won.
“I don’t think anyone has poured more of his heart and soul into the PBA than Chuck Pezzano has over a span of more than 50 years,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Fred Schreyer. “Chuck Pezzano deserves to have his name attached to the PBA Press Room not only in recognition of all he has done for the PBA, but as an inspiration for all future bowling journalists.” “Unveiling the press room for the Tournament of Champions honors all of the writers of the past who appreciated the greatness of what I always called the Firestone,” Pezzano said. “(The Tournament of Champions, sponsored by Firestone for 29 years) was far above the other events. From a writer’s viewpoint, it provided everything you needed, and that’s why it has been the best event in history from the start.
“I appreciated it because it gave me an opportunity to meet and get to know the greatest players in the country, along with a lot of news media guys who weren’t necessarily assigned to bowling,” Pezzano continued. “The TOC put bowlers on the same plane with other athletes. In the early years, first prize was $25,000 and some of the greatest players in baseball only made $40,000.”
The 2011 Tournament of Champions will award a $250,000 top prize as part of a PBA-record $1 million prize fund.
“Every writer who covered the Tournament of Champions had to look for something beyond what happened on the lanes. It could be whether or not the old veteran would last until the end, a story about the new kid on the block, the Mike Durbins (the first three-time TOC winner) who were always underrated, or the so-called discovery of a Dick Ritger, who really was one of the greatest bowlers of all time, but never got the credit until people saw him bowl in the Tournament of Champions.”
“I would never have thought about an honor like this,” he added, “but it ranks right up there with any honor I’ve ever won.”
The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo
Bowlers: This week the tip is for all bowlers to truly assist you on how to best use the dots and arrows on the approach as target aids.
When preparing to execute a bowling shot, whether it is a strike or spare, you must be prepared to understand the path down the lane you intend your bowling ball to take. With this in mind, when stepping on the approach you should have a focal point, simply the point from which the ball will roll off your hand in the direction you intend it to go, picked out.
If you throw a hook ball, you will be rolling the ball toward the intended break point....the spot on the lane you expect your ball to change direction. If you are rolling the ball straight, the pocket or pin/pins will be your intended target.
The tip: Look at your intended target and bring your eyes back to the spot on the lane that you are most comfortable looking at....whether it be the dots or an arrow.
To play the modern game, the sooner the ball comes off your hand the better. If you are looking at an arrow and tend to throw or hit up on the ball instead of rolling it off your hand, bring your eyes more toward the dots.
If you are a bowler that tends to play more across the boards with a lot of rotation, your focal point should be as far right (or left if you are left handed) as in between the lanes to get the ball to the correct break point.
If you play a straighter game with a small hook, your correct focal point may be toward the 3-pin if bowling right handed.
Remember, there is no substitute for making a good shot. If you combine good shots with good thinking, your scores will increase.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is an Advisor along with being involved with Special Events with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached by telephone at 435-720-7939 or via email at mikel@stormbowling.com
This column is written by Ed Townsend, a public relations consultant to the amateur and professional sport of bowling and to several bowling writers associations. If you have a topic that would make good reading or have league and tournament scores and information, Ed can be reached by phone at 845-439-8177, via e-mail at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-230-8674. For an expanded version of this bowling column please visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is also available on Facebook.
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