Bowlers Journal International - February 2008 - (Page 25) PROBOWLING Now that he has landed a marketing position for a fire and flood restoration company in the Baltimore area, Criss has the distinction of being the first player to give up an exemption. But he’s not packing away his equipment entirely. With 22 PBA Regional victories, he’ll be trying to add to the number that already makes him the most prolific winner of Eastern Region titles all-time. “I still plan on being active in the sport and bowling some Regionals,” he says. “As for the national Tour, I didn’t think the PBA made the right decisions in some areas, but I would have been pleased if they had proved me wrong. Leaving the Tour was strictly a financial decision. I have no bitterness toward the PBA.” — Lyle Zikes PRO-POURRI GIVEN A CHOICE, DENNY'S PBA TOUR PLAYERS WOULD RATHER HAVE THE $150,000 in prize money available through the Motel 6 Roll to Riches Shootout distributed differently than via the winner-take-all format to be utilized for the fourth consecutive year in April. But when there is a disparity of opinion between what the players prefer (another standard tournament would be nice) and the type of promotion the sponsor wants, let’s just say it’s best to embrace the sponsor’s concept. Ever since the inaugural Shootout in 2005, the PBA has encouraged fan involvement, creating an online voting procedure to determine two “wild card” players among the six eligible for the Shootout. This season, fan interaction is being taken to a dramatically higher level, including not only the make-up of the field, but also letting fans determine the tournament’s location and the oil pattern that will be applied. Beyond that, while you may vote on the internet via pba.com, that would be the old-fashioned way to participate. You’d also be limited to one vote per week. However, you may cast up to 10 votes per day by texting your preferences. If you believe the process lends itself to ballot stuffing, you’d be right. The hope is stuffing will become competitive because, as disclosed up front, every texted response costs the interested fan 99 cents (above regular texting fees). If the concept catches on among bowling fans, it could generate untold thousands of dollars for the PBA and the sponsor, and become a significant revenue builder for pro bowling. IN THE SEMIFINAL MATCH OF THE PBA REGIONAL PLAYERS INVITATIONAL in Reno (see "Regional Roundup" on next page), eventual champion Eddie Graham struck out in the 10th frame — including a brooklyn on his first shot — to tie the match at 193. He had not struck on that lane prior to the 10th frame. In the one-ball rolloff to determine who'd go on to the title match, Graham got an eight-count, then watched in amazement as opponent John May stepped up and knocked down only seven. After a finish like that, we wouldn't be surprised if Graham headed directly to Reno's gaming tables after securing the title. IT'S A BIT OF A TECHNICALITY, CONSIDERING REAL ESTATE IS INVOLVED, but the single-season earnings record on the PBA Senior Tour belongs not to Dick Weber, Dave Soutar, John Handegard nor Tom Baker. Rather, that distinction goes to Roger Workman. In the year 2000, the West Virginia native collected $145,275 in prize money and assets, the latter in the form of a new home provided as a bonus for winning The Villages Senior World Championship in Florida. Workman died on December 31 at the age of 66 after an extended battle with cancer. He was a bowling lifer in all respects, earning his living as a hands-on proprietor of Ceredo Lanes, a 16-lane center near Huntington, W.V. Nicknamed “Bulldog“ by his fellow seniors for his tenaciousness on the lanes, the diminutive right-hander last bowled on the Senior circuit in 2006. Along with his lucrative victory at The Villages, Workman also captured titles in Harford, Conn., in 1999, and Gastonia, N.C., a year later. As a proprietor, Workman was described as “first class“ by former USBC President Michael Carroll, who knew him well. “You don't see it too much anymore, but he was a one-stop shop for the bowler,“ Carroll said. “He ran the pro shop and he was always available to customers for help with their game. He was old-school. He didn't put out the easy shot; people understood the reason was for them to become better bowlers. Consequently, his center was the place to go for the serious bowler.“ 4 PROS OUT FOR SEASON Jeff Carter, Jason Couch, Patrick Healey Jr. and Tony Reyes have been granted injury deferments of their 2007-08 Denny's PBA Tour exemptions until the 2008-09 campaign. Carter had a right hand injury that required surgery, Couch is still recovering from off-season knee surgery, Healey has an undisclosed illness, and Reyes has a quadriceps injury. Their departures have added four additional berths in standard tournaments for PBA members via the Tour Qualifying Round. SENIOR TOUR SKED SET A nine-tournament schedule has been unveiled for the 2008 PBA Senior Tour, which will feature three "swings" consisting of three weeks, four weeks and two weeks. Here's the schedule: ■ Swing 1 — April 26-29, PBA Senior Dayton Classic, Capri Bowling Lanes, Dayton, Ohio; May 2-5, PBA Senior Ladies & Legends, Presented by Illinois Bowling Proprietors Association, The Cherry Bowl, Rockford, Ill.; May 10-13, PBA Senior Jackson Open, Airport Lanes, Jackson, Mich. ■ Swing 2 — June 8-13, USBC Senior Masters, Golden Pin Lanes, Tucson, Ariz.; June 15-20, PBA Senior U.S. Open, Presented by the Suncoast, Suncoast Bowling FEBRUARY 2008 bowlers journal international 25
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