The Cornerstone
The Foundation Newsletter
Volume 11, Issue 7 July 2008
"The crisis is upon us, friends. Our sport is in trouble. Many of you, that love the game as we do, will look at the crisis like a friend who is in trouble and needs our help. We must not shrink from the task before us, we should welcome it. It is 'our' generation that has been called to the challenge. If not now, when? If not us, who?"
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Letter from the Editor
An Emotional Roller Coaster
As I am sure most everyone in the bowling world knows, the recent PBA Tour Trials were completed June 1 giving seven players a coveted exemption to the 2008 – 2009 Denny’s PBA Tour. But what you may not know is how down to the wire those exemptions came.
There I was on Sunday June 1, mowing the lawn and doing yard work with my mind preoccupied by the events in Merrillville, Indiana. You see, I had a couple of friends and coworkers competing for those exempt spots. About every hour, I would run back inside to check the scores to see how my guys were doing. It also didn’t hurt that I had other friends who would call or text message me with updated standings. But, it was coming to the end and the website was just not being updated quickly enough. I was nervous and anxious for some results. Lucky for me, I had my friends there. I call one of them and he tells me that our friend is in as long as he makes this spare. But in a scary twist of fate, he chopped the spare.
I hung up and began the agonizing wait for a return phone call. Each minute seemed like an hour until finally, I couldn’t take it any longer and I called him. The web had not been updated yet and I was on pins and needles. He gives me the run down: if Brian LeClair doubles, he is in but he misses. Then if Ronnie Russell doubles, he gets the last spot but he too misses. So in short, our man is in I ask. He is IN!
My neighbors probably thought I had gone mad at this point as I began shouting and cheering and doing my own version of a happy dance in the middle of my front yard. Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride. The agony of waiting; the anxiety and nerves; the sadness and fear of not knowing; the thrill and excitement of victory. I would rather throw shots than have to live through that waiting again. It is HARD to watch and wait.
In the end, my good friend and coworker, Terrance Reeves, earned his exemption. Congratulations to him and to all of those players that earned their exemptions. Good luck to all of you in the upcoming season.
Gary Parsons Honored With: 8th Annual “John Davis Award”
Gary Parsons has been named as the 2008 recipient of: “The John Davis Award”. The surprise presentation was made in Orlando, Florida at Bowl Expo 2008. Parsons, 60, now joins a very impressive list of previous honorees that includes: Joyce Deitch, John Weber, Ted Hoffman, Jr., Jim Dressel, Mark Gerberich, Carmen Salvino and Linda Davis.
Parsons is approaching his 50th year in bowling. He’s been a Scratch bowler since the 60’s and he won many scratch tournaments in the: 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, & 90’s – before a knee injury sidelined him. He won 2 National Collegiate championships at laceName w:st="on">HardinglaceName> laceType w:st="on">CollegelaceType> in 1970 and 1971, and he was the very first Nation's Capital “area bowler” to bowl back-to-back, 300 games. He started coaching in the early 70’s, and taught at the first-2, "Super Schools", and is consistently voted in as a top-100 coaches in Bowlers Journal annual Poll. He’s a Level III Certified Ritger Instructor along with being a Silver Level USBC Bowling Coach. He is a 2-time IBPSIA Board Member and he created an "Advanced Certification Program" for them. He is the owner of 2 Pro-Shops, and he is also an accomplished bowling writer with over 100 published articles. Out of total respect, Parsons is often referred to by his friends and colleagues as; “Guru”.
In 1996, John Davis called together a group of professional lanemen in an attempt to research the problems that were affecting the Sport of bowling. Out of that week-long meeting, a “Guild of Lanemen” was established and Davis promised that his group would be involved in as many major events in the world as possible, and to exhibit all of the research for the whole world to see on the company’s web site, at: www.foundation300.com Soon thereafter (in 1997), The Foundation was formed and Gary became actively involved at its very inception by becoming a Founding Member, and has continually supported The Foundation in many ways, as well as being a continuing contributor.
Davis, the man who started The Kegel Company, and founding ‘father’ of The Foundation, has been totally involved in bowling for nearly his entire life. At an early age, John's dad taught all of his children how to bowl. That "love affair" with this great Sport, has been going on for over a half century. In his 50-plus years of involvement with bowling, it is safe to say that no one has done more for the Sport of bowling than John Davis. Even though The Kegel Company is a relatively small one, his personal investment in bowling has been unselfish and unmatched.
His innovations, inventions, contributions, etc., have all been well documented in the past. His leadership in both technology and humanities, both in this Country and Worldwide, make him perhaps the most sought out figure in the game today. His behind-the-scenes committee "work" is also globally welcomed. Because of his vast accomplishments and devotion to the Sport, the Award (aptly called: "The John Davis Award"), was established by The Foundation in his name. This prestigious honor is presented annually to a deserving Foundation Member. A beautiful, “one–of-a-kind”, perpetual plaque, with the words: “For Outstanding Contributions and Extraordinary Efforts of Behalf of the Advancement of the Sport of Bowling”, and bearing each recipients name, is permanently displayed at the "home" of The Foundation, in The Kegel Training Center, in Lake Wales, Florida.
Super Seven
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - 6/1/2008
After 44 games and five long days, several bowlers’ fate came down to the final frame of the 45th game in the 2008 Lake County Indiana Denny’s PBA Tour Trials at Stardust Bowl I.
The thrill of victory and agony of defeat was evident as seven bowlers earned exemptions for the 2008-09 Denny’s PBA Tour season while a pair of bowlers who were on Tour in 2007-08 came up just short.
Dave D’Entremont, Chad Kloss, Criag Tuholski and Jason Lundquist faced little drama Sunday to wrap up exemptions, while Joe Bailey, Randy Weiss and Terrance Reeves all had to wait to find out their fate until the last game.
The six-time Denny’s PBA Tour titlist D’Entremont (Middleburg Heights, Ohio) regained his exemption by leading the field with a 10,051 45-game pinfall.
“It’s nice. Obviously I felt pretty comfortable going into the final day and the goal I set was to lead. I finally got it done the last game so it’s a good feeling,” D’Entremont, who just missed an exemption after suffering a freak injury prior to the final event of last season, said. “The fact that I had to do this again wasn’t fun, but I felt all along that one of these spots was mine. I just had to take it.”
Craig Tuholski (Washougal, Wash.) earned his first career exemption by finishing second with 10,040 while Kloss (Greenfield, Wis.) earned his second consecutive exemption via Tour Trials by finishing third with 10,012.
Lundquist (Delaware Water Gap, Pa.) also earned his first career exemption and became the first left-handed bowler to earn an exemption via the Tour Trials in the four years the event has been held at Stardust Bowl II. He finished fifth with 9,841.
There was high drama for the rest of the bowlers who qualified during the last game. Joe Bailey (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was eighth going into the final game but struck with his first 11 shots and finished with a 298 to jump to fourth and earn his first exemption.
Randy Weiss (Columbia, S.C.) shot 213 his final game to finish sixth with 9,806, finishing just 11 pins inside the cut. Some big late strikes turned out to be the difference as he earned his second career exemption and first since 2005-06.
Terrance Reeves, meanwhile, had to watch as Ronnie Russell (Indianapolis) and Brian LeClair (Athens, N.Y.) both had chances to pass him. LeClair needed a double in the 10th frame to go around Reeves, but after a strike with his first shot he got just eight pins with his second to fall three pins shy of Reeves.
Russell then had the final shot at regaining the exemption he earned at Stardust Bowl II last summer but lost by just 150 points via the 2007-08 PBA World Point Rankings. Russell needed two strikes and nine pins in his 10th frame, but he left an 8-pin on his first shot, giving Reeves (Valrico, Fla.) his first career exemption.
The seven bowlers round out the field of 58 exempt bowlers for the 2008-09 Denny’s PBA Tour season which kicks off in late October.
WEBBER'S NEW BOWLING PROGRAM LANDS A STAR
One of the most heralded and decorated bowlers in collegiate bowling, Ashly Galante of Palm Harbor, Fla., has decided to sit out a year in order to join the laceName w:st="on">WebberlaceName> laceName w:st="on">InternationallaceName> laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType> bowling team as a transfer student.
"We are extremely pleased to have Ashly joining us as a foundation for our women's program," said Joe Slowinski, a member of the laceName w:st="on">KegellaceName> laceName w:st="on">TraininglaceName> laceType w:st="on">CenterlaceType> staff who will serve as Webber's Head Coach. "Her experience and many successes will immediately help us build a nationally competitive team beginning in 2009-10. She is one of the hardest working and most tenacious bowlers I have ever met."
"I am really excited about coming to Webber," said Galante. "The training that I will get will be amazing. And, it will be nice to be around an international team comprised of people from different cultures. I will learn so much from my teammates."
Galante has had much success in her short bowling career. She was a member of Team USA in 2007, and finished seventh at the 2008 Team USA Trials.
"Ashly is one of those rare athletes that combines talent with incredible drive and determination," noted Assistant Coach Del Warren. "These traits will certainly help her new teammates and us as coaches."
Galante has earned the USBC Sport Bowling Star Award for female youth national high average for three consecutive years -- 2005 (194), 2006 (200) and 2007 (206).
In 2008, she anchored the national champion laceName w:st="on">PikevillelaceName> laceType w:st="on">CollegelaceType> team, and was a First Team All America selection as well as Female Collegiate Rookie of the Year (as selected by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches of America). She also was named to the Intercollegiate Bowling Team Championship All Tournament Team, as well as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
In 2007, Galante won the Teen Masters title -- a year after finishing runner-up in the grueling youth tournament, which features the top youth players in the United States. She was a triple gold medal winner at the Tournament of the Americas, winning All-Events, Team and National All-Events. She also earned silver medals in Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
In 2005, Galante was a member of the Kegel Elite Team that was victorious at the World Junior Team Championships.
"She is, without a doubt, the most determined, totally committed individual to the sport of bowling, male or female, that I have met in the past decade," added Kegel's ersonName w:st="on">Randy StoughtonersonName>, another Webber Assistant Coach. "It has been a pleasure to watch her grow. I look forward to seeing her achieve more in the future. (And) I am excited about the potential of her influencing WIU's pursuit of excellence."
Team USA adds to medal count at Championship of the Champions
By: Lucas Wiseman; USBC Communications
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - A day after a heartbreaking defeat in mixed doubles at the 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Championship of the Champions, Team USA's Shannon O'Keefe and ersonName w:st="on">John JanawiczersonName> rebounded Friday to win the gold medal in the mixed doubles Masters.
O'Keefe and Janawicz teamed up to defeat Guatemala's Sofia Granda and Mauricio Pinol, 2-0, at Galaxy Bowling to conclude the inaugural Championship of the Champions.
"This is very satisfying because we bowled really well together," said Janawicz, who also won the gold medal in men's Masters on Friday. "Shannon helped me out a lot and we really worked together as a team. This was definitely a team gold medal."
After giving up a big lead and settling for the silver in mixed doubles Thursday, O'Keefe shot 223 and Janawicz had 202 as the pair clinched the Masters title with a 425-404 win in the deciding match.
In the opening game, O'Keefe shot 243 and Janawicz added 187 as the pair took a 430-419 victory. Pinol had a chance to tie the match, needing to convert the 2-4-5 spare and strike, but he left the 5 pin standing on the spare attempt to give Team USA the win.
"This gold medal makes up for yesterday's disappointment," O'Keefe said. "We worked really hard today and fortunately we got the breaks today that we didn't get yesterday."
Janawicz earned the gold in the men's Masters by defeating Francisco Sanchez of El Salvador, 2-1. Janawicz lost the first game by a 216-179 margin but rebounded to win the final two games 223-178 and 233-194.
In the women's Masters, O'Keefe settled for the bronze medal. After defeating Costa Rica's Viviana Delgado, 207-156, she lost to Puerto Rico's Jessica Santiago, 176-175. Santiago threw all three strikes in the final frame to force O'Keefe to throw a strike on her first shot in the 10th frame, but O'Keefe left a 4-pin.
In the championship match, Santiago defeated Venezuela's Alicia Marcano, 2-0 (226-174 and 225-180), to win the gold medal.
The United States won a medal in every event in the Championship of the Champions, claiming gold medals in men's singles, women's singles, men's all-events, women's all-events, national all-events, men's Masters and mixed doubles Masters while taking silver in mixed doubles and bronze in women's Masters.
USBC Open/Women's Championships to call Disney World property home
The United States Bowling Congress announced today it will hold 13 events - seven Open Championships and six Women's Championships - from 2011 through 2029 in a privately-funded bowling center on land being made available at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Osceola County, Fla.
The agreement begins with the 2011 Open Championships. The Open will be held every three years after that through 2029. The first Women's Championships will be in 2013 and held every three years through 2028.
"USBC is proud to bring two of the world's largest participatory sporting events to laceName w:st="on">OsceolalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType>," said USBC Vice President of Tournaments and Events Jack Mordini. "USBC's partnership with Osceola County, Disney Sports Enterprises, the Central Florida Sports Commission and the developer will bring hundreds of thousands of participants and visitors to Central Florida who will enjoy the many amenities and attractions the area has to offer. This is one of the greatest announcements in the bowling industry since the invention of the automatic pinsetter."
Each tournament will run for approximately 20 weeks and is expected to draw tens of thousands of bowlers and spectators. The USBC Open Championship is projected to generate approximately 59,000 room nights per tournament and the Women's Championship is projected to generate approximately 40,000 room nights per tournament for laceName w:st="on">OsceolalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType>. Combined, the tournaments are expected to generate nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in economic impact for the community over that time period.
"laceName w:st="on">OsceolalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType> is thrilled that this endeavor, nicknamed Project Rolling Rock by the Economic Development Department, has come to fruition. We welcome USBC to our community," said Commissioner Ken Shipley.
The Central Florida Sports Commission worked with the USBC and related parties to develop this opportunity for laceName w:st="on">OsceolalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType>.
"The acquisition of this business is a watershed event for laceName w:st="on">OsceolalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType>. The USBC Championships will be a powerful annuity program for the County for the next 20 years," said John Saboor, president of the Central Florida Sports Commission.
laceName w:st="on">OsceolalaceName> laceType w:st="on">CountylaceType> was one of five communities under consideration for the 2011 USBC Open Championships. The others were Wichita, Kan.; Tulsa, Okla.; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Reno, Nev.
Walt Disney World Resort is making land available at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex to accommodate the large facility required to host the tournaments. Walt Disney World Resort will work closely with a third-party - to be announced later - to build and operate the privately-funded bowling center.
"We are excited to play a role in making this dream come true," said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. "This project is a reminder of just how much we can accomplish for our community when the public and private sectors work together."
Salvino Earns 48th Flowers Award
Gurnee, Ill. - Carmen Salvino has gotten to a stage in life where there are few surprises. However, he was caught completely unaware during the June 5 Draft Party in conjunction with the PBA Team Shootout at Six Flags Great America when he was announced as the winner of the 48th Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award.
It didn’t take long for Salvino to gather himself and his thoughts. Once at the podium, he confessed his surprise and accepted the award with grace. He then proceeded to pay even bigger tributes to the Professional Bowlers Association - who helped elevate his status to the point where he could receive such an award - and the bowlers in attendance, the biggest stars in today’s game, who gave him a standing ovation when his name was announced as the winner.
Salvino was in attendance because he was one of the coaches for the Team Shootout, where he and his fellow coaches - Mark Roth and Brian Voss - each drafted their 6-player teams for the event, which was co-sponsored by the U.S. Bowling Congress.
The award is unusual in that it recognizes someone in bowling who is admired, respected and, indeed, loved. In recent years, Salvino has achieved that stature as being one of bowling’s most effective “ambassadors,” a recognition he has used to not only promote the sport he loves, but to gracefully point out some of its problem areas. In the last year, he was officially recognized in that role by being appointed a USBC Ambassador.
There were also a lifetime of on-the-lanes achievements, highlighted by his 17 PBA crowns - including the National Championship - which culminated in his enshrinement in the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame. Also, Bowling magazine recently named him one of the 20 Greatest Bowlers of the 20th Century.
What sets Salvino apart is his ability to balance a sparkling sense of humor with timely penchant to speak his mind on subjects that he felt needed the “light of truth.” Flowers presenter Jim Dressel found out about that years ago when Salvino was recognized as an All-American by Bowlers Journal International. Salvino accepted the award, then gently castigated the magazine for not recognizing his All-American stature years earlier. As Dressel then told the audience after Salvino returned the microphone, “I told you he always says what’s on his mind.”
The Sam Levine Flowers for the Living Award has a tradition of being sprung as a surprise on the recipient, and honorees are determined by a special committee of prominent bowling writers. It was created in 1961 by the late Cleveland Kegler Publisher Sam Levine, and is based on a poem by former Ohio Associated Press Editor Fritz Howell. In the poem, Howell suggested that deserving individuals be honored while they were “still alive to smell the flowers.”
Recent Phantom Radio Trivia Contest Winners
Phantom Radio’s monthly Trivia Contests continue to be popular with the listeners and the list of ‘Phantom Phans’ continues to grow. The contests are sponsored by Storm Bowling and you must be a “Phantom Phan Club Member” to be eligible to win. It’s easy to join, just go to our website, at: www.foundation300.com and look for: How to join The Phantom Phan Club. Listed below are the most recent Phantom Phan Club winners. Sign-up today and win a Storm bowling ball, Storm bowling bag or Accessory Item – or another Prize !!!
April – May – June 2008
APRIL – 2008
1. Brandy Padilla: Wins a nice accessory item from Storm Bowling. Brandy, please
contact me so that I can put you in touch with our friends at Storm. CONGRATS !!
2. Rick Oelkers: Wins a popular Pete Weber Bobble-Head Doll. This nice prize was
donated to Phantom Radio by Wes Pye from Strike Ten Entertainment – thanks Wes.
3. Mark Habich: Wins an official Media Guide Book from the USBC, along with a copy of
U.S. Bowler Magazine and 2,Travel “Bag-Tags” from the Kegel Company.
4. Warren Friedl, Jr.: Wins a Storm Bowling towel and a souvenir Phantom Radio towel.
MAY – 2008
1. Keith Frye: Wins a very nice Bowling Bag from Storm Bowling. Keith, please contact
me so that I can put you in touch with our friends at Storm Bowling. Congratulations !!
2. Jay Elliott: Wins a nice Foundation Shirt. Jay, please contact me so that I can be sure to
send you the correct size.
3. Tom Smith: Wins a USBC “Baseball Style Cap” and a US Air Travel Kit. This Kit
comes complete with a Sleep EZE Blindfold and a pair of comfort Travel Slippers.
4. Allen Wallace: Wins a Phantom Towel, a unique Light-Up Ball Point Pen from Guy
Tek Network and a Letter Opener from Brake Max.
JUNE – 2008
1. Jon Wolfe: Wins a Bowling Ball from Storm Bowling. Jon, please contact me so that
I can put you in touch with our friends at Storm Bowling. Congratulations !!
2. Michael Patrick: Wins a nice collared Foundation Shirt. Michael, please contact me so
that we can send you the correct size.
3. Rick Conley: Wins: “The Funniest Approach”. This is a hilarious bowling cartoon book
that was written by noted bowling writer, Walt Steinziek. This is a very nice prize.
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Membership Report
We have members in all 50 states,
and the District of Columbia
We have members in 49 countries, including the United States:
Argentina Australia Bahrain Belgium Brazil Canada China Columbia Costa Rica Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Guam Guatemala Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Latvia Malaysia Mexico The Netherlands N. Ireland Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand Panama Philippines Puerto Rico Peru Qatar Scotland Singapore Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey U.A.E. Ukraine Venezuela
Corporate Sponsors
The problems that exist in our Sport are “industry-wide” problems that must be addressed by the entire Industry. The Foundation does all that they can to help, but we can NOT do it alone.
The Foundation has well over 1000-Members who have joined-in to assist. Some Members (Founding and Charter) have paid to show their support. Some Members (Associates) have just lent their “voice”. ALL of the members are important.
Even though The Foundation has NOT actively solicited bowling-related companies for help, some realize the importance of our “Mission” and have come forward with donations. We recognize the following companies for their loyalty and support to bowling.
KEGEL
KAT Travel
I.B.P.S.I.A.
EBN Services
Storm Bowling
Classic Products
Bobs’ Business, Inc.
laceName w:st="on">VincenneslaceName> laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType>
BowlersParadise.com
Virtualtournaments.com
laceName w:st="on">WichitalaceName> laceType w:st="on">StatelaceType> laceType w:st="on">UniversitylaceType>
David Driscoll & Associates
International Bowling Industry Magazine
Stars and Strikes Bowling Newsmagazine
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Phone: 863-382-2643
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