Zodiacs' Prattini celebrates 50th USBC Women's Championships
June 07, 2016
LAS VEGAS - To say Linda Prattini of New Orleans embodies the spirit that has helped make the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships the world's largest participatory sporting event for women would be an understatement.
Since 1967, Prattini has helped define the culture and landscape of the event, bringing the sport of bowling, friendship and fun to the forefront of the tournament experience, and she celebrated her golden anniversary in just that fashion Sunday as she made her 50th consecutive tournament appearance.
Although many have come to know Prattini through her team, Zodiacs of New Orleans, her start at the 1967 USBC Women's Championships in Rochester, New York, was out of the love of a sport she had just picked up the summer before. She quickly demonstrated her determination to be a part of something big.
"My brother got me into bowling in the summer of 1966, and I didn't know the (Women's Championships) tournament was in New Orleans that year, so I was upset with myself, since if I was going to start, why wouldn't I start in New Orleans?" said Prattini, who received a plaque, chevron and pendant Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza to commemorate her achievement. "Some of the women I bowled with were going to Rochester and riding in a six-passenger car. I asked if I could go, and the captain told me she needed tires for her car and would sell me the sixth seat for $100 for new tires, so that's what I did."
Prattini just bowled doubles and singles in San Antonio in 1968, joined by Frances Plaia, who celebrated her 50th consecutive tournament appearance in 2015. The two began a journey, not only to find a team for the 1969 Women's Championships in San Diego, but also to becoming one of the tournament's most memorable traditions.
With Prattini leading the way, the Zodiacs officially made their debut at University Lanes in 1969.
As a rebellion against the tournament's dress code, the team arrived in San Diego in full-length formal dresses that would break away at the knees once they were on the lanes.
"I wanted to go against the rules because I wanted to bowl in slacks," Prattini said. "It only took three years, and in Atlanta in 1971, we wore bell-bottom slacks. The bell bottoms kept triggering the foul lights, though, so they had to assign two officials to us to make sure we weren't going over the line."
The group's reputation as the "World's Best-Dressed Bowling Team" quickly took off as participants and host cities looked forward to seeing what handmade costume they'd wear each year.
"My costumes have given me a little kick, and that makes it even more enjoyable for me," Prattini said. "My Zodiacs are so important to me, and it has brought me so many friendships. That's what bowling should do - help you develop friendships."
As Prattini celebrated her 50th appearance this week in Las Vegas, dressed in black and gold for this year's theme, The Midas Touch, she reflected on the experience and journey to get to the milestone.
The 74-year-old right-hander also has no intentions of stopping soon. The team celebrated its 48th consecutive year in 2016 and will reach its 50th at the 2018 Women's Championships in Reno, Nevada.
"There are many, many reasons why I've enjoyed this 50-year journey," Prattini said. "Yes, the publicity is fun, and designing the costumes is my little niche into the fashion design world, since I wanted to be a clothes designer. But, I love the sport and my team. I have bad feet, bone-on-bone knees and spinal stenosis, so you need to have the desire to do this. I will keep doing this as long as I can, working towards the goal of celebrating the Zodiacs' 50th consecutive year in 2018."
Prattini also had a surprise waiting for her at the Bowling Plaza in one of the displays in the venue provided by the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.
"Janet Strong sent me a picture of a display with one of my shirts, and I started to cry," Prattini said. "That is the shirt I wore at Rochester. I'm so delighted that they have it and so proud I gave it to them not knowing that 50 years later, I'd see it on display as I celebrate my 50th year."
In her 50th Women's Championships appearance, Prattini rolled sets of 428 in team, 421 in singles and 350 in doubles for a 1,199 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Since 1967, Prattini has helped define the culture and landscape of the event, bringing the sport of bowling, friendship and fun to the forefront of the tournament experience, and she celebrated her golden anniversary in just that fashion Sunday as she made her 50th consecutive tournament appearance.
Although many have come to know Prattini through her team, Zodiacs of New Orleans, her start at the 1967 USBC Women's Championships in Rochester, New York, was out of the love of a sport she had just picked up the summer before. She quickly demonstrated her determination to be a part of something big.
"My brother got me into bowling in the summer of 1966, and I didn't know the (Women's Championships) tournament was in New Orleans that year, so I was upset with myself, since if I was going to start, why wouldn't I start in New Orleans?" said Prattini, who received a plaque, chevron and pendant Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza to commemorate her achievement. "Some of the women I bowled with were going to Rochester and riding in a six-passenger car. I asked if I could go, and the captain told me she needed tires for her car and would sell me the sixth seat for $100 for new tires, so that's what I did."
Prattini just bowled doubles and singles in San Antonio in 1968, joined by Frances Plaia, who celebrated her 50th consecutive tournament appearance in 2015. The two began a journey, not only to find a team for the 1969 Women's Championships in San Diego, but also to becoming one of the tournament's most memorable traditions.
With Prattini leading the way, the Zodiacs officially made their debut at University Lanes in 1969.
As a rebellion against the tournament's dress code, the team arrived in San Diego in full-length formal dresses that would break away at the knees once they were on the lanes.
"I wanted to go against the rules because I wanted to bowl in slacks," Prattini said. "It only took three years, and in Atlanta in 1971, we wore bell-bottom slacks. The bell bottoms kept triggering the foul lights, though, so they had to assign two officials to us to make sure we weren't going over the line."
The group's reputation as the "World's Best-Dressed Bowling Team" quickly took off as participants and host cities looked forward to seeing what handmade costume they'd wear each year.
"My costumes have given me a little kick, and that makes it even more enjoyable for me," Prattini said. "My Zodiacs are so important to me, and it has brought me so many friendships. That's what bowling should do - help you develop friendships."
As Prattini celebrated her 50th appearance this week in Las Vegas, dressed in black and gold for this year's theme, The Midas Touch, she reflected on the experience and journey to get to the milestone.
The 74-year-old right-hander also has no intentions of stopping soon. The team celebrated its 48th consecutive year in 2016 and will reach its 50th at the 2018 Women's Championships in Reno, Nevada.
"There are many, many reasons why I've enjoyed this 50-year journey," Prattini said. "Yes, the publicity is fun, and designing the costumes is my little niche into the fashion design world, since I wanted to be a clothes designer. But, I love the sport and my team. I have bad feet, bone-on-bone knees and spinal stenosis, so you need to have the desire to do this. I will keep doing this as long as I can, working towards the goal of celebrating the Zodiacs' 50th consecutive year in 2018."
Prattini also had a surprise waiting for her at the Bowling Plaza in one of the displays in the venue provided by the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame."Janet Strong sent me a picture of a display with one of my shirts, and I started to cry," Prattini said. "That is the shirt I wore at Rochester. I'm so delighted that they have it and so proud I gave it to them not knowing that 50 years later, I'd see it on display as I celebrate my 50th year."
In her 50th Women's Championships appearance, Prattini rolled sets of 428 in team, 421 in singles and 350 in doubles for a 1,199 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.