The East's Most Read Bowling Weekly Sports Reporter The Nation's Leading Bowling Tournament Newspaper Since 1940 Vol. 71 No. 44 January 5 - 11, 2011 . 50 cents Osku Palermaa Wins PBA Shark Championship PBA Names Press Room in Honor By Bill Vint - PBA Media Relations of Hall of Famer Chuck Pezzano LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Finland’s Osku SEATTLE, Wash. – Tournament of Palermaa, Europe’s premier two-handed Since the formation of Champions at Red bowler, survived a 173-149 battle with top the Professional Rock Lanes in Las qualifier Dan MacLelland of Windsor, Ontario, Bowlers Association Vegas, Jan. 15-22. The to win his first PBA Tour title in the PBA in 1958, no one has Chuck Pezzano PBA Shark Championship at South Point Bowling contributed more to Press Room also will Center. the organization in so welcome the news Widely considered the most difficult of the many different ways media at all future PBA’s five so-called “animal” lane condition- than PBA Hall of Lumber Liquidators ing patterns, the Shark took a bite out of the Famer Chuck PBA Tour events and it entire field of power players. In the end, it was Pezzano. will have a permanent Palermaa’s ball speed and ability to loft the ball In recognition of the home on pba.com for down the lane, using his two-handed tech- 81-year-old Clifton, all news media visitors nique, that made the difference as four splits N.J., native’s contributions to the who visit the PBA’s official web- killed MacLelland’s bid for his first PBA Tour PBA, his name will be permanent- site. title. ly attached to the organization “It think it’s a pretty nice honor,” With his victory, Palermaa accomplished his beginning with the introduction of Pezzano said. “It came as a com- primary objective in traveling to the United the Chuck Pezzano PBA Press plete surprise.” PBA photo States to bowl in the multi-event PBA World Finland’s two-handed star bowler Oksu Palermaa beat Room during the PBA See PEZZANO page 5 Series of Bowling: an opportunity to also bowl PBA’s most difficult Shark Pattern to win WSB event. in the $1 million PBA Tournament of Gabe Ferrari 300-804 at Majestic Champions Jan. 15-22 at Red Rock Lanes in Las 10th frame gave Palermaa a 182-176 victory and a HOPELAWN, NJ – Gabe Ferrari 235-769, Joe Lampareillo 268- Vegas. The PBA Tournament of Champions is open chance to bowl MacLelland for the title. earned top honors in the Raritan 729, Anthony Martino 200-255- only to bowlers who have won a PBA title. “I’m happy with the way I bowled,” Palermaa said. Bay Men’s League at Majestic 248-703, Steve A. Venito 228- “That was the main part of my being here,” “I might have wrapped my hand around the ball a little Lanes blasting games of 300-264- 236-221-685, Nick Cascone 211- Palmeraa said. “Being from Finland, I can’t bowl in too much a couple of times, but I made my spares. It 240 for a high series of 804. 216-255-682, and Frank Carley the PBA regional tournaments, so (winning a title dur- was the Shark. It was expected the lanes were going to Joey Weisenstein hit 245-289- 234-201-234-669. ing the World Series of Bowling) was my only way in. get ugly. There’s only so much oil and it got burned It’s the biggest tournament I’ve ever had a chance to up.” Chris Montagna 844, bowl in. I can’t wait. Palermaa appeared to accept his milestone victory in “Will I be a favorite?” he grinned. “Oh, yah. When a stoic Scandinavian manner, but he admitted later he Michael Mullin 300 at Lodi I am bowling my A game, I’m going to be on top.” was more excited than he appeared to be. LODI, NJ – Michael Mullin found session high series with an impres- On his way to his title, Palermaa also won a long- “I’m an emotional guy, but it’s inside,” he said. perfection when he blasted twelve sive 844 set. awaited showdown against his Pacific region counter- “Why waste the energy showing the emotions? It’s the in a row for a 300 game while con- Jay Judowski posted a 760 series part, Australia’s Jason Belmonte. The Shark Finnish way. That’s the way I learned to do it. Maybe testing in the Monday Classic and Jennifer Deblasi rolled games Championship was the first time the world's best two- I should be more emotional, but that’s the way I’m used to doing it.” League at Lodi Lanes. of 256 and 211to finish with a 708 handed bowlers had ever met each other on television. Chris Montagna posted a near series. “It was our first match on TV so I wanted to be the perfect 297 game en route to the one to get the first win,” Palermaa said. “There will be The sixth and final World Series of Bowling telecast plenty more to go, and we’ll see what happens. But I will be a special U.S.A. vs. The World team competi- Ralph DiPasquale, Ray Sisco 300 got the first one.” tion which will air on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 1 Belmonte started the Shark finals with a 248-223 p.m. Eastern. United States team members will be At Parkway Lanes victory over Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., and he Michael Haugen Jr. of Carefree, Ariz.; Ronnie Russell then eliminated reigning PBA World Champion Tom of Camby, Ind.; Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas; Sean ELMWOOD PARK, NJ – Ralph Chuck Trimblett hit 783, Joe Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., 208-192, to set up his Rash, Wichita, Kan.; Chris Barnes, Double Oak, DiPasquale and Ray Sisco each Bonser 755, Frank Buonanno 726, showdown with Palermaa in the semifinal match. Texas, and Bill O’Neill, Southampton, Pa. blasted a 300 game contesting in Jose Cosentini 721, Chris Clarken As the high-revolution power players burned away International players will be Finland’s Palermaa, the Friday 1050 Major Leauge at 720, and Joe Brulato and Nick the oil in the front part of the lanes, both two-handers Kimmo Lehtonnen and Mika Koivuniemi; Canada’s Parkway Lanes. Lardieri 712. struggled. In the end, it was a 4-6 split in the 10th MacLelland; Australia’s Belmonte and Venezuela’s frame that doomed Belmonte. A spare/strike in the Amleto Monacelli. Kevin Harrity 805, Rudy Johnson 300 Joe Kowalski, Russ Van Housen 300, At Brunswick Zone Carolier O. BRUNSWICK, NJ- Rudy 788, Joe DiDonato 243-297-231- Ken Carson 832 at North Arlington Bowl Johnson shot a 300 high game in 771, Rich Fiorello 238-299-231- the Middlesex County Major 768, Keith Beeh 266-255-239- NO. ARLINGTON, NJ – Joe Kowalski, Russ Van Torre Harper 268-777, Lawrence Anderson 290-792, League at Brunswick Zone 760, Jon Crowder 206-278-267- Housen each balsted a 300 game in the Sun. Morning Rody Kemple 278-772, Pete Honan 290-768, Keith Carolier Lanes and Kevin Harrity 751, Kevin Brzozowski 279-248- Trios League at North Arlington Bowl-O-DRome. Beeh 269-758, Mark Newman 258-756, Mario blasted 279-268-258-805 to take 222-749, Bob Crandall, Sr. 246- Ken Carson shot 297-832, Justin Sloan 289-784, Al- Moyano 278-749, and Chris Garbode 257-743. high series honors. 266-234-746, and Ed Nardone Dennis Reibesell 279-268-241- 247-269-225-741. 2 SPORTS REPORTER January 5 - 11, 2011 NYS USBC Associations Produce Industry- First Online Scholarship Application Deadline to Apply for $27K in Awards is Feb. 1 Further information about the application process or DECEMBER 7, 2010 -- New York State’s three NYS scholarship program can be obtained by contact- United States Bowling Congress associations have ing Wilkinson at [email protected] or Liz developed a user-friendly, online method for students DeHart at [email protected]. to apply for college scholarships for the 2010-11 sea- The following scholarships will be awarded in son and beyond. 2011: “We are proud to announce that the New York State York State USBC Women’s Bowling Association – (Awarded Idle bowling thoughts. ...You hear about the 300 USBC Joint Scholarship Committee has formulated to females) games rolled in bowling. But a the bowling industry’s first online joint scholarship $8,000 ($2,000 renewable over 4 years) $2,000, Marie Munson Memorial Scholarship Award ...A team's lineup positions real rarity in bowling is a 291 application,” said Frank Wilkinson, Empire State $2,000, sponsored by: Friends of New York State USBC WBA can be very important. All- game, and the rarest of them USBC Bowling Association President. $2,000, sponsored by: Friends of New York State USBC WBA time great Parker Bohn III all in the upper category is a $2,000, sponsored by: Friends of New York State USBC WBA “Leaders from all three state associations -- the feels that your leadoff individ- 292 game. Empire State USBC, New York State USBC $2,000, Eleanor Thompson Memorial Scholarship Award $2,000, Hazel Fischer Memorial Scholarship Award ual should be a deadly spare Women’s Bowling Association and New York State shooter, one that can mark ...Bowling does have some USBC Youth Association -- have been instrumental Empire State USBC Bowling Association – (Awarded to males in making this happen.” or females) when it counts most and one power to make people much Last year, Wilkinson spearheaded the effort to pro- $1,000, sponsored by Empire State USBC BA that can spark the spirit of a more attentive to dates.