Matt Cannizzaro blog: Another year in the books
May 29, 2010
Hello everyone.
Earlier this week, I took a few hours off and tried my luck at the 2010 USBC Open Championships.
I hit the lanes on the 93rd day of the tournament. I had been in the building for 91 of those 93 days. I had seen some left-handers bowl exceptionally well. I'd also seen some very talented southpaws bowl terribly. I was a little confused.
I did what I could to prepare. I practiced on "the tournament pattern" at a nearby bowling center a few times when I could escape, and I tested my skills at the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, where I bowled pretty well.
My associate to the south, Aaron Smith, already ruined much of this story in his own blog, but since he says his parents are the only ones who read his stuff, I'll give a few highlights, of which there were, well, few.
It was nice to see my teammates again. As I've mentioned before, only a few bowlers get to call themselves champions each year, so for the rest of us, camaraderie and friendship are two prizes that everyone gets. And while I was working, Mother Nature welcomed my friends, most of whom left the 94-degree Florida weather, with a freak May snow storm.
Anyway, we bowled team at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23.
Before we even went out to the lanes, I felt like a winner. The trip to come bowl didn't cost me anything. The housing accommodations were comfortable and reasonably priced. My meals were home-cooked. I was surrounded by friends. I had co-workers/friends there to support me unconditionally, and I wasn't wearing a tie for the first day since March 10.
We looked sharp in our Ebonite-logo'd collarless dress shirts and black slacks. I had a nice cold Cherry Coke to keep me refreshed and energized while I was bowling. I knew what I wanted to do. I knew which ball I was going to throw. All I had to do was execute....and I didn't. I missed spares that I shouldn't have and shot a whopping 563.
Right before I went out for doubles and singles, fellow lefty Brett Wolfe came into the clubhouse with an astronomical 2,245 all-events total, which started with a 771 series in team the day before. Again, I was baffled, especially after my own team performance. But the good news was that it still was mathematically possible for me to catch him. All I had to do was average 281 the rest of the way.
Well, despite my best Matt McNiel impression, it took only six frames from me to be eliminated from all-events contention. After a few more frames, and Mr. Wolfe was safe, too. I took a minute at that point to consider how awesome their performances had been. And then, I set my sights on my next target, Aaron Smith.
You see, since the closest we get to the top bowlers is writing about them, we choose to beat up on each other every year. While the grand prize simply is bragging rights, there is a great sense of pride that comes with being the best of the best in USBC's media/public relations/marketing area.
Pete Tredwell, the Managing Director of Media for USBC, set the bar early with a 1,711 all-events total. Despite a slow start, Aaron raised that bar and returned to El Paso as the leader after shooting 1,771. Lucas Wiseman, the voice of USBC's live streaming efforts, banged his head on the bar with a 268 start in team, but fell short, with 1,521.
I wouldn't say things went well for me the rest of the way, but I did close things out with a six bagger to save face with a 1,801 finish, a respectable score.
So for two weeks, I am at the top of a leaderboard. Not THE leaderboard, but a leaderboard nonetheless. On June 7-8, the newcomer to our group, Emil Williams Jr., will make his Open Championships debut.
Once he gets past those first-time jitters, I expect Emil to shoot 1950+. After all, he IS a collegiate national champion. At least once a day he starts a sentence with, "well, back when we won it all," or "speaking from experience as a national champion...."
I'm just kidding about that. Emil really is very humble about his success, and I respect that. Had I enjoyed the same fortune, however, I'd have the Helmer Cup on a chain around my neck. Always.
Anyway, good luck to Emil and the marketing department's Andrew Ewig, who will be in town at the end of June. My advice is simple:
1. Pay attention to the announcements in the squad room. Don't talk while Roger is at the podium, that's disrespectful to the bowlers being recognized, and you might miss some of the rule changes for 2010.
2. Come in with a Plan B.
3. Don't worry about the leaderboard or what anyone else is shooting.
4. Enjoy the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the reunion with friends and family.
5. The USBC Sport Bowling-compliant lane condition requires accuracy and patience, which is what you should expect at a national championship.
6. Make your spares.
7. Remember, I will brag, often, so beat me.
8. Have fun.
9. No matter what, you get to try again next year.
10. Emil, you always remember your first time. Wear that first-time participant button proudly.
That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.
Earlier this week, I took a few hours off and tried my luck at the 2010 USBC Open Championships.
I hit the lanes on the 93rd day of the tournament. I had been in the building for 91 of those 93 days. I had seen some left-handers bowl exceptionally well. I'd also seen some very talented southpaws bowl terribly. I was a little confused.
I did what I could to prepare. I practiced on "the tournament pattern" at a nearby bowling center a few times when I could escape, and I tested my skills at the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, where I bowled pretty well.
My associate to the south, Aaron Smith, already ruined much of this story in his own blog, but since he says his parents are the only ones who read his stuff, I'll give a few highlights, of which there were, well, few.
It was nice to see my teammates again. As I've mentioned before, only a few bowlers get to call themselves champions each year, so for the rest of us, camaraderie and friendship are two prizes that everyone gets. And while I was working, Mother Nature welcomed my friends, most of whom left the 94-degree Florida weather, with a freak May snow storm.
Anyway, we bowled team at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23.
Before we even went out to the lanes, I felt like a winner. The trip to come bowl didn't cost me anything. The housing accommodations were comfortable and reasonably priced. My meals were home-cooked. I was surrounded by friends. I had co-workers/friends there to support me unconditionally, and I wasn't wearing a tie for the first day since March 10.
We looked sharp in our Ebonite-logo'd collarless dress shirts and black slacks. I had a nice cold Cherry Coke to keep me refreshed and energized while I was bowling. I knew what I wanted to do. I knew which ball I was going to throw. All I had to do was execute....and I didn't. I missed spares that I shouldn't have and shot a whopping 563.
Right before I went out for doubles and singles, fellow lefty Brett Wolfe came into the clubhouse with an astronomical 2,245 all-events total, which started with a 771 series in team the day before. Again, I was baffled, especially after my own team performance. But the good news was that it still was mathematically possible for me to catch him. All I had to do was average 281 the rest of the way.
Well, despite my best Matt McNiel impression, it took only six frames from me to be eliminated from all-events contention. After a few more frames, and Mr. Wolfe was safe, too. I took a minute at that point to consider how awesome their performances had been. And then, I set my sights on my next target, Aaron Smith.
You see, since the closest we get to the top bowlers is writing about them, we choose to beat up on each other every year. While the grand prize simply is bragging rights, there is a great sense of pride that comes with being the best of the best in USBC's media/public relations/marketing area.
Pete Tredwell, the Managing Director of Media for USBC, set the bar early with a 1,711 all-events total. Despite a slow start, Aaron raised that bar and returned to El Paso as the leader after shooting 1,771. Lucas Wiseman, the voice of USBC's live streaming efforts, banged his head on the bar with a 268 start in team, but fell short, with 1,521.
I wouldn't say things went well for me the rest of the way, but I did close things out with a six bagger to save face with a 1,801 finish, a respectable score.
So for two weeks, I am at the top of a leaderboard. Not THE leaderboard, but a leaderboard nonetheless. On June 7-8, the newcomer to our group, Emil Williams Jr., will make his Open Championships debut.
Once he gets past those first-time jitters, I expect Emil to shoot 1950+. After all, he IS a collegiate national champion. At least once a day he starts a sentence with, "well, back when we won it all," or "speaking from experience as a national champion...."
I'm just kidding about that. Emil really is very humble about his success, and I respect that. Had I enjoyed the same fortune, however, I'd have the Helmer Cup on a chain around my neck. Always.
Anyway, good luck to Emil and the marketing department's Andrew Ewig, who will be in town at the end of June. My advice is simple:
1. Pay attention to the announcements in the squad room. Don't talk while Roger is at the podium, that's disrespectful to the bowlers being recognized, and you might miss some of the rule changes for 2010.
2. Come in with a Plan B.
3. Don't worry about the leaderboard or what anyone else is shooting.
4. Enjoy the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the reunion with friends and family.
5. The USBC Sport Bowling-compliant lane condition requires accuracy and patience, which is what you should expect at a national championship.
6. Make your spares.
7. Remember, I will brag, often, so beat me.
8. Have fun.
9. No matter what, you get to try again next year.
10. Emil, you always remember your first time. Wear that first-time participant button proudly.
That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.