On the Lanes with Emil Williams Jr.
June 04, 2010
In the coming months, we'll talk with some of the best-known bowlers at the USBC Open Championships and get their thoughts on their time at the tournament and what it takes to succeed on the championship lanes.
This week, we heard from Emil Williams Jr., who is part of the media relations team at the 2010 Open Championships. He will take to the lanes this year on June 7 and 8.
Williams started bowling when he was 5 years old, and the highlight of his career thus far is a team title at the 2005 Intercollegiate Team Championships at Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill.
The 25-year-old right-hander owns a Master's degree in communications with a focus in radio and TV. As a media relations specialist at the Open Championships, he has helped write more than 100 stories for BOWL.com, shot hours of video footage on the tournament lanes and added expert play-by-play commentary to a handful of live streaming broadcasts.
HOMETOWN: Chicago
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This will be my first.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: None yet...
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 15
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: As long as they roll well, I am a fan.
ONE all-time favorite host city: This is my first time competing, so hopefully Reno will provide a good starting point. I wasn't alive in 1901, but I would have to imagine that Chicago was a blast.
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. working as a media assistant during the 2010 event; 2. I am sure walking down Center Aisle for the first time will be memorable.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. spare shooting; 2. confidence; 3. having fun.
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: Hopefully, Reno will not provide any memories that I will want to forget.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Randy Lightfoot, Les Zikes and Nelson Burton Jr.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Brunswick C-System 2.5, Hammer Black Widow, Ebonite Mission, Track 715C, Storm HyRoad, Storm Invasion
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., Wichita, Kan., Los Angeles and Honolulu
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Brunswick Ultimate Inferno, Brunswick Riot Zone, Hammer Black Widow, Storm Super Power Pearl, Storm El Nino Gold, Track Hex, Columbia 300 Power Torq, Columbia 300 Wicked (Blue)
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Andre' Parker, Shea Bittenbender, Brian Valenta, Mike Dole, Patrick Johnson, Jon Sipich, Tommy Smith, Daniel Farish and Jesse Buss
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: Walter Ray Williams Jr.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Take a deep breath, and throw the best shot you can.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: I hope to be able to still compete at a high level, while continuing to promote the great sport of bowling.
This week, we heard from Emil Williams Jr., who is part of the media relations team at the 2010 Open Championships. He will take to the lanes this year on June 7 and 8.
Williams started bowling when he was 5 years old, and the highlight of his career thus far is a team title at the 2005 Intercollegiate Team Championships at Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill.
The 25-year-old right-hander owns a Master's degree in communications with a focus in radio and TV. As a media relations specialist at the Open Championships, he has helped write more than 100 stories for BOWL.com, shot hours of video footage on the tournament lanes and added expert play-by-play commentary to a handful of live streaming broadcasts.
HOMETOWN: Chicago
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This will be my first.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: None yet...
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 15
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: As long as they roll well, I am a fan.
ONE all-time favorite host city: This is my first time competing, so hopefully Reno will provide a good starting point. I wasn't alive in 1901, but I would have to imagine that Chicago was a blast.
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. working as a media assistant during the 2010 event; 2. I am sure walking down Center Aisle for the first time will be memorable.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. spare shooting; 2. confidence; 3. having fun.
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: Hopefully, Reno will not provide any memories that I will want to forget.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Randy Lightfoot, Les Zikes and Nelson Burton Jr.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Brunswick C-System 2.5, Hammer Black Widow, Ebonite Mission, Track 715C, Storm HyRoad, Storm Invasion
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., Wichita, Kan., Los Angeles and Honolulu
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Brunswick Ultimate Inferno, Brunswick Riot Zone, Hammer Black Widow, Storm Super Power Pearl, Storm El Nino Gold, Track Hex, Columbia 300 Power Torq, Columbia 300 Wicked (Blue)
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Andre' Parker, Shea Bittenbender, Brian Valenta, Mike Dole, Patrick Johnson, Jon Sipich, Tommy Smith, Daniel Farish and Jesse Buss
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: Walter Ray Williams Jr.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Take a deep breath, and throw the best shot you can.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: I hope to be able to still compete at a high level, while continuing to promote the great sport of bowling.