As summer league wraps up, I bowl sweepers tomorrow and head to Reno for the Chinese-Japanese Invitational Tournament for the Labor Day weekend. I bowled no-tap this weekend. When I return from Reno, I'll bowl another no-tap tournament on Labor Day.
No-tap bowling is a casual tournament which usually have league bowlers as participants. It can result in some nice pocket change if you bowl way above your average. Easy concept - hit 9 pins, it's a strike. Not so easy to execute. The oil pattern laid out for no-tap is harder than the standard house shot. I tend to do well in no-tap and have cashed out several times.
Below is my 2nd squad series score from yesterday. Final results aren't yet in but am hopeful I'll cash out again.
Last year, my 695 series score was 127 pins above my highest sanctioned league series.
Since my last post, it's been Gord and The Hip on my mind all week. What timing. The 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremonies took place within a day of The Hip's final stop in Kingston, Ontario. Found on YouTube the CBC's closing montage of the Olympic Games - set to Ahead By A Century.
source: cbc.ca
L to R: Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Downie, Johnny Fay, Gord Sinclair
As I updated on August 10 from my June 17, 2012 entry, Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer (glioblastoma) in May. Their 'Man Machine Poem' summer tour will be their last. The finale took place last night from their hometown in Kingston, Ontario. CBC aired the concert commercial free. Among those who attended was Downie's oncologist, Dr. James Perry, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
I'll close with a couple of fan favorites.
From "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)", Courage, my word, it didn't come, it doesn't matter, Courage, your word, it didn't come, it doesn't matter Courage, my word, it didn't come, it doesn't matter Courage, it couldn't come at a worse time...
(Written by Gordon Downie, Johnny Fay, Joseph Paul Langlois, Robert Baker, Robert Gordon Sinclair)
And, their most popular song, "Ahead By A Century" and one of my all-time favorites: ...Or sit silently and listen to our thoughts With illusions of someday casting a golden light No dress rehearsal, this is our life...
Take a listen to this version from Newcastle Public School in Newcastle, Ontario:
Had me in tears.
source: Rebecca Blackwell, AP
L to R: Kathleen Baker, Lilly King, Dana Vollmer, Simone Manuel
source: USA Today
L to R: Ryan Murphy, Cody Miller, Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian
A big congratulations to the US Men's and Women's Relay Teams for winning the 4 x 100 Medley Relay yesterday in Rio. My handsome fave, Nathan Adrian (see Aug 4, 2012 entry), got his second gold medal in relays (anchoring both teams), having won a gold medal a few days earlier in the 4 x 100 Freestyle.
What was most notable about both relay teams is that ALL of them had earned medals in their individual events.
Team rosters and order of swim:
Backstroke - Kathleen Baker, Ryan Murphy
Breaststroke - Lilly King, Cody Miller
Butterfly - Dana Vollmer, Michael Phelps
Freestyle - Simone Manuel, Nathan Adrian
For the Baltimore superhuman, Michael Phelps, there's nothing that'll compare to his 23 gold medals, 28 total. My only lame claim to his fame is we share the same birthday.
And, Mr. Phelps's heir apparent, Washington DC native Katie Ledecky. Her 4 gold medals were already impressive. What was so eye-popping was shattering 2 world records of humongous margins of 4.77 and 11.38 seconds. She's only 19.
source: PWBA
Liz Johnson, 2016 PWBA US Open Champion
source: Weber Cup
L to R: Jesper Svensson, captain Dom Barrett, Stu Williams, Martin Larsen
Big day of bowling in Addison (Chicago area), Illinois and Manchester, England.
CBS Sports broadcasted live this morning the PWBA US Open Championship Finals.
Kudos to CBS Sports Network for bringing in Dave Lamont for the play-by-play call. He's very articulate and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the game. Unfortunately, we didn't get to hear very much due to poor audio throughout the entire match.
Liz Johnson began as the #4 seed to step up the ladder to capture her 5th US Open title over longtime Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky.
Special recognition to Singapore's Shayna Ng (2nd seed, 3rd place finish), New Hui Fen (3rd seed, 4th place finish) and Jazreel Tan (10th) for their strong Top 10 finish.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, Team Europe for the 4th consecutive year won Weber Cup 19-11 over Team USA. As it was last year, Team Europe was the much stronger, more experienced team.
In my humblest of opinions, if Team USA is going to remain competitive in Weber Cup, they need to reassess the team selection. Maybe even bold enough to include a woman. And for those of you who regularly read this blog, you know I'm talking about Marshall Kent's girlfriend, Danielle McEwan.
Why? She's 24, got tons of international experience and has shown she's bowled well with men in PBA League and tournaments outside the United States. Without pointing fingers, let's just say the frequent flier miles for Team Europe are a lot higher than Team USA's.
Below is one of many Weber Cup matches from this past weekend. Big thanks to The European Bowling Channel for getting the videos so quickly to YouTube.
I'll close with the PWBA US Open semi-final match between Liz Johnson and Shayna Ng. I show this match because it was her third match in the stepladder to get her to the finals. She overcame a foul in the 10th frame and still won.
Thanks again to bowlingvideos4all for your tireless work to get these matches to YouTube as fast as you do.
