PBA Kicks Off Big February on ESPN with Live Main Event Terrell Owens
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California Thursday February 2, 2017 7502BBo Florence Ave, Downey, CAww 90240 • Website: lingCaliforniaBowlingNews.com • Email: [email protected] news • Office: (562) 807-3600 Fax: (562) 807-2288 Peggy Elias, Wife of PBA Founder Eddie Elias, Dies CHICAGO – Peggy Elias, the wife of the Pro- fessional Bowlers Associa- tion founder Eddie Elias, died Tuesday in Akron, Ohio. She was 72. Eddie and the former Margaret (Peggy) Emerson both were Akron natives. She was not only renowned for her beauty, but had a wonderful singing voice that attracted a talent scout after she represented Ohio Peggy Elias PBA Kicks Off Big February on ESPN in the 1964 Miss America pageant. She eventually Peggy to a successful ca- landed a spot with the sing- reer in modeling and com- ing group, the Pennsylva- mercials. What started as With Live Main Event Terrell Owens PBA nians. a professional relationship In an article by the late soon turned into a romance hall of fame bowling writer and the couple soon began Super Clash on Super Bowl Sunday Dick Evans in 2008, Evans dating. They were married PBA Tour stars to join NFL stars for live special event leading into Super Bowl on Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. wrote that Peggy called Ed- on Nov. 21, 1968, in New die, who had already estab- York City, and they reigned HOUSTON – The Pro- In addition to Owens, son Belmonte, Hall of Fam- ing and teamed with PBA lished a reputation as one of as one of Akron’s most cel- fessional Bowlers Associa- NFL stars Chad “Ocho- ers Norm Duke and Parker Hall of Famer Pete Weber the nation’s leading person- ebrated couples for nearly tion kicks off its Big Feb- cinco” Johnson and Devin Bohn III, along with eight- to win the 2016 CP3 PBA al representation agents and 30 years until Eddie’s death ruary series with the Main Hester along with actor time PBA Tour winner Celebrity Invitational. It career managers for several in November 1995, six Event Terrell Owens PBA Quinton Aaron, who por- Bill O’Neil and 2016 PBA could be a big weekend for well-known athletes and months after he suffered a Super Clash on Super Bowl trayed NFL star Michael World Championship win- Owens, who as a Pro Foot- show business personali- major stroke. Sunday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. Oher in the hit movie ner EJ Tackett. ball Hall of Fame final- ties, to see if he could help After returning to her from the Main Event En- “Blind Side,” will head- Owens is an accom- ist, hopes to be among the her jump start her career in hometown, Peggy started tertainment Center in the line an all-star lineup that plished bowler who has hall’s class of 2017 that will New York. her second career as a de- Houston suburb of Katy, also will include three-time competed in the GEICO be announced during Super Eddie arranged a meet- voted mother of the cou- Texas. PBA Player of the Year Ja- PBA World Series of Bowl- continued on page 9 ing with the William Mor- ple’s two daughters, Rainy ris Agency which led continued on page 8 Bowlers Say the Graham Fach’s 2016 Barbasol PBA Players Darndest Things Championship Win Was Start of by Fred Eisenhammer WINNETKA – Over- Milestone Season for Canadian Bowlers heard during play in the Fach to defend title against field of more than 100 players at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl Feb. 6-12 Tuesday night “Guys and COLUMBUS, Ohio — Dolls” league at Winnetka Graham Fach of Guelph, Bowl: “We ought to have a Ontario, placed his name million-bowler march.” in Professional Bowlers The jokester behind that Association history by be- crack was powerful right- coming the first Canadian handed ace Jeff Stitz, who to win a PBA Tour title was asked what he exactly when he won the 2016 Bar- meant. “Oh, I was just be- basol PBA Players Cham- ing silly . with all the pionship. But little did he [bleep] going on,” Jeff said. know that he would be just 244 win over Australia’s the U.S. Open in Novem- Yes, even a bit of poli- the opening act in bring- Sam Cooley in the semifi- ber in Las Vegas. Lavoie, tics can enter the solemn ing Canada into the inter- nal match. a Quebec City native, also environment of bowling national bowling spotlight “It’s a great feeling to bowled the first nationally- leagues. for the first time in nearly win against players of this televised 300 game in U.S. Footnote: Jeff went back 60 years. caliber,” Fach said after his Open history en route to the into bowling mode right Fach will return to de- win. “They want to win, but win, becoming the first in- Unique Pro Shop after his quip and knocked fend his title against a field obviously I want to win, ternational player and only down three strikes in a row. of approximately 100 PBA too. I wasn’t sure I would the 26th player to bowl a No one around was able to Tour stars when the Players be able to compete out here, televised perfect game. Concept in Las Vegas trump that flurry of excel- Championship returns to but the only way to find out With their historic victo- LAS VEGAS — JB do not have what you want lence. Wayne Webb’s Columbus is to come out and try.” ries, Fach and Lavoie set up Bowling Supply has come in stock where you have to Bowl Feb. 6-12. After going 57 years the first-ever race between up with the first bowler’s come back later, etc. Bowling in only his sec- without a PBA Tour title, two Canadians for PBA supermarket in Las Vegas,“ Parking at casinos and ond PBA Tour event, the in a matter of a few months Rookie of the Year honors. The Bowler’s Superstore. “ dragging your gear through 24-year-old Fach was near- Canada would have two ti- The only Canadian who This is a concept devel- the parking lot and casino ly perfect in winning his tlists. Also bowling in his has ever won a PBA nation- oped by Jon Burroughs and only to find out as above. first PBA Tour title, and a second PBA Tour event al award was George Lam- David Knowland to provide JB is a store in a shopping PBA major championship, in Columbus, 23-year-old bert IV who was selected a greater range of stock center where you park right when he defeated top quali- Francois Lavoie placed his as the 2009-10 Steve Nagy and services that cannot at the door. fier Ryan Ciminelli, 279- name in the record books as Sportsmanship Award win- be found elsewhere. Too JB has a stub bowling 244, in front of a capacity the second Canadian to win ner. many times we go to pro lane to check your release crowd after advancing to a PBA Tour title – and a ma- In December, Lavoie shops only to find that they continued on page 3 Jeff Stitz is a top area bowler the title match with a 247- jor as well – when he won continued on page 8 known for his sense of humor. Page 2 CaliforniaBowlingNews.com February 2, 2017 BOWLIUM HONORSby Tony Lizama, USMC - Photos courtesy OUR of Tony Lizama VETERANS! MONTCLAIR — Nei- ther rain, sleet nor recent record floods could keep bowlers away from compet- ing in the Annual Bowlers to Veterans Link Tournament (BVL)! On January 22, 2017, Montclair Bowlium held their annual BVL tourna- ment. The event was open to USBC Members of San Gabriel Valley. Participants were placed into categories consisting of men, women and youth, with the respective category winners having the option to compete in the California State Finals held in Man- teca, California on March Azusa Bowling Club shows team spirit and unity at BVL Tournament 25, 2017. According to Chris Pilios, President of the San Gabriel Valley Bowling Association and Chairman of the BVL Committee, the tournament has been going on for over 70 years. Its goal is to help raise money for California disabled veterans. “Everything we do is volunteer work and everything we raffle goes directly to them. As always, we have a wonderful turnout. My sincerest respect and admiration go out to those bowlers who participated in this memorable event.” Chris Pilios, himself a veteran of the United States Army from 1956 to 1959, states he will continue to volunteer his time and effort to this worthwhile program. The event began with opening remarks from BVL President Chris Pilios fol- lowed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a rendition of the Star Spangle Banner. All former military veterans were asked to stand at the approach and given a special recognition. An impressive display of group participa- tion was exhibited by the Azusa Bowling Club. Many Past and current president the San Gabriel Valley members proudly wore their USBC, John Hilke and Chris Pilios. black and white Azusa Club uniform in a show of unity and spirit. The highlight of the day came when bowler John Van Metre, Jr. bowled a perfect 300! Chris Pilios later commented, “We were very pleased with the num- ber of bowlers in attendance, especially with the extreme rain conditions. Again, I applaud all the bowlers who showed their enthusiasm, as well as their patriotism.” The success of the re- cent BVL bowling event was made possible by the efforts of many volunteers, including San Gabriel Val- ley USBC Board Members Display Banner honoring our veterans Linda Johnson-Pilios, Lynda Lapp, Annette Riccelli, Phil Lapp, Dave Prechtl and Scott Poddig.