August 10, 2007

 

By: Mark Martin

 

NATIONAL BOWLING WEEK

 

National Bowling Week returns Aug. 25-31 to help kick off the 2007-08 bowling season.

This year's celebration comes on the heels of a year marked by a 3.5 percent spike in the number of bowlers in this country - 66 million Americans bowled at least once last year - and a 1.4 percent gain in the number of paid games.


National Bowling Week, which is sponsored by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association, Professional Bowlers Association, Strike Ten Entertainment and the United States Bowling Congress, celebrates this country’s most popular participatory sport with many special events.

Many local bowling centers will celebrate the start of the new season with bowling specials, league sign ups, coaching clinics and generally just a lot of fun.

 

Major national festivities kick off Aug. 13-17 when the Bowling Pin Cart (a tricked-out golf cart made to resemble a pin) moves from its current residence at BPAA Headquarters in Arlington , Texas , to its new home at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno , Nev.

USBC’s giant ball mascot, Striker and USBC's giant pin mascot, King, are scheduled to be in New York City Aug. 27-28, popping up at the morning network news shows. That's after King and Striker hold the finish-line tape for the famous Klement’s sausage races at Milwaukee 's Miller Park , home of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. National Bowling Week also is scheduled to be part of baseball pre-game festivities in St. Louis on Aug. 11, Houston on Aug. 30 and Miami on Sept. 1.

Other events include the announcement of the winners of the second annual Show and Tell art, photography and writing contests and the Professional Bowlers Association Show Us Your Finish Work Video Contest on bowlspace.com and a buy-one-game, get-one-game free coupon promotion in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

 

Contact your local bowling center and get in on the fun.

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HONOR SCORES

300 Games

Date, Name, Hometown, Center, League

July 25, Alan Pittman, Clarkston, 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

July 26, Anthony Catenacci Jr., Oxford , Regal Lanes, Thursday Sweeper

July 28, Aaron Jones, Chicago , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

July 29, Bobby Nunn, Chicago , Hazel Park Bowl, Hamtramck Singles Classic

July 31, Andrew Bennett, Royal Oak , Sunnybrook Lanes, Sunnybrook Tuesday Trio

Aug. 1, Larry Jackson, Detroit , Plum Hollow Lanes, Wednesday Nite Mixed

Aug. 1, Jerry Owczarski, South Lyon , 300 Bowl, 300 Wednesday Trio Shootout

 

 

800 Series

Date, Name (Score), Hometown, Center, League

 

 

 

Mark Martin writes a weekly bowling column on Fridays for The Daily Oakland Press and is the association manager of the Metro Detroit USBC Association. He can be reached at (248) 443-2695, faxed at (248) 443-2690 or e-mailed at mark.martin@mdusbc.com.