The 2018 season cemented Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts as one of the best in Major League Baseball.
Batting average: .346 (1st)
Home runs: 32
Stolen bases: 30
Betts and teammate J.D. Martinez are heavy favorites to win the league's MVP.
Mookie is also an elite level bowler. PBA Commissioner Tom Clark invited him to participate in the 2015 World Series of Bowling (see October 11, 2015 blog entry). Due to injury in 2016, he did not bowl.
Before the 2018 baseball season began, Mookie participated in the 2017 World Series of Bowling at National Bowling Stadium in Reno. On November 12, 2017, Mookie bowled a perfect 300 game in the PBA Scorpion Championship.
Dude's got game. Nike needs to come out with a reboot of the "Bo Knows" commercials with Mr. Betts.
Televised today on ESPN, and streamed live on ESPN3 on November 18 (see November 5 entry), a big congratulations to Liz Johnson for winning her first PBA title, the Chameleon Championship,
The Chameleon Championship was the 2nd of 7 tournaments in PBA's World Series of Bowling at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
2017 has been a terrific year for Liz. She won her 4th consecutive PWBA US Open title (see August 6, 2017 entry). She had to battle way up the stepladder as the 5th seed to defeat 4 bowlers to do it.
Kelly Kulick was the last female to win a PBA title (Tournament of Champions) in 2010. She defeated Chris Barnes, 265-195.
It seems nearly every time PBA announces a tournament winner on Facebook, there is a litany of complaints that the tournaments should be televised live.
As I said in my February 7, 2016 entry, I'll put it gently. The 20th century ended 15 years ago. There are too many other sports venues with larger markets where bowling cannot compete. Not going to happen.
Suggestion: Wait a week or so and watch it on PBA's YouTube channel. Nearly all the televised matches can be found there.
Or, subscribe to xtraframe. Yes, it will cost money. If you're that much of a bowling enthusiast, then it's as much value as a Hulu or Netflix subscription.
I'll close with thoughts on men who comment about opening PWBA events to men for equality's sake.
My rebuttal: it isn't equality.
It's why you don't see men playing women's volleyball, basketball, hockey, or sports. In other words, most women physically cannot match in size and strength to men.
However, when a woman like Kelly or Liz does win, are you threatened by the idea she is better than you?
Below is video of the match. If you watch to the end, you'll see how happy Wes Malott and Anthony Pepe are to see Liz win.
