Bill Vint
Professional Bowlers Association

Some of the greatest television finals in recent Professional Bowlers Association history, including Jason Belmonte’s unprecedented third straight USBC Masters win and Pete Weber’s unforgettable “Who do you think you are?” U.S. Open victory in 2012, are part of a new series of telecasts that will reside as “PBA Modern Classics” on the PBA’s YouTube channel.

The “PBA Modern Classics” series on the PBA’s YouTube channel will consist of memorable PBA telecasts from the PBA’s recent archive and is the latest initiative of the PBA Network, the comprehensive multi-media network developed by the PBA to serve the bowling industry, fans, news media and PBA members around the world.

“The PBA Modern Classics collection on our YouTube PBA Bowling channel will allow our fans to watch some of the greatest moments in bowling that they may have missed when they originally aired or will allow them to enjoy these great telecasts all over again at their own convenience,” PBA VP-Media Dave Schroeder said.

PBA fans are invited to visit YouTube and subscribe – at no cost – to the PBA Bowling channel (“PBABowling”) where the PBA Modern Classics collection will reside: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwuUW8zaol88yWoNbytvj286cU8TajCgg. Finals that are currently available, or coming soon, include:

2015 United States Bowling Congress Masters (available now)

Australia’s two-handed star Jason Belmonte became the second player ever to win this event three times, and the first to do it in consecutive years, in Green Bay, Wis. Belmonte defeated amateur collegiate star A.J. Johnson for the title after defeating PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber in a controversial semifinal match. Also competing in the finals were Mike DeVaney and Sweden’s Martin Larsen.

2012 U.S. Open (available now)

PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber’s historic victory at Brunswick Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., launched his “Who do you think you are? I am,” phrase. Weber threw clutch strikes against Mike Fagan in the title match, Jason Belmonte in the semifinal and Ryan Shafer in the first match on his way to a record fifth U.S. Open title.

2011 PBA Tournament of Champions (available now)

The first $1 million tournament in PBA history featured Mika Koivuniemi’s $250,000 victory over Tom Smallwood in the title match, and a memorable 299-100 victory over Tom Daugherty in the semifinal match. The finals at Red Rock Bowling Center in Las Vegas also included Colombia’s Andres Gomez.

2009 GEICO PBA Plastic Ball Championship (available Friday, June 5)

The PBA challenged the world’s best bowlers to use throwback-technology plastic bowling balls in a unique event at Brunswick Zone-Wheat Ridge, Colo., where Jeff Carter of Springfield, Ill., won his first PBA Tour title in a battle against his boyhood idol, Pete Weber. The telecast also featured former PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes and rising star Mike Fagan.

2010 One A Day Dick Weber Open (available Friday, June 12)

Mike Fagan ended his eight-year quest for his first PBA Tour title, defeating all-time PBA Tour titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. for the title at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif. Pete Weber, Bill O’Neill and Ryan Shafer also bowled in a telecast that featured well-known sports television personality Bill Simmons joining announcers Rob Stone and Randy Pedersen in providing commentary about the event.

2010 PBA Tournament of Champions (available Friday, June 19)

The telecast many PBA fans rank as the most memorable in PBA history featured Kelly Kulick’s historic victories over Mike Koivuniemi in the semifinal match and Chris Barnes in the title match to become the first woman ever to win a major sports championship not involving a race car or race horse. The TOC finals at Red Rock Bowling Center in Las Vegas also included Rhino Page.

Additional classic telecasts will be announced as they are added to the PBA Modern Classics collection.

The PBA channel on YouTube has already attracted nearly 15 million views and tens of thousands of subscribers from around the world to watch archived television finals, otherwise-unavailable player interviews and features, and more.