One down, 999 to go in the new millennium. I'll say one thing for the bowling industry: It's not often boring. We started 2001 by reporting that—as predicted in this corner—another 900 series was rolled at the end of 2000. Can anyone name who did it? I didn't think so. I haven't been paying attention—has there been one in 2001?
The quiet college prof turned pro bowler, Dr. Bob Glass won the ABC Senior Masters and was named Senior B of Y for 2000. We (and your mother) told you it pays to get an education.
In February, bowling's treasure, Joe Norris, died just short of his quest to break the all time ABC Tournament participation record. He was 93. Legend-to-be Mike Aulby won his 27th career crown in California, and WIBC kicked off its "Bowl for the Cure" campaign in Dallas and Milwaukee. Over $800,000 was raised for breast cancer research nationwide in 2001 by thousands of WIBC volunteers.
March — Aulby and John Jowdy enter the ABC Hall of Fame. Jowdy's party was also a big hit. ... Rose Smith won the Golden Ladies Classic in Vegas, and Steve Wilson took the top prize in Gary Beck's Battle at Little Creek, an exciting new all match play event. The PBA liked it so much, it adopted the concept in all its events later in the year.
In April, two Maryland bowlers won the $20,000 top prize in the BPAA Tequila Rose Doubles in Las Vegas. After the event, they were disqualified for falsifying their averages, moving all of the other teams up a spot. Later in the year, BPAA announced the Tequila Rose event was history. ... In Florida, Carol Norman took off her shoes and thanked the WIBC delegates for her Hall of Fame induction. Clara Morton and Louise Fulton joined her in the Hall. Jan Schmidt and Susie Minshew were also honored that day.
In May, Chuck Pierce won his first PBA title after 30-plus years on tour at age 56. ... A week later, Mark Roth won his first senior crown and 35th of his career. ... Carolyn Dorin-Ballard kicked off her year by winning the WIBC Queens in Florida. ... Texan Fran Minton won the Senior Queens in a bizarre finals day when two champions were named. After Michigan's Marilyn Kreg was crowned, WIBC declared the finals "null and void" and started over. Minton came out on top in the new "correct" format.
In early July, Las Vegas was the setting for Tom Kouros to receive the Flowers for the Living Award at BPAA Bowl Expo. Dorin-Ballard continued to dominate the women's tour, winning three in a row. ... Sandy Curtis resigned from the PBA, citing the new owners' need to devote more time and resources to the Senior Tour. After she was gone, they agreed. ... In the megabuck events, Nick Vogelsang won his second High Roller crown and $100,000, while collegian Derek Sapp captured the $50,000 Mini Eliminator. The runner-up was Marcia Kamrowski, winning $25 grand—enough to finance another year on the PWBA tour.
August was eventful: Earl Anthony fell down Ed Baur's stairs and died at only 63. Thus ended the life of a great athlete. He was perhaps the best bowler ever, a gifted golfer and baseball player, and a pretty decent gentleman farmer. ... Also in August, the PWBA/BPAA U.S. Open negotiations boiled over. PWBA touring players had agreed to boycott any women's U.S. Open that did not have equal TV time and prize money. Finally, a settlement emerge with BPAA turning over the event rights to PWBA. A short time later, PWBA obtained 90 minutes of TV time on ESPN to follow the PBA show and announced that its event would be a $300,000 tournament in Nevada, leaving the men on their own in California.
September will only be remembered for one thing: the terrorist attacks on the USA in New York and Washington. All sports came to a halt. On 9-11, the PWBA event was already in progress in Florida. PBA cancelled its Wichita event. PWBA players struggled to get through the week. Liz Johnson won, rolling a 300 in the title match against Carolyn Dorin-Ballard. No TV crew could get in to cover the finals. While most of us were having a hard time functioning at all, Johnson was making history, earning a $50,000 bonus.
In October, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard kept rolling along, winning title number 6 in Jacksonville. Even with that win, however, she still couldn't shake Cara Honeychurch, who had four titles and refused to break in the Bowler of the Year race. ... In Michigan, Pete Weber took title number 26 to tie his legendary pop. Number 27 would come along a month later. He also rolled a 299 on TV and his "bad boy" act on TV excited the PBA management and even some fans. ... Not long after, the PBA announced its showcase event, the Tournament of Champions, was cancelled for 2001-2002. Reason? Brunswick pulled the sponsorship plug. We saw that one coming, but it will be back, probably in Akron with a non-bowling industry sponsor.
In November, Carolyn finally shook her competition for Bowler of the Year, winning her seventh title and second major of 2001 in Las Vegas. Dorin-Ballard defeated Michelle Feldman 280-256 to win the Brunswick Women's World Open at the Suncoast. Feldman took home $29,000 after winning the Brunswick Shootout which followed the BWO. ... In Reno, city officials voted to close the National Bowling Stadium in early 2002 to convert it to another convention hall. Forrest Gump might describe this move like this: "Stupid is as Stupid Does."
Still reeling from the 9-11 fallout, we made it through the final month of the year with prayerful hope for our country and our industry. The big stories of December were the U.S. Open victories by Mika Kiovuniemi and Kim Terrell. Mika collected his second $100,000 paycheck in bowling (he won the Hoinke Super Classic as an amateur) in Fountain Valley, California, (and won his second major—first was ABC Masters). Kim salvaged her year and launched her career to a new level, winning $55,000 in Laughlin, Nevada. For the media and the fans, it was a shame the two events were separated, but it was good money for the pros. The two 90-minute TV shows on ESPN were pretty good, but we were surprised the format wasn't changed to fill the extra time. PBA filled it with interviews and flashbacks. PWBA made an infomercial for its new sponsor and host, Riverside Resorts.
What's in store for next year? Only The Shadow knows....
Jim Goodwin, a BWAA director and PWBA’s regional program director, is the award-winning editor/publisher of Stars & Strikes, in which the preceding originally appeared. Subscription rates are $20 per year, $32 for two years, and $48 for three years (Pin Point Publishing, 2850 Red Valley Run, Rockwall Texas 75087 … voice/fax: 972/771-0069).