Bowling Highlights Column 10-14-11

ESPN's Coverage Begins December 4

For the 32nd consecutive year, ESPN will provide millions of American bowling fans with nationally-televised coverage of the Professional Bowlers Association during the 2011-12
season.
The PBA Tour’s new television season, which includes 18 Sundaytelecasts, will begin with a “doubleheader” on Sunday, Dec. 4 with the men’s and women’s World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA airing in back-to-back one-hour segments. The PBA-ESPN season will conclude with the live finals of the PBA Tournament of Champions from Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15.
Supplementing the ESPN telecasts, pba.com’s exclusive Xtra Frame video streaming service will provide more than 250 hours of live, online coverage of PBA Tour preliminary rounds as well as start-to-finish coverage of four new Xtra Frame Tour events during the season.
2011-12 ESPN-PBA TOUR SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Dec. 4, 1 p.m. – World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA (men), Las Vegas. Dec. 4, 2 p.m. - World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the PBA (women), Las Vegas. Dec. 11, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Carter Division, LasVegas.
Dec. 18, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Hardwick Division, LasVegas.
Jan. 1, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Petraglia Division, Las Vegas.
Jan. 8, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship, Aulby Division, Las Vegas.
Jan. 15, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA World Championship finals, Las Vegas.
Jan. 22, 3 p.m. – WSOB Bayer Viper Open, Las Vegas.
Jan. 29, 12:30 p.m. – USBC Masters, Las Vegas.
Feb. 5, 4 p.m. – Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, New Orleans.
Feb. 12, 3 p.m. – WSOB Chameleon Open, Las Vegas.
Feb. 19, 3 p.m. – WSOB Scorpion Open, Las Vegas.
Feb. 26, 3 p.m. – 69th U.S. Open, North Brunswick, N.J.
March 4, 3 p.m. – WSOB Shark Open, Las Vegas.
March 25, 2:30 p.m. – WSOB Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship, Las Vegas.
April 1, 1 p.m. – WSOB Carmen Salvino Classic, Las Vegas.
April 8, 1 p.m. – WSOB PBA Exempt Players Championship, Las Vegas.
April 15, 1 p.m. – PBA Tournament of Champions, Las Vegas. WSOB = PBA World Series of Bowling
The Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo
Bowlers: This week's tip is for parents with children who either bowl in a youth league or bowl regularly with their own equipment.
Parents.....when was the last time you had your child's fit checked on their bowling ball at your local pro-shop?
Children tend to grow quickly and the gripping holes in their bowling balls must be adjusted to accommodate this growth.
Bowling with poor-fitting equipment can become frustrating and uncomfortable. In many cases, it only takes a minute or two for adjustments to be made.
Also, if your child has hit or her own bowling shoes, you can check the size youself to see if the fit is acceptable. Do not wait for blisters to form on the toes.
remember, the game is meant to be enjoyed, not to be a form of torture.
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 at 845-439-8177, by email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com and by fax at 845-205-4474. For a more expanded version of this column visit our Web Page at http://bght.blogspot.com/ This column is also available on Facebook.