Simon Sez Week of August 17th

OK, enough is enough. This column isn't about me. It's about bowling

So start sending your news, tips, rumors, gossip, even bowl porn to 'da Hood! We appreciate it. Sign up on the site and comment wherever, whatever you wish.

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The St. Louis County Council votes tomorrow night on the no smoking referendum.

DID YOU KNOW? Blue Springs and Springfield have no smoking laws...but have exempted bowling centers.

Tom Shucart and Jeff Boje' - your argument just got stronger because there's proof it's being done elsewhere.

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Speaking of Jeff Boje', I still haven't heard anything from the USBC about interviewing on camera tomorrow. They're probably dismissing me as some kind of kook. Well here's a message to them (and another PR department or staffer). Dead tree journalism is just about dead. Electron journalism has lost its charge.

Web journalism - it's here and not going anywhere.

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Nice turnout yesterday at the Gran Prix tournament at Crest Bowl. 55 entries. And it wasn't a typical lame house shot. Made you make shots. In case you hadn't heard, Reynold Blondin lowered the entry fee to $85. Good work Mr. Blondin, was glad to be there, not glad about my 9th game meltdown....

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I can say the USBC awards change from patches to refrigerator magnets is getting a response from members. Mostly laughter.

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Next Sunday (the 23rd), TONS of bowling in St. Louis. Senior Gran Prix www.granprixtours.com, 700 Club, and Roll for the Dough.

Three tournaments in one day. To the tournament directors, read this carefully: I like you guys and I bowl your tournaments; unfortunately I won't be bowling any of them this weekend because I'll be in Chicago torturing myself at the Peterson Classic.

But there is a LOT of grumbling among bowlers. "Can't these guys get together for a better schedule" is the #1 complaint.

Bowlers do make a lot of comments to me that go through one ear and out the other because they are groundless or off topic. But they are right about this.

Remember - They don't care who was before whom or how long. As a tournament director/organization - the bowling world doesn't revolve around you.

A bowler can't be in two places at the same time. Be grateful they turn out strong - other cities don't see this amount of participation. Don't take it for granted. It's just as hard to keep a customer as it to recruit one.

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The HOOD hears the Post Dispatch may be getting back into bowling journalism. Most likely it will be online. We welcome them to bandwith journalism. Please folks, no more complaints about no scores or stories in the paper. Don't be complaining about high school coverage in the paper. This is 2009, not 1979. Times change - move on.

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I'm going to get the PBA Xtra Frame package to watch bowling online. I'm like others, extremely skeptical of buying things online. So Terry at Trio Bowlers Supply at Hazelwood Bowl gave me a looksee. I liked it. Better than reality show crap, except for COPS - the only real reality show.

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I started league last week. Before August 15th. What's next, year-round leagues?

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One of my teammates at Friday Seniors at DuBowl is Wayne Adkisson. He turned 90 last Friday. I think he's one the 5 best over 80 bowlers in the city. He still works the who lane for a good shot. Last year, he had 3 190 games and had a high series of 583.

First game this year, 173, nearly doubles his age. Game three, transition gets him.

8 splits in a row. Wayne a great guy, he laughed it off - I told him it might be the record for the country this year. Even with all those splits, his 91 score beat his age.

Let's see you try that.

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For my money, Jen Donohue is the best female bowler in the region. I've always like here game but I got to see it up close and personal last Wednesday. Game 3 of the PBAX at Chesterfield. I'm pretty nervous, she opened with 490 after 2 on the Viper. I have to work twice as hard as she does for me even to be close to her in the game. I make a big move left to start, it works, Jen got eaten up with carry down, leaving 3 straight 10 pins. I win 243-223 but if we bowled 10 times, she'd win 8 of 'em, she's that good.

If you are somewhat rich and reading this - sponsor her. She's good enough to be in the PBA women's series.

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Randy Lightfoot's recruiting is slipping. Mike Wedemeier is going to bowl for Missouri Baptist. Who even knew Mo Bap had a team?

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St. Louis well represented at the Peterson Classic: Rich Orf, Mike Flanagan, Ned Hendrixson Sr., Jenn Ridilla, all over 1,500, all will cash, and I hear Ned's daughter has the high game on lanes 3-4, that pays $250 if it holds up.

If you don't bowl the "Pete", you ain't a bowler.

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Food for thought: Isn't this year 9 of the PBA's 5-year plan?

SimonSez
The Bowling Hood