I'm shocked to come on here and not find one post about the PBA All Stary Shootout here in St. Louis' Six Flags.

I gotta tell you what, this has been one of the greatest tournaments I've ever witnessed.  I've been there for the last two days, from the open of the park, to the close, and it's the coolest (not literally, the lanes got up to 150 degress, and the gutters got to 177 degrees!  So hot, they said they can't use them again, because they were starting to warp!).  They're playing on the Scorpion pattern, but it seemed to be a lot more bank than they're used to (obviously, because the sun has been scorching!).  It's an interesting format, Scotch doubles, and if your partner picks a split, you get 5 bonus pins.  Also, if you strike on your fill ball, you qualify for an "endless 10th frame" where if you need the win, you keep striking until you win, or if the opponents qualified too, you strike enough to beat them, then it goes back to the other team, and they have to strike, and the first team that doesn't strike loses.  Pretty crazy format, but a lot of fun.  The bowlers have been "trash talking" each other every game.  One of the greatest lines of the day was from Walter Ray when he left a 7 pin. "Don't these pins know who I am?"  Classic.

Here's some pics from the day, I tried to keep them as spoiler free as possible.

I will tell you this though, the first game of the tournament is the highest scoring match of the whole two days.

Here's a pic of how the lanes look.  They're built out on the parking lot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/ANamelessNumber6/PBA/PICT0028.jpg

Here's a pic of how the advertisements look next to the lanes, and to show the parking lot it's on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/ANamelessNumber6/PBA/PICT0029.jpg

More of showing the right sides of the lanes
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/ANamelessNumber6/PBA/PICT0031.jpg

Parker is to the left of the blue and white umbrella wheeling his kids on his bag.  Thought it was a good picture opportunity.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/ANamelessNumber6/PBA/PICT0043.jpg

Walter Ray's Awesome Hook :-)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/ANamelessNumber6/PBA/PICT0067.jpg

And I'm jealous of the MoRich bags
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v379/ANamelessNumber6/PBA/PICT0088.jpg

Anyways, I'm tired, I've been there far too long and I'm far too drained right now, just thought it was kind of crazy that not one person posted about this yet that I could find.

Enjoy.


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-Ricky-
Member of the St. Louis, Missouri USBC Adult Rankings

MORE Speed = LESS time to PANIC

Current Arsenal: Ebonite Optyx Spider, MoRich Total Shock & Awe, AMF Nighthawk Torque, Columbia 300 Action, Hammer Blade Reactive

Edited on 6/15/2007 10:43 PM

Yes, it was a great time. Wes also helped me out as well. I was asking him questions about the patterns and the scorpion which they laid down for the week as I am bowling in a PBA Experience league this summer. Wes is real nice to talk to and he gave me some great insight and some helpful tips on my game. It was an awesome time. When I was watching you bowl, I was rooting for you to get four strikes to see someone get the ball. I threw three strikes out of the five and Wes gave me some great pointers as well as Tony Reyes.
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"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

-Vince Lombardi

I finally have my pictures online so I can give a summary of my day from last Saturday, 06/16/07.  The day started with a Q & A session from 12:00 to 1:00PM. Randy Petersen was the host and the eight bowlers that participated were Norm Duke, Wes Mallot, Jason Couch, Tommy Jones, Robert Smith, Billy Oatman, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Tony Reyes. This was just a small sound stage where the fans could ask any questions to the bowlers and there were also some good stories. Norm Duke had a very funny story about the first event he bowled in when he was very young as he was on a pair with Marshall Holman for the first time. Here are some pictures from the Q & A session:

Norm Duke and Wes Mallot.


Jason Couch and Tommy Jones.


Robert Smith and Billy Oatman.


Walter Ray Williams Jr.


Tony Reyes


Randy Petersen


Billy Oatman


Norm Duke


A trick shot event took place from 2:00 to 3:30PM and a few bowlers participated. Sean Rash, Doug Kent, Danny Wiseman, Chris Barnes, Mika and Parker Bohn. There were quite a few of the other bowlers who came by just to take in the event. This was a great chance to get plenty of autographs and photos with the bowlers. Pete Weber came out just to watch and give the other bowlers trouble. Pete talked about the new Storm products coming out. Sean Rash and Parker Bohn talked about the new Brunswick equipment coming out soon and Chris Barnes talked about the new Columbia lineup and Doug Kent talked about the new Hammer lineup. The guys took requests from the fans as what trick shots they wanted to see. The bowlers had a lot of fun as did the fans. Here are some pictures from the trick shot event.

Parker Bohn talking about the New Brunswick lineup of bowling balls.


Chris Barnes at the trick shot event.


Trick shot event.


Sean Rash


Pete Weber talking about the new Storm line of balls.


Doug Kent at the trick shot event.


Just a few pictures of myself and my two sons with some of the bowlers at the trick shot event.











For the final event of the day, there was a fundraising event for the St. Louis International Bowling Hall of Fame. For $5 you could throw five shots on the lanes that were used for the week. My Wife, son and myself each gave it a try. If you could throw two strikes you could get a coupon for 10 free games of bowling. If you could throw four strikes you could win a Storm bowling ball. My 10 year old son got up on the lanes and had the honor of bowling with Billy Oatman. Billy was kind enough to give my son some advice and encouragement during his bowling. Billy actually let him throw about 10 shots and Billy was very nice and really hit it off with my son. My wife bowled and Tommy Jones worked with her and Tommy was very nice and answered a few questions from my wife and myself and after my wife finished, she talked with Tommy for a little while. I had the good fortune to have Wes Mallot and Doug Kent watch me. Some of the pros were kind enough to bring out some of there own equipment for you to try out and shoes were provided. I saw a Black Widow Pearl on the ball return and Doug Kent told me that the ball was his and to try it out if the ball fit. Close enough. I threw the BWP for 5 shots, struck twice and I was able to talk to Doug and Wes who were super nice and they both gave me some very good pointers. I was able to talk to Tony Reyes for about a half hour or so and he is the nicest person you will ever meet. The guys were so pleasant, very approachable and just down to earth. Thanks to all the bowlers for taking time to come to St. Louis to participate and give back to the fans. Here's a few pictures from the fundraiser.

Jason Couch signing an autograph sheet for my son.


Tommy Jones.


Me with Tony Reyes.



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"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

-Vince Lombardi

I second or third those Morich bags. They look good...too bad they dont strike.