The final five women have qualified for the ESPN televised finals of bowling’s US Women’s Open.

To no surprise, Kelly Kulick leads the way after shooting a total 11,585 for 48 games. Slowly climbing her way up the ladder is Hall of Famer and former PWBA superstar, Leanne (Barrette) Hulsenburg. Qualifying third and looking to earn her third US Women’s Open title is Liz Johnson. Itching to win her first major is number four seed, Shannon O’Keefe. Finally, the number five seed and husband of PBA standout Chris Barnes is Lynda Barnes.

While each player would be thrilled to add a major championship to their repertoire, there’s no doubt they are all vying to do something that’s never been done in bowling. If either of the women who make the final match shoot a 300 game, they will earn a 1 million dollar bonus.

The finals will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. tomorrow (Thursday, June 30) at 7 p.m. CST. It will air on ESPN2 on Saturday, July 2 at 6 p.m. Eastern.

I think it’s fair to call Kelly Kulick the Tiger Woods of women’s bowling. After 32 games at bowling’s US Women’s Open, she’s averaging 243 and leading 2nd place by 153 pins. Although the pattern is less than difficult, Kulick makes it look flat out easy. Every time I saw her throw a shot today, she struck.

However, this evening starts the top 16 round robin match-play format where anything can happen.

Nipping at Kulick’s heels are Shannon Pulhowsky and Liz Johnson. Pulhowsky has the obvious advantage of being the only surviving lefty in the top 16. But after going only plus 66 in my first round on Saturday and finding myself in 114th place, someone told me not to worry, “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” While I found that to be true by finishing 32nd overall, there’s no one more persevering than Kulick, and that’s why I pick her to win.

The top 16 qualified as follows:

» Continue reading “Race to Kelly Kulick”

Most sports fan don’t mind a little trash talking. Rarely, though, will you witness it in bowling. But at this years PBA Summer Series, bowling fans will get a taste of just that. All because of a water bottle.

If you remember the ‘Bottle Incident’ at the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs, we’ll call the PBA Summer Series ‘Bottle Incident Part Deux’ For those of you who missed the ‘Bottle Incident’ at the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs allow me to explain. Jason Belmonte, who was bowling against Brad Angelo was sipping from a water bottle in between shots. Well, if you’ve ever drank from a water bottle, you know the crinkling sound it has a tendency to make when it starts to get low. At one point, Angelo was up to bowl and Belmonte was holding the water bottle in his hands. Angelo, needing desperately to strike, heard the bottle start crinkling, stepped off the approach and asked him opponent to keep quiet. As Angelo stepped back onto the approach and began to deliver his shot, the bottle made a short popping sound in his backswing. Well, he didn’t strike and immediately turned around to express his disappointment in his opponents obvious mistake. The incident itself was blown out of proportion seeing as how Belmonte clearly did not do it intentionally. Angelo accepted his apology after the fact and most people moved on.

Well at the PBA Summer Series, a similar incident occurred. Except this time, it was Belmonte, a water bottle, Sean Rash and some foul language.

At the expense of these players images, a tease of the incident has been posted by the PBA on You Tube. I’m guessing to draw in ratings. You can view it here.

Since the clip of the incident has surfaced, Belmonte has issued a statement attempting to explain himself.

“I have been labeled a cheat, a child, and much worse things by fans, and other pros. Even worse, pros that I considered friends. 

For what? Because I drink water out of a bottle? Don’t all athletes during pressure filled situations?” Belmonte asked.

Today, in true Sean-style, Rash submitted a response,

“While I do apologize for my choice of language, I do not apologize for my actions on calling out Belmonte.” “I can assure you that I will most certainly call out Belmonte or any other player who tries to use these unprofessional tactics against me in the future.” He replied.

I personally believe it’s a far stretch to call Belmonte’s actions “unprofessional tactics.”At the end of the day, I believe both bottle incidents were an accident. It’s too bad the PBA has taken this route, though. Far more exciting events occurred at this years Summer Series and are going to be overshadowed by a pitiful argument. Maybe next time though, the PBA should give Belmonte his water in a glass, just to be safe.

The PBA Summer Series a.k.a. ‘Manufactures Cup’ will begin airing this Saturday, June 25th at noon ET on ESPN and continue airing Sunday, June 26th, Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 3^rd.

Bowling Lanes to be constructed inside Cowboys Stadium for U.S. Women's Open Finals

One week from today marks the beginning of a historic event in the name of women’s bowling. It’s the 58^th U.S. Women’s Open, which is one of two major events still existing for female bowlers to compete in. But, what’s the big deal about this year’s event? A few things.

First, the ESPN televised finals of bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open are scheduled to take place at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. That’s right, four bowling lanes will be constructed around the infamous star at Jerry’s World in Arlington, Texas on Thursday, June 30^th.

After 48 games of qualifying the top 4 finalists will duke it out in hopes of claiming the top prize of $50,000, a $5,000 gift certificate to Tiffany & Co. and two round-trip airfare tickets to anywhere in the world (courtesy of American Airlines). Not often do the finals of a bowling tournament take place in such a grand venue, much less for women.

Another first for the U.S. Women’s Open is the chance at 1 million dollars for a 300 game shot in the championship match. If either of the two finalists in the championship match throw 12 strikes in a row for a perfect 300 game, they will not only be one of few women who have ever done so they will receive a 1 million dollar bonus prize. Only one other time in the history of bowling has 1 million dollars been offered for a 300 in the championship match. In 1997, Strike and Spare Fun Center guaranteed a $1 million bonus for any PBA player who rolled a 300 game during the title match of the Comfort Inn Classic. Neither player accomplished the feat and the prize was never offered again, until now.

The Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) is sponsoring bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open together with the Brands of Ebonite International. Throughout this event, BPAA has one goal: set the record for bowling attendance at a single event. The record is 7,212 set in 1995 at the PBA U.S. Open at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Guinness will be on hand to count tickets at the entrance and 7,213 is the only number on BPAA’s Executive Director, Steve Johnson’s mind.

“That’s one of the beautiful things about Cowboys Stadium,” Johnson said. “We can get a lot of people in there.”

Myself and close to 300 other women are signed up for this years event, amongst us some of the greatest female bowlers in history.

Many have questioned the likelihood of a woman actually shooting 300 in the finals match. Well, despite the fact that many of the women bowling the event have over 20 300’s to their credit, the pattern itself is less than challenging and the feasibility of someone actually shooting 300 is higher than you think.

So if you find yourself in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area on Thursday, June 30^th head down to Cowboys Stadium, grab a beer and enjoy the festivities as women’s bowling attempts to make history.

The finals will be tape-delayed and air on ESPN, Saturday, July 2 (time TBD).

Image from the 2011 GEICO PBA Team Shootout. Set to begin airing June 25.

I don’t know a single sports fan who prefers to watch a tape delayed event over a live one. For that reason, many are distraught about NBC’s recent outbid as the exclusive broadcaster of the summer Olympics until 2020. Their history of tape delaying events to build ratings during prime time hours is deeply frowned upon.

One of the unfortunates of the advancement of social media is the slim chance of avoiding headlines and results before an event your eagerly anticipating. It’s almost impossible and ultimately lessens the excitement of watching an event that you already know the outcome of. I feel the pain.

The PBA 2010-2011 season consisted of a total of 15 events, nine of which were tape delayed broadcasts. Some were taped delayed as long as a month after the tournament took place. You don’t even have to own a computer to find out the results of an event within a month of it’s taping.

While the PBA doesn’t post results of a tournament on their website, Facebook or Twitter feed, every other bowling outlet in the industry does. So unless it’s reported that something exciting occurred (a 300, for example) nothing gives the viewer a reason to watch. Plenty of fans are going to watch regardless, sure. Some people are going to tune in who don’t follow bowling, sure. But the excitement level of watching the finals live is unprecedented, in any sport.

Imagine the Super Bowl being tape delayed. Does anyone think that FOX would have attracted 111 million viewers and been able to charge $3 million dollars per 30 second commercial spot if the game was taped on Sunday and aired on Monday? Because I don’t. The thought of that is ludicrous.

» Continue reading “Tape Delays the Fun”

I love getting “the look” from people after I tell them I’m a bowler and they say something like “Wait (insert look here) you bowl? Like…bowling?!” (As if bowling is only something done by drunk, rednecks). “You don’t look like a bowler” most people add on.

I was recently on a flight after a tournament in Northern California. Trying to make conversation, the guy sitting next to me started asking the standard “so, what are you travelling for” questions people typically exchange with strangers on flights. I turned to him and explained that Dallas was home and I was in the bay area for a bowling tournament. Not to my surprise, he made, “the look” and said “Really? A bowling tournament?” Then he proceeded to ask the questions all bowlers get when they talk to someone who knows little about bowling and all that it entails.

These questions rarely vary and are ones I’ve been asked a million times. I’ve found that majority of people want to know the same things. Most of the time, I welcome them and the opportunity to educate someone on something so unfamiliar to all. However, these same questions are ones you should refrain from asking a Professional. Because frankly, even though I know most people are just curious, they can come across as ignorant. Therefore, allow me to answer them for you. Now, should you ever run into a professional bowler, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Q: What’s your average?

A: Ok, this question might not seem like an ignorant one to you, but it is. I mean, would you ever ask Tiger Woods what his handicap is? Didn’t think so. So, don’t ask a professional bowler, either. Their averages typically range between 210 and 250 depending on the condition he or she is bowling on. Which might not seem THAT good compared to your Uncle’s 220 average on his Thirsty Thursday night league, but keep in mind your Uncle is bowling on far easier conditions than pros face on a weekly basis. Again, let’s go play Tiger at putt-putt, then let’s go face him at Augusta. See the difference?

» Continue reading “The FAQ’s of Bowling”