Jowdy-Ism Light Hits by John Jowdy by John Archibald
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Jowdy-ism Light Hits By John Jowdy By John Archibald Four Good Men Liz Johnson may not have won when she bowled in the televised finals of a PBA tournament on March 20, but she may have helped the PBA more than any Ordinarily, I am a supreme optimist and enjoy writing what I consider interesting other member this season. The publicity Liz attracted just by qualifying for the and, at times, controversial topics. Unfortunately, events that have occurred since show probably made thousands of sports fans aware for the first time that there mid-February have severely dampened my spirits. However, this story is not is pro bowling on TV. about me, it is about four people that elevated themselves above the rest. And Johnson’s ability to remain cool under pressure and finish second in the Everyone involved in bowling, including spectators and fans, were stunned and Banquet Open in Wyoming, Mich., didn’t hurt either. The 30-year-old righthander heartbroken at the news of the passing of Dick Weber. All bowling writers have defeated Wes Malott in a semifinal, 235-228, then pressed PBA Player of the emphasized Weber’s stature as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the Year favorite Tommy Jones, before losing, 219-192. game and all writers have recognized Dick as the game’s greatest ambassador. I, If the attention given Johnson’s invasion of the men’s field in St. Louis is any and anyone who knew Dick, concur with these statements. Uppermost in my indication of the attention it received in other cities, the PBA clipping service mind, Weber was the most modest, unpretentious, and most caring bowler I ever should have a fat bundle of newspaper clippings and hopefully some record of met. how many TV and radio mentions it caused. During the 1950-60’s, I operated the Tiffany Lounge, a nightclub in downtown Like some papers, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch usually runs the scores of the San Antonio. I was fortunate to have known and socialized with some of the most PBA events, but little else. In the Sunday editions, however, the sports depart- outstanding athletes and celebrities in the sports and entertainment world. We ment took the time to combine several PBA press releases to run about 8 inches became friends and I addressed them on a first name basis. Some were some- of copy on the upcoming event, despite an overwhelming supply of “March Mad- what pompous, some were pretty normal, and others were down-to-earth friendly. ness” basketball news. Yet, none of these celebrities remotely possessed the warmth, humility, and “I’m just going to have fun,” Liz said, when interviewed by a TV announcer be- cheerfulness of Dick Weber. Weber was, by far, the most gracious, unpretending, fore her first match. She actually was a TV veteran, having won 11 champion- unostentatious athlete or big-name star I ever met. ships in the Professional Women’s Bowling Association before that group folded One example of this occurred last year, at one of the PBA Tour stops. I was in 2003. Johnson became the first female to compete in a PBA meet last Novem- sitting at a far end of an eatery with my buddy, Bret Cooper, a young aspiring ber, six months after the PBA opened its membership to women. bowler from Denver. Dick was sitting with another group of bowlers. He spotted Johnson stayed calm after Malott got a break in the third frame. He’d had a us, got up and came to our table. His first words were, “Hi Bret, how are you do- strike in frame No. 2, then left a wide-open 4-10 split in Frame No. 3. That set-up ing?” Cooper, who had met Dick only once about six months previously, was is rarely converted even by the pros. Malott had fouled on that shot, however, overwhelmed. After Weber left our table, Cooper turned to me and said, “Wow, and the deck was cleared. He knocked down all 10 pins on his second shot for a Weber is a super-star, yet he remembered me.” This was just one of many sto- spare and thus lost nothing. ries related to Weber’s consideration and respect for those who crossed his path. With her followers waving cardboard likenesses in the stands---“Liz Johnson Numerous writers who were doing stories on Mr. Weber following his death called fans”---the Cheektowaga, N.Y. resident took the early led on Jones by opening me for comments concerning his passing on. My first thoughts were of his wife with a double, but then left the 6-7-10 and could only stay close until Jones struck Juanita, the entire family, and their grief. I became much closer to the Weber in the eighth, ninth and tenth. clan a number of years ago when Pete experienced a rare decline in his game “I’m either going to make history or be history,” the normally stone-faced Jones and sought my help during a tournament in Oklahoma. Fortunately, he overcame said, with a small grin, before the match. his slump and again bowled his way to the top of his profession. Eventually, I de- AS I WATCHED, I suspected Jones was thinking, “How can I get named veloped greater ties with Pete’s brothers Rich and John Weber and soon consid- Player of the Year if I get beaten by a girl!” ered the Webers as part of my family. Jones had drubbed Steve Jaros, a three-time winner last season, 268-208 in My greatest assessment of Dick Weber was the incredible respect he received their semifinal. A few minutes later, however, the left lane became “difficult” for from PBA members. All bowlers on the senior tour showed adoration and rever- fireballing Jones and he couldn’t double until the ninth. ence for Mr. Weber but I was overwhelmed at the high regard and esteem dis- The win was the fourth of the season for Jones, 26, who appears to be a shoo- th played towards Dick by bowlers on the regular PBA tour. He is the ONLY bowler I in for the year’s top honor. He was 7 in the PBA World Point Standings last know of who succeeded in commanding this homage from the entire professional year. bowling spectrum. A LONG WAY HOME Difficult air trips are common in the winter, but the trail By this time, Dick Weber has already lined up months of exhibitions in Heaven was especially rigorous for my old team captain and roommate Augie Karcher Lanes. There has never been one like him, nor will there ever be. after we parted in Baton Rouge, La., last month. My friend, Chick Romano loved bowling. He was a PBA member for many Augie and I had failed to excite anybody in the ABC tournament the previous years and, although he never attained super-star status, he was one of the most night, as usual, but all that nonsense was forgotten as Augie checked out at 6 a. popular figures in the game. Chick could always be found at senior tournaments m. for his return flight to LaCrosse/Winona, Minn. seated behind Teata Semiz, his favorite player and closest friend. Oddly, Semiz “My flight to Chicago went as scheduled,” he e-mailed, “but we sat on the tar- was attending Chick’s funeral in California when his son Tommy called to inform mac in Chicago for two hours until nine passengers were persuaded to take him of Weber’s death. This was a double-edged sword in Teata’s heart. Teata vouchers and get off the commuter plane so we could take on added fuel. They and Dick were bowling and golf buddies and spoke on the phone at least three knew we’d need extra fuel if we couldn’t land in LaCrosse, which was snowed in. times a week. “But then they canceled the flight anyway and gave us $10 vouchers for a meal Four days later, while attending the US Open in New Jersey, my wife Brenda and said they would have a bus for us at 6 p.m. The bus didn’t show up until 8. called to tell me my beloved brother Frank had passed away. Frank was not only “It took five hours to get to LaCrosse. Then I had to scrape 15 inches of snow a brother. We were batboys for visiting baseball teams in San Antonio in the mid off my car and drive on icy Highway 1-90 for another 28 miles. I got home at 3 a. 1930’s. We bowled and played softball together. We grew up die-hard Yankee m. fans, as well as Texas Longhorn loyalists. On my trips to San Antonio, breakfast “And now I have a helluva cold!” at Jim’s was an absolute MUST; every morning of my visiting days. Arch to Karch: Let’s re-think our plans to join the PBA senior tour. My brother Frank was truly a symbol of America’s opportunity for those who sought a better life. He joined the Air Force at age 18, attended air mechanic’s school in Illinois, and eventually became a pilot. He completed 66 missions as a past six months, wanted to spend more time with his family. Nonetheless, he will B-17 Bomber pilot. He returned to action as a pilot in the European Airlift, served remain a Columbia consultant for two years. his country in Vietnam and Korea, and retired as a Colonel.