Five Reasons to Attend the 2013 PBA World Series of Bowling V
The 14-month 2012-2013 PBA Tour season started with World Series of Bowling IV, and it closes with World Series of Bowling V. After this season, the PBA Tour will move to a calendar-year format. Because this World Series is closing a season rather than opening it, there are more storylines than ever before. Who will win Player of the Year? Who will be this year's surprise standout? Will the mainstays have yet another exemplary event?
The Player of the Year race is especially exciting this year because of two main factors: (1) Jason Belmonte has a seemingly commanding lead; (2) there are enough bowlers and enough remaining events that Belmonte could conceivably be caught.
Belmonte has appeared in the title match of all four majors this year, winning the USBC Masters. Because he's done so well in such high-profile tournaments, natural instinct is to declare him the far-and-away frontrunner for the award. However, Belmonte (who, along with his victory in the Bear Open has two titles this season) is matched or surpassed in title count by Sean Rash and Scott Norton (two each) and Mika Koivuniemi (three). If any of those three bowlers has a good run at the World Series, the Player of the Year Award is up for grabs.
Plus, the other major winners this season (Parker Bohn III in the World Championship, Pete Weber in the Tournament of Champions and Wes Malott in the U.S. Open) have to be considered as well. Weber is enjoying a tremendous resurgence over the past couple years, and his New York City WTT KingPins also won the inaugural Elias Cup.
The two most dominant World Series bowlers, historically, have been Rash and Belmonte. Five PBA Tour titles are still to be decided, and it's an easy-money bet to say these two will be competing for just about all of them. With their history and the Player of the Year Award at stake, this could be the most compelling World Series of Bowling yet.
Yes, the ESPN broadcasts are being taped for later airing, but you can see them live, as they happen. You'll know who wins before they air on ESPN, but if you're a fan of live sporting events (and who isn't?), this is the place to be.
The finals for each of the four animal-pattern championships (Cheetah Championship, Viper Championship, Chameleon Championship, Scorpion Championship) and the finals of the PBA World Championship will all be taped over the final weekend of the World Series. Plus, you'll get to see the PBA50 Finals (which include Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Amleto Monacelli and Pete Weber.
If that's not enough, you'll also get to see the RPI finals, which will feature the winners of each of the six RPI events (Tom Daugherty from the South Region, Dave Beres from the Midwest, Chris Barnes from the Southwest, Brian Kretzer from the Midwest, Brian LeClair from the East and Ben Laughlin from the West/Northwest).
It's hard to find a sporting event that's less exciting live than it is in any other format, and bowling is no exception to that rule. Feel the excitement and bask in the successes of these great bowlers as they fight for PBA supremacy right in front of you.
Some of the most accessible professional athletes in the world (possibly the most accessible) are professional bowlers. While you should never try to meet or seek an autograph during competition, there is a lot of time during practice or between rounds when bowlers are milling about.
As long as you're respectful and don't approach the bowlers while they're competing, they're going to be respectful right back and sign autographs, pose for photos and talk bowling.
You don't even have to put a huge effort into it. The bowlers mill about. They watch each other bowl when their squad isn't in session, they congregate near the locker room and generally act as fans themselves whenever they're not on the lanes.
Again, leave the bowlers to themselves while they're bowling, but plan to meet some of your bowling heroes during the downtime.
Want to see yourself on TV? When you attend the television finals, you can sit in the bleachers that are on camera during just about every shot and wave at yourself when you watch from home later. Don't be waving like a lunatic during the shows though, or you will be escorted out.
As usual, respecting the bowlers while they compete is important, and you can get a little face time while you're at it.
Television tapings will be held Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3, so you can find yourself on TV for as many tournaments as you like.
How can you pass up a chance to see the best bowlers in the entire world compete for supremacy? Until you see these men and women bowl in person, it's hard to truly understand just how talented they are. It's difficult to explain, but when you see them in person, you can simply tell how much better they are than everyone else. They play on a completely different level than most people, and when you see them bowling up close, you can get a true appreciation for it.
1. Player of the Year: Can Anyone Catch Jason Belmonte?
The Player of the Year race is especially exciting this year because of two main factors: (1) Jason Belmonte has a seemingly commanding lead; (2) there are enough bowlers and enough remaining events that Belmonte could conceivably be caught.
Belmonte has appeared in the title match of all four majors this year, winning the USBC Masters. Because he's done so well in such high-profile tournaments, natural instinct is to declare him the far-and-away frontrunner for the award. However, Belmonte (who, along with his victory in the Bear Open has two titles this season) is matched or surpassed in title count by Sean Rash and Scott Norton (two each) and Mika Koivuniemi (three). If any of those three bowlers has a good run at the World Series, the Player of the Year Award is up for grabs.
Plus, the other major winners this season (Parker Bohn III in the World Championship, Pete Weber in the Tournament of Champions and Wes Malott in the U.S. Open) have to be considered as well. Weber is enjoying a tremendous resurgence over the past couple years, and his New York City WTT KingPins also won the inaugural Elias Cup.
The two most dominant World Series bowlers, historically, have been Rash and Belmonte. Five PBA Tour titles are still to be decided, and it's an easy-money bet to say these two will be competing for just about all of them. With their history and the Player of the Year Award at stake, this could be the most compelling World Series of Bowling yet.
2. Watch the ESPN Telecasts Live
Yes, the ESPN broadcasts are being taped for later airing, but you can see them live, as they happen. You'll know who wins before they air on ESPN, but if you're a fan of live sporting events (and who isn't?), this is the place to be.
The finals for each of the four animal-pattern championships (Cheetah Championship, Viper Championship, Chameleon Championship, Scorpion Championship) and the finals of the PBA World Championship will all be taped over the final weekend of the World Series. Plus, you'll get to see the PBA50 Finals (which include Walter Ray Williams, Jr., Amleto Monacelli and Pete Weber.
If that's not enough, you'll also get to see the RPI finals, which will feature the winners of each of the six RPI events (Tom Daugherty from the South Region, Dave Beres from the Midwest, Chris Barnes from the Southwest, Brian Kretzer from the Midwest, Brian LeClair from the East and Ben Laughlin from the West/Northwest).
It's hard to find a sporting event that's less exciting live than it is in any other format, and bowling is no exception to that rule. Feel the excitement and bask in the successes of these great bowlers as they fight for PBA supremacy right in front of you.
3. Meet the Bowlers
Some of the most accessible professional athletes in the world (possibly the most accessible) are professional bowlers. While you should never try to meet or seek an autograph during competition, there is a lot of time during practice or between rounds when bowlers are milling about.
As long as you're respectful and don't approach the bowlers while they're competing, they're going to be respectful right back and sign autographs, pose for photos and talk bowling.
You don't even have to put a huge effort into it. The bowlers mill about. They watch each other bowl when their squad isn't in session, they congregate near the locker room and generally act as fans themselves whenever they're not on the lanes.
Again, leave the bowlers to themselves while they're bowling, but plan to meet some of your bowling heroes during the downtime.
4. Put Yourself on Television
Want to see yourself on TV? When you attend the television finals, you can sit in the bleachers that are on camera during just about every shot and wave at yourself when you watch from home later. Don't be waving like a lunatic during the shows though, or you will be escorted out.
As usual, respecting the bowlers while they compete is important, and you can get a little face time while you're at it.
Television tapings will be held Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3, so you can find yourself on TV for as many tournaments as you like.
5. These Are the Best Bowlers in the World
How can you pass up a chance to see the best bowlers in the entire world compete for supremacy? Until you see these men and women bowl in person, it's hard to truly understand just how talented they are. It's difficult to explain, but when you see them in person, you can simply tell how much better they are than everyone else. They play on a completely different level than most people, and when you see them bowling up close, you can get a true appreciation for it.
