7/5/11
 

Hello everyone.

As I write this, the sound of crashing pins at the National Bowling Stadium has been replaced by the screeching of tape guns as the few remaining employees put an end to another great year at the USBC Open Championships.

For the first time in tournament history, we were in the same city for two consecutive years, and Reno, Nev., proved to be a gracious host once again.

Although most of the daily sights and sounds were familiar and our office remained unchanged from 2010, the steady flow of news and excitement made the 2011 event unique.

Personnel-wise, Emil Williams Jr. returned for his sophomore campaign and became a full-time member of the media relations team. He traded his USBC vest for live-stream headphones and six days of ties and sport coats and filled the role well. More than once, I was off in Syracuse for the USBC Women's Championships and USBC Queens, and Emil did an excellent job keeping things under control in Reno.

Right now, he is putting the final touches on his portion of our end-of-tournament checklist, and he'll soon be departing for his next adventure before heading home to Chicago (where his first stop will be for a Superdawg - www.superdawg.com).

We've had some good times this year, both in the office and out. Believe it or not, with some shorter days on the schedule, it wasn't all business this time around. We had a chance to enjoy a few get togethers at the house, a couple of Reno Aces baseball games with other tournament employees and our Wednesday night employee bowling league at a nearby center.

On-site, we enjoyed 15 live stream broadcasts, up from 10 in 2010, which included many memorable moments that can be revisited at www.ustream.tv/usbc. We were here for a record number of 800 series (16), a near-record 300 game total (52) and lead changes up until the final days. We were visited by some old friends and had the chance to meet many some great new people, too. Every day was an adventure for sure. Thanks, Mr. Williams.

To help round out the media efforts, David Prange, a valuable member of the check-in department, pulled double duty and covered some hours for us. As a competitive bowler, I believe he enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of some of the year's memorable moments and share those stories with the world.

On a personal note, this year's return to Reno led us to the Sparks side of town, which provided the chance to see some previously undiscovered gems from hangouts to restaurants to shopping establishments. And as always, there were plenty of laughs with the roommates and other friends who came by.

In just a few days, however, all remnants of the 2011 Open Championships at the Stadium will be gone. One truck of materials will be headed back to the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, while another will head east to Baton Rouge, La., to be in place for the 2012 tournament at the Baton Rouge River Center. Not long after, trucks from Syracuse, N.Y., will roll into Reno to drop off Women's Championships supplies that will be used for that event in 2012.

For me, my desk is packed, my suits are hung up until January and Bella is getting ready for another exciting road trip. Once I've completed my responsibilities to BOWL.com and the bowling media of world, I'll begin what is expected to be a 3,000-mile journey.

This year's agenda will take me to Las Vegas, where I will enjoy a delicious seafood dinner at the Rio (thanks Dana), and then on to Albuquerque, N.M., where the next great chapter will begin. An impromptu detour will lead us to Phoenix for the 2011 MLB All-Star game (thanks Terry), and the trek back to Fort Worth, Texas, will continue shortly after.

Once back in Texas, I will take on a supportive role during a long weekend in Houston for the 2011 Luci Bonneau Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles Tournament and then relax for a few days before heading back to the office to prepare for the 2012 editions of our great events, which will be here before we know it. It definitely is a year-round process.

There's a lot to look forward to as 2011 winds down, but I've also got my eye on the big picture and the unknown. It's always good to have a plan for the next 52 or 53 years.

Thank you to everyone for your support this year, and congratulations to all those who bowled well at the 2011 Open and Women's Championships. Thank you all for your dedication to our national tournaments. The good news is that no matter how you did, you get to try again next year.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.
 

6/14/11
Guest blog: Emil Williams Jr.
 

By Emil Williams Jr.

What's good everybody?!?!.

I hope everyone is enjoying the turn toward summer as June is here, which usually means clear skies and high temperatures. However, that couldn't be more different here in the city of Reno. It has been quite chilly with the occasional touch of rain and the always important wind. However, the sun has peeked, and the temperatures have risen above 80.

I myself will be enjoying a birthday on the 20th. Yes, Matt, it is my real birthday. Last year, via Facebook, I pulled the old change the birth date on Facebook and of course, everyone thought it was my birthday. I was going for that look, but someone alerted Matt, and when I came in that day, there was a cake waiting for me. It was hilarious, but I felt bad at the same time. The cake was awesome by the way. I will turn 27 this year, and although most people won't like my next choice of words, I am getting old. Jeez. Time flies when you're having fun, right?

Now, let's get on to my second year as an Open Championships Media Relations Specialist. Things began way back on March 4, and it has been non-stop action since the ribbon was cut and the 108th year of the tournament was off and running.

First, this year I spent all of my time in the media department. I was given more responsibility, and I "almost" do everything that Matt does. Keyword being almost. I learned a thing or two about BOWL.com. I put up pictures often, I have occasionally added a story, and I've edited and posted some Bowlers Journal standings.

I also had to act as "the guy" while Matt took care of business for the opening of the USBC Women's Championships and during USBC Queens week. I had to get up early, which I wasn't fairly used to, but the morning shift is a little different. There is constant action with three doubles and singles squads and things never seem to slow down until the team event at 2:30 p.m. In that sense, it made the day go by fast and it was nice to leave the premises when the sun is out and not at 5 a.m. :)

During that time, I also got to work with David Prange in the office. Heck, I even found myself giving a tip or two. Imagine that. Dave has been a great help to the team, and if not for him, I wouldn't have an off day. So here's to you, Dave. Shout out to Nani for the many favors she has helped me with. Tournament Services for their hard work and Dana, mostly for just being Dana.

I have pretty much taken care of all our 49 and 59-year individuals. I am in charge of that folder, making sure we are caught up and set to go for next year's 50 and 60-year class.  Not to mention this year's 50 and 60-year class. I watched many of them walk down Center Aisle, talked with several and even got some nice compliments.

Two days after the tournament opened for business, we saw our first 800 series of the year as Stephen Sutphin (827) got the scoring started, and one week later, Curtis Odom rolled the tournament's first 300. As of type time, there are 43 300s and 14 800s. The 43 300s are the most ever produced in one year at the National Bowling Stadium, and the 14 800s are the most in any year in Open Championships history.

Our live stream broadcasts have been must see TV. No, not because of the witty yet elegant commentary from Matt and me, but due to the great bowling of our live stream selectees. We've seen several lead changes, a record breaking team game, honor scores and some all-around great bowling.

Matt McNiel's 300/822 as he attempted to defend his all-events title was something to see as well as Turbo 2-N-1 Grips climb to the top of the leaderboard with a record-breaking 1,281 game are just a couple of highlights from what has been a great tournament thus far.

Now, my own performance on the lanes (insert sad face here). While I am disappointed with my performance, I did achieve the goal of finishing plus and cashing in every event (hopefully). So I guess I can't be too upset with shooting 1,831. Yeah, I know not too good, but it is what it is. Like I always say, "single pins are like free throws, you just don't miss them." I missed a couple of those, but you live and learn. Nonetheless, in my book: inexcusable.

It was my second appearance on the tournament lanes, and so far I can say I have learned something each time out. At least this year, I kept moving left during singles, which I didn't do last year. Equipment is still of utter importance. I do think I was prepared for the most part, but I must get better on my drillings and layout knowledge. I did have fun, which is what the tournament is about.

As always, I have to thank Matt for trusting me with the job. It gets pretty crazy at night here, and he has allowed me to spread my wings and fly. Man, that was corny, but it's true. I have taken on added responsibility this year, and I will have to say that I didn't do a bad job. All of the staff has been great, and it's definitely an honor to work for this event. I have even developed somewhat of a following. It's been a great second year, and I expect the last few weeks to be awesome as well. Until next time, peace!!

 

 

5/26/11
Year No. 13 in the books

Hello everyone. And happy birthday, dad.

I'm sitting here three days removed from my own appearance on the lanes at the 2011 USBC Open Championships.

My time in the spotlight at the National Bowling Stadium came in the midst of a scoring frenzy, and unfortunately, none of that rubbed off on me.

The exciting weekend started on Friday night as we welcomed four-time champion Jeff Richgels and his Turbo 2-N-1 teammates. They always are contenders and very exciting to watch. For that reason, they made a second-consecutive appearance on our live streaming schedule, and they didn't disappoint.

Although they got off to a slow start, as they did in 2010, their experience and strategy helped them to an amazing finish. They rolled a 1,281 game, the highest in 108 years of Open Championships competition and snuck into the top spot in Regular Team with a 3,473 total, the highest team effort in seven visits to the Stadium.

While there were thousands of viewers for the broadcast, it was pretty late on the East Coast, and a lot of people decided to go to bed after two games since it had been pretty uneventful. Those who checked out missed a piece of tournament history, but luckily, they can revisit it at www.ustream.tv/usbc.

On a quick side note, I received word today that our broadcast of defending Regular All-Events champion Matt McNiel has been viewed more than 12,000 times, which is our most-viewed archived video. So, I'd like to extend a special thank you to all who have tuned in.

Now back to business. One person who got to see Turbo 2-N-1's performance in person was our former colleague, Aaron Smith, who bowled on the same squad, but got done in time to see the last few frames of the record game. Mr. Smith is a student of the game and definitely appreciates the history and tradition of USBC and its events. He recently left the organization for a different career path, but being on-site this weekend reminded him that there's nothing like being part of our championship events. Hopefully, he'll be able to rejoin the team in the future.

During the excitement, we had a few entertaining guests on the live stream, including Mike Flanagan from InsideBowling.com (who owes me a milkshake), while two of my own teammates stopped by to check out the Stadium in preparation of their tournament debuts. It was good to see them, and it made me excited for the chance to finally get my own nine games in.

The rest of my team arrived Saturday, and we tried to get a few games in on the tournament pattern at a local bowling center. Unfortunately, that didn't pan out, which made me extra nervous. My success the last few years seemed dependent on putting in the work on something more challenging than a house shot.

I definitely felt unprepared heading into our team event Sunday, but I knew what I wanted to do based on what I've seen so far. I also set a few goals for myself.

First, I am on a lifelong quest to make up for an awful start to my career and get my tournament average back up over 200. It wasn't until I started working here that I understood the prestige of the event and the honor that comes with success here. Now, I'm trying to make up for lost time.

I walked down Center Aisle knowing which ball I wanted to throw (Ebonite Gamebreaker, 500 Abralon), and where I wanted to throw it (pretty direct, around 6-8 at the arrows). Then, it was just a matter of executing.

I immediately was in the pocket, but couldn't get the corners out. I felt comfortable and confident, but it was frustrating. I left three 7 pins, a 6-7 split and a 10 pin in the first game for 169 and found myself in a huge hole. I'd set 1,888 as my target all-events score, but for some reason, I didn't panic.

I finished team with the Gamebreaker on the left lane and a Vital Sign on the right lane and put up games of 230 and 248 for a 647 series, my best team event yet. We shot 2,988, and although we were 12 pins short of the 3,000 I've always wanted, it was more fun than I can remember having in the past, and things really seemed to click with the three newcomers to our team.

I was confident heading into doubles and singles, and I knew my target score was attainable. I've also had my sights set on a 1,300 doubles total.

I started with the Gamebreaker and never second guessed that choice as I shot 236, 237 and 199 for a 672 set, my best doubles series at the Open Championships. We shot 1,286, one bad 10th frame from achieving another goal, but respectable, nonetheless. I did see some transition at the end of doubles, which made me question my ball choice heading onto our singles pair.

I stayed with the same ball and started with a clean 225 game. In Game 2, whether it was transition or bad shots, I struggled and made a ball change....and then another. I finished with a disappointing 182 and found myself scratching my head going into the finale. I decided to go back to the original Gamebreaker, and that was the right choice. Actually, I never should've panicked and switched at all, but it was too late. I closed with 217 for a 624 series and a 1,943 all-events total, also a career high.

Overall, it was a terrific experience, and it was nice to take off my tie and relax for a couple of days. It also was nice to see everyone again. When it was over, I knew I was another 143 pins in the plus, and now, I'm looking forward to next year. We've got one solid team, and I'm exploring the possibility of adding a second. Stay tuned.

My relaxation was short-lived, however. Just minutes before I hit the lanes for doubles and singles, Brett Wolfe found yet another way to show me up as he shot 300 in his first game of singles. Last year, as I put on my bowling shoes, he shot 2,245 on the way to a second-place all-events finish. Kudos to Brett, but come on, sir, share the wealth. It's not like I asked to borrow your Blue Hammer. I just wanted to borrow some of your strikes.

While I did go home to spend time with my friends, I knew I had a story to work on when I returned to work Tuesday. I had no idea that by the time I went to bed, there would be THREE more 300s. Needless to say, I had quite a pile of paperwork to sort through when I got into the office. And that didn't even count the news from the Women's Championships in Syracuse, N.Y.

Regardless, it's back to business for me now, and another year is in the books. I've got my tie on, and I'm ready for the next Open Championships superstar to emerge. Perhaps it will be Emil Williams Jr., who hits the lanes on June 2 and 3. Mr. Williams, I've set the bar, but I'm expecting at least 1,975 out of you. Good luck, sir.

We've got a little more than a month left until the tournament concludes on July 3, and a lot of great bowlers are expected to come through. As I type this, it's a who's who of the PBA Senior Tour on the lanes right now, along with Mr. 300, Bob Learn Jr., and one of my favorite coaches, Lou Marquez from Turbo headquarters in Michigan. (*Note: Bob Chamberlain Sr. went on to shoot 300 in singles, while Learn got close, closing with 279).

I also got a visit from Bo Goergen and Dan MacLelland this afternoon. They're in town to put their Team All-Events title on the line Saturday and Sunday, while Goergen looks to become the second bowler in history to win titles in three consecutive years. It should be exciting to watch, and you can see their team event live on BOWL.com on Saturday (May 28) at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

Whew. What a week.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.


5/7/11
The Countdown

Hello everyone.

We just reached the halfway point of the 2011 USBC Open Championships. The 122-day event kicked off March 4 and will run daily until July 3.

So far, we've definitely seen a good amount of excitement from high scores to honor scores to tournament milestones.

Entering this year, only two teams had eclipsed the 3,400 mark in six trips to the National Bowling Stadium, and so far, four teams have topped that number in 2011. We've seen 23 perfect games and 10 800 series, and we've celebrated 50 years with 10 of the 14 bowlers scheduled to reach the milestone this year. USBC Hall of Famer Glenn Allison marched his way into the elite 60-Year Club, too.

This year's live-streaming efforts also have produced some excitement for thousands of online viewers. Early on, we, along with more than 9,000 viewers, saw Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe help her team into the Team All-Events lead (they're now third).

Then, defending Regular All-Events champion Matt McNiel rolled a 300 game en route to an 822 doubles series and nearly found his way back to the top of the Regular All-Events standings. Although he fell short, he did lead his team to a brief stay in the Team All-Events lead (they're now second).

And most recently, Luke Voaklander bounced back from a rough start in team and closed with his own 300 live on BOWL.com. Though his doubles and singles efforts were not broadcast live, he also helped his team, Linds Lakers 1 of Minneapolis, into the top spot in Team All-Events, and they're still there with a 10,076 total.

I'll admit that I was pretty tentative about the addition of live streaming to our responsibilities at the Open Championships, not because we have too much to do, but because I started it with zero experience and a bag full of equipment that was unfamiliar to me.

Last year, we did 10 broadcasts from the National Bowling Stadium and created a buzz. People enjoyed the chance to see what the top players were doing to succeed on the tournament lanes, and we were happy to provide that opportunity.

Before this year's tournament, we upgraded our equipment and software and decided to increase our coverage from 10 broadcasts to 15. Emil Williams Jr. has taken on a bigger role, and his broadcasting background has helped increase the quality of the broadcasts now that we have two headsets and two microphones.

Personally, I'm trying to be a little less intimidated by technology, and I'm learning to be more open to new things.

Here's a few more things I've learned during the 2011 Open Championships:

- With a different lane condition each year, sometimes the scores are going to be higher, and sometimes, they are going to be lower. In recent years, we've seen higher winning scores (2009) and lower winning scores (2005), but the field average has remained consistent. Part of my personal enjoyment here is seeing a different challenging condition each year to test my skills.

- Sometimes, there will be a lot of honor scores, and sometimes, they will be harder to come by. Regardless, the bowlers who succeed will be the ones who worked hard to prepare, threw quality shots while they were here and made their spares. And no matter who it is, I'm excited to be able to tell their stories. As my good friend John Gaines says, you didn't succeed at the Open Championships unless you got your picture taken. Well, we'll be here when you get here, camera in hand.

- Reno is delicious. A hand roll from Kokopelli's can make any day better. Crab legs at the Atlantis are even tastier when they're free (thanks, Dana). And Aaron Smith was right, how could I forget about French Fry Friday at Rail City. They have 10 different cuts of fries and 16 dipping sauces, and you can get a half order for just $1 on Fridays. The fries go perfectly with a 99-cent Bloody Mary or a yard of beer. Of course, today is Saturday.

- I knew there was a reason I never liked spaghetti growing up. It is messy and relatively unsatisfying, even with promises of all-you-can-eat adventures. Luckily, there's a nearly-endless variety of pasta shapes out there to help me appreciate my Italian heritage again.

- Watching people succeed at the Open Championships for 75 days won't necessarily help me throw the ball any better when it's my turn to compete. I will be out there two weeks from tomorrow, hoping to improve on last year's 1,801 all-events total. The lowest number I'll accept (randomly selected) is 1,888. My arsenal currently is being prepared, and I intend to get some practice in next week.

- Syracuse is really far away, but my two trips were worth it. I got to see a city that is really excited about hosting the USBC Women's Championships, and I got to see some great bowling at that event as well as the USBC Queens and Senior Queens. Congrats to Missy Parkin and Paula Vidad. And yes, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is as good as advertised, but the pizza around town wasn't quite the New York pizza I remember from my childhood. Unfortunately, Tom Clark (from the PBA) told me where to find the best slice in town, and I never made it there.

- Being a team captain is hard work. Organizing things for this year and looking ahead to 2012 have really helped me appreciate the work the captains do to keep the bowlers coming to the tournament each year. I have two teams this year, and we're looking to add two more for next year. My hat is off to the captains and group coordinators who bring dozens of teams. Thank you all for your efforts and for keeping the bowlers on the lanes.

I guess that about covers it for this week. It's time to go prepare for today's live stream broadcast of defending Regular Doubles champions John Kreyer Jr. and Steve Bohn. I've had the chance to get to know them both over the years, and they're definitely cool guys, and very deserving of the eagles they earned last year. And that is legitimate respect, not lefty bias.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.
 

4/23/11
Why Reno?

Hello everyone.

I usually take this opportunity to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the USBC Open Championships and share a little bit about what's happening on the tournament lanes.

This week, however, I think I'll share some personal insight and address the most frequently asked question this year- "Why do we keep coming back to Reno?"

First, the answer: Reno really stepped up in offering to host the 2011 Open Championships after Wichita, Kan., fell through and the bowling center project for Florida was delayed because the company slated to build it was unable to secure the necessary funds.

Reno is a great host, understands the bowlers and their needs and everything is close enough to walk to. It's a very convenient set-up, and there's plenty to keep the bowlers entertained.

As far as 2013 (and 2014), that will mark the first time in history the Open and Women's Championships will be held in the same city in the same year.

The first benefit of that happening is that it will give the women the chance to bowl in both tournaments in one trip, instead of potentially having to pick one tournament over the other or take two expensive trips.

Next, it leaves the door open for some exciting mixed side events.

Finally, not having to build lanes in 2014 is a huge plus. Let me explain. In those two years, the women's championships will be held at the Reno Sparks Convention Center across town near the Atlantis.

We will build the lanes for the 2013 event and not have to tear them out until after the 2014 tournament, which leaves the possibility for other tournaments to be held there from July-March. Stay tuned.

Now, let me talk about the rumor that some bowlers are tired of coming to Reno because it's the same old thing.

As someone who lives at the tournament site for six months, I, too, enjoy seeing new places and cultures, but I also enjoy Reno. This is my third time living here, and there's always something to see and do. I don't believe it would be possible for me to get bored here or run out of things to do, so I know it's not possible for that to happen during a three-day trip.

The tournament experience really is what you make of it. For some folks, it is about the vacation and new places and reuniting with friends. But for some, it's about competing in the national tournament. It's exciting to have a stage for a national event each year. The fact that it has been held 48 cities in 26 states over its 108-year history is just a bonus for those who like to travel.

So what do I make of my six months here? While I have my favorite restaurants and hangouts, I also enjoy trying new places. This year, we, we decided to live on the other side of town (Sparks), so there's a whole new perspective and new things to see.

Here's a few of my favorite places to frequent in Reno:

- For sushi: Kokopelli's at Circus Circus; Sushi Club; Ichiban at Harrah's; Sushi Time in Sparks

- For pizza: Nu Yalk Pizza on Kietzke Lane; Brew Brothers at the Eldorado

- For burgers: In-N-Out Burger; The Awful Awful at The Nugget (downtown)

- Other delicious food: Cantina Los Tres Hombres for Taco Tuesday;  Legends Grill, Sports and Spirits for all-you-can eat wings (Wednesday); Atlantis buffet (Friday night for seafood); Eldorado buffet (anytime); Cal Neva for hot dogs and beer; Port O' Subs; Men Wielding Fire (barbecue in downtown Reno); Pinups Pub (ground floor of the Stadium- cash only)

- For drinks: Silver Baron Lounge at Silver Legacy; Rum Bullion's at Silver Legacy (dueling pianos on Friday and Saturday)

- For bowling: Grand Sierra (location for the Bowlers Journal Championships); High Sierra (they'll put out the tournament pattern to practice on); AMF Starlite (home of The Forty Frame Game this year); Coconut Bowl in Sparks

- For shopping: Legends at Sparks Marina; Meadowood Mall

- For gambling: any of the tri-props (Eldorado, Silver Legacy, Circus Circus); Cal Neva (for $3 blackjack); Western Village in Sparks ($2 blackjack)

- For working out: 24-Hour Fitness on Neil Road or Sky Mountain Drive

- For a really awesome time and great scenery anytime of year: Lake Tahoe

- For something new: Carson City

Despite spending about a year and a half of my life here, there are still a lot of things I'd do if I had more time.

I've never been to Virginia City. I've never driven to California to see Sacramento or San Francisco, which only are a couple of hours away. There are restaurants and bars in places I don't go often and should try. There are plenty of shows in town and always new ones coming in. There's a thrill park and driving range at Grand Sierra. There's a water park attached to Coconut Bowl. There's kayaking and other activities to enjoy in Tahoe. I've never been to a Reno Aces game. Or a Reno Bighorns game. And I heard a rumor that there will be indoor football soon. I've also never been to a concert or show at the Reno Events Center.

Wow, I guess I need to get busy on a day off to-do list. And I can't wait to hit the beach in Tahoe again.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.
 

4/4/11
Coast to Coast

Hello everyone. And happy birthday to Kristin Warzinski back at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas.

It appears that it's been a while since I've checked in. Time certainly does fly once the bowlers come to town.

To be honest, I occasionally have to ask someone what day it is, since there's ultimately only two days that matter here- Opening Day (Friday, March 4) and the last day of competition (July 3). As far as keeping track in between, we just keep showing up at the same time every day until we get there and there aren't any more bowlers.

Things are running smoothly at the 2011 USBC Open Championships overall, and I'm enjoying being back in Reno. It's nice to see some familiar faces and visit some of the places I've grown to enjoy during my time here. And now that we're living in Sparks, instead of the south side of Reno, there are plenty of new places for me to explore.

I've also grown comfortable with the 78-lane set-up at the National Bowling Stadium, and my office here is more like home than my desk at the IBC. I just wish it was a little warmer in here.

Speaking of the Stadium, for those of you who don't already know, the bus station has officially moved to BEHIND the Stadium, so the walk to the hotels is a little less eventful. And there's also a tasty new barbecue restaurant just a few blocks away called Men Wielding Fire. Enjoy.
 

In other news, as I may have mentioned before, I inherited control of the media relations responsibilities for the USBC Women's Championships a couple of years ago, and I recently took a trip to Syracuse, N.Y., to help get things kick off there.

I'll admit, it was difficult for me to leave the helm in Reno, but Emil and David handled everything well. I'll definitely be less concerned the next time I have to leave, which will be for the USBC Queens in a couple of weeks.

This year's Women's Championships is being held at Syracuse's Oncenter Convention Center, which looks great. Greg Moore did an excellent job overseeing the construction of the 48-lane venue, and Brock Kowalsky did an equally great job with the look and feel of the place, which includes the masking units and signage.

In my nine days there, I helped get the media relations office set up, and then my associates (Wendy Clem and Fran Piraino) and I went around the city visiting each TV station and newspaper to further explain what the tournament is about and what it means to the city.

We also handed out souvenirs and invitations to our press conference on March 29. That is where we officially unveiled the venue to the media and sponsors and let them look around before the bowlers come to town. The tournament will run from April 7 until July 3.

The city and media are very excited about the event. At one point, on a random day, there were two TV stations, a photographer, a newspaper reporter and some film students fighting for tournament manager Eric Pierson's attention. It was great, even the day we had to get there at 4:30 a.m. because the local morning show wanted to go live from the lanes from 5-7 a.m.

The downtown Syracuse area is nice in general, though the closest hotels are probably a little farther than the bowlers would want to walk. I was lucky enough to have a few generous co-workers shuttle me around, along with Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications Manager Danica Bryant, who was a gracious host and took me to a couple of the local hot spots.

I even got to watch Wendy eat lunch with a bib on.

For now, I'm back in Reno handling the day-to-day business, which includes a 300 game that happened about 10 minutes ago. It was just the eighth of the year, despite a lot of close calls. Yesterday alone on the 9:20 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. squads, 14 bowlers started games with seven strikes. I hope I am one of them, too.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.
 

 

3/12/11
One week in the books

Hello everyone.

Eight days ago, we kicked things off at the 2011 USBC Open Championships. The time since the first pin fell has been a whirlwind as we try to get comfortable with the scoring pace and our responsibilities in the media relations department.

We did our first live streaming broadcast with some new equipment and software, we had our first 800 series, we submitted our first few online videos, we've written 13 stories for BOWL.com, we've welcomed the first two of 14 50-year bowlers and we've given away a bowling ball a day to lucky team captains! That's a lot for eight days, and I can't wait to see what the next 114 days will bring.

A week from Monday, my role will expand again, and my overseeing of the media operation at the USBC Women's Championships will become a hands-on experience. I will take the two-stop, 10-plus-hour trip to Syracuse so I can start spreading the bowling joy.

So far, Syracuse has been very receptive to the event and the 30,000+ bowlers who will be heading that way soon (April 7-July 3). Since they hosted the Open Championships in 1999, they understand the magnitude of the tournaments and what they mean to the community and economy. The media folks also have been great and are very excited to see the transformation of the convention center into a 48-lane bowling stadium.

I, too, look forward to seeing what the venue looks like, as I have only seen the set-up for the Open Championships. I know things will be a little different for the women, and besides being at the USBC Queens a couple of times, my only experience with the day-to-day show at the Women's Championships has been from afar.

I am also excited about going back to New York (my birth state) for the first time since 2003, and I hope the trip allows a few minutes for looking around a little bit.

Anyway, back to business in Reno.

I recently posted a list of notable bowlers on BOWL.com, so bowling fans will know when they're coming to town. But keep in mind, that we have more than 63,000 OTHER bowlers looking to make headlines at the National Bowling Stadium. Obviously, all of the bowlers on the notable list once were among the masses, so I can't wait to meet the next newcomer to next year's list, if that makes sense.

For now, I think I will go check out the new restaurant on the ground floor of the Stadium, called Pinups Pub. And then I'll get ready for tonight's big presentation. We will be giving away the first of four trucks to another lucky team captain! Without our captains, I'd likely still be taking box scores at the local newspaper.

Remember to check BOWL.com often for all of the exciting news and scores from this year's Open and Women's Championships. You'll also be able to see the daily prize winners from the Open Championships as well as the upcoming live streaming schedule.

Enjoy.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.


3/3/11
Hello, Reno

Hello everyone.

It's hard to believe that it has been eight months since the end of the 2010 USBC Open Championships. While, so much happened in that time, I'm currently sitting right back in the same spot, albeit 50 pounds lighter, feeling eerily like I never left. Don't get me wrong, though, there's no place I'd rather be, and I'm looking forward to another great tournament.

Since returning to Texas last summer, I've been busy doing all of the fun things most people do year-round. I made improvements to my house, drilled new bowling balls and bowled in a number of tournaments, traveled recreationally, went to the beach, met new people, went to Rangers games, had lunch with friends, hit the driving range, went to the gym, bought a personal computer and relaxed after a productive run in Reno.

But before I knew it, even with almost three extra weeks sitting next to my good buddy Terry Bigham at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, it was time to pack up the car and head west.

As I left HQ for the last time (until next time, not ever), well wishers had a few simple words of advice for me: Rest stops and parking-lot naps are not OK. Stay in a hotel. Enjoy the opportunity to see the country.

I guess I have developed a bit of a reputation over the years because I'm usually in such a hurry to get where I'm going that stopping for the night seems over-rated. I'm usually excited about seeing everyone and getting settled. With a car full of stuff and the dog, I usually only stop when necessary and survive on a diet of Low-Carb Monster and almonds.

This year, standing between me and Reno was 1,700+ miles of varying terrain and Mother Nature, and luckily, gas prices didn't start going up 10 cents a day until I already was safely in Reno.

I'll spare everyone the details of my being stranded in a blizzard in Williams, Ariz., (blizzard as defined by a Florida boy) or how there was a three-hour stretch where it was so scary I almost squeezed through the steering wheel. I won't even mention my night at the Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nev., one of the few cities between Las Vegas and Reno.

What's important is that I'm here, and we're days away from the start of the 2011 Open Championships. Emil Williams Jr. also is back for another year and is excited to continue learning. Every day is a quiz for him. I want to make sure he's prepared so he can step in as my replacement some day. Or at least keep me in line for now.

I will be spending some time in Syracuse, N.Y., for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships and USBC Queens/Senior Queens, so Emil will be handling some additional day-to-day responsibilities in Reno. To help, we've enlisted the skills of world-famous bowling writer David Prange, who also will spend time working in Tournament Services.

Our coverage of the 2011 event will be similar to last year, with a few enhancements. We will be adding more live stream broadcasts, and the Event Guide and tournament program will be available online for the first time.

I encourage everyone to check BOWL.com often for the latest news and scores from the Open and Women's Championships.

As a final note, some people might have noticed I am no longer chatting on the BOWL.com message boards. The reason is because last year, the USBC communications team decided the message boards should be for member discussion and not a place for staff to answer questions. You can read the official policy on this at the top of the boards. I am, however, still available on-site or by e-mail if anyone has a question specifically for me. You can write me anytime at matt.cannizzaro@bowl.com.

That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.