On the Lanes with Joe Bowler
February 23, 2010
In the coming months, we'll talk with some of the best-known bowlers at the USBC Open Championships and get their thoughts on their time at the tournament and what it takes to succeed on the championship lanes.
This week, we heard from Ted Thomas, who earned the title of "Joe Bowler" at the 2010 Open Championships.
Each year since 1951, one bowler from the tournament's opening squad has been randomly selected to fill the role of Joe Bowler. The honoree is dressed in the traditional crown and cape and throws out the event's official first ball. This year, Thomas, a 53-year-old right-hander, rolled a nine-count to open the 2010 tournament.
When he's not on the lanes, Thomas is either playing golf or working at A-Z Kitchen & Bath Center, Inc., which he has owned and operated since 1985.
HOMETOWN: Lafayette, Colo.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: 3
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: 0
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 15
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: Hammer
ONE all-time favorite host city: Reno
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. being selected as Joe Bowler; 2. the nightlife of Las Vegas.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. being able to adjust from normal conditions to tougher conditions; 2. staying focused; 3. staying balanced at the foul line
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: The poor bowling and lack of focus.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Johnny Petraglia, Dick Weber, Pete Weber, Don Carter and Kelly Kulick
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Just three- Black Widow Pearl, Black Widow and Pearl Hammer.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Las Vegas, Orlando, Palm Springs, San Diego, Phoenix, Tampa and Miami
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Black Beauty, Columbia White Dot, Columbia Red Dot, Columbia Yellow Dot, Black Hammer, Pearl Hammer, Hammer Black Widow Pearl and Brunswick Zone
NINE other bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: My mother, Bob Hart, Jimmy Schroeder, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Don Carter, Johnny Petraglia, Dick Weber, Kelly Kulick and Pete Weber.
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: Dick Weber
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Focus on getting the 12th strike.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: I would love to win any championship within the USBC Open Championships tournament and continuing to have fun.
This week, we heard from Ted Thomas, who earned the title of "Joe Bowler" at the 2010 Open Championships.
Each year since 1951, one bowler from the tournament's opening squad has been randomly selected to fill the role of Joe Bowler. The honoree is dressed in the traditional crown and cape and throws out the event's official first ball. This year, Thomas, a 53-year-old right-hander, rolled a nine-count to open the 2010 tournament.
When he's not on the lanes, Thomas is either playing golf or working at A-Z Kitchen & Bath Center, Inc., which he has owned and operated since 1985.
HOMETOWN: Lafayette, Colo.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: 3
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: 0
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 15
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: Hammer
ONE all-time favorite host city: Reno
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. being selected as Joe Bowler; 2. the nightlife of Las Vegas.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. being able to adjust from normal conditions to tougher conditions; 2. staying focused; 3. staying balanced at the foul line
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: The poor bowling and lack of focus.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Johnny Petraglia, Dick Weber, Pete Weber, Don Carter and Kelly Kulick
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Just three- Black Widow Pearl, Black Widow and Pearl Hammer.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Las Vegas, Orlando, Palm Springs, San Diego, Phoenix, Tampa and Miami
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Black Beauty, Columbia White Dot, Columbia Red Dot, Columbia Yellow Dot, Black Hammer, Pearl Hammer, Hammer Black Widow Pearl and Brunswick Zone
NINE other bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: My mother, Bob Hart, Jimmy Schroeder, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Don Carter, Johnny Petraglia, Dick Weber, Kelly Kulick and Pete Weber.
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: Dick Weber
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Focus on getting the 12th strike.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: I would love to win any championship within the USBC Open Championships tournament and continuing to have fun.