Bowlers Journal International - April 2008 - (Page 47)

UPCLOSE You've said that Mika Koivuniemi is your favorite bowler. So, do you have the heart of a righty, or is that a clue to your versatility? It goes back to the ﬁrst time I ever watched Mika bowl on television; it was the U.S. Open. Everybody was going Brooklyn or washing out when they missed, and Mika comes out, hits his target and goes boom-boom-boom. His intensity was something I could relate to. I love it when a guy is a ﬁerce ﬁghter. He always kept it in control, never letting that intensity get out of hand or affect him in a negative way. In a way, that's what I see on TV when I watch you. You don’t seem to be awed by the experience; you really get into it. Absolutely. And from watching the pros since I was 6, I also keep in mind that I’m an entertainer, not just a bowler. I want to get the fans involved and get them excited because without them, we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing. I mentioned that it doesn’t seem like you’re afraid of anybody. Is there anybody on Tour who intimidates you? I wouldn’t say so. A lot of it plays into the fact that I’ve bowled really well this year and know I can compete with these guys. In Omaha, I bowled a 299 and a 279 against Walter Ray [Williams] in match play, and afterward he said something like, 'Man you’re kicking my butt; what’s that all about?' And I said, 'Well, Walter, it’s pretty simple: I know that when I bowl you, I have to throw a really big game if I want to have any chance.' And he gave me a look like, 'Screw you,' you know? Keep it up, and you'll soon have a target on your back like he does. I always have high expectations for myself, so whatever I have to do, I use something as a motivator. Any examples? Well, I told somebody recently that if you want to win a match on Tour, you have to win the match. Because if your opponent has to double to win the match, nine out of ten times, you lost. You've had a couple of runner-up ﬁnishes. Which event did you think you had the best chance of winning? Spartanburg. It was an all-lefty ﬁnals, and I'm able to open up the lane more than anyone else right now since [Jason] Couch isn’t out here. I needed that double to win in the 10th; I got the ﬁrst one, and I thought I threw the second one really good, but it just didn’t work out. I hit a little carry-down. I thought that was my best chance of winning, even though Parker [Bohn III] did shoot 260 That’s really the only telecast in which I’ve had an amazing look. Maybe your opponents are bowling so well because you are a rookie, ﬁgur- APRIL 2008 bowlers journal international 47 http://www.bowlingball.com http://www.bowlingball.com http://www.bowlingball.com http://www.bowlingball.com/affiliate.html http://www.bowlingball.com/proshop.php http://www.bowlingball.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Bowlers Journal International - April 2008

Bowlers Journal International - April 2008 Contents Leading Off Letters Bowlitically Incorrect Calendar Par Bowling The Coach Frame of Mind Inside Line The Truth Be Bowled Tournaments Pro Bowling PBA Bayer Classic PBA Pepsi Championship PBA Don Johnson Classic Regional Roundup Cover Story Up Close Senior Tour The USBC Move USBC Convention Pattern Play Anniversary Flashback Time Capsule Media Beat No Holes Barred Shop Talk Spotlight Marketplace Hall Marks Profit Prophet Advertisers' Index Classified Advertising Intelligencer Business Calendar Business People Strikes Me

Bowlers Journal International - April 2008

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