Bowlers Journal International - November 2008 - (Page 38) ProBowling Results, Schedules and More Could 2008-09 Be the Breakout Season for Chris Barnes? What kind of question is that to ask about the reigning PBA Player of the Year? BY LYLE ZIKES ven before fantasy leagues made predicting player performance a possibly lucrative form of “competition,” it has been a tradition to speculate who’s going to play the starring roles as each new season begins. Sage PBA handicappers look at dozens of factors. For example, it might be useful to know which players have been setting a blistering pace in regional tournaments or, conversely, those who have been studiously working on lowering their golf handicap. Then again, perhaps that doesn’t always matter, since Pete Weber usually manages to do both. Insiders know who has signed with a new ball company. Others try to anticipate who has a game better suited for new lane conditions planned for the 2008-09 season of the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. Is there a wonder kid among the new arrivals, or is someone with strong career credentials likely to fade from the scene? Based on historical percentages, the reigning PBA Player of the Year has a decent chance of claiming that honor again. Ten times since the award was established in 1963, the recipient was a repeat of the previous season. E Chris Barnes is a six-time Bowlers Journal All-American, and last season garnered his first PBA Player of the Year award. Back-to-back Player of the Year seasons are not unusual on the Tour. 38 Bowlers Journal International | November 2008 www.bowlersjournal.com http://www.bowlersjournal.com
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