Bowlers Journal International - January 2008 - (Page 36) Mika's Cup Runneth Over There’s something really different and energizing about bowling for your country. Take the Weber Cup, an annual USA vs. Europe competition featuring top bowlers from each continent, pro and amateur. There may be no money involved, but there’s loads of pride… and, frankly, fun. Witness this reaction (left) to some stubborn pins from the normally stoic Mika Koivuniemi in this year’s Cup. Old-Skool Cool The PBA Tournament of Champions format was changed so that many past Tour champions, who would have been ineligible to compete under the old system, would be able to do so in this season’s edition. Under the new system, the last assured spot went to Billy Hardwick, who won the 1965 T.o.C. Hardwick surprised the PBA brass when he told them that he would come out of retirement to bowl. Yes, he was kidding. Timing Is Everything It costs more than beer money to get into the bowling business. That might come as a surprise to Richard and Lynn Libertino, Chincoteague, Va. Last March, they bought the 12-lane installation at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky., in an eBay auction. The couple’s winning bid? $102.50. Kelly Kulick Is a Kool Kegler Kelly Kulick, who earned an exemption for the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour, was featured as a supporting character in an issue of “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man.” In the comic book, she is the former girlfriend of Flash Thompson, but also displays powerful form as a bowler. Lava’s Effort a Real Eye-Opener Lava Lanes of Medford, Ore., claimed the Regular Team title at the USBC Open Championship at the National Bowling Stadium with a scorching, NBS-record 3405. The kicker? They did so unopposed, having switched to a different pair in the hope of being able to catch some shuteye before their Doubles and Singles squad the next day. Neither Were Exempt from Exceptionalism Kelly Kulick earned an exemption on the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour. Her 68,887.5 points put her in 54th place in her bid to earn a spot on the 2007-08 Tour. Obviously, she had the benefit of an existing exemption, while Liz Johnson had to gut her way through the TQRs every week in order to earn a spot among the “big boys.” Liz finished in 61st place in points with 51,923. Well, the Lanes Look Like Wood! Lumber Liquidators stepped up as a sponsor for the Dec. 5-9 PBA event at AMF Country Club Lanes in Baltimore, Md. The center features synthetic lanes. 36 bowlers journal international JANUARY 2008
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