Whatever It Takes - bowling, history

Weber has bowled just about everywhere, including on lanes installed in an airplane. "About the only thing I have left to do is bowl in the Space Shuttle," he says. "Come to think of it, I haven't bowled in a submarine, either."

2. JOE NORRIS

Norris, who passed away February 22 [see our sidebar "Farewell to a Legend"], had an influence that spanned a greater period of time than even Weber's. Here was a 93-year-old man who was active in bowling right up to his passing. And his all-time ABC tournament-record pinfall of 123,770 pins over a record-tying 71 tournaments was just the frosting on the cake of a brilliant career. When he did extend his pinfall mark last year, his doubles partner was none other than Weber.

Norris was the super-achieving constant in modern bowling history, having bridged more generation gaps than just about anyone but George Burns and Queen Victoria. He was one of the few people remaining who could talk lucidly of star bowlers who emerged early last century. If you asked him who the best were, he'd tell you about the times he bowled against them.

All along Norris was an outstanding contributor to all aspects of the game, showing up everywhere, posing for pictures with young bowlers, and going to tournaments clear across the country. Despite a demanding schedule, Norris kept the effervescent, jokester personality that endeared him to his friends.

The Detroit native got the famous Stroh's Beer team off the ground in 1933 and helped start Detroit's fabled All-Star Classic league in 1934. A member of the ABC Hall of Fame since 1954, he owned three ABC tournament titles and 11 other top-10 finishes.

Bowling Magazine, the official publication of the ABC, put an elite panel together in 1999 to choose the top 20 bowlers of all time. Norris was No. 10. "Behind the gift of gab, Norris was one of the greatest roam bowlers ever," one elector said. Said another. "His ,skill level for older than 60 years is incredible."

Norris started out in the game at age 14 as a pinsetter and became the youngest person ever with a 300 game, doing so at age 18. At age 86 in 1994, he set a record (since broken) for being the oldest to bowl a perfect game.

In 1996 the ABC, in conjunction with its 100th anniversary, invited members to vote for the one player who they felt was the greatest talent ever. Norris (who said he voted for Weber) finished sixth. "I'm highly honored to be considered," Norris said. "It's a wonderful contest because it created a lot of interest. Anything that gets people talking about bowling is great."

At the time, Norris was 87 and still averaging 200 in three neighborhood leagues. "You know, I've never laid down in the afternoon to rest in my whole life," he said. "Not once. I always have been active. I've been blessed."

Last November, at the Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame banquet, Norris received Thomas McKay Award for lifetime achievement. It was an opportunity for some of his cronies to recall a few of the practical jokes that were a Norris trademark.