Pins & Puns - bowling anecdotes - Brief Article

HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS are among the highlights of any bowling season, and this year's WIBC ceremonies in Reno added to that rich tradition--and brought a few chuckles too.

Elaine Hagin, a vice president of the WIBC for many years and a top official of many bowling organizations, told of her most embarrassing moment: As a teen star she was invited to bowl at a bowling center grand opening featuring heart-throb movie star Gig Young. "I was thrilled to be asked to bowl and even more thrilled to be featured along with Gig Young," Hagin said. "And the first ball I rolled I stuck, threw the ball in the gutter, and had no place to hide."

Lisa Wagner, one of the greatest female bowlers of all time, advised those assembled that you should put your pride aside at times. "When I won the WIBC Queens, a beautiful tiara was placed on my head," Wagner said. "I was so proud I wouldn't take it off and even wore it to bed.

"Bad idea. It hurt, and I think I still have scratches on my head."

Hazel McLeary, the first Canadian to make the Hall, is credited with building Canadian bowling to world recognition in her various positions with the WIBC and many other international organization, in the process traveling to 35 countries.

McLeary has long boosted Canadian bowling, international bowling, and bowling in general. In fact, after one of many heated meetings on which she battled for Canadian bowling, she was bluntly told, "Why don't you stop all this and just move to the United States?"

For decades bowling has tried to change the word "alley" to "lane" in describing the field of action. And it has worked, to a point. In a recent crossword puzzle, though, the clue for 33 Across was "bowling lane" and the answer was "alley"--of course.

While there has been some success in the alley-lane switch, the same can't be said about that depressing depression on both sides of the lane. Like it or not, it's still referred to more often as the "gutter" than the "channel."

To the delight of many, bowlers and fans alike, the witty Joe Hutchinson is back on the PBA Senior tour, despite various injuries that have bothered him for years. Asked how old he is, Hutchinson replied: "What's the difference? Age doesn't mean too much, unless you are cheese or wine."

Moving from amateur bowling to the pro tour is a big jump for players. Fans, however, make the same transition without losing a bit of their expertise.

Two men, one a marginal pro bowler, won millions of dollars in a lottery. Asked what they planned to do with the money, the non-bowler said he was going to quit his job, do a lot of fishing and golfing, and take it easy and live on his new wealth. The bowler arched his brow, thought a bit, then said, "I guess I'll just keep bowling tournaments until the money is all gone."

Despite what you may hear, good guys don't always finish last--not if they're good enough. Among the winners of the Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award--better known as the "good guy" award--are such stars as Billy Hardwick, Dave Soutar, Don Johnson, Tom Baker, Steve Martin, Dave Husted, Parker Bohn III, and Mike Aulby.

There are so many studies called for in bowling that we are now deep into studies of the studies.

Bowling newspaper publisher Dan McDonough, also a Boy Scout official, tells about the two scouts who went bowling for the first time. After a game one said to the other, "I'm trustworthy, courteous, kind, loyal, cheerful, helpful, thrifty, and honest, and I'm also a terrible bowler."

Lots of teammates never argue. One mason is they hardly talk to each other.

Do you become confused when trying to figure out your score possibilities? It happens to the best. In the final frames of a pro event, a bowler will double-check with everyone--officials, coaches, co-bowlers, friends--just to make sure of the situation. That comes from experience, because all bowlers sometimes shoot the wrong shots based on what they thought they needed. On certain splits, or even on spare shots when a single pin is needed, bowlers will roll the ball from what they consider an easier or safer angle.

The only safe place is to come up in the final frame with the game all wrapped up. Otherwise, take the time you need to count accurately.

Sometimes a man's health can be judged by what he takes two at a time: pills, stairs, or bowling balls.

If bowling centers had not been invented, where would they hold all those birthday parties for all those kids?

COPYRIGHT 2000 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group