Bowling Terms

Smitty300 — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 10:18:52 GMT

QUESTION:

Hey Phantom,

I know Chuck Pezzano was on your show a while back and answered questions regarding the origin of various bowling terms. My brother-in-law and I were bowling on the new Nintendo Wii system and when I told him he threw a "Brooklyn" strike he didn't know what I meant. I explained to him what it meant but he wanted to know what the origin of the term was. Apparently my memory isn't what it used to be because I couldn't tell him.

Phantom, what is the origin of the bowling term "Brooklyn"?

Smitty300

ANSWER:

Dear Smitty300:

Back in the early days of bowling in New York and New Jersey, the competition between those two states (because of the close proximity of the two), was fierce and very competitive.

If a bowler from New York threw a "cross-over" strike, the New Jersey bowlers would razz them by saying, "You threw a Jersey."

If a New Jersey bowler threw a "cross-over" strike, the New York bowlers would then refer that to a "Brooklyn".

On the: December 20, 2006 Phantom Radio Show, Chuck Pezzano talks about many of these type of sayings and their origins. Chuck is a long time historian of the Sport.

Phantom

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