Matt Cannizzaro blog: Where does the time go?
April 12, 2010
Hello everyone.
Today is the 52nd day of the 2010 USBC Open Championships. Where does the time go?
It seems like just yesterday, Walter Ray Williams Jr. was winning the 2010 USBC Masters, and now here we are, almost halfway through April.
So far, more than 170,000 games have been bowled. More than 586,000 strikes have been tossed on the way to nearly 9,900 clean games. More than 28 million pins (score) have been toppled at the National Bowling Stadium. There have been six 300s and two 800 series.
We've watched two bowlers march down Center Aisle for the 50th time (Norm Cummings and Hal Kaminski) and one for the 55th time (Ken Charrette). One bowler celebrated 60 years (Don Ellis) and one made his 65th appearance (Syl Thiel). We've escorted out one group of defending champions (Linds Limited of Milwaukee; 2009 Regular Team and Team All-Events) and watched USBC Hall of Famer Les Zikes knock down his 100,000th pin.
With all that said, however, there's still 86 days of competition left, which includes one 60-year guy (Nelson Silverstrim, April 15), six 50-year guys and one bowler who is just 10 pins shy of 100,000 (Anthony Malone, April 16). We're also still expecting visits from some defending champions (Ron Vokes, Regular All-Events, April 20-21; Bo Goergen, Regular Singles, May 5-6; and Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla, Regular Doubles, June 25-26).
And then, of course, somewhere in there, I get to take my own shot at Open Championships glory. Counting today, I have 44 days to prepare. So far in 2010, I haven't bowled as much as I would like, so I am overdo for some practice. Luckily, I have access to the best equipment around, and a world-class USBC Silver coach (PBA champion Mike Jasnau) just a few hundred steps from my office.
This will be my 12th appearance on the tournament lanes, and I'll admit, my focus wasn't what it should've been for the first six years, and it showed. It was more about a short vacation and spending time with friends. In 2001 and 2004, it was about blackjack and a few cocktails.
I didn't really understand the history or importance of the tournament. I didn't prepare. Then, there was three years of trying too hard because I didn't want to make a fool out of myself in front of my co-workers.
The more I learn about this tournament, the more I want to do well. I want to understand what it feels like to succeed. I want to move into the top 10. I want to stand on the approach with the front 11 and throw a good shot. I want to fill out an interview questionnaire. I want to receive a 25-year plaque. I want to be announced on the podium. I want to see my name hanging over the lanes. I want to walk past the participation wall and see my name on there for something.
As I prepare for my 2010 tournament campaign, I understand that some things just happen. Many people who win at this tournament did so because their best day came at the right time. I've shot 300 before, but now it's a matter of doing it when it really counts. I've made spares before (except when the money was on the line), but there's something different about the pressure of staring down a 30 clean at the Open Championships.
Now, after watching 50 days of competition, I have some expectations, but there's added pressure, too. Obviously, I want to bowl well in front of my friends and co-workers. I have talked to most of the people who have bowled well or live streamed them while they were doing it, so I know what THEY did to succeed. I've walked past the leaderboard 100+ times a day and have the top scores memorized. I have talked to hall of famers and long-time bowlers. I know what it means to win an eagle. I also have the advantage of no travel, no travel fees, no bowling ball shipping, no jetlag and no uncomfortable/unfamiliar hotel beds. Now, I just need to go out and perform.
Like many bowlers, I look at the top scores, and I look at my personal tournament history, and wonder if taking the lead is really possible. But as I mentioned before, it's all about being in the right place and right time, with everything coming together when it counts.
My overall average for 11 years here is a meager 195.11, but, I've only recently learned how to focus on the prize. I am coming off of a career-best 1,923 all-events total, so I have to feel good about that. I also know what I'm capable of, so if I bowl up to my potential, I'll have another great year. Or go down trying my best.
On a better note, USBC Managing Director of Media Pete Tredwell set the all-events bar for our department at 1,711. The young gun, Aaron Smith, will be in town the first week of May to take down the boss. We'll see...
I do believe that my personal goals are still realistic. Of course, I ultimately want my career day to be here, but here's what would really make my year:
Team- a 650 series and 3,000 team total (personal bests: 640 and 2,885)
Doubles- a 650 series and 1,300 doubles total (personal bests: 631 and 1,234)
Singles- a 725 series (personal best: 716- after 522 in team and 525 in doubles)
All-Events- 1,924 (one pin better than last year)
As a confidence boost, an anonymous supporter and obviously good person has me pegged for a 2,024 all-events total this year. If I pull that off, dinner is on me.
That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.
Today is the 52nd day of the 2010 USBC Open Championships. Where does the time go?
It seems like just yesterday, Walter Ray Williams Jr. was winning the 2010 USBC Masters, and now here we are, almost halfway through April.
So far, more than 170,000 games have been bowled. More than 586,000 strikes have been tossed on the way to nearly 9,900 clean games. More than 28 million pins (score) have been toppled at the National Bowling Stadium. There have been six 300s and two 800 series.
We've watched two bowlers march down Center Aisle for the 50th time (Norm Cummings and Hal Kaminski) and one for the 55th time (Ken Charrette). One bowler celebrated 60 years (Don Ellis) and one made his 65th appearance (Syl Thiel). We've escorted out one group of defending champions (Linds Limited of Milwaukee; 2009 Regular Team and Team All-Events) and watched USBC Hall of Famer Les Zikes knock down his 100,000th pin.
With all that said, however, there's still 86 days of competition left, which includes one 60-year guy (Nelson Silverstrim, April 15), six 50-year guys and one bowler who is just 10 pins shy of 100,000 (Anthony Malone, April 16). We're also still expecting visits from some defending champions (Ron Vokes, Regular All-Events, April 20-21; Bo Goergen, Regular Singles, May 5-6; and Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla, Regular Doubles, June 25-26).
And then, of course, somewhere in there, I get to take my own shot at Open Championships glory. Counting today, I have 44 days to prepare. So far in 2010, I haven't bowled as much as I would like, so I am overdo for some practice. Luckily, I have access to the best equipment around, and a world-class USBC Silver coach (PBA champion Mike Jasnau) just a few hundred steps from my office.
This will be my 12th appearance on the tournament lanes, and I'll admit, my focus wasn't what it should've been for the first six years, and it showed. It was more about a short vacation and spending time with friends. In 2001 and 2004, it was about blackjack and a few cocktails.
I didn't really understand the history or importance of the tournament. I didn't prepare. Then, there was three years of trying too hard because I didn't want to make a fool out of myself in front of my co-workers.
The more I learn about this tournament, the more I want to do well. I want to understand what it feels like to succeed. I want to move into the top 10. I want to stand on the approach with the front 11 and throw a good shot. I want to fill out an interview questionnaire. I want to receive a 25-year plaque. I want to be announced on the podium. I want to see my name hanging over the lanes. I want to walk past the participation wall and see my name on there for something.
As I prepare for my 2010 tournament campaign, I understand that some things just happen. Many people who win at this tournament did so because their best day came at the right time. I've shot 300 before, but now it's a matter of doing it when it really counts. I've made spares before (except when the money was on the line), but there's something different about the pressure of staring down a 30 clean at the Open Championships.
Now, after watching 50 days of competition, I have some expectations, but there's added pressure, too. Obviously, I want to bowl well in front of my friends and co-workers. I have talked to most of the people who have bowled well or live streamed them while they were doing it, so I know what THEY did to succeed. I've walked past the leaderboard 100+ times a day and have the top scores memorized. I have talked to hall of famers and long-time bowlers. I know what it means to win an eagle. I also have the advantage of no travel, no travel fees, no bowling ball shipping, no jetlag and no uncomfortable/unfamiliar hotel beds. Now, I just need to go out and perform.
Like many bowlers, I look at the top scores, and I look at my personal tournament history, and wonder if taking the lead is really possible. But as I mentioned before, it's all about being in the right place and right time, with everything coming together when it counts.
My overall average for 11 years here is a meager 195.11, but, I've only recently learned how to focus on the prize. I am coming off of a career-best 1,923 all-events total, so I have to feel good about that. I also know what I'm capable of, so if I bowl up to my potential, I'll have another great year. Or go down trying my best.
On a better note, USBC Managing Director of Media Pete Tredwell set the all-events bar for our department at 1,711. The young gun, Aaron Smith, will be in town the first week of May to take down the boss. We'll see...
I do believe that my personal goals are still realistic. Of course, I ultimately want my career day to be here, but here's what would really make my year:
Team- a 650 series and 3,000 team total (personal bests: 640 and 2,885)
Doubles- a 650 series and 1,300 doubles total (personal bests: 631 and 1,234)
Singles- a 725 series (personal best: 716- after 522 in team and 525 in doubles)
All-Events- 1,924 (one pin better than last year)
As a confidence boost, an anonymous supporter and obviously good person has me pegged for a 2,024 all-events total this year. If I pull that off, dinner is on me.
That's the news for now. See you on the lanes.