Mark Roth bowled a couple of games at the PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championhip at Cheektowaga, NY on Wednesday March 2.It Was Mark Roth Week March 3-6
All of the bowling family is pulling for the recovery of PBA Legend Mark Roth who suffered a massive stroke in 2009..
In May of 2009, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Mark Roth, a 34-time champion and universally regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in history, fell victim to a massive stroke that paralyzed his left side and left his family and friends wondering if he’d ever walk on his own again.
The thought may have entered Roth’s mind, but it left quickly as he began a determined battle to recover use of his body. The first signs of significant progress became apparent when he was able to attend the inaugural PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship in West Babylon, N.Y., in March of 2010.
On Wednesday March 2, Roth and his wife Denise again made the trip from their home in Fulton, N.Y., to Cheektowaga near Buffalo for the 2011 edition of the Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship. And it quickly became apparent that Roth has made even greater strides on his road to recovery when he stepped onto the lanes and bowled a few games.
Roth, who was ranked fifth behind Earl Anthony, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Dick Weber and Pete Weber on the list of PBA’s greatest players ever as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2009, has improved steadily thanks to therapy and the use of an electronic device called “WalkAide.” The device, manufactured by Hanger Prosthetics, provides electronic stimulation to his left leg allowing him to walk more efficiently by overcoming a common stroke complication called “foot drop.”
When Roth proved he had the determination to walk again, his doctors recommended bowling as the ideal form of therapy.
Roth, who will celebrate his 60th birthday on April 10, returned to the lanes with a six-pound ball and has slowly graduated to heavier equipment.
“I’ve gone from a point where they thought I would never walk again to where I can bowl three games at a time using a 12-pound ball,” Roth said. “I can use a 15-pound urethane ball for a few frames, but I’m not able to keep the speed up and it hooks off the lane.”
The “hook off the lane” comment is ironic, considering that Roth is widely credited with creating today’s “power game” with a unique delivery technique back in the 1970s that allowed him to generate massive hook with plastic bowling balls that few could match. His ability to hook plastic equipment revolutionized both the way modest bowlers throw the ball, and the advanced technology built into today’s bowling equipment that enhances hooking power.
In addition to the challenge of recovering from his stroke, Roth also developed complications with his hip that hampered his ability to sleep. Hard work in therapy has also alleviated most of that problem.
“Going to therapy five times a week about killed me,” he admitted, “but it has helped a lot. Right now I’m on a break from therapy, which I’m enjoying.”
Roth’s recovery has progressed to the point where now he feels good enough to travel longer distances. In fact, he recently passed his driver’s test.
“Passing the driver’s test was a big milestone for me,” Roth said. “Being able to drive again is just another thing that has increased my independence.”
Attending the tournament named in his honor is also an important part of Roth’s therapy. “Mark really needs this,” Denise said about attending the Plastic Ball Championship. “This was Mark’s family for so many years and he needs to be in this environment—it’s good medicine.”
Roth, who was busy providing commentary for pba.com’s Xtra Frame Thursday and Friday, was sitting in the front row Sunday March 6 when the finals of the Plastic Ball Championship aired live on ESPN.
Roth’s legacy is firmly established. In addition to his 34 Tour titles which ranks tied for fourth all-time, he is a four-time PBA Player of the Year (1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984). He led the Tour in average six times, including a then-record 221.699 in 1979. His record of eight titles in 1978 may never be broken and for good measure, he followed his record year with another seven titles in 1979. He earned more than $1.6 million in career earnings before moving into PBA Senior Tour competition where he won two more titles, earned Senior Rookie of the Year honors in 2001 and Senior Player of the Year honors a year later.
While Roth has a quite a way to go in his rehabilitation, because of the progress he has made thus far, he’s encouraged about one day returning to PBA competition.
“I’ve got a long way to go and need to get a lot of strength back especially in my left leg,” Roth said. “But I’m determined and with the progress I’ve made so far don’t count me out."
Lake's Win Elks
No-Tap Tourney
Joan Lake and son Eddie Lake won the Monticello Elks March 15 No-Tap Scotch Doubles tournament held March 5 at Kiamesha Lanes.
Their winning scores was 1065.
Second place went to Mary Lee Williams and Jerald Scott with a score of 1048.
Third place was won by Mary Ann Drobysh-Berens and Paul Berens with a 961.
Fifty-six bowlers participated in this popular event. All enjoyed the Bar-B-Q chicken dinner at the Elks Club following the competition.
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 email 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.
All of the bowling family is pulling for the recovery of PBA Legend Mark Roth who suffered a massive stroke in 2009..
In May of 2009, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Mark Roth, a 34-time champion and universally regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in history, fell victim to a massive stroke that paralyzed his left side and left his family and friends wondering if he’d ever walk on his own again.
The thought may have entered Roth’s mind, but it left quickly as he began a determined battle to recover use of his body. The first signs of significant progress became apparent when he was able to attend the inaugural PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship in West Babylon, N.Y., in March of 2010.
On Wednesday March 2, Roth and his wife Denise again made the trip from their home in Fulton, N.Y., to Cheektowaga near Buffalo for the 2011 edition of the Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship. And it quickly became apparent that Roth has made even greater strides on his road to recovery when he stepped onto the lanes and bowled a few games.
Roth, who was ranked fifth behind Earl Anthony, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Dick Weber and Pete Weber on the list of PBA’s greatest players ever as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2009, has improved steadily thanks to therapy and the use of an electronic device called “WalkAide.” The device, manufactured by Hanger Prosthetics, provides electronic stimulation to his left leg allowing him to walk more efficiently by overcoming a common stroke complication called “foot drop.”
When Roth proved he had the determination to walk again, his doctors recommended bowling as the ideal form of therapy.
Roth, who will celebrate his 60th birthday on April 10, returned to the lanes with a six-pound ball and has slowly graduated to heavier equipment.
“I’ve gone from a point where they thought I would never walk again to where I can bowl three games at a time using a 12-pound ball,” Roth said. “I can use a 15-pound urethane ball for a few frames, but I’m not able to keep the speed up and it hooks off the lane.”
The “hook off the lane” comment is ironic, considering that Roth is widely credited with creating today’s “power game” with a unique delivery technique back in the 1970s that allowed him to generate massive hook with plastic bowling balls that few could match. His ability to hook plastic equipment revolutionized both the way modest bowlers throw the ball, and the advanced technology built into today’s bowling equipment that enhances hooking power.
In addition to the challenge of recovering from his stroke, Roth also developed complications with his hip that hampered his ability to sleep. Hard work in therapy has also alleviated most of that problem.
“Going to therapy five times a week about killed me,” he admitted, “but it has helped a lot. Right now I’m on a break from therapy, which I’m enjoying.”
Roth’s recovery has progressed to the point where now he feels good enough to travel longer distances. In fact, he recently passed his driver’s test.
“Passing the driver’s test was a big milestone for me,” Roth said. “Being able to drive again is just another thing that has increased my independence.”
Attending the tournament named in his honor is also an important part of Roth’s therapy. “Mark really needs this,” Denise said about attending the Plastic Ball Championship. “This was Mark’s family for so many years and he needs to be in this environment—it’s good medicine.”
Roth, who was busy providing commentary for pba.com’s Xtra Frame Thursday and Friday, was sitting in the front row Sunday March 6 when the finals of the Plastic Ball Championship aired live on ESPN.
Roth’s legacy is firmly established. In addition to his 34 Tour titles which ranks tied for fourth all-time, he is a four-time PBA Player of the Year (1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984). He led the Tour in average six times, including a then-record 221.699 in 1979. His record of eight titles in 1978 may never be broken and for good measure, he followed his record year with another seven titles in 1979. He earned more than $1.6 million in career earnings before moving into PBA Senior Tour competition where he won two more titles, earned Senior Rookie of the Year honors in 2001 and Senior Player of the Year honors a year later.
While Roth has a quite a way to go in his rehabilitation, because of the progress he has made thus far, he’s encouraged about one day returning to PBA competition.
“I’ve got a long way to go and need to get a lot of strength back especially in my left leg,” Roth said. “But I’m determined and with the progress I’ve made so far don’t count me out."
Lake's Win Elks
No-Tap Tourney
Joan Lake and son Eddie Lake won the Monticello Elks March 15 No-Tap Scotch Doubles tournament held March 5 at Kiamesha Lanes.
Their winning scores was 1065.
Second place went to Mary Lee Williams and Jerald Scott with a score of 1048.
Third place was won by Mary Ann Drobysh-Berens and Paul Berens with a 961.
Fifty-six bowlers participated in this popular event. All enjoyed the Bar-B-Q chicken dinner at the Elks Club following the competition.
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 email 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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