Why Belmo Got My 'POY' Vote Strikes Me
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Opinion STRIKES ME BY BOB JOHNSON { [email protected] } Why Belmo Got My ‘POY’ Vote SO MANY PLAYERS could make legitimate claims to the Player of the Brunswick Euro Challenge, Year award for the 2011-12 PBA Tour season that the Professional Bowl- but I’m still not quite sure what to think of those World ers Assn. saw an opportunity: It turned the vote among PBA players Bowling Tour events that and select media members into a media event. now award PBA titles to PBA members. At least for now, I The PBA planned to Rash were still in the run- might use that type of win as unveil the identities of the ning. So were the season’s a tiebreaker, but in my mind, top three vote-getters on only three-time winners, even with that title, Fagan’s May 16, and then make the Belmonte and Norm Duke. record didn’t quite match formal announcement of the One of Duke’s titles came up to Belmonte’s or Rash’s. winner on its Xtra Frame in a doubles event, and when Thus, it came down to two bowling channel on May 28. trying to compare apples and players who really don’t care All three players figured to oranges — which has always much for one another. Consid- be in Chicago that day for been part of the process in a ering that Rash led the tour Summer Shootout tapings. poll such as this — I’ve gener- in earnings, average and com- So, by the time this June ally considered a doubles petition points, how could he issue of Bowlers Journal Inter- win to be more like half a not be the Player of the Year? national is in your hands, the title. Both of Duke’s singles During the 2011-12 sea- Here’s how: Belmonte son, Jason Belmonte winner will be known. Did titles came in “Xtra Frame finished second, third won three titles and my pick — Jason Belmonte — Tour” events, one of which shined in the majors. and second in those cat- get the nod, or did the award was worth only $10,000. egories, and he won three go to someone else? Either That prevented him from titles to Rash’s one. way, I thought I’d share the finishing any higher than late Don Carter. Had Weber True, all of Belmonte’s reasoning behind my vote. sixth on the season earn- taken the final round of the wins came at a single venue: The official PBA ballot ings list. So, Duke was out. Xtra Frame Tour’s Cheetah the South Point resort in included the names and The next to be crossed off Open Presented by Ebonite Las Vegas, which hosted season statistics of 11 players. was Palermaa, whose overall more seriously, he could have the PBA’s World Series of I quickly pared the list of record (fifth in competition had two titles and I would Bowling. But if one were to contenders to six by elimi- points, fifth in earnings, 31st have removed sentimental- discount those titles for that nating Chris Barnes, Ryan in average) just didn’t com- ity from the equation. reason, they’d also have to Ciminelli, Andres Gomez, pare to those of my final four. Either way, three players discount Rash’s statistical Bill O’Neill and Ryan Shafer. I readily admit that my ultimately rose to the top superiority, which was built In a 15-tournament season No. 4 pick was based partly of my list. In alphabetical up at the very same venue. that includes four majors, on sentimentality. A Player order: Jason Belmonte, Mike If the title advantage hadn’t every major titlist had to of the Year honor is the only Fagan and Sean Rash. convinced me, performances survive my first cut, which significant accolade missing Fagan was especially in the majors would have. meant World Champion- from PDW’s career resumé, impressive in the majors. Belmo had finishes of third, ship winner Osku Palermaa, and his one victory put him In addition to winning the third, fourth and ninth, USBC Masters champ Mike all alone atop the all-time Masters, he finished sec- while Rash’s placings were Fagan, U.S. Open winner U.S. Open/All Star titles list ond in the U.S. Open and first, third, 26th and 166th. Pete Weber and Tournament with five — breaking a tie fourth in the Tournament of So, in the end, it was of Champions winner Sean with his late father and the Champions. He also won the Belmonte by a nose. 84 Bowlers Journal International | June 2012 www.bowlersjournal.com.