Bowling history in Las Vegas

http://news.pba.com/post/2011/1/22/e2809cMajor-Mikae2809d-Koivuniemi-Wins-PBA-Tournament-of-Champions-Record-24250000-First-Prize.aspx


Match One:
Koivuniemi def. Gomez, 224-220.

Semifinal Match:
Koivuniemi def. Daugherty, 299-100.


Championship Match:
Koivuniemi def. Smallwood, 269-207.

 

Stop working Webby's corners!

 

"He's got one foot in the frying pan and one in the pressure cooker. Believe me, as a bowler, I know that right about now, your bladder feels like an overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag and your butt is kinda like an about-to-explode bratwurst."

 

He's out of the country...

 

Watched that this afternoon. It was unbelievable. Two strikes, eight open frames. Not only with that low score never be beaten on the tour, but neither will the margin of defeat. The guy was playing to the crowd pretty nicely. He was having a miserable, embarrassing performance and he actually impressed me with how he handled it. It was actually quite entertaining.

 

The way ESPN handled both the highlights and lowlights was very well-done.

Credit, where credit's due.

 

Not to mention yesterday's was the first PBA event televised on ABC in the usual Saturday afternoon slot since 1997 (and first in HD). And the return of Bo Burton.

As someone who regularly watches the PBA TV finals, they way yesterday's was presented (crane camera, HD, more room on lanes and settee for players, positioning of the crowd) felt more like a legitmate sporting event instead of throwing 500 people and a few cameras in your local bowling center as they usually do.

 

Another great Daugherty quote: "I would have been more upset if I'd shot 260 and lost."

Mika shooting 299 made shooting 100 much easier to deal with ... if he would've shot anywhere north of 240, he would've been kicking himself.

 

I got a giggle out of that. The usual event hasn't happened in 14 years?

 

Bowling used to own the Saturday afternoon slot. So much to the networks didn't put good programming up against it. I've heard that the NBA didn't play on Saturday afternoons, but instead played on Sunday afternoons for that reason.

 

OK, should've said its "former" usual spot ...