Storm launches E-commerce site

Storm Products, the Brigham City, Utah-based manufacturer of high performance bowling equipment, is proud to announce the launch of stormchasers.net, an E-commerce Storm apparel outlet for bowlers worldwide.

"Stormchasers.net will provide bowlers all over the world the opportunity to purchase Storm accessories direct over the World-Wide Web," said Dave Symes, marketing director for Storm Products Inc. "Storm accessories are very popular all over the world, and we are very proud to launch stormchasers.net."

Storm's entire accessories line will be available on the new site.

A limited edition Storm poster, autographed by Storm staff member and PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber, is being offered by stormchasers.net to the first 500 bowling fans for $27.95. The poster is sure to be a collector's item and is only available through the web site.

ABC rules ball doesn't meet specs

Brunswick announces Web replacement offer

Brunswick's Consumer Products group has announced that, due to a ruling by the American Bowling Congress' Equipment Specifications Department that the company's "Web" bowling ball does not meet ABC/WIBC specifications, Brunswick will replace any Web ball sold with another ball of equal value at the request of the purchaser.

Any distributor, pro shop, or consumer who desires a replacement ball can obtain one by calling Brunswick's Warranty Department at 1-800/967-2695. Brunswick will cover all shipping and freight costs.

Brunswick introduced the Web ball last October and has held discussions with the ABC Equipment Specifications Department for several months on its ruling that the "ridges" between the two colors on the ball's surface fails the specification that states: "The surface of the ball shall be free of all depressions or grooves of specific pattern, except for holes or indentations used for gripping the ball, identification lettering and numbers, and incidental chipping or marking caused by wear. Engraved pictures are not considered grooves of specific pattern."

Brunswick disputed the ruling based on its belief that the ball's design did not violate the intent of the ABC rule. However, Brunswick officials noted that they would abide by ABC's decision and offer comparative replacement product for those wishing to make an exchange.

Century’s best bowlers named

Dick Weber of St. Louis, Earl Anthony of Cornelius, Ore., and Don Carter of Miami, have earned unanimous recognition among the "20 Greatest Bowler of the 20th Century," Bowling Magazine has announced.

Weber, the only bowler in history to win professional titles in five decades; Anthony, the winningest pro of all-time with 41 Professional Bowlers Association National Tour titles, and Carter, a six-time Bowler of the Year, were the only three legends of bowling named to all ballots by Bowling Magazine's panel of experienced journalists, organizational leaders, professional instructors and Hall of Fame members.

Also earning berths on the "20 Greatest" list, based upon weighted votes, were: Walter Ray Williams Jr., Orlando, Fla.; Mark Roth, Wall Township, N.J.; Mike Aulby, Indianapolis; the late Hank Marino, Milwaukee; Don Johnson, Las Vegas; the late Ned Day, Milwaukee; Joe Norris, San Diego; Pete Weber, St. Louis; the late Andy Varipapa, Hempstead, N.Y.; Billy Hardwick, Memphis, Tenn.; the late Junie McMahon, River Edge, N.J.; Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore.; Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis; Bill Lillard, Houston; Carmen Salvino, Chicago; Harry Smith, Akron, Ohio, and Dick Ritger, River Falls, Wis.

The "20 Greatest Bowlers of the 20th Century" were announced in the August/September issue of Bowling Magazine, the official publication of the American Bowling Congress.

In announcing the "20 Greatest Bowlers," Bowling Magazine also introduced a unique "fantasy single-elimination match game contest" whereby the bowling legends are paired in a bracket format with Weber, Anthony, Carter and No. 4 Williams earning first-round "byes." Bowling Magazine readers are being asked to decide who would win any given match under specific rules which define the type of ball, lane surface and lane condition being used and noting that each contestant would compete at the prime of his career. The objective of the promotion is to select the "Master of the Millennium," to be announced in Bowling Magazine's December/January issue.

The 16 living members of the elite group have been invited to attend the 2000 ABC Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Albuquerque, N.M., March 16, where they will be officially recognized.

Brief biographies of each player are available at www.ncaba.org.

Some memorable highlights of the top 20's careers, in alphabetical order, include:

• EARL ANTHONY, Cornelius, Oregon — Born in 1938, this left-handed Tacoma native owns a record 41 PBA National Tour titles, two ABC Masters titles and seven PBA Senior Tour titles. A six-time Bowler of the Year, he was the first in history to amass $1 million in career earnings and he owns the PBA record for winning at least one title in 14 consecutive years.
  
• MIKE AULBY, Indianapolis — Born in 1960, the only other left-hander among the elite 20 has won every major title in professional bowling including an unprecedented three ABC Masters titles. Still active, Aulby ranks fourth all-time with 26 PBA titles and he owns the PBA single-season earnings record of $298,237, set in 1989. Aulby is the only player in PBA history to receive Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors.
  
• NELSON BURTON JR., St. Louis — Born in 1942, Burton owns 17 PBA titles plus the 1976 ABC Masters. He is co-holder of the ABC Championships Tournament record with eight career titles and was selected as Bowler of the Year in 1970. Popularly known as "Bo," he may be best-known as the long-time color analyst on PBA tournament telecasts on ABC-TV. Burton and his father, Nelson Burton Sr., are the only father-son tandem inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame for superior performance.
  
• DON CARTER, Miami — Born in 1926, Carter won the Bowling Proprietors Association of America All-Star (later renamed as the U.S. Open) a record four times. A PBA charter member in 1958, he won six PBA titles plus the 1961 ABC Masters and four ABC Tournament titles. A member of the legendary Budweisers of St. Louis in the golden era of team bowling, Carter was a six-time Bowler of the Year and still holds the PBA record with 18 "top five" finishes in one year.
  
• NED DAY, Milwaukee — Born in 1911, died in 1971, Day was regarded as the game's premier stylist when he bowled with the great Milwaukee and Chicago teams of the 1940s and `50s. He won the 1943 All-Star and nine other BPAA national titles along with three ABC Tournament titles. Day also was a two-time Bowler of the Year.
  
• BILLY HARDWICK, Memphis, Tenn. — Born in 1941, Hardwick prematurely ended his professional career with 17 PBA titles and two ABC Tournament titles. He was the PBA's first "Triple Crown" winner, winning the 1963 PBA National Championship, 1965 Tournament of Champions and 1969 All-Star. He also was a two-time Bowler of the Year.
  
• MARSHALL HOLMAN, Medford, Ore. — Born in 1954, Holman owns 22 PBA titles including a pair of U.S. Opens and two Tournament of Champion crowns. He led the PBA in average three times and earned PBA Player of the Year honors in 1987. Now semi-retired and doing television work on PBA broadcasts, Holman is regarded as one of the originators of today's "power game" in bowling.
  
• DON JOHNSON, Las Vegas — Born in 1940, Johnson was a dominating force in the early 1970s, winning the 1970 PBA Tournament of Champions and 1972 U.S. Open. He owns 26 PBA titles, including at least one title over a span of 12 years. He was named Bowler of the Year twice and owns three ABC Tournament titles.
  
• BILL LILLARD, Houston — Born in 1927, Lillard made history in 1956 when he became the first ever to win four ABC Tournament titles in one year. He still is co-holder of the ABC Tournament record with eight career titles. One of bowling's true gentlemen, Lillard won the 1955 All-Star and owns one PBA title. He was 1956 Bowler of the Year.
  
• HANK MARINO, Milwaukee — Born in 1889, died in 1976, Marino was the consensus "Bowler of the First Half Century" in a 1951 poll. Marino won every major championship bowling offered in his era, including the Petersen Classic in Chicago. He won three International Bowling Association titles in pre-Olympic tournament in Berlin, Germany, in 1936. He averaged 229 for 45 games to win the 1935 National Match Game Championship and he once led all ABC members with 11 300 games and five 800 series.
  
• JUNIE McMAHON, River Edge, N.J. — Born in 1912, died in 1974, McMahon is considered to be one of the greatest ABC Tournament bowlers of all-time, posting 1,800 nine-game all-events totals 11 times in a span of 12 years when averaging 200 was a formidable accomplishment. The 1951 All-Star champion was 1950 Bowler of the Year. He is considered by some to be the greatest match player in bowling history.
  
• JOE NORRIS, San Diego — Born in 1908 in Detroit, Norris is a three-time ABC Tournament champion and is regarded as one of the game's greatest team players. Still active at age 91, Norris holds the ABC Tournament career pinfall record with 122,388 pins and will become co-holder of the ABC Tournament appearance record with the late Bill Doehrmann when he bowls in his 71st Tournament in Albuquerque March 13.
  
• DICK RITGER, River Falls, Wis. — Born in 1938, Ritger became the fourth player in history to win 20 PBA titles and retired at the peak of his career at age 35. A two-time ABC Tournament champion, Ritger left the competitive arena to become the world's most-traveled bowling instructor, introducing thousands around the globe to the sport of American Tenpins.
  
• MARK ROTH, Wall Township, N.J. — Born in 1951, Roth ranks second only to Anthony in PBA titles won with 34. A four-time Bowler of the Year, Roth holds the PBA record for most titles in one year with eight (1978) and he's one of only three PBA bowlers to cash in 100% of the tournaments he entered in one year. Roth is generally regarded as the man who introduced the "high-revolution power game" to bowling.
  
• CARMEN SALVINO, Chicago — Born in 1933, Salvino was one of the game's most flamboyant competitors. A showman who could back up what he had to say, Salvino won 17 PBA titles and two Senior Tour titles along with a pair of ABC Tournament titles. He averaged 203 at age 16 to land his first berth with Chicago's great teams during the "golden era of team bowling."
  
• HARRY SMITH, Akron, Ohio — Born in 1930, "The Tiger" won 10 PBA titles, the ABC Masters and four other ABC Tournament titles with his unique delivery. Once held the distinction of being selected the top bowler in three different cities (Detroit, Cleveland and St. Louis) over a span of six years. One of the best ever in ABC Masters competition. in addition to his 1963 titles, he finished in the top eight five other times.
  
• ANDY VARIPAPA, Hempstead, N.Y. — Born in 1891, died in 1984, Varipapa earned international acclaim as bowling's premier trick-shot artist, but his peers also knew him as a fierce, talented competitor on the lanes. His crowning achievements were back-to-back titles in the 1946 and 1947 BPAA All-Stars at ages 55 and 56.
  
• DICK WEBER, St. Louis — Born in 1929 in Indiana, Weber won 26 PBA titles and four Senior Tour titles to become the only bowler in history to win pro titles in five decades. He also is the only PBA player to win three consecutive titles twice and owns the PBA record for consecutive cashes with 72. A member of the legendary Budweisers of St. Louis, Weber became the fifth bowler in ABC Tournament history to surpass the 100,000 career pinfall milestone in 1999.
  
• PETE WEBER, St. Louis — Born in 1962, the youngest of Dick Weber's three sons earns the unique distinction of joining his famous father on the list. One of two players to surpass the $2 million milestone in career earnings, Pete Weber has won 24 PBA titles including two U.S. Opens, two PBA National Championships and one Tournament of Champions, and he's still active. He was the youngest ABC member in history to bowl a 300, rolling a perfect game in 1978 at age 15 in his very first game as an ABC member.
  
• WALTER RAY WILLIAMS JR., Orlando, Fla. — Born in 1959, Williams stands atop the heap as bowling's premier player at the close of the 20th Century. Dominating the last half of the `90s, Williams is the third player in history to win 30 PBA titles. The PBA's all-time earnings leader was the first to top the $2 million career barrier. He is a five-time Bowler of the Year, including three consecutive titles between 1996 and 1998. He has twice broken the PBA average record, currently holding the mark at 226.13.

Turbo 2-N-1 Grips files lawsuit

Turbo 2-N-1 Grips recently filed a civil action lawsuit in the Eastern District of Michigan against Exactacator, Inc. (Vise Grips) of California. Turbo 2-N-1 Grips, a leading manufacturer of bowling insert products, is focusing the suit on patent infringement.

Turbo 2-N-1 Grips is the sister company of Davalor Mold Corporation, which owns several U.S. patents. In the suit, Davalor claims that Exactacator, Inc., infringes two of their U.S. patents, #5,002,276 and #5,007,640. These patents are more commonly identified in the marketplace as Turbo 2-N-1 Grips Power Oval design.

"It is unfortunate that a lawsuit had to be filed in this case," said Lori Tessman, director of operations of Turbo 2-N-1 Grips. "However, the fundamental growth and success of Turbo 2-N-1 Grips is based on quality and innovation. We believe we must protect the integrity of our products."

The case currently is in the pretrial and discovery phase. It is scheduled to go before the court later this year if a settlement is not reached.

System of Bowling Task Force
submits recommendations
to ABC/WIBC

The System of Bowling Task Force has completed examination of the System of Bowling specifications adopted in 1991 and submitted its recommendations to the American Bowling Congress/Women’s International Bowling Congress Equipment Specifications Committee at Bowling Headquarters.

The nine-member System of Bowling Task Force, made up of ABC, WIBC and Bowling Proprietor Association of America members, was formed in November 1996 to evaluate the current System of Bowling specifications and make recommendations for additional specifications to address the evolution of bowling technology in recent years.

The System of Bowling was established to set uniform standards and specifications for lane surfaces, balls, pins and lane dressing. After extensive research and industry-wide input, the System of Bowling Task Force recommended that changes be made to restore balance to the System of Bowling. The following recommendations are intended to be used together in order to be effective:

1. That ABC/WIBC develop different levels of competitive standards that can be implemented by the industry.

2. That ABC/WIBC develop additional specifications for ball characteristics and restrict the use of bowling balls that unduly alter or damage lane surfaces and equipment.

3. That ABC/WIBC establish lane condition specifications that will prevent artificial steering of the ball to the pocket and place emphasis on the skill of the bowler.

4. That ABC/WIBC establish additional accurate and enforceable means of measuring all components to maintain the balance of the System of Bowling.

The enforcement and/or changes to equipment specifications are under the authority of the American Bowling Congress, Women’s International Bowling Congress and the ABC/WIBC Equipment Specifications Committee. The committee will review the findings and take action where appropriate.

AMF signs letter of intent
to acquire Ebonite International

RICHMOND (June 17, 1998) — AMF Bowling, Inc. announced today that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Ebonite International Inc. Based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Ebonite is a leading marketer and manufacturer of bowling balls and bowling accessories. The company has been an industry leader and innovator for over 90 years.

"This is a classic case of one plus one equaling three," said Doug Stanard, AMF president and chief executive officer. "Ebonite is a great brand and a solid manufacturer. AMF's strengths include a worldwide sales and distribution network and an unequaled bowler base from our more than 525 centers. Bringing AMF's resources and Ebonite's expertise together should make for a very bright future for both brands." AMF currently resells a line of bowling balls under its own brand name.

Bill Scheid, president and chief executive officer of Ebonite, was enthusiastic about the deal: "The exciting combination of the AMF and Ebonite brands, each supported by our newly expanded manufacturing facility and commitment to research and design leadership, will allow us to better serve our customers around the world."

"Our first priority will be to grow both the Ebonite and AMF branded ball and accessories businesses," explained Larry Kind, AMF senior vice president, Bowling Products. "In doing that, we think we can provide expanded career opportunities for many Ebonite employees. Ebonite's expertise in consumer products and its relationships with distributors and pro shops give AMF an advantage we were looking for. Ebonite's existing international distribution adds to our global presence and market share of consumer products.

"With our bowling center base, we have a window on bowlers at all levels of the sport," continued Kind. "We believe this provides a unique opportunity to build programs for AMF and Ebonite that will further expand our market presence and strengthen our market leadership position."

The transaction is subject to completion of a definitive purchase agreement and normal closing conditions. The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of 1998. Financial terms were not disclosed.