In a recent article in the Dallas Morning News, Chris Warren announced his retirement from the PBA Tour. His departure from professional ranks was blamed on the proliferation of the new reactive balls that he claims made lesser talented players equal to he and a number of other players. He boldly stated that if reactive balls had not emerged, TV bowling audiences would be watching Amleto Monacelli, Del Ballard Jr., Pete Weber, himself, and a few others, rather than Walter Ray Williams Jr. and the current crop who grace the tube on the PBA Tour.
He further stated: "Norm Duke is the greatest bowler on the face of this planet. Walter Ray Williams [Jr.] couldn’t carry Duke’s shoes!"
Chris Warren, a professional bowler from Dallas, is one of the smallest players on tour. Standing but five feet, five inches tall, he, along with Norm Duke, are the shortest players on tour. Duke weighs 123, which, believe it or not, is eight pounds heavier than Warren’s 115.
These vital statistics merely indicate that the sport of bowling is not a game of "macho" men but rather one that relies on finesse and talent.
Warren has long been one of my favorite bowlers. I have coached him on several occasions. He is a very talented bowler. He is congenial, animated, ever-smiling, and an extremely popular player when he is "on." He makes an interesting interview and is seldom lost for words. However, he is not an acknowledged superstar or one whose credentials befit Hall of Fame honors. Warren has five PBA titles, plus an ABC Masters crown in 1990.
His career has been somewhat spasmodic. He joined the PBA in 1983, bowling merely two tournaments. In 1986, the diminutive Texan joined the tour on a full-time basis and experienced little success during the ensuing four years.
In 1990, Chris Warren found the magic formula. In addition to winning the ABC Masters, he captured three PBA titles, winning at Pinole, Calif., Seattle, and the Japan Cup and gave signs of becoming one of the brightest stars on the tour.
He won again in 1991 at Wichita, Kansas and Winter Haven, Florida. He has never won again.
I cite these statistics to merely establish Warren’s standing as a professional bowler—namely, a fairly successful player but not of superstar status.
In asserting the relative talents of Norm Duke and Walter Ray Williams Jr., he is somewhat biased, prejudiced, or sadly lacks in facts, records, and PBA statistics.
The demeaning remarks leveled at Walter Ray Williams Jr. reek of envy and hypocrisy.
I share Mr. Warren’s contention that reactive balls have aided Walter Ray Williams Jr. Reactive balls have added pin carry to numerous bowlers who rely on accuracy rather than power. Butch Soper, Ernie Schlegel, Dave Traber, and a few others have reaped rewards using the super-charged missiles.
But, to profess that Mr. Williams couldn’t carry Duke’s shoes is totally asinine. Chris Warren either failed to research records or chose to issue statements frantically, with utter disregard to reality.
For example, here are the facts, statistics, and records of Norm Duke and Walter Ray Williams Jr. prior to the introduction of reactive bowling balls in 1992.
Williams bowled in merely three tournaments in 1981. However, both players started their careers in 1982, each participating in five tournaments.
From 1982 through 1991, Williams managed to win six titles and earn $851,269.
During the same 10-year period, Norm Duke won three titles and a total of $475,168. By all mathematical standards, Williams won twice as many titles and almost twice the amount of money for the identical period of time prior to the introduction of reactive balls!
Following the advent of reactive urethane balls, Williams has recorded 16 titles, earning $880,615. During this time span, Duke copped eight titles, collecting $585,103. Percentage-wise, as in previous years, Walter Ray doubled Duke’s output for the like period.
Williams has been selected PBA Bowler and BWAA Player of the Year three times; Duke earned both honors once—in 1994, on the strength of an outstanding season in which he seized five of his 11 titles.
Perhaps Warren has an explanation for Duke’s emergence as a superstar since 1993. Is it possible that the high-powered missiles played no less a decisive role in Norm’s march to stardom than any other players who have greatly benefited from the new weapons?
Can it be that Mr. Warren, who launched his career during this era, suffers from a lapse of memory? Or does his close association with Norm Duke blind him beyond reason?
This column is not designed to express an opinion or judgement on the relative talents of two great professional bowlers. Let the records speak for themselves.
It is not my intention to choose one above the other but rather to rebuke remarks that I deemed reckless and unsubstantial.
The demeaning remarks leveled at Walter Ray Williams Jr., the holder of 22 titles and the all-time leader in money earnings, reek of envy and hypocrisy. Above all, they were very unprofessional.
But then again, Chris Warren is no longer a professional.