Here & There Column 2-17-09

Neversink residents Christina & Alan Buckler enjoy the 3-D event as part of this years Super Bowl game.

Super Bowl Party Becomes A 3-D Event

Super Bowl productions always seen to come up with a different touch each year and this years event added more then Bruce Springsteen's halftime show and James Harrison's 100-yard return....viewers experienced a monstrous 3D event at the end of the 2nd quarter called Monsters vs Aliens.
Several folks hosting their annual Super Bowl party noted that with a downward spiraling economy and holiday credit card bills to pay off the last thing they were going to do was notch up a spending spree and a pricey Super Bowl Party.
For football fans, winters means only one thing......"The Big Game"......and whether you're a die-hard sports fan or just eager to check out those million dollar plus commercials, no Super Bowl Sunday would be complete with friends, family, food and liquid refreshments.
Football fans certainly were treated to an action-filled Super Bowl XLIII thriller between the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Arizona Cardinals but the majority of the folks at the party my wife and I attended were still routing for the failed New York Giants.......well I even went as far as wearing my New York Giants sweatshirt.
Our afternoon activities started off with the ever growing popular Wii Bowling and chowing down on delicious snacks, sandwiches and liquid refreshments...we left Shirley's famous "lemon tort" for our halftime desert.
The folks at the party we attended seemed to enjoy Bruce Springsteen's halftime show but others we talked to felt the show was an abomination......and what about those expensive commercials....at several points of this event I was wondering if they ever would return to the actual football game.
That's a wrap on NFL football for this season but that 3-D event proved to be something else with folks staring at the big-screen TV through Intel 3-D glasses.

Bowling Highlights Column 2-13-09

USBC Breaks Ground On Training-Research Center

Staff members at the new International Bowling Campus were on hand recently for the groundbreaking of the International Training and Research Center.
United States Bowling Congress Chief Executive Officer Kevin Dornberger, USBC Vice President-National Governing Body Neil Stremmel and Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America Executive Director John Berglund briefly addressed the group before various people donned hard hats and used shovels to ceremoniously move dirt in the complex’s south parking lot.
“This facility has been a long time in the making,” Dornberger said. “It will be the facility to teach, the facility to train and the facility to coach. We will make this the learning place of the world.”
“There are more than 30 National Governing Body training centers in the United States so, this is a positive step to the future success for bowling,” Stremmel said. “The ability to perform testing, conduct research and administer high-quality coaching is a key component to be a national governing body.”
Others on hand included USBC High Performance Director for Team USA, the USBC Coaching program and the International Training and Research Center David Garber and International Training and Research Center Head Coach Rod Ross.
“I am elated that USBC, along with BPAA, has the foresight to build a state-of-the-art training and test center,” Garber said. “This is another huge step in being able to grow the sport of bowling and continue to increase credibility to USBC and the coaching department.”
“This is a very exciting time for the sport of bowling. Having a facility like this is needed if we want to grow and develop the sport,” Ross said. “The tools and techniques that we have and continue to develop will not only help the elite athletes and teams that will train here, but the programs we develop will also help bowling centers improve their bowler retention and bowler developmental programs.”
The facility will include 14 lanes for training and six for research and testing of bowling equipment with four of the lanes being equipped for televised broadcasts. High-tech tools in the test center's research area will include a robotic ball thrower, computer ball tracking system and state-of-the-art biomechanics technology such as motion capture, which uses a sensor array and computer system to precisely track body movements of bowlers. " Plans call for coaches to use that technology on the test center lanes to coach Team USA, Junior Team USA, national teams from World Tenpin Bowling Association countries and possibly coaches who want to train in the facility. In addition, the plan is for the training center to be available for a fee to bowlers who want to take high-tech coaching lessons.
"This if the fulfillment of a dream," Berglund said. "But it's not the end of a dream. It's the beginning and BPAA is happy to play a role in making it happen."
Full-time construction on the 20-lane facility has started with a goal to be finished by Sept. 1.
“USBC is the world leader with regards to equipment specifications and rules and now coaching will have an appropriate place to become world class,” Stremmel said. The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

Bowling Tips
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This weeks tip is for all bowlers regardless of your level and it has to do with understanding the correct body position needed to execute a bowling shot and being able to duplicate it.
If you were to stand straight on the approach, facing the pins, letting the ball hang on your hand, you could not swing the ball straight without hitting your hip with the ball. This is impossible to do without swinging the ball around your hip because the ball is too big.
This "roundhouse swing" is not able to be duplicated shot after shot. Therefore, you might be in a position to be able to swing the ball toward your desired target without any obstacles.
The tip: Get your head as far to the right (or left if left-handed) and tilt your bowling shoulder slightly downward. Contrary to what some of your fellow bowlers might tell you, you must drop your shoulder toward the floor in order to avoid the "roundhouse" swing. At the same time, slightly open your hips and shoulder and you will be able to swing your arm straight toward your target time and time again. Due to different physiologist, the exact position may very slightly from person to person, when when correctly positioned, you can use gravity to control the tempo of your swing.
Note: If you were to shoot a game of pool, or go to a range and shot a bow or rifle, note the position your head would have to be in to be effective in these activities. Watch Pro Bowling on TV and make note of the bowler's body positions.
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 also the Northeast Regional Sales Manager with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-341-1694 or via e-mail at mikespro@warwick.net

New Spring League
Offers $1,000 First
Place Guaranteed

A new Tuesday Mixed Spring league with a $1,000 first place prize guaranteed has been announced at Kiamesha Lanes.
The $1,000 first place guaranteed is based on a 10 team league which would compete on Tuesday nights starting at 7 p.m. and would be a 12-week league ending the last Tuesday in June.
A team would consist of 4 players, men or women and any combination.
This league would feature a position night every week with a 90 percent handicap of 900 team average.
There will be a $25 team entry fee and league bowling will be $18 per bowler per week.
All monies after game fees goes tot he prize fund and all prizes will go to team standings as there will be no individual or team awards.
All prize monies will be paid out after the last night of bowling. Weekly fees must be paid in full by the week before the last night of bowling.
Individuals are also welcome to sign up for this league.
A $25 entry fee check (which goes into the prize fund) and your team's roster can be mailed to Kiamesha Lanes at P.O. Box, Route 42. Kiamesha Lake, NY 12751. Information can be obtained at 845-794-5561.

Local Scores

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league include a 200 by Willy Bartley, David Graham 203, Nate Sanders 201, Andrew Douglass 205, Lloyd Bridges 205, Chuck McAllister 214, 205, 216, 635, Keith Smith 202, Francisco Martinez 216, John Fischer 213, Steve Rivera 213, Wayne Pinnos 211, 224, 629, Roy Sweeney 206, 210, 248, 664, Jim VanAken 212, 211, Jason Jones 203, 223, Tom Belgiovene 210, 213, 616, John Hoffmann 224, 258, 213, 695, Rudy Belanchia 204, 267, 643, Peter Mitro 276, 628, Serifin Rodriguez 216, 200, Jo Jo VanKeuren 200, 258, 245, 703, Keith Shaddock 201, 200, Richard Levine 224, Jim Frost 232, Tim Bilyeu 267, 645, Joey Smith 201, Robert Hamilton 202, 212, 611, Donald Durland 236, 225, 642, Paul Durland 214, 215, Jaryl Scott 206, Mark Wegener 235, 278, 212, 725, Al Caycho 237, Jack Moylan 254, 203, 264, 721, Rob Sze 212, James Ratner 238, 237, 645, Kort Wheeler 236, 206, 625, Angel Rodriguez 205, Frank Scuderi 221, 223, 210, 654, Eddie Lake 280, 208, 236, 724, Rick Lake 233, Billy Curry Jr. 206 and Paul Curry 233, 203, 628.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firefighters league Pat Mulhern scored a 216, 587, Bryan Babcock 220, 202, Ed Guthrie 226, Cecil Walters 212, Joan Lake 225, 572, Dan Allen 201, Dorian Jennings 190, 537, George Kelley 212, Rich Blackford 215, Crystal Price 185, 510, Stan Gilmore 242, Lisa Cartwright 191, 181, Larry Berens 214, 204, 606, David Graham 245, 603, Tom Cooney 220, Debbie Durland 203, 188, 552, Donald Durland 216, 206, 279, 700, Kevin Stackhouse 224, 205, Roberta Yakin 191, John Fischer 243, 214, 640, John Hoffmann 226, 223, 247, 696, Chet Smith 224, Kris Gwiozdowski 256, Dale Sonnenschein 203, 227, 211, 641 and Barbara Yeomans 182, 194, 522.
In the Wednesday Men's league Shane Conner scored a 246, 605, Donald Durland 200, Matthew Fallon 204, 221, 605, Jon Wilhelm 235, 202, 241, 678, Jason Jones Jr. 214, Rick Lake 255, 226, 206, 687, Steven Rivera 200, Peter Mitro 208, 226, 605, Rick Lara 200, 235, 247, 682, Tim McIntyre 215, 233, 641, Larry Berens 218, 227, 603, Dean Shattuck 257, 214, 233, 704, Paul Durland 225, John Hoffmann 245, 225, 652, Tom Belgiovene 200, 220, 251, 671, Vinnie Collura 222, 201, 277, 700, Richard Hendricks 256, 619, Pedro Agapito 244, Al Caycho 201, Mike Weiner 223, 212, 618, Eugene Morton 241, Eddie Lake 226, Tim Minton 215, 237, 643, David Porter Jr. 203 and Frank DiCostanzo 203.
In the Thursday Ladies league Camille Carpinone scored a 187, Pat Gibson 181, Cheryl Neist 188, 193, 523, Hope McKeon 184, 198, 512, Kathy Shapiro 181, Valerie Fersch 209 and Joan Lake 199, 531.
In the Saturday Morning Youth leagues, in the Pees Wees division Amerlia Edwards scored a 63 and George VanAken 95. In the Bantams division Shivam Patel scored a 132, 129 and Nathaniel Edwards 117. In the Preps division Mikayla DeGraw scored a 127, Michael Hope 95, 107, Sarah Rustic 127, Shaym Patel 105, Parth Patel 120, Rup Patel 150 and Makenze Shaver 66. In the Jr/Mjr division Shivani Patel scored 188, Kishan Patel 160, Chase Israel 125, 125, Jason Moss 163, Eddie Walsh 201, Meghan McCormack 110, Taylor McCormack 127, Michael Brown 105, 102, Isiah Rosado 113, Jared Friedman 163, 158, Kristy Gessman 150, 126, Michael Edwards 158, 140, 125, Michael Scuderi 181, Nick Price 193, Cory Ciliberto 101, 124.

Gravity Alley

Recent highlight scores in the Wednesday Mixed league had Alma Brill scoring a 184, Bill Rutledge 208, Scott Ropke 234, 231, 642 and Kevin Breidenstein 203.

Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Tuesday Early Birds league include a 222, 540 by Kathleen Stanton, Angie Ferris 192, 538, Nikki Andriano 190, 530, Kathleen Maltese 517, Sally Ballard 191, 515, Diane Miller 186, 512, Jennifer Raymond 187, 504, Melinda Ferris 181, 503, Tammy Kane 501, Linda Ferris 185 and Louise Botsford 183.
In the Wednesday Men's Independent league Daniel Wormuth scored a 241, 243, 668, Thomas Anderson 202, 235, 202, 639, Robert McNaught 233, 212, 629, Allen Bullis Sr. 205, 238, 623, Bill Gleim 243, 623, Shawn Tracy 227, 619, Francis Wormuth 230, 207, 605, Howie Couse 222, 218, 604, Jerry Kulakosky 255, Mitch Persbacker 246, Robert Johnson 222, Brandon Drumm 234, Pat Kille 222, Lee Stanton 223 and Brian Drumm 232.
In the Thursday Men's Deposit National league Jeff Curtis scored a 212, 221, 624, Neil Mosher 231, 207, 608, Robert Johnson 225, 600, Al Bullis Sr. 215, Al Bullis Jr. 212 and Craig Conklin 216.
In the Friday Mixed Doubles Couples league Howard Couse scored 202, 238, 202, 642, Daniel Wormuth 224, 225, 641, Bill Gleim 224, 215, 631, Mark McGraw 266, 631, Paul Fritz 214, 225, 628, Cecil Spencer 201, 216, 613, James Dibble 211, 204, Rick Mills 206, Robert Ellis 215, Gary Resti 213, Sandy Winans 189 and Hope Jones 185.
In the Sunday Afternoon Mixed Fun league Fred Shakelton scored a 250, 224, 259, 733 and Marty Haeussler 254, 205, 654.

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Hortonville Ladies league include a 183 by Dee Dee Schrader, Judy Mohn 188, Julie Burlingame 200, Ingrid Ott 188 and Mary Ellen Rutledge 192.
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Joel Turner scored a 254, Jon Wayne 227, Karl Adams 213, Gary Erlwein 244, Steve Lagoda 230, Damien Vanluven 235, Jon Duffy 203, Scott Herbert 207, Tom Bisig 206, Mark Schriber 221, Mark Hawley 200, 220, John Fink 228, Tom Russell 209, Bob Cady 236 and Mike Hubbard 216.
In the Wednesday Mixed Businessmen league Paul Minton scored a 210, Bobby Cooper 207, Shirley Townsend 198, Alan Rutledge 227, Kory Keesler 223, Bruce Rutledge 208, Joseph Gager 203, 203 and Roger Widmann 222.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the professional sport of bowling. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Tri-County USBC where he serves as Publicity Chairman. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or by sending an e-mail to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a much more expanded version of our bowling column visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com

. PBA ON SUNDAY AT 1 P.M.

A week-long break on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour was a welcome relief for PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke.
Coming off a disappointing 39th place-finish in the H & R Block Tournament of Champions three weeks ago, a rested Duke defeated Michael Fagan 278-168 in the championship match to win the Dennys Dick Weber Open Sunday at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif.
That week off was everything, said Duke, who was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame the same week as the Tournament of Champions. I needed it mentallyif there wasnt this break on Tour I would have probably taken a week off anyway.
Dukes win was the 32nd of his career tying him for fifth all-time with fellow Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III. In addition to coming into the tournament with renewed focus, the Clermont, Fla., resident admitted to a little added inspiration from the late Dick Weber.
When I started the practice session I noticed Dicks photo on a banner and I thought if Im going to win this tournament I better bowl like Dick Weber, said the 44-year-old Duke. It means a lot.
For Duke it was his third victory of the season having won the PBA World Championship to start the season, becoming the first player to win three consecutive majors. He also won the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles with Liz Johnson in January.
The PBA Tour continues this week with the USBC Masters tournament from Las Vegas, NV. The ESPN finals are Sunday at 1 p.m.

Rested Norm Duke Wins Denny’s Dick Weber Open
Duke’s 32nd Win Ties with Parker Bohn III for Fifth Place on the All-Time PBA Tour Titles List

A week-long break on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour was a welcome relief for PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke.

Coming off a disappointing 39th place-finish in the H & R Block Tournament of Champions two weeks ago, a rested Duke defeated Michael Fagan 278-168 in the championship match to win the Denny’s Dick Weber Open last Sunday at Fountain Bowl .

“That week off was everything,” said Duke, who was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame the same week as the Tournament of Champions. “I needed it mentally—if there wasn’t this break on Tour I would have probably taken a week off anyway.”

Duke’s win was the 32nd of his career tying him for fifth all-time with fellow Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III. In addition to coming into the tournament with renewed focus, the Clermont, Fla., resident admitted to a little added inspiration from the late Dick Weber.

“When I started the practice session I noticed Dick’s photo on a banner and I thought if I’m going to win this tournament I better bowl like Dick Weber,” said the 44-year-old Duke. “It means a lot.”

For Duke it was his third victory of the season having won the PBA World Championship to start the season, becoming the first player to win three consecutive majors. He also won the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles with Liz Johnson in January.

Duke, who won a $35,000 first prize, held off the hard-charging Fagan who won three consecutive matches from his No. 5 qualifying position to get to the championship match.

The 28-year-old Fagan opened the stepladder by defeating reigning PBA Player of the Year and 10-time titlist Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 204-183, then beat four-time Tour titlist Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., 256-223, and Hall of Famer and 34-time titlist Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 243-201.

“I really didn’t have high expectations and I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me,” said Fagan, who was trying for his first individual PBA Tour title. “I felt good going into the last match but the lanes were breaking down pretty quickly. I was just hoping I could get one more good game out of it.

“But when Norm’s on his game there’s really not much you can do.”

Fagan, of Patchogue, N.Y., won the PBA Exempt Doubles Classic with Danny Wiseman in 2008 for his lone Tour victory.


Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
Denny’s Dick Weber Open
Fountain Bowl – Fountain Valley, Calif.
February 8, 2009

Final Standings
1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla. 278 (one game) $35,000
2, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y. 871 (four games) $17,500
3, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo. 201 (one game) $ 9,000
4, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y. 223 (one game) $ 7,000
5. Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas 183 (one game) $ 5,000

Stepladder Results
Match One – Fagan def. Barnes, 204-183
Match Two – Fagan def. Shafer, 256-223
Semifinal Match – Fagan def. Weber, 243-201
Championship Match – Duke def. Fagan, 278-168

PBA 50th Anniversary Gala Video Available on Xtra Frame
PBA.com Site Offers Golden Festivities from Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas

In the words of virtually everyone who was a part of the PBA’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Las Vegas, it was an event they will never forget. Many said the Gala at Red Rock Resort, Casino and Spa on Jan. 25 was the greatest night in the history of the Professional Bowlers Association.

Subscribers of Xtra Frame, the PBA’s online source for exclusive video programming, can relive the evening’s lineup of introductions, Hall of Fame inductions and the presentation of the 50 Greatest Players in PBA History.

The Charleston Ballroom at Red Rock was a “Who’s Who in Bowling,” packed with superstars past-and-present, industry leaders, long-time PBA support staff members and awe-struck fans of the sport. The crowd witnessed an event-closing parade of 38 of the players named to the list of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players and welcomed John Handegard, Del Ballard Jr. and Norm Duke to the PBA Hall of Fame.

For Xtra Frame subscription information, please visit pba.com/xtraframe.

USBC BOARD TO START EXECUTIVE SEARCH

The Board of Directors of the United States Bowling
Congress has decided to commence with a search for a permanent Executive
Director for the organization.

"The Board greatly appreciates the leadership shown by Chief
Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger," said USBC President Jeff Boje.
In accordance with the process prescribed when Kevin first took
the position as interim COO, we have decided to commence with a search
for a permanent Executive Director for USBC at this time. Kevin will
receive full consideration for this position should he choose to be a
candidate."

The Bowling Proprietors Association of America Board of Directors
has also announced that it will begin a search for an Executive Director
to replace John Berglund, who has previously announced his pending
retirement.

Additionally, the Board of Directors of USBC and BPAA have jointly
decided to commence a search for a Director of Shared Services for the
International Bowling Campus. This newly created position would report
to a joint committee comprised of USBC and BPAA representatives. This
decision came after a task force from BPAA and the USBC studied the
structure of each organization and made recommendations to both boards.
The USBC and BPAA boards then met independently and voted to support the
concept in principle.

"Many teams within USBC and BPAA are in the process of working
together at the International Bowling Campus currently, and this move
will simply represent a more formal unification of those teams," Boje
said. The Board believes that this operating model gives USBC and the
sport of bowling the best chance to succeed in the long run."

Although no formal timetable has been set, a professional search firm
will soon be engaged to assist USBC and BPAA with their respective
searches.

USBC Collegiate forms media partnership with Northeast Conference

Northeast Conference (NEC) Commissioner Brenda Weare announced recently a new partnership with the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), the national governing body for bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. The agreement enables the two organizations to work together on joint media opportunities to further the promotion and growth of women's bowling.
"We are pleased to announce this association with a nationally-recognized and respected organization like the USBC," said Weare. "This relationship will be a mutually beneficial one that fosters the advancement of bowling on the collegiate level while providing more exposure for the NEC's student-athletes."

The NEC website (northeastconference.org) will prominently display the USBC Collegiate logo and provide a direct link to the collegiate section on Bowl.com, the official Web site of the USBC. The USBC collegiate homepage will publicize the NEC's weekly award winners, highlight newsworthy items and provide information on the NEC Championship. In addition, the USBC will assist the NEC in promoting its championship to the organization's 2.6 million members.

"USBC's media partnership with the Northeast Conference will greatly benefit collegiate bowling fans and the sport of bowling as a whole," said USBC Collegiate Manager Gary Brown. "This partnership will give collegiate bowling greater national exposure, and that will drive more young men and women to the sport. This is positive step for USBC Collegiate and the NEC. We hope other conferences will be compelled to follow suit."

After announcing that women's bowling would become the league's 22nd championship sport in January, 2008, the NEC stands poised to host its inaugural women's bowling championship from March 20-22 at Parkway Lanes in Elmwood Park, NJ.

The NEC has quickly become a national leader in collegiate bowling with five of the league's seven members ranked in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association Top-20 Poll, including No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson and No. 8 Kutztown. FDU won the 2006 NCAA National Bowling Championship while Sacred Heart is the defending ECAC champion. Other NEC institutions that sponsor bowling include Long Island and St. Francis (NY). Associate members Adelphi and Saint Peter's round out the league.

Northeast Conference
Now in its 28th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 11 institutions of higher learning located throughout five states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#22), Baltimore (#24), and Hartford/New Haven (#29). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic or play-in access to 13 different NCAA Championships. NEC core member institutions include Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (NY), Saint Francis (PA) and Wagner. Bryant University will become a core member of the conference in 2012 upon completion of the five-year NCAA Division I reclassification period.
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.