Sunday, February 18, 2018

2018 PBA League Draft

source: PBA.com
eligible bowlers for 2018 League Draft
Two days ago, the PBA held their league draft. For 8 PBA League teams, they have to declare 3 bowlers from their 2017 roster that will not be included in the draft.

This leaves team managers to select 2 players to complete their roster.

On the left are the 51 eligible PBA bowlers for 2018's draft. Only 16 of them will be selected. Last week's PBA Tournament of Champions winner Matt O'Grady was the first bowler drafted.

Among the 35 bowlers that were eligible for 2018 but not drafted were PWBA members Danielle McEwan and Liz Johnson. They both bowled on teams in 2016 and 2017.

In my opinion, 35 bowlers not selected is too many. Based on the popularity the league has had since moving it to Portland, Maine, I'd like to see 2 more teams added to the league. And make one of them from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Abacus: Small Enough To Jail - Documentary Feature Oscar Nominee

source: Twitter
Congratulations to Steve James, Mark Mitten, Julie Goldman and the Sung Family for their Documentary Feature Oscar nomination.

If you like documentaries and haven't yet seen it, I strongly recommend it. Despite my personal connection to the Sung Family, this is an excellent film. Yes, I've already seen it 5 times (see March 14, 2017 blog entry).

You have no excuses to say you can't find it. It's available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes and was featured on PBS's Frontline.

Here's the trailer:


Sunday, February 04, 2018

Stolen Bowling Equipment

source: Linds Bowling
Linds 2-ball roller bag

Storm Wipe Out

Storm Match Up Solid
source: bowlingball.com
Women's Storm SP2 (made by Dexter)
February 2018 has not started off well.
What started out as a persistent cough on Wednesday resulted in bronchitis.

The next morning, I walked to my car on my way to work and opened my trunk to find my laptop tote (thankfully no laptop in it) and Linds bowling bags gone.

My windows weren't broken nor was there any damage to the car. It's highly likely I forgot to lock the car after bowling Wednesday night. The neighborhood is relatively safe, so whomever stole my stuff took a careful look inside and saw the doors unlocked. It's my guess their first intent was to steal the car but couldn't because it has a stick shift transmission.

One bowling bag contained only extra towels and socks.
The other bag contained everything I consider necessary to bowl.
Contents:
  • 2 bowling balls: Storm Wipe Out and Match Up Solid both in microfiber see-saws (covers and cleans the ball of excess lane oil)
  • shoes: Storm SP2 (made by Dexter) with shoe covers
  • accessory bag (tape, scissors, powder, cleaner, tape insert tool, shoe brush)
From the inside of my car, they took my tissue box, phone auxiliary cord, and car charger. 
What they didn't take: pouch of shopping bags, towels not in the bag, burned CD's of music, and my work cardigan.

What frustrates me most is that whomever stole my stuff gains to make little profit. I can't see custom drilled bowling balls and women's bowling shoes have much selling value on eBay or craigslist.

The Wipe Out bowling ball has special significance for me because it's the ball I used to bowl my first official 600 series last year.

After my Thursday morning appointment, I called Goody, my pro shop guy at All-American in the Inner Richmond to order a new ball. When he offered to price match whatever else I was going to order, I added shoes and a bag. He'd make sure they would all come at the same time as the ball, probably on Saturday, latest on Monday.

If it came on Monday, I'd have to take off work early to pick up everything in time for league with no opportunity beforehand to practice with the new ball. 

After I finished my order with Goody, I went to Amazon and ordered my Turbo bowling protection tape (mint and beige) and see-saws. Then to eBay to order shoe covers and tape insert tool.

My coughing got progressively worse Thursday afternoon. I called in sick Friday. I did a little work from home. Got the well-needed rest to help me recover. 

I called Goody on Saturday morning. Everything he ordered came in.
Here's what I got:
Women's Dexter SST 8

Storm Rolling Thunder bowling bag

Storm Match Up Hybrid











Tape and see saws arrived later in the afternoon. A phone accessory bag that was too big for my purse turns out to the ideal size to hold bowling tape and scissors.

Everything needed for league play is now in. The stuff not so urgent - shoe covers and tape insert tool come in next week. I'll replace the shoe brush at a later date.

If you play any sport long enough, it's a given you will spend money updating your equipment. I just never expected to update everything in 2 days. And put me out $500. 

With new equipment comes new features. For my shoes, side air hole vents in the arch. The roller bag, air vents in the shoe pocket and wide ass sturdy wheels. The new ball, also a Storm Match Up, is now a hybrid of pearl and solid coverstocks. My recently departed Match Up was all solid reactive resin.

Took the new ball and brought my Storm Tropical Heat back out of retirement this morning to practice. Glad I got some games in with the new ball. First game was a dismal 109. By the third game, the ball got broken in nicely. My high game for the day was 194. 

I have yet to replace the laptop tote. I spent most of Saturday morning online researching. It's been difficult to find one that has the pass through pocket (see photo with my purse attached to new bowling bag). 
It became a must have feature after I took the tote to Europe last year.

Baggallini purse with
pass through pocket
From here on out, I take everything out of the trunk when I get home. Benjamin Franklin said it best, "an ounce of prevention is worth of pound of cure."