How about the name Mark Roth?
Earl Anthony?
Walter Ray Williams Jr.?
Twinkle Toes Flintstone?
In his portrait of top-tier pro bowler Jason Belmonte forย GQ, Eric Wills paints a compelling picture of one of bowling’s most intriguing and groundbreaking figures. Known for his unorthodox two-handed method that made waves when he first appeared on the scene in 2008, Belmonte was dismissed as a cheat and told to go home (he’s Australian). But in Wills’ telling, Belmoโas his fans know himโwas undeterred by the backlash. He stood his ground, and some bowlers on the PBA Tour have even begun experimenting with his distinctive style. “He’s exactly like Tiger Woods,” is how PBA Commissioner Tom Clark put it, and much like Woods, Belmonte’s unparalleled skills have made him the target of envy.
Belmonte’s journey began early at his parents’ bowling alley north of Sydney, with Wills describing him as a toddler who used two hands because he couldn’t handle a 10-pound ball otherwise. By age 10 he was beating teens. At 39, he has 15 major titles to his name, four more than any other bowler ever.
No. Don’t recognize the name.
I think Earl Anthony was a professional bowler way back when.
mortem tyrannis
izlamo delenda est …
Know of some. Remember watching bowling as a kid on tv. Was very popular in the 60’s. In SE Michigan we had a show called Bowling for Dollars from the Thunderbird lanes near Detroit. Knew a few people that bowled on the show. A friend of mine has a closet full of jackets and a bunch of rings they used to get for 300 games and high series. I don’t think PBA gives out all the goodies they used to.
My pals still a elite bowler in his late 60’s but was just never good enough in tournaments do do it for a living.
I’ve crossed over the border to Canada and tried 5 pin also. That in my opinion is much harder.
^^^^the physics of the game totally changes.
Used to watch it as a kid on Wide World of Sports.
I can still hear Chris Schenkel’s voice as he covered the PBA.
Years ago a bowling alley owned by Earl Anthony advertised on a radio station I worked at. One day our salesman took me out to see the place. Earl Anthony was there as I recall.
Somewhere in my stack of old tapes I have the commercial I did for them.
I remember watching Earl Anthony and Mark Roth on the PBA bowling tour Sunday afternoons right before the Wide World of sports.
For me as a late Pre-teen,One of the most memorable things about watching the PBA tour was the Muriel cigarette commercials with the smoking hot models dancing around some random guy in a locker room signing “where there’s Muriel Smoke there’s fire”
Side note I once told a friend I saw Earl Anthony bowl a 301. He said that was impossible. I asked him Have you ever seen somebody bowl 300 and lose?
Didn’t realize till just now when I looked it up that the model was Susan Anton
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFKzu8jV9Zs
.
When I saw Earl and Ray, I thought killers. Earl, Ray, and Lee, especially as middle names – killers.
@Doug — Don’t leave out Wayne.
There have been a ton of middle-name-Wayne murderers. The late Chuck Sheppard of News of the Weird kept a running total for years. The last number I recall was somewhere well over 200.
What about Guppy and Kyle Troup????
FJB
Don Carter
and that’s all I have to say about that…
Then again, maybe Dick Weber
Met Belmonte a few years ago at a sponsored tournament for us middle of the road types. Really nice fellow, not as big as I expected. Nothing but good vibes from him, very likable.
Jeeez, forgot my handle above