Storm Almost Takes Ciminelli's Life

                                                                

  How did the worst snowstorm to bury the Buffalo NY area in a century have any effect on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)?
  Well for 28-year-old two-time  PBA titlist Ryan Ciminelli, who lives in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga, the storm almost took his life in a harrowing experience.
  On November 16 Ciminelli flew home from Tokyo, where he has competed in the Round1 Japan Cup, when the lake-effect snow across Lake Erie began to bury the region in up to nine feet of snow.
  The PBA titlist personal troubles began with an airline maintenance problem that delayed his arrival in Buffalo from Monday night until Tuesday.
  Ciminelli noted that when the flight finally got into Buffalo there was about three inches of snow on the ground at the airport, "but no one could come and get me so I decided to walk the three miles to my home."
  Being not dressed for the snow and without a hat or gloves didn't help in his decision to trek his way through the snowstorm to his home
  Ryan said that "by the time I got to the end of my street there was no  way I could get to my house," and "I could either try to walk through five feet of snow to a neighbor's house or turn about and go back toward another friends's house near the airport but I decided to try my neighbor's house."
  The snow and cold was beginning to take a negative effect on Ryan who said, "by the time I got through the snow....it was less than 500 feet.....my legs had gone numb and I literally fell into their garage."
  After they got him inside and warned him up Ciminelli made the decision that he could not stay there so he went to another neighbors house knowing, "I was really scared and I'm convinced I almost died."
  As a result of someone calling in a false alarm the city sent a small bobcat that plowed a path down his street and on Wednesday morning Ryan followed the path and got home but that wasn't the end of the story.
  The heavy snow on the roof was causing stress cracks all over the ceiling and following the advise of the fire department he and his family evacuated the house and went to his parents house.
  The problems contined when Ryan and a couple of guys went back to his house and got most of the snow off the roof and discovered a broken furnace so they were without heat for 14-16 hours.
  The young lefty super star from Cheektowaga indicated that lady luck was on his side this time with his statement, "I'm convinced I almost died."
  Fellow PBA players Jack Jurek from Lackawanna and Liz Johnson, who lives about a half-mile from Ciminelli, got home Monday night  just when the snow started and were not faced with the snow problems confronting Ryan.

Ed's Outlook

  I sometime wonder about what the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) does and doesn't do..
  Glenn Allison recorded a 900 series (3 three hundred games in a row) and received national attention for rolling a perect series at La Habra Bowl in La Habra, California on July 1, 1982.
  USBC's predecessor organization, the American Bowling Congress (ABC), after inspection of the lanes, did approve the series because of non-complying lane condition at that time.
  Allison's score would have been the first perfect series in history had it been approved.
  ABC's decision was litigated before the United States District Court, Central District of California, which upheld the ABC's determination in all respects.
  So being that the bowling community is very passionate about this issue persuaded the  USBC to re-consider Allison's award.
  They reviewed the documents...... and guess what folks.......the USBC said they can't turn back the hand of time and change the rules in 1982.
  ABC rules for approving sanctioned award scores in 1982 were significantly different than currect USBC rules so we don't understand why the USBC even considered hearing this issue again......a true waist of everyone's time and effort.

  Ed Townsend, a PR consultant to the sport of bowling, writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league scores, tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series, or even bowl your age, call Ed at 845-439-8177 or 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

  In  the process of learning how to bowl, people often overlook key elements.
  I'm going to give you some tips that you can use to improve your game.
  1. Keep that arm swing loose  and keep your grip relaxed in the ball.
  2. Use your lower body leverage, bend your knees  and get your knee to get lower on the last step.
  3. Finish close to the foul line....the closer you are to the foul line the less energy you will have to use.
  4. Relax your thumb and come through with the ball...relax your thumb and release the ball with the free arm swing.
  5. Bowling is all in the mind....visualize the lanes in your mind...define your good shots and do them until they're near perfection.
  6. The drop off method.....instead of pushing the ball away just let it drop down into the swing on the second step.
  7. Use your own style....whatever you think helps make your game better....use them to work for you.
  8. Watch the PBA stars and see how the pros do it.
  Mike Luongo is a certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator , Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, call him at 435-720-7939 or email at mikel@stormbowling.com

 Local Scores
 (compiled by Ed Townsend)

 Beechwood Lanes

Monday Ladies

  Diane Staves 175,150, Diane Conroy 159, Barbara Cady 175, Lindsey Bauer 154, Deb Murphy 158, Dot McCormack 174, Tracy Puerschner 185.

Callicoon Kristal Bowl

Mon. Hortonville Ladies

  Pat Peters 153, 188, Rebecca Rhodes 162, 163, 159, Dawn Roemer 153, Marty Bogdanowitz 152, Joyce Brooks 151, Sue Naughton 180, 152, Linda Mills 158, Kelly Gombita 177, 191, 517, Lillian Zieres 158, 152, Debbie Loughrey 157, 151.

 Tues. Del. Valley Men's

  Bob Head 221, 200, Rick Weigelt 184, 202, 181, Joey Gager 192, 204, 219, 615, Erik Burton 188, 182, Keith Smith 224, 196, Jonathan Heinle 219, Bill Meyer 212, Joe Meyer 191, Kurt Buddenhagen 190, 214, Eugene Fulton 226, 188, Dave Graham 211, 225, 210, 646, Bob Cady 191, Dean Shattuck 217, Alan Rutledge 184, Mark Schriber 190, Cima Bue 180, Jackie Brockner 190.

  Wednesday Men's

  John Diehl 208, 218, 189, 615, Alby Thony 191, 213, Ben Highhouse 193, Bryan Swendson 185, Randy Fischer 189, John Obremski 201, 180, 183, Mike Aumick 184, Bob Fix Jr. 216, 630, Craig Stewart 194, Brian Brustman 201, John Kline 183, 193, Rich Thony 213, 194, Tim Sykes 188, 185, Tom Gain 191, John Glassel 212, 202, Robert Glassel 195.

Kiamesha Lanes

 Monday Men's

  Lloyd Bridges 265, 235, 706, Pedro Agapito III a 267, 687, Rudy Belanchia 611, Vinnie Collura 247, 246, 709, Donnie Durland 235, 643, Jody Farquhar 264, 630, Kyle Giordino  256, 266, 674, Dave Graham 267, 243, 706, Eddie Lake 269, 246, 722, Rick Lake 258, 234, 697, Francisco Martinez 234, Patrick Mulhern 235, Jaryl Scott 279, 229, 713, Frank Scuderi 233, 648, Michael Scuderi 619, Keith Smith 226, 603, Ronald Totten 237, 230, 660, Michael Travis 264, 655, Charlie Tuttle 232, 236, 646, James VanAken 620.

Tues. Mixed Firefighters

  Linda Schaefer 183, 197, 194, 574, Cara Nicholson 211, 181, 544, Andrea Grossman 191, 514, Mary Lee Williams 217, 508, Kal Cronk 182, 180, Karen Martin 189, 180, Heather Dobell 186, Robert Yakin Jr. 256, 245, 699, Pedro Agapito 649, Russ Keesler 244, 628, John Hoffmann 615, Larry Whipple 233, 614.

Thursday Ladies

  Karen Gabriel 184, Pat Gibson 189, Debbie Polin 233, 201, Shirley Bowens 186, 223, Dottie Collins 213, 180, Maureen Hopper 191, Audrey Woolard 212, Barbara Merton 194, Joan Lake 182, 195, 202, 579, Sherry Laird 181, 223, Vera Bernhardt 194.

Friday Mixed

  Mike Amore 246, Trasey Barres 186, Larry Berens 602, Orshii Boldiis 225, MaryAnn Drobysh-Berens 194, 186, 517, Dave Graham 648, Eddie Lake 259, 225, 258, 742, Laura Palmer 204, 512, Tom Palmer 244, 656, Debbie Polin 205, 224, 603, Joann Ruggiero 188, Kevin Stackhouse 238, 635, Robert Sze 279, 226, 697, Tammy Sze 209, 193, 581, Larry Whipple 256, 668.