The sport or in this case maybe I should say the game of bowling had its share of stars and what, for the purposes of today, we will refer to as characters. I thought about this column at different times last week as we mourned the loss of Bobby Price.
Take for example 20th Century Lanes. They had Dennis Roney, who could match anybody shot for shot, and they also had Dutch Williams, who was once awakened when he smelled smoke at the lanes. It could be argued that the aforementioned Price as well as the original owner of 20th Century, Tobe Cardone, were both. They were above-average bowlers, but they will be more remembered for the love they brought to the game.
Moreo Lanes was much the same. There were any number of each at Moreos. I can still see Keith Henson impersonating Curly of the Three Stooges, and many still remember Tom Silone throwing his cigars off the carpeted walls at the house loaded with buckets to catch the rain falling through the roof.
The stars of Moreo were numerous: Bob and Dick Moreo, Bodie Boroff, Ron Mericle, Don Boyed, Phil Austin, Kari Miller and Shelley Ambroza spent many hours there.
Lima is not alone! Wapak has had a series of great bowlers, both youth and adult, and even youth who are now star adults, such as Anthony Kennard, Dan Ruck and Brian Garman. They bunker that with Bubba Brannan, Mike Moore and “Tater” Moore.
In St Marys, for every Scott Ross and Carl Keysor, there is a Larry Rain.
While the notion of this column came while I was thinking of Price, it was amplified when I had a conversation with a high ranking member of the Lima Bowling Association.
This is the time of the year when this column generally focuses upon candidates for the LBA or LWBA Hall of Fame. It was always a good time, as it ran parallel with the OHSAA or Proprietors high school state championships, and I could write while the bowlers were breaking before the baker round.
For better or worse, the now merged associations decided last year to move the Hall of Fame ceremony and dinner to September, in competition with high school football. They had a decent crowd last season, and I anticipate and hope that this year will be the same.
The key right now would be who is going in. The person that I spoke to gave me the impression there were not any nominees yet, making me happy that it was not a March event. He also was very clear when he shared that he would love to see the names come from the bowling public and not the board. He clearly wants it to be people nominating people who have a love for the game, who have excelled and continue to remain focused on the game or sport.
There was a definite impish side of me that was going to campaign for the characters. I mean, can you imagine how much fun the Hall of Fame dinner would have been during the lifetime of Price, Williams, Silone or Henson if they have been selected?
To my Auglaize County friends, I assure you that you would enjoy any night that you could spend with the Moores or Bubba or Rain.
I am smart enough to know that the LBA is not looking for characters. They are looking for stars and people who are passionate about the game/sport and do what they can to elevate it.
This is the time of year where I generally put out the bat signal for the family of Don Duebler, who some of us feel has slipped through the cracks. Again, I ask if you have any information of one of bowling’s ultimate warriors, can you please get it to me at [email protected].
Now as we awaken from our Brian Voss-like dream state of how the game was when everybody used to place a thumb in the ball and eventually two fingers as well, let me give a tease for this coming Saturday. Westgate Lanes will be the host house for the OHSAA Division I district. It will be a war as only one team will advance to the state.
If you like sports competition, that will be the place to be. Plan to be there at noon to see some of the better bowlers in the state attempt to take down the Kegel pattern beaten path. It is made easy for you, as the boys and girls will roll at the same time.
If you have somebody you would like to nominate for the Hall of Fame, check in where you bowl and see if they can hook you up.
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