Professional Bowlers Association

Scott the Engineer of The Howard Stern Show bowled in the WSOB last year at South Point. This year he wasn't able to bowl, but he is watching on Xtra Frame and doing a blog throughout.

Looking back at the first week of the WSOB I am really amazed at the level of competition. The top 16 bowlers from around the world averaged a combined 223 - led by Sean Rash with a 234 average. I personally know how hard these conditions are after my experience at the WSOB last year - or are they? Well, I was used to a league shot where you have 15-20 boards of area and don’t have to be very precise, and even though I was able to practice with the PBA patterns it really didn’t prepare me for the actual tournament conditions.

As we continued through the second week the scores remained very high, scores I could never maintain even on a house shot. I wonder if this has gotten too easy for the pros, especially with the advancement of ball technology. Should the PBA find a way to lower the scores? Personally I prefer lower scores and I don't think that will mean less exciting bowling - in fact, it might make it more exciting.

At any rate, now it’s time to get down to business, the best of the best on ESPN. I think the finals will be something special to watch, and with the arena setting it should be spectacular. I know I’ll be watching, I hope you do to. Enjoy!

The Scott the Engineer WSOB blog is brought to you by DV8 at dv8bowling.com

Scott the Engineer of The Howard Stern Show bowled in the WSOB last year at South Point. This year he wasn't able to bowl, but he is watching on Xtra Frame and doing a blog throughout.

After the first two rounds of the PBA World Championship some interesting stories are developing. I think the first one is that six different countries are represented in the top ten which gives the word “world” true meaning. I have always thought American bowlers to be the best in the world, I know there have been international players on the tour for many years, but I think the overall level of competition at the WSOB from the international players is now equal to the Americans.

The next story I like is the upcoming final of the Chameleon Open. I’m sure everyone remembers “bottlegate”. How exciting will it be if we see Jason Belmonte and Sean Rash matched up in the final. This has the makings to be one of the best matches in a long time. I think I’ll look through my sound effects library and see what I can come up with to help these guys. Stay tuned.

And finally, can anyone stop Sean Rash? The term “In The Zone” describes where Sean’s game is right now. He was within a solid 9 pin from winning the All-in Showdown, he’s in the final 4 for the Viper and Chameleon Opens, and he’s leading the World Championship with a 245 average. I was able to get to know Sean pretty well from the time I spent at the WSOB last year - he spent time giving me recommendations on how to improve my game - something he didn’t have to do that I appreciated very much. I think everyone knows the amount of talent Sean has, and he certainly brings an intensity we haven’t seen in a long time, but now he’s stepped up his game to an amazing level - maybe it’s the new Brunswick gear he’s using! I know I’ll be watching him the rest of the way, I hope you do to.

The Scott the Engineer WSOB blog is brought to you by DV8 at dv8bowling.com

Earlier this week, I gave you the first half of what I feel are the Top 10 greatest career runs in the history of the PBA Tour. Here's the cream of the crop of that list.

#5 Pete Weber (1984-1993)

PDW. In my opinion, the greatest physical talent to ever bowl. The most entertaining player the PBA has ever had won 19 titles over this span, including five majors. The biggest snub is the fact that he has never won a single POY award, when in fact you could argue there were many years he was the man on tour. PDW won the high average crown in 1989, and became a member of the PBA Hall of Fame in 1998.

#4 Parker Bohn III (1997-2002)

Parker is arguably one of the top three left handers to ever grace the lanes. During the most dominant stretch of his career, he won 18 titles.  He had two seasons with five wins, won POY both seasons, led the points race both of those seasons, and also had high average both years. During his 2001-2002 season, he won his lone major which was the USBC Masters. He became a member of the PBA Hall of Fame in 2000 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2008. On top of his greatness as a player, Parker will also be remembered as one of the greatest ambassadors of our sport.

#3 Mark Roth (1977-1984)

The godfather of the modern power game, Mark Roth during this span won 34 titles and set several records. He became the 2nd person to ever earn $100,000 in 1977 (which was probably aided by the fact he made the top 24 89.7% of the events contested) and set a record by winning three consecutive tournaments this season as well. He followed that up by winning eight times in 1978 and set the then-earnings record of $134,500. He was named the 5th greatest bowler of all time when the PBA Top 50 Greatest Players list was announced.

#2 Earl Anthony (1970-1984)

This was a tough decision on who to put in the 2nd slot and who to put up top. The number one player on the PBA's Top 50 Greatest Players list, has the third most career TV appearances with 114. He is 2nd all-time with 15 consecutive years with a win on tour. He set a then-record in 1975 by winning seven titles, and then slacked off the following season by only winning six. Oh yeah, he won five times in 1974 and multiple majors. He won 10 majors in total, which is the most of all time. It's hard to believe as I write this that I didn't put him on top, but.....

#1 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (1993-2004)

Walter's run during this span is in my mind the most dominant, and there are many things that set it apart. I would argue the level of competition overall was tougher as time went on. Deadeye won 33 of his 47 titles, five of his seven POY awards, was high average on tour almost every year, just to name a few. Although due in part to inflated prize funds, he holds the single season earning record and has appeared on more TV telecasts than anyone in PBA history. Walter was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1995 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2005. He may have been number two on the PBA's Top 50 list, but he's number one on this list.

There you have it now, and as with every single Top 10 list someone will undoubtedly feel that somebody was left out. Be sure to tune into Xtra Frame in two weeks and be a part of the 3rd WSOB. The action starts with the BowlersDeals.com All-In Showdown on November 4, which should be the first of many must-see moments!

Recently, Jason Thomas posted his list of the Top 10 Greatest Single Seasons in the history of the PBA Tour. After reading that, I had an idea to take the concept a bit further and go through the careers of some of the greatest bowlers to ever compete out on Tour. What I came up with is a Top 10 list of the greatest career stretches in the history of the PBA. Not just one year of astounding successes, but a stretch of several seasons which forged the careers of these great players!

Today, you get the first half of that list with the Top 5 to come later this week. Let's get started...

#10 - Tommy Jones 2004-2008

Tommy is the youngest person to make the lis and it sure seemed that any time TJ made the show during this span, he was just about automatic. In this four-season stretch, he won 12 titles, two of which were majors, and a Player of the Year award in the 2005-06 season. He also set the record for shortest amount of time between first and tenth title, which was a record held for a fairly long time by some guy named Dick Weber.

#9 - Patrick Allen 2004-2009

In nearly the same span as the aforementioned Tommy Jones, PA had a great run of his own. He took home 11 titles, two of which were majors and his own POY for the 2004-05 season. That season he earned just a bit more than $350k, won the PBA World Championship, and became one of only two players to ever finish in the top five of every major in a single season.

#8 - Amleto Monacelli 1989-1992

If I were to limit the criteria on this topic to best four-year stretches ever, Amleto's name would certainly be much higher on this list.  11 titles in four seasons, one of which was his only career major. The suave Venezuelan also won back-to-back POY'S in 1989 and 1990. This span proved his greatness and was a huge influence on his induction into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1997.

#7 - Wayne Webb 1979-1985

During this stretch, the Green Machine won 15 of his 20 tour titles. I don't think anyone in their right mind wouldn't take two titles a year for seven straight years (except maybe Earl, Roth or Walter Ray). He also won a POY award, and the 1980 Tournament of Champions during this time. He is one of two players in history to win a POY award on both the regular and Senior tours.

#6 - Brian Voss 1987-1998

Part of being truly great in this sport is being consistently, well, great. During this 12-year span, Voss won at least one time every season. He won his only major, the PBA National Championship, and a POY award in 1988. Sometimes greatness isn't simply defined by having flat-out dominated for a short period of time, but rather being able to produce consistently over an extended period of time. Brian was and still is a fan favorite because of his demeanor. And one could argue that he has been one of the most versatile players to ever play this sport.

Well, that's all for now. Be sure to check back later this week for my top five picks for best career runs in PBA history!