PBA and ESPN announce new exclusive agreement
PBA also adding significant increase to prize fund
SEATTLE, Wash. (May 8, 2001) — The Professional Bowlers Association today announced an exclusive, long-term television agreement with ESPN. The three-year deal, with a three-year option, is part of a renewal for programming that also includes PBA promotional spots to air on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, and ESPN Classic.
“The new element of PBA promotions airing across the ESPN entities will positively impact our fans,” said Ian Hamilton, PBA commissioner. “Our viewers will now be guided to follow a consistent schedule which we believe is paramount.”
The deal will give the PBA a consistent schedule of programming that it has not had since their deal with ABC Sports ended in 1997. ESPN will provide live coverage of 20 regular season events and four to six summer telecasts, all on Sundays or Tuesdays. The PBA has been televised on the network consistently since 1985 and exclusively since Fall 2000.
“ESPN and the PBA have had a long and successful history and we look forward to building our relationship with them,” said Steve Risser, ESPN vice president of programming. “The more consistent days and start times will establish a regular viewing pattern for fans across the country. We’re excited to add the summer tour telecasts to the schedule in addition to their regular season tour stops, serving bowling fans throughout the year.”
In addition, the PBA announced a 139 percent increase to its overall prize fund for the 2001-2002 season, from $1.8 million (Fall 2000/Winter 2001) to $4.3 million. The increase will allow the PBA to drastically improve prize money given to the top finishers as well as payout to a larger number of participants in each tournament.
Richard Wolfe seventh after second round of Peoria Open
Second Round Standings
1, Mark Roth, Wall Township, N.J., 2,8062, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 2,760
3, Mike Aulby, Indianapolis, 2,742
4, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 2,740
5, Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 2,721
6, Dave Wodka, Las Vegas, 2,720
7, Richard Wolfe, Falls Church, Va., 2,708
8, Doug Kent, Canandaigua, N.Y., 2,706
9, David Traber, Woodstock, Ill., 2,701
10, Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, N.Y., 2,691
11, Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City, 2,688
12, Roger Bowker, Ocala, Fla., 2,678
13, Eric Forkel, Tucson, Ariz., 2,672
14, Jess Stayrook, Tempe, Ariz., 2,668
15, Brad Snell, Itasca, Ill., 2,667
16, John Bauerle Jr., Indianapolis, 2,659
17, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 2,648
18, Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 2,646
(TIE) Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 2,646
20, Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y., 2,642
21, Billy Myers Jr., Temple City, Calif., 2,634
22, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif., 2,626
23, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,623
24, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 2,621
25, Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, Fla., 2,613
26, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 2,605
27, Tim Criss, Bel Air, Md., 2,601
28, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 2,600
29, Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., 2,597
30, Jeff Zaffino, Warren, Pa., 2,589
31, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 2,580
32, Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, Ill., 2,578
33, Jason Hurd, Visalia, Calif., 2,574
(TIE) Brian Voss, Atlanta, 2,574
35, Guppy Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,568
36, George Branham III, Indianapolis, 2,557
(TIE) Paul Koehler, Stuart, Fla., 2,557
38, Don Sylvia, Vero Beach, Fla., 2,555
39, Brian LeClair, Chatham, N.Y., 2,552
40, Robert Smith, Simi Valley, Calif., 2,549
41, David Ozio, Vidor, Texas, 2,545
42, Michael Luft, Brook Park, Ohio, 2,543
43, Jason Queen*, Decatur, Ill., 2,537
44, John Gant, Winston-Salem, N.C., 2,533
45, Dale Traber, Cedarburg, Wis., 2,525
46, Wayne Webb, Las Vegas, 2,518
47, Billy Orlikowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2,514
48, Bryon Smith, Sutherlin, Ore., 2,513
49, Jeff Leaphart, Columbia, S.C., 2,511
50, Mike Miller, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,510
(TIE) Norman Titus, Flemington, N.J., 2,510
52, Darren Wong, San Jose, Calif., 2,506
53, Matt Purkey, North Richland Hills, Texas, 2,501
54, Y.H. Byun, South Korea, 2,500
(TIE) Lee Vanderhoef, Baltimore, 2,500
56, Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, 2,497
57, Brian Ziesig, Levittown, N.Y., 2,492
58, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 2,488
(TIE) Randy Pedersen, Hollywood, Fla., 2,488
60, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 2,484
61, Joe Firpo, Grapevine, Texas, 2,470
62, Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J., 2,468
63, Warren Guernsey, Cobelskill, N.Y., 2,448
64, Pete Argo, Peoria, Ill., 2,441
(TIE) Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 2,441
66, Paul Rado, Columbia, Md., 2,439
(TIE) Bob Spaulding, Portland, Ore., 2,439
68, John Mazza, Shelby Township, Mich., 2,423
69, Dennis Torgerson, Maquoketa, Iowa, 2,420
70, Lee Johnson, Bloomington, Ind., 2,418
(TIE) Rohn Morton, Vancouver, Wash., 2,418
72, Chris Barnes, Wichita, Kan., 2,414
73, Curtis Odom, Coldwater, Mich., 2,412
74, Don Moser, Murrieta, Calif., 2,411
75, Justin Hromek, Andover, Kan., 2,405
(TIE) Leroy Johnson, Chicago, 2,405
77, Jim Johnson Jr., Tampa, Fla., 2,383
78, Del Ballard Jr., North Richland Hills, Texas, 2,381
79, Paul Yoder, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,376
80, Kurtis Evans, Plainfield, Ind., 2,375
81, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 2,373
82, Bud Perkins, Indianapolis, 2,365
83, Michael Haugen Jr., Pasadena, Calif., 2,359
84, Walter Schaub II, Schaumberg, Ill., 2,346
85, Eddie Graham, Midland, Texas, 2,337
86, Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas, 2,326
87, Howard Maves Jr., Silverthorne, Colo., 2,322
88, R.D. Miller Jr., Danville, Ill., 2,302
89, Kevin McGerr, Lincoln, Neb., 2,296
90, Jeff Franklin*, Leroy, Ill., 2,272
(TIE) Darrell Luzzo*, Coralville, Iowa, 2,272
92, Ken Yokobosky, Fairfield, N.J., 2,260
93, Mark Berry, Mooresville, Ind., 2,252
(TIE) Dale Eagle, Lewisville, Texas, 2,252
95, Steven Attiliis, Bowie, Md., 2,244
(TIE) Larry Oxendine, Joplin, Mo., 2,244
97, Sam Frankina, Shelbyville, Ind., 2,243
98, Karl Ramonas, Waterbury, Conn., 2,223
99, Mark Walker, Peoria, Ill., 2,219
100, Michael Thompson, Venice, Fla., 2,205
101, Bruce Leone, Canoga Park, Calif., 2,187
102, Dave D'Entremont, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 2,185
103, Bruce L. Siegel, Highland Park, Ill., 2,156
104, Hal Petermann, Oquawka, Ill., 2,131
105, Kyle Taylor*, Peoria, Ill., 2,124
106, Mike McBride*, Washington, Ill., 2,094
107, Robert Kicmal, La Grange, Ill., 2,085
108, Perry Hendricks, Brookfield, Wis., 1,963
109, Kelly Coffman, Topeka, Kan., 1,734
110, Jimmy Keeth, West Palm Beach, Fla., 1,686
111, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,415
112, Jimmy Davis, Houston, 1,153