PBA Marathon on ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic will feature a PBA marathon on Sunday, Oct. 23. The network will air classic ABC shows from Noon until 8 p.m., starting with the 1993 Wichita Open and ending with the 1979 Miller High Life Classic.
The 1993 Wichita Open featured Mike Aulby throwing the sixth televised 300 game in Denny’s PBA Tour history. Aulby defeated David Ozio, 300-279, in the highest scoring match in televised championship round history. Ozio defeated current Director of the Denny’s PBA Tour, Kirk von Krueger, on his way to the title match.
Following that match will be the 1970 Firestone Tournament of Champions which took place at historic AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio. The title match was another high-scoring affair as Don Johnson and Dick Ritger were both perfect through six frames. It was Johnson who continued his tear, striking five more times before a 10-pin kept him from perfection. Still, a 299-268 win in the title match gave Johnson the $25,000 top prize.
For the next two hours, viewers will see who had the “Midas Touch” in the 1974 Midas Open, won by Ritger, and the 1977 Midas Open, won by Johnson.
The 1978 Long Island Open follows, which featured another 300-game close call. Johnny Petraglia won his 11th career Tour title, and was nearly perfect in the semifinals, defeating Mark Roth, 298-249. He went on to win the title with a 197-177 win over Jeff Mattingly.
Next, fans will see Roth defeat Marshall Holman for the title in the 1978 Quaker State Open followed by Ritger capturing his 20th career title in the 1979 AMF Magicscore Open in San Antonio, Texas.
The eight-hour marathon ends with the 1979 Miller High Life Classic, which turned out to be the final Tour victory for PBA Hall of Famer Carmen Salvino. Salvino had to defeat fellow PBA Hall of Famers Ernie Schlegel and Holman on his way to beating Mike Berlin, 192-170, for his 17th career Tour title.
| ESPN Classic PBA Tour Marathon Schedule – Oct. 23, 2005 |
| Time | | Event | | Event Date |
| Noon-1 p.m. | | 1993 Wichita Open, Wichita, KS | | 7/31/93 |
| 1-2 p.m. | | 1970 Firestone Tournament of Champions, Fairlawn, OH | | 4/4/70 |
| 2-3 p.m. | | 1974 Midas Open, Alameda, CA | | 1/5/74 |
| 3-4 p.m. | | 1977 Midas Open, Gretna, LA | | 2/12/77 |
| 4-5 p.m. | | 1978 Long Island Open, Garden City, NY | | 4/1/78 |
| 5-6 p.m. | | 1978 Quaker State Open, Grand Prairie, TX | | 1/28/78 |
| 6-7 p.m. | | 1979 AMF Magicscore Open, San Antonio, TX | | 2/3/79 |
| 7-8 p.m. | | 1979 Miller High Life Classic, Anaheim, CA | | 1/6/79 |
Elite Bowling and PBA Team Up
Elite Bowling has teamed with the PBA and produced a line of bowling balls designed to match up with the PBA Cheetah, Scorpion, Shark and Viper oil patterns. Each ball's core, cover stock and overall design properties have been created to specifically conquer each pattern. Any of the four pattern balls can be used on the ever-changing Chameleon pattern.
"The research and development that went into these balls will allow bowlers to excel on the PBA Tour patterns along with house league and sport bowling patterns," said Nick Melnikoff, owner of Elite Bowling.
Along with the new line of balls, Elite has designed a line of PBA branded bowling bags, available in single, two and three totes and rollers.
Both the balls and shoes are available on-line at BowlersParadise.com and through select licensed pro-shops. For more info go to BowlersParadise.com or call 1-888-969-2695. BowlersParadise.com offers full-service, guaranteed custom drilling services for a complete package.
About BowlersParadise.com
BowlersParadise.com, the Official On-Line Retailer of the PBA, has been providing outstanding service and below Pro Shop prices to the avid bowler since 1990. Its Safe Shopping Guarantee uses a secure web server for private, encrypted transmission of credit card information.
PBA “Super Fan” Ready for Season to Start
Fans of the Denny’s PBA Tour stretch far and wide across the globe, but one fan stands out above them all. Since attending his first Denny’s PBA Tour event in 1987, 24-year-old Josh Hyde has followed the Tour on a regular basis, developing relationships with the bowlers while studiously pouring over statistics and results.
Hyde was born with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, a condition that occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around a newborn’s neck, cutting off oxygen to the brain. Despite the challenges Hyde faces on a daily basis, the energy and enthusiasm with which he follows the PBA is unmatched.
A native of Warsaw, Ind., Hyde has turned his love for bowling and the PBA into a new website, www.probowlersuperfan.com. He provides statistics about the Tour and shares his thoughts on the PBA and the many bowlers he’s developed friendships with throughout the years.
“I love bowling and I love the PBA Tour,” commented Hyde. “I have the time to put into it and I want to work in the bowling field somehow. I want the general public to know that there is a PBA ‘superfan’ and what the ‘superfan’ has done in bowling for his life.”
Hyde’s favorite bowler is 30-time Tour title winner Parker Bohn III. The two first met in 1990 and have since become good friends. In 1996, Bohn gave the trophy he earned in a PBA regional event to Hyde. Years later, Hyde was in attendance when Bohn accepted his 1999 PBA Player of the Year award.
“The very first time I met [Bohn], he said, ‘let me bowl you a strike,’” Hyde said. “As I remember, it took him about four tries to get that strike. He also asked my dad if we would join him for dinner the next evening. I was so excited and of course we went!”
Besides working on his website, Hyde has ingrained himself in bowling. A PBA member since 2001, he has taken classes on coaching, bowled in numerous pro-ams and has even organized bowling tournaments.
Hyde plans on making at least two stops during the 2005-06 Denny’s PBA Tour season. He’ll be at the 2005 BowlersParadise.com Classic in Hammond, Ind., and at the 2006 Denny’s World Championship in Indianapolis.
As much as Hyde may be looking forward to hitting a few Tour stops this season, the bowlers may be even more excited to see him at the events.
“He’s got more heart and soul for the sport of bowling – especially on the professional level – than, believe it or not, a lot of the professionals out there,” said Bohn about Hyde. “There’s a lot to be said for that. When you watch his demeanor and the excitement he shows, its 110-percent all true.”
Hyde has been in attendance for some very significant events. He was in Joe Louis Arena in Detroit for the finals of the 1995 U.S. Open and later saw Bob Learn Jr.’s nationally televised perfect game in 1996. He was at the 2002 PBA World Championship, where he witnessed Doug Kent win the PBA’s first $120,000 top prize.
Hyde, like all the fans that follow the Tour, can’t wait to see what happens next.
