Peter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, [5] (born August 21, 1962 in St. Ann, Missouri), is a bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is known for his maverick, rebellious personality. Weber is also featured in the ten-pin bowling sports documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.

Growing up[link]

Pete Weber grew up in Florissant, Missouri, and, as the son of bowler Dick Weber, was introduced to the sport at the age of two. At the age of 15, Weber was already winning local bowling tournaments against adult players, and, with the help of his father, was able to join the PBA tour at the age of 17 (the former policy required a minimum age of 18). In 1979, Weber started his first year on the professional circuit and participated in 21 tour events, including making one TV appearance. Weber won Rookie of the Year honors in 1980. By 1982, he had won his first PBA title, winning two that season. By the time he was 24 years old, he had already reached the 10-title plateau (becoming the youngest player in PBA history to reach that mark).^[1] At age 26, he won the PBA National Championship, giving him all three jewels of the PBA's "triple crown" (achieved by winning the U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions and PBA National Championship).

Controversy[link]

Despite Weber's talent, he was not popular with his bowling peers and was even denied Player of the Year honors in 1987 despite winning the Tournament of Champions and leading the tour in earnings; the award was instead given to Marshall Holman.^[2] By 1989, Weber had won 13 PBA Tour titles and had reached over $1 million (USD) in earnings, but his personal life was plagued with problems. By the mid-1990s, Weber had been through two divorces and suffered from alcoholism.^[3] At the same time, the PBA tour itself was in decline.

In 2000, the PBA Tour was sold to three former Microsoft executives; Weber was not on the tour during this transitional phase, as he was still serving a six-month suspension given by the former PBA leadership in 1999 due to behavior related to his drinking problem. The new tour ownership saw Weber's flashiness as a potential tool for marketing the PBA to a new audience. By the 2001-02 season, Weber had his career back on track, winning three titles in all. On December 4, 2005, Weber overcame a year of trying times both personally and professionally by clinching what was, perhaps, the most emotional title of his career at the 2005 Bowlersparadise.com Classic at Stardust Bowl in Hammond, Indiana. This marked the first television appearance for Pete Weber in 666 days, and it was his first title after the death of his father on February 13, 2005. Pete honored his father after the victory by looking into the ESPN cameras and pointing at the "DW" patch on his sleeve.

Weber's attitude on television has given him a reputation as an "action bowler" which some critics view as unsportsmanlike.^[4] During the 2010 Dick Weber Open he became furious over the sound a photographer's camera made while he was bowling. In the finals of the 2012 U.S. Open, he repeatedly confronted an audience member whom he believed was intentionally distracting him on his shots. He eventually won the 2012 event, his unprecedented fifth U.S. Open title, getting a strike on the final ball of the tenth frame to defeat Michael Fagan by one pin. Weber exploded in a burst of rage and excitement: "Yes! God damn it! Yes! That is why I did it! I'm number five... are you kidding me? That's right! Who do you think you are? I am! Dammit right!" The video of Weber's reaction to his win became a viral internet video.^[5]

After time to cool down, Weber was more humble in his post-tournament interview, stating that although he had just surpassed his father and Don Carter in career U.S. Open titles, "I'll never say I'm better than them. They paved the way for us to be here. It was an honor and a privilege to join them when I won my fourth U.S. Open, and it's even more of an honor to be the first one to win five."^[6]

Achievements[link]

Overall, Weber has won 36 PBA Tour events, including nine major titles. His 36th tour win on February 26, 2012 came at age 49 in the 69th U.S. Open. He defeated Michael Fagan by one pin (215-214) by rolling a strike on his last ball of the 10th frame. He is the oldest bowler to win a U.S. Open title.^[7] He is fourth on the all-time PBA Tour titles list, behind only Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (47), Earl Anthony (43) and Norm Duke (37). Weber's 35th Tour win at the end of the 2009-10 season ensured Walter Ray Williams Jr. of his record 7th Player of the Year award, as well as making Williams (then age 50) the oldest ever to win it. Had Weber lost in the final match against Mike Scroggins, then Scroggins would have been named Player of the Year.^[8]

Pete's nine majors place him second all-time to the legendary Earl Anthony, who has ten. Weber has rolled 64 perfect 300 games in PBA competition through the 2010-11 season. His five U.S. Open titles are the most of any bowler in PBA history.^[9] Weber is one of six PBA players to have earned the career Triple Crown. If he wins one more Tournament of Champions title, he'll become the first bowler to win all three jewels of the Triple Crown at least twice in a career.

Pete Weber claimed his first career European Bowling Tour title in 2008, in the 30th Trofeu Internacional, July 22–27, 2008, Ciutat de Barcelona at Bowling Pedralbes in Barcelona, Spain.

Pete joined his father in the PBA Hall of Fame in 1998, and he became a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 2002. His career PBA Tour earnings of over $3.3 million (through the 2010-11 season) place him second all-time, behind only all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams, Jr. Weber, Williams and Norm Duke are the only PBA bowlers to have topped the $3 million mark in career earnings. Weber is also second to Williams in career TV appearances (123) and TV match wins (111). Pete owns 46 PBA Regional titles, the most all-time.^[10]

Pete was ranked 4th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years," one place behind his father.

On ESPN's Cold Pizza he mentioned that he has made the 7-10 split four times in his career. He also noted that he is a near-scratch golfer and has six career holes-in-one.

Defeats[link]

Pete Weber was the victim in two momentous victories by Walter Ray Williams, Jr. Williams defeated Weber, 236-213, on March 26, 2006, in the title match of the PBA World Championship to tie Earl Anthony's original all time tour titles record of 41.

Williams also defeated Weber, 289-236, on September 24, 2006, in the title match of the Dydo Japan Cup to break Anthony's all-time tour titles record and establish the all-time mark of 42 titles.

Bowling Style and Personal Information[link]

• His style is a power stroker, which combines the high backswing and rev rate of a cranker with the smooth timing of a stroker. Compared to other bowlers of this style his ball speed is slower but gets a large amount of side roll into the ball.
• He wears sunglasses while bowling on television to reduce the glare of the TV lights. He also wears a golf glove on his bowling hand.
• When he gets a strike, he sometimes does the D Generation-X crotch chop.
• Pete's bowling idol growing up was not his father, but Mark Roth, one of the game's original power players who inspired Pete to hook the ball much more than his father ever did.
• Pete dropped out of high school in the 10th grade, opting to work behind the pins at a local bowling center and refine his game during time off. He got his General Equivalency Degree (GED) at age 17, just prior to joining the PBA Tour.
• He has been married to third wife, Tracy, since 1997. They have three children together.
• Weber has many superstitions when bowling, including: sitting in the same spot the same way when bowling well, not having his wife Tracy wear red on TV, and folding his towel the same way.
• Weber's most embarrassing moment came on national television on April 13, 1991. As Pete explained to Sports Illustrated on November 7, 2006, "After I won the 1991 [BPAA] U.S. Open, I went to lift the trophy over my head. The eagle toppled down and busted into a million pieces. People came up and grabbed pieces to take home."
• He likes to follow all the St. Louis professional sports teams: Cardinals, Rams, and Blues.
• In an interview after winning his first title of the 2001 season (Great Lakes Classic), he addressed the bowling world with the statement: "I want you to take a look, I'm back and I am P.D.W." During the telecast, Weber shot 299, leaving a 4-pin on the 12th ball after eleven straight strikes.
• He has written on BowlSpace, the social networking site for bowlers, that he is a big wrestling fan, particularly of the WWE. His favorite wrestler is Triple H, and when Weber gets spares and strikes on TV "The Game" by Motörhead (Triple H's entrance music) plays through the speakers. Weber's nickname "PDW" is a take on Rob Van Dam's nickname "RVD", and Weber often points to himself with his thumbs in the same manner of Van Dam.

External links[link]

• PBA Tour - Pete Weber biography page
• USA Today article - "Pete Weber's resurgence has PBA on edge" (03-01-2002)
• USA Today article - "Brash, raunchy Weber is just what bowling needs" (02-12-2002) in

References[link]

1. ^ Storm Staff Bowler bios at www.stormbowling.com
2. ^ Marshall Holman Hall of Fame bio at www.pba.com, official website of the Professional Bowlers Association and Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour
3. ^ Clark, Tom. "Pete Weber's resurgence has PBA on edge." Article at www.usatoday.com, March 1, 2002.
4. ^ Holt, Jack. "Is Pete Weber Bad for Bowling? A Fan’s Opinion". Yahoo Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-11028230. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
5. ^ Newcomb, Tim. "A Bowler’s Exuberant Win Goes Viral — And for Good Reason Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/02/28/a-bowlers-exuberant-win-goes-viral-and-for-good-reason/#ixzz1t6ecHm7l". Times. http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/02/28/a-bowlers-exuberant-win-goes-viral-and-for-good-reason/. Retrieved 26 April 2012. 
6. ^ "St. Louis bowler Pete Weber wins record 5th U.S. Open." Article at STLtoday.com on February 27, 2012. [1]
7. ^ Vint, Bill. "Pete Weber Wins Record Fifth U.S. Open to Surpass Father Dick Weber and Don Carter." Article at www.pba.com on February 26, 2012. [2]
8. ^ Vint, Bill. "Weber Re-Writes PBA History with Marathon Open Victory, Hands Williams Player of the Year Title." Article at www.pba.com on April 4, 2010.
9. ^ Vint, Bill. "Pete Weber Wins Record Fifth U.S. Open to Surpass Father Dick Weber and Don Carter." Article at www.pba.com on February 26, 2012. [3]
10. ^ Vint, Bill. "Weber Continues Mastery in Illinois Valley Classic, Wins Record 46th PBA Regional Title." Article at www.pba.com on July 27, 2011. [4]

Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (born October 6, 1959 in Eureka, California) is a professional bowler. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles (47) and total PBA earnings (over $4.3 million through the 2010-11 season).^[1] He won at least one PBA Tour title in 17 consecutive seasons (1993 through 2009-10), which is also a record. He starred in the ten-pin bowling sports documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen. He is also a nine-time world champion^[2] in the game of horseshoes (3 junior titles and 6 men's titles).^[3]

Bowling career[link]

Williams is a seven-time PBA Player of the Year (1986, '93, '96, '97, '98, 2003, 2010) which is one above Earl Anthony for the most Player of the Year awards. He has won a record eight Bowling Writers Bowler of the Year awards and is also the all-time leading money winner on the PBA Tour.^[1] He has the most PBA money titles (seven). He was the first bowler in history to surpass $2 million in career earnings, achieving this in 1997. With his win in the 2003 U.S. Open, he also became the first $3 million career winner; and became the first $4 million career winner in 2008. Williams also has the highest monetary winnings in a single season, with $419,700 during his 2002–03 season.^[4]

On September 24, 2006, Williams eclipsed Earl Anthony's then recognized career record of 41 PBA regular tour titles with his 42nd win at the Dydo Japan Cup over Pete Weber in a 289–236 single game pinfall.^[5] [Note: Anthony's title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member as PBA Tour titles.] Williams has been known as "Deadeye" in PBA fan circles,^[6] but he actually first got the nickname in horseshoes, when he threw 45 ringers out of a possible 50 in a junior tournament when he was 10 years old.^[7] He is known for several PBA achievements:

• Record highest season spare percentage (88.16%, 655/743; 2004–05) and single-pin conversion percentage (100%, 475/475; 2005–06)
• Second-best strike (68.21) percentage and match play average (235.23).^[4][6]
• Record number of career television appearances (178 through the 2010-11 season), most television appearances in a season (15 in 1993), most consecutive television appearances 5 (2x; 2000, 2001)
• Most final match appearances (92, through the 2009-10 season)
• Tied for most major titles in a season (two in 2002–03)
• Most games bowled in one season (1300 in 1993)
• Second-highest pinfall in a nine game series (2,367 in Tucson, AZ, 2004; broken by Eugene McCune's 2,468 pins in 2010)
• Most 300 games in one tournament (4; Mechanicsburg, PA, 1993)^[4]
• Eight time winner of the George Young High Average Award and Harry Smith Points Leader Award (most all-time for each award)^[6]
• First and, so far, only PBA player to convert the 4-6-7-10 split on television

In the 2007–08 season, at age 48, Walter Ray established the second-highest average in PBA history for a single season — 228.34. Only Norm Duke's 2006–07 mark of 228.47 is higher.^[8][9] Through the 2009–10 season, he has bowled 80 career 300 games in PBA competition.^[6]

Upon winning the 2009 Motor City Open championship, Williams extended his record of winning at least one PBA Tour title per season to 17 consecutive seasons, two years more than Earl Anthony's 1970–84 run.^[10] Williams' streak ended when he failed to win a title in the 2010-11 season.

In August 2008 Walter Ray joined Team USA to participate in that year's FIQ World Men's Championships in Thailand. For the first time professionals were allowed to compete in this truly international event with over 330 participants from 56 countries. Walter Ray was the most successful bowler, winning 4 medals: Gold in Masters, Gold in Singles, Gold in Team and a Bronze medal in Trios.^[11]

In 2008 he also won a gold medal in the singles of the WTBA World Championships.^[12]

PBA Senior Tour[link]

After turning 50, Williams announced that he would participate in the 2010 PBA Senior Tour, but in limited events due to Team USA and other obligations.^[13]

Williams made his PBA Senior Tour debut on May 3, 2010, at the Miller High Life Senior Classic in Mooresville, NC. To the surprise of no one, he won the tournament three days later.^[14] On June 18, 2010, Williams had a chance to become just the second bowler to win the USBC Masters and USBC Senior Masters in a career (joining Dave Soutar), and the first to win both in the same year. Williams made the three-game final, but he was denied the title when he fell, 705-628, to fellow PBA Hall of Famer Wayne Webb.^[15]

Walter did bowl enough on the Senior Tour to earn 2010 PBA Senior Rookie of the Year honors.^[16]

In the 2011 PBA Senior season, Williams again had a chance to match Soutar as the only bowlers to win both the USBC Masters and Senior USBC Masters. But he again came in second, this time falling to Dale Traber in the finals, 707-695.^[17]

To date, Walter has won three PBA Senior Tour titles.^[18]

Popularity and Longevity[link]

Although Pete Weber is frequently presented as the poster-boy of the PBA to the general public, Williams, in bowling circles, might be the most respected and popular player on tour. This is because of his cool, confident demeanor, and his unparalleled success over the last two decades. Walter's longevity is further evidenced by the fact that more than one-third of his 47 titles (17) and 6 of his 8 majors have come after he reached age 40. Williams' most recent title in the 2010 USBC Masters came after he reached age 50. In fact, Williams swept every major PBA statistical category in the 2009-10 season, leading the tour in earnings ($152,670), average (222.89), match play appearances (15), and overall competition points.^[14] (See PBA Bowling Tour: 2009-10 season.)

On his longevity and future plans, Williams said: "As long as I feel good and stay competitive, I’ll keep on bowling. I don’t want to be out here if I’m not competitive; I’d be too frustrated. When I can’t compete, when it’s isn’t fun, I’ll retire. I have no issue with that. But I feel like I’m still doing pretty well."^[10]

Walter was named "Male Bowler of the Decade" (2000–2009) in the Winter, 2010 issue of U.S. Bowler -- an incredible accomplishment considering he started the decade at age 40.^[19] He won his unprecedented seventh PBA Player of the Year award in 2010, becoming the oldest player in history (50) to earn that honor.^[20]

He is a member of the USBC and PBA Halls of Fame,^[21][22] a member of the World Horseshoe Pitching Hall of Fame,^[6] and was a two-time past president of the Professional Bowlers Association.^[6]

In the 2008–09 season, the PBA's 50th, the PBA commissioned a panel of bowling experts to recognize the "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years." Walter Ray finished #2 on the list, behind only Earl Anthony. On an ESPN telecast January 25, 2009, Nelson Burton Jr. noted that the voting was close, but Anthony reached the #1 spot primarily for having more major titles than Williams (10 to 7 at the time). Williams was gracious in accepting second-place honors:

"I feel Earl's record is better than mine because it was more condensed. Earl bowled 14 years and 400 or so events. I've bowled well over 600 by now, maybe 700. I feel very pleased to be No. 2."^[23]

Horseshoes[link]

Walter Ray has also won six Men's World Horseshoe Pitching titles. He was invited to pitch horseshoes at the White House with President George H. W. Bush in 1989.^[24] He finished 2nd in the 2005 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships after switching from right handed to left handed.

Personal[link]

Williams graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a minor in Mathematics. He has stated that, if he wasn't a successful bowler, he would "probably be either a teacher or working for NASA."^[25]

He is married to Paige Pennington. The couple reside in Ocala, FL, and adopted a daughter in 2007. In addition to being a champion in both bowling and horseshoes, Williams has a three-handicap in golf.

Williams' 47 PBA National Tour career titles[link]

Among Williams' 47 career PBA Tour titles are eight majors (in bold type below). He is a three-time winner of the PBA World Championship, and has also won two U.S. Open crowns, two ABC/USBC Masters titles, and a Touring Players Championship. He needs only a Tournament of Champions title to complete a career "triple crown" and a career "super grand slam."

He has also won three PBA Senior Tour titles.

Standard PBA Tour Titles[link]

1. 1986 True Value Open, Peoria, Ill.
2. 1986 Fair Lanes Open, Baltimore, Md.
3. 1986 Hammer Open, Edmond, Okla.
4. 1987 Miller Lite Classic, Miami, Fla.
5. 1987 Hammer Open, Edmond, Okla.
6. 1991 Oronamin C Japan Cup, Tokyo, Japan
7. 1993 Flagship City Open, Erie, Pa.
8. 1993 Columbia 300 Open, San Antonio, Texas
9. 1993 Northwest Classic, Kennewick, Wash.
10. 1993 Oregon Open, Portland, Ore.
11. 1993 Tucson Open, Tucson, Ariz.
12. 1993 Greater Grand Rapids Open, Grand Rapids, Mich.
13. 1993 Paula Carter's Homestead Classic, Homestead, Fla.
14. 1994 Showboat Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev.
15. 1994 Touring Players Championship, Indianapolis, Ind.
16. 1995 Rochester Open, Rochester, N.Y.
17. 1996 Track Synergy Open, Kennewick, Wash.
18. 1996 Showboat Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev.
19. 1996 Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open, North Brunswick, N.J.
20. 1996 Rochester Open, Rochester, N.Y.
21. 1996 Greater Harrisburg Open, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
22. 1997 Columbia 300 Open, Austin, Texas
23. 1997 Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open, North Brunswick, N.J.
24. 1997 St. Clair Classic, Fairview Heights, Ill.
25. 1998 Storm Flagship Open, Erie, Pa.
26. 1998 BPAA U.S. Open, Milford, Conn.
27. 1998 Brunswick Long Island Open, Coram, N.Y.
28. 1998 Bay City Classic, Bay City, Mich.
29. 1998 National Finance Challenge, Indianapolis, Ind.
30. 1999 Tucson Open, Tucson, Ariz.
31. 2000 Track Canandaigua Open, Canandaigua, N.Y.
32. 2000 Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open, North Brunswick, N.J.
33. 2001–02 PBA National Championship, Toledo, Ohio
34. 2001–02 Greater Cincinnati Classic, Erlanger, Ky.
35. 2002–03 Greater Detroit Open, Taylor, Mich.
36. 2002–03 U.S. Open, Fountain Valley, Calif.
37. 2002–03 PBA World Championship, Taylor, Mich.
38. 2003–04 Earl Anthony Classic Presented by Storm, Tacoma, Wash.
39. 2003–04 ABC Masters, Reno, Nev.
40. 2004–05 Uniroyal Tire Classic, Wickliffe, Ohio
41. 2005–06 Denny's PBA World Championship, Indianapolis, Ind.
42. 2006–07 Dydo Japan Cup, Tokyo, Japan
43. 2007–08 Motor City Classic, Taylor, Mich.
44. 2007–08 Great Lakes Classic, Wyoming, Mich.
45. 2008–09 Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship, Hammond, Ind.
46. 2009-10 Motor City Open, Allen Park, Mich.
47. 2009-10 USBC Masters, Reno, Nev.

PBA Senior Tour Titles[link]

1. 2010 Miller High Life Senior Classic, Mooresville, NC.
2. 2011 PBA Senior Mark Roth Allentown Open, Allentown, PA.
3. 2012 PBA Senior Don Carter Memorial, Winter Garden, FL.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Walter Ray Official site
• YouTube Video of Walter Ray Williams, Jr. 4-6-7-10 split conversion
• Walter Ray Unofficial site
• Walter Ray Clips
• Text interview with Williams from Wisconsin Public Television

Thomas "Tom" Hess (born Thomas Heslin^[1] August 15, 1875 – December 15, 1945) was a professional baseball catcher who played one season in Major League Baseball. He made his major league debut on June 6, 1892, and it would prove to be his last appearance as well.^[1] He would go on to play for multiple minor league teams.

Professional career[link]

1892 season[link]

Hess began his professional career with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League in 1892.^[1] On June 6, he played his only game at the major league level and didn't obtain a hit in two at-bats.^[1] This was his only season in Major League Baseball.^[1] On June 14, he was released by the Orioles.^[2]

1901–1911 seasons[link]

After a nine year absence from professional baseball, Hess joined the non-affiliated Class-C Albany Senators of the New York State League during the 1901 season. In 98 games, he batted .293 with 108 hits in 368 at-bats.^[3] The next season, 1902, Hess played 85 games with Albany and batted .230 with 72 hits in 313 at-bats.^[3] Hess began playing for the non-affiliated Independent Portland Browns during the Pacific Coast League's's inaugural season in 1903.^[4] In 56 games, Hess batted .260 with 54 hits, seven doubles baseball, and one triple in 208 at-bats.^[3] In 1904, Hess played for both the Class-D Waterloo Microbes and the Class-A Sioux City Soos.^[3] With the Microbes, Hess batted .100 in 16 games.^[3] He later played for the Soos where he hit .223 with 21 hits in 25 games.^[3] He began to play for the Class-D Oskaloosa Quakers of the Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1905.^[3] With the Quakers, Hess batted .209 with 43 hits in 61 games.^[3] In 1906, Hess returned to Sioux City, Iowa to play for the renamed Sioux City Packers of the Western League where in 78 games he hit .245 with 64 hits in 261 at-bats.^[3] In 1907, he began to play for the Class-C Galveston Sand Crabs of the Texas League.^[5] In 1908, Hess played for both the Class-D Winston-Salem Twins, and the Class-B Wilkes-Barre Barons.^[3] With the Twins, Hess batted .320 with 16 hits in 17 games.^[3] After his move to the Barons, he batted .224 with 11 hits in 17 games.^[3] The next season, 1909, Hess played for the Class-B Elmira Colonels where he batted .189 with 10 hits in 23 games.^[3] He sat out during the 1910 season, and returned to professional play during the 1911 joining the Class-D Hamilton Kolts of the Canadian League where he batted .293 with 29 hits, three doubles, and one triple in 28 games.^[3]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Norm Duke (born March 25, 1964) is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition (as of the 2010-11 season), including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.

A native of Mount Pleasant, Texas, Duke resides in Clermont, Florida, with his wife Karen, and their son, Branden.

In 1983, less than a year after turning pro, Duke won a title in Cleveland, OH to become the youngest player ever to win a PBA Tour event (age 18 years, 345 days). On that day, Duke started from the #5 position and defeated four bowlers to take the championship, including a victory over the legendary Earl Anthony in Duke's first-ever televised match.^[1]

Duke became a member of the USBC Hall of Fame in 2002, and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in January 2009. Norm was also the winner of the PBA Player of the Year award in 1994 and 2000.

Duke currently owns 37 PBA Tour titles, including seven majors: one ABC Masters, one Tournament of Champions, two United States Opens, and three PBA World Championships. His 37th title on April 1, 2012 put him in sole possession of third-place on the PBA's all-time titles list. In the 2011-12 season, his career PBA Tour earnings eclipsed $3 million. Duke joined Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber as the only PBA players to surpass the $3 million mark in career prize money.^[2] He has made multiple TV Finals appearances every season since 1990. He has won at least two titles in a season nine times, including a career-best five titles in 1994.^[3]

The diminutive Duke (he stands 1.65 meters, or 5-foot-5) is known for his exceptional versatility. He is generally thought of as a stroker, either throwing the ball relatively straight or playing a hook shot from the extreme outside of the lane. But he has also shown the ability (especially earlier in his career) to swing the ball out toward the gutter and bring it back like a cranker when necessary. This gives him the advantage of being able to score well on most of the PBA's multiple oil patterns.

2007-08 Season[link]

The 2007-08 season started slowly for Duke, as he battled illness on top of a series of injuries through the first half. Standing 51st in points and with his Tour exemption in jeopardy, he put together a furious finish by winning two majors in the final five weeks of the season. On February 24, 2008, he won his second career PBA World Championship to lock up a 2008-09 exemption. Then on March 30, he won the U.S. Open and joined Mike Aulby and Billy Hardwick as the only bowlers to ever complete a PBA career "grand slam" (U.S. Open, PBA World Championship, Tournament of Champions and ABC/USBC Masters). He is also one of only six bowlers to complete the PBA career Triple Crown (U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions and PBA World Championship).

2008-09 Season[link]

Duke began the 2008-09 season by again winning the PBA World Championship. Continuing on his success from the previous season's sweep of the final two majors, he accomplished something never before done by any professional bowler: win three consecutive major tournaments. The streak ended when he failed to make the TV finals for the 2009 Tournament of Champions. On April 5, 2009, Duke narrowly missed an opportunity to become just the fifth bowler to repeat as champion at the U.S. Open. He qualified as the #1 seed, but was upset in the final by Mike Scroggins, 191-173. Duke eventually did win a second U.S. Open, On February 27, 2011.

Awards and recognition[link]

• Two-time U.S. Open winner (2008, 2011) and three-time PBA World Championship winner (2000, 2007–08, 2008–09)
• PBA Player of the Year (1994, 2000)
• George Young High Average award (1991, 1994, 2005–06, 2006–07)
• Harry Smith PBA Points Leader award (2005–06)
• In his first year on tour (1983), Duke won the tour stop in Cleveland, OH at age 18 years, 345 days, which is still the record for the youngest person to ever capture a PBA title.
• During the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour season, Norm broke the tour's average record for a season, averaging 228.47.
• Inducted into USBC Hall of Fame, 2002
• During qualifying for an April 1996 PBA tournament held in North Brunswick, N.J., Duke bowled three consecutive perfect games (900 total) in two squads.
• 58 career perfect games^[4]
• The most recent bowler to win the "Grand Slam" (USBC Masters, PBA World Championship, PBA Tournament of Champions, and the US Open)
• 2008 ESPY for Best Bowler
• Ranked 7th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years"
• First bowler in history to win three Major titles in a row
• Inducted into PBA Hall of Fame on January 24, 2009

In the media[link]

• During the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour season, Duke served as a guest commentator on ESPN telecasts for events in which he failed to reach the TV Finals alongside Dave Ryan and Randy Pedersen. During events in which he made the TV Finals, Chris Barnes filled in as the third commentator.

Trivia[link]

• Duke is also famed for his "trick shots", which include being able to sling a ball wrapped in a towel and consistently throw a strike. In September, 2009 (broadcast October 25 on ESPN), Duke won the PBA's special Trick Shot Challenge.^[5]

References[link]

1. ^ Grossman, Hillard. "Duke gives fans on Merritt Island a glimpse of pro bowling royalty." Article in Florida Today on August 9, 2010. [1]
2. ^ Schneider, Jerry. "Norm Duke Wins PBA Detroit Open Presented by Track for 35th Career Tour Title." Article at www.pba.com on March 11, 2012. [2]
3. ^ Norm Duke bio at www.pba.com, official site of the PBA Tour
4. ^ PBA.com - Official site of the Professional Bowlers Association
5. ^ "Kulick Wins PBA Women's World Championship, Sullins Takes Senior Title." Article at www.pba.com, October 25, 2009.

External links[link]

• Official website of the Professional Bowlers Association

John Mazza (born February 23, 1964) is a left-handed ten-pin bowler and former touring player for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). Mazza won eight titles on the PBA Tour and collected over $850,000 in earnings. He also won 11 PBA Regional titles.^[1]

John became a PBA member in 1982, and finally hit his stride in 1991. That season, he won three PBA titles and the Harry Smith PBA Points Leader award, while cashing nearly $150,000 in earnings. Mazza is most notable, however, for being the second player to convert the nearly-impossible 7-10 split on national television. (Mark Roth was the first, and Jess Stayrook accomplished the feat shortly after Mazza.)

In some ABC-TV Professional Bowlers Tour broadcasts during the early- to mid-1990s, Mazza served as a lane-level reporter.

Mazza is currently a resident of Shelby Township, MI.

External links[link]

• YouTube Video of John Mazza's 7-10 split conversion

References[link]

1. ^ "Mazza leads Detroit's 2001 Hall of Fame class," article by Larry Paladino in Bowling Digest, February, 2002