Page 4 | Thursday, <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>17</strong>, 2013 | THE BOWLING NEWS Just Paying Attention By Mark London Mark@<strong>The</strong><strong>Bowling</strong><strong>News</strong>.net His older brother Bob was at the end of his first PBA Tour stop after taking two years off for a major overhaul of his game. Rick Benoit had seen first-hand the work Bob did starting with a 10-pound ball, then a 12, and then 15, learning to generate more rotational torque to the ball, increasing entry angle to the pocket and through the pins. Results to this point brought Bob from limited success to top seed of the 1988 PBA Quaker State Open stepladder finals. Rick had a front row seat at Forum Bowl that fateful Saturday afternoon, about to be shown nationwide on ABC Television. Bob Benoit Rick Benoit Little did he know on that day, <strong>Jan</strong>uary 23, 1988, his life would be forever changed, too. It evolved into the world-class coaching career that continues to this day. Rick recently reflected rather philosophically on the events leading up to one of the most amazing stories to a TV 300 game in PBA history. Although Bob did bowl league at Forum Bowl in prior years, there are a few details even long-time Metroplex bowlers may not know. “Many know of Bob’s reinvention of his game, but few know that Bob also built Bowl Your Head Off Sunday through Thursday 9 PM to Close $2.29 + tax per Game per Person $1.00 Each Shoe Rental, Small Popcorn, Hot Dog and Small Soda plus Draft Beer Specials! Watauga 7301 Rufe Snow Drive, Watauga, TX 76148 8<strong>17</strong>-485-2695 a successful business during this time as well. Bob owned and operated his own auto body shop and it was not an easy decision to go back out on tour. I can tell you that the entire family was not behind the decision to shut down the successful business to follow his dream. I can tell you of our conversation where I said Bob you have to follow your dreams. If you don’t, you will regret it in future years. Do not worry about success or failure just follow your dreams, you will be good at whatever you do,” offered Rick Benoit. It was at this point Rick’s theories of ball motion could explain what Bob was doing with his new release and roll, theories that form the basis for his teachings that have taken him around the world more than a few times. So how did Rick come up with these? “<strong>The</strong> Dallas/Fort Worth area and the PBA Southwest Region made Bob the bowler he became and I look back on those years and realize that it also gave me my career as a coach. If anybody was to do the research, I promise you that era and the bowlers that were a part of it were as special as any group to ever impact the PBA tour,” Benoit added. “Oh what a different time it was. <strong>The</strong> days of urethane, static weights and talk of pin carry. I will say this; I still see ball motion today the same way I saw it back then. <strong>The</strong> only difference is it is on a much wider scale. Ball roll creates the special player and what Bob had was a very unique roll that allowed him to see the lane and pin carry differently. During those years, we spoke often about pin carry while today most bowlers talk about balls and lane play. Bob, as with many special bowlers back then, could get their ball to hit by what many bowlers considered to be “roll out.” Believe me, it was not a roll out, it was just another part of transition and Bob could use a part of the pocket that scared other bowlers. Bob could stay ahead of the moves because he had both sides of the pocket, both light and heavy, he knew it and would use that as part of his strategy against anybody he would face. Seeing the distance where the ball would get in to a roll was more important than hitting specific board and attacking that distance with a certain angle was a priority. That combination was the focus, and believe it or not that is still a conscious thought every time I am helping a bowler.” Rick was Brunswick’s representative on the PBA Tour in the late 90s and early 2000s, helping numerous players (even a few regional players like myself) with his cutting edge insight of ball angles and reaction. If you have logged onto his website, www.bowlu. com, you have seen a small sample of his work. Benoit summed up his thoughts about his brother’s first of four Continued on Page 6 At AMF DeSoto Pride smothers 729, Johnson charts 645 Williamson 300, Milliorn, Jr. 299 Bam Pride won high-series honors for the week at AMF DeSoto Lanes with rollicking 235-226-268 = 729 numbers in DeSoto Classic league production. Deneace Johnson headed the ladies’ leader board with a rousing 186-255-204 = 645 Pushovers set. Erik Williamson’s awardwinning perfecto garnered highgame honors while Wes Milliorn, Jr. earned runner-up honors with a near perfect 299 solo. HONOR ROLL Matt Lawrence 235-685, Lucy Chism Larry Lee was definitely on target last week at Rowlett Bowla-Rama after collecting highseries honors with a 243-266-211 = 720 Wednesday Mixers series. Barbara Shaw, Lee’s league mate, posted an exceptional 200- 193-257 = 650 session to front distaff scoring. HONOR ROLL Tony Hughes 227-637, Amanda Nelms <strong>17</strong>6-459, Andrea Calloway 216-612, Mike Marcus 257-684, Tammy Klomps 213-598. <strong>17</strong>4-478, Kevin Adkins 267-682, Renee Reed 202-587, Pedro Silva, Jr. 253-636, Dellie Bolton 248-610, Chuck Mooney 268-637, Joyce Thurman 247-613. Wes Milliorn, Jr. 727, Tanisha Boyland 206-577, Bud Price 257-678, Vicky Dunnn 190-514, Lonnie Stewart 256-629, Joyce Thurman 200-550, Mike Garcia 242-693, Lisa Alonzo 203-520. Mike Miller 248-722, Wendy Kent 246-606, Ron House 278-708, <strong>Jan</strong>et Miller 223-573. SENIORS Robert Shelton <strong>17</strong>7-574, Kay Carter 210-557, Paul Shepherd 225-510, Dorothy Perry 245-623. At Rowlett Bowl-a-Rama Lee lights up 720, Shaw shoots 650 SENIORS Randy Terry (2 games) <strong>17</strong>6-326, Sharon Whitaker (2 games) 155-307, Rodney Savole 253-618, Louise Garner 193-513, Jim Ritchie (no tap) 252-684. Linda Small (no tap) 151-435, Will Boshart (no tap) 213-574. Check out our Specials $2 Tuesdays $2 per game starting at 5 PM $2 draft starting at 9 PM Late Night Thursday 9 PM – Close $10.95, All you can bowl plus free nacho bar Ladies Night LADIES BOWL FREE Wednesday Nights 9 PM to Close www.facebook.com/ rowlettbowlarama 5021 Lakeview Parkway Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-7080 www.rowlettbowlarama.com
AMF DeSoto Lanes 121 Northgate Drive, DeSoto, TX 75115 Ph: 972-780-8090 AMF Lewisville Lanes 1398 West Main St., Lewisville, TX 75067 Ph: 972-436-6575 AMF Richardson Lanes 2101 N. Central Expwy., Richardson, TX 75080 Ph: 972-231-2695 THE BOWLING NEWS | Thursday, <strong>Jan</strong>uary <strong>17</strong>, 2013 | Page 5 1st Place $50,000/Division! 2nd Place $25,000/Division 3rd Place $10,000/Division Go to AMF.com for complete rules. 4 Divisions Open 200+ Average A: 180-199 B: 160-<strong>17</strong>9 C: 159-Below AMF Showplace Lanes Euless 1901 W. Airport Frwy., Euless, TX 76040 Ph: 8<strong>17</strong>-540-0303 AMF Showplace Lanes Garland 1950 Marketplace Dr., Garland, TX 75041 Ph: 972-613-8100 AMF Spare Time Lanes 3149 S. Cooper St., Arlington, TX 76015 Ph: 8<strong>17</strong>-465-4997
Change language