The World’s Richest Amateur Tournaments Something for Everyone! Call us at 1-800-257-6179 or email [email protected] Informing and Entertaining bowlers TenPin Alley everywhere from Las Vegas, Nevada In This Issue The Bowling Tournament Capital of * Bill Spigner: “Open your suitcase with a Simple Twist!” the World! * Rob Mautner conducts a group venting session * Tisha Carter - Local bowlers making news FEBRUARY 2012 Q. When is it OK for a A. When there is $7,777 mother to spank her on the line and they’re son in public? bowling each other! Mother & Son Win $11,111.00 in January Open Championships Madness at Santa Fe Lanes Showcase Lanes Announced Storm Rep Lee Upp, Winner Ludee Masangcay, and Santa Fe Lanes Manager, Joy Bowlers headed to the 2012 USBC Open Championships in Baton Rouge, La., will have the opportunity to practice on the same oil pattern and lane surface Francomano being featured on the main tournament lanes at the Baton Rouge River Center. USBC will build four showcase lanes on the venue’s second level and competi- tors will be able to book one-hour practice sessions, so they can loosen up and try out their equipment or game plans before their nine games of Open Championships Las Vegas, NV Jan. 22, 2012: At the January Madness event in Las Vegas, competition. Ludee Masangcay and her son Jderick Masangcay, from Vallejo, CA, finished in the Purchase a VIP package for the Open Championships, and you not only will get top two spots at Santa Fe Lanes. Ludee, who is an accountant for a bank, won $7,777 time on the Showcase Lanes, but a great polo shirt, express check-in, special dis- for her victory while Jderick, who is a 21 year old student, earned $3,333 for second. counts and much more at one outstanding price. The January Madness tournament drew a record crowd of 357 entries and More information on the Showcase Lanes and VIP package can be found on paid out over $20,000 in prizes. A total of 46 bowlers advanced to the finals which Bowl.com. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today! came from all over the country to compete. Storm/Roto Grip donated balls that were MyBowlingVacation.com is your personal travel assistant! given away with a raffle in every squad. It’s tournament season, which means thousands of bowlers will soon begin the trek The January Madness event, which is owned and operated by Station Casinos, Inc. and sponsored by Storm Bowling, was the fourth in a series of Madness Tourna- to Baton Rouge and Reno for USBC Championship events. MyBowlingVacation.com, ments. The next Madness Tournament will be held at Sunset Station Strike Zone May the new travel site for USBC members, provides the lowest rates on flights, hotels, 10-13. Details for the next event will be released shortly. rental cars and more! Since Station Casinos created the Madness Tournaments over 1,400 entries Even if you aren’t heading to a USBC tournament this year, your USBC mem- have been recorded and more than $70,000 has been paid out. All amateur bowlers bership gets you access to this great travel resource. Fly over to are eligible to compete in this fun handicap tournament with fabulous prize money. MyBowlingVacation.com to learn more. The Madness events even include a squad that is bowled during Cosmic Bowling. For complete results of January Madness please visit www.pinaclevents.com Now you can receive TenPin Alley in your email Inbox! and click on the Madness Tournament icon. If you need more information you can call Send your email address to [email protected] the tournament office at 1.877.900.6464. Southern Nevada USBC Association 7231 W. Charleston Blvd. Suite 130, Las Vegas, NV 89117 702-778-2220 9am-4pm Mon-Fri 2 TenPin Alley February 2012 FROM THE PUBLISHER Joyce Letourneau Reality Bites! Lessons from a Non-Teacher The Bowler’s I’ve never professed to be anything of an expert of this Guide to Rip-Offs game we call bowling. I’ve had some very good lessons from and Scams greats like Don Johnson, Carmen Salvino, Bill Hall and Ron Joyce Letourneau has dealt with consumer fraud, scams and commercial schemes all her life, as an auditor, Hoppe. Nevertheless, my lack of real natural talent and a wrist data processor and a savvy consumer who refuses to be ripped off. She is joint owner of TenPin Alley. that never really understood what it was supposed to do did not prevent me from having some good moments. Helpful information from Clark Howard’s Consumer Action Center Frenchy There were times in the past, when I was having a good Is buying gold a smart move? Where can I unload my gold jewelry? Letourneau When the economy slows, people tend to get fixated on hot commodities like gold. We’ve run or two, that someone would ask my advice or implore me gotten a slew of questions from people who either want to buy or sell the stuff — or both! to help them with their game. Usually, it was someone who was beyond help, so any Let’s deal with buying. Clark is not opposed to having a small percent of your portfolio in gold. advice I gave, although sometimes futile, was taken with some measure of interest, But to take everything you’ve got and dump it into gold is to be a speculator — and that’s something and it made me feel somewhat important. Clark never encourages. Besides, aren’t you supposed to buy low and sell high? That’s not the After a gruelling stint in Navy boot camp, a fellow sailor saw me rolling fairly well scenario you’re likely to encounter right now. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to sell your gold, you might want to start your search for a repu- for 25 cents a game at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Ill. and asked if I table dealer at the American Numismatic Society or the Professional Numismatics Guild would show him a pointer or two. Being the cocky young recruit who was posting Are gas additives and other gadgets for real? 190’s in a crowd of obvious no-clue rowdy sailors, that was a safe no-brainer. I ad- During the energy crises of the ’70s, people were selling pills and additives for your gas tank vised him that I was not a teacher, but I loved the game and wanted to play well. That that would supposedly boost fuel economy. So it’s little surprise that it’s happening again now that Americans are feeling pain at the pump. has always been my first and foremost statement: love the game or you’ll never be The EPA has come out and said that you shouldn’t fall for these ploys. Out of 100 gas-saving any good at it. Anyway, as I was showing this guy where to stand and a simple 4-step devices tested, only 6 gave a tiny improvement in fuel economy — and even those were nothing to approach, I alternated frames with him. I was so caught up in this “lesson” I neglected write home about. to pay attention to the score. All of a sudden, I had 8 strikes in a row The reality is that you have to do the simple things to get better fuel We may not have it all economy. So unload your trunk, keep your tires properly inflated and slow down - the first time I had ever done that. In 1963, that was something of out on the road. an accomplishment, especially for me. The pros were posting 200- together... but together we Do I need a PIN to use my credit card overseas? 220 on TV, so for me, it was a big deal. I ended that game with a have it all. Yes, in order to use a credit card in Europe, you have to use a PIN. It’s all part of the modern system much of Europe and some Asian countries have 258, which I bragged about to the other guys until they were tired of hearing it. Oddly been increasingly adopting. These countries have switched to a “smart” chip system for an added enough, I still have the scoresheet. layer of security in their cards. A PIN allows you to be compatible with the upgrade. So be sure to get As I mentioned before, I am not a teacher. But there are lessons anyone can the 4-digit code from your card issuer before you travel! give or take that may or may not make you a better bowler. Will the new laws concerning lead in children’s toys and clothing affect my yard sale? Team Clark has been receiving a lot of questions about the Consumer Product Safety Improve- For instance: ment Act (CPSIA), which went into effect Feb. 10, 2009. The CPSIA will require testing of children’s * Kicking the ball return adds no pins to your game. A sore toe takes away pins. toys and clothing for dangerous amounts of lead and phthalates. * Every ball ever made will strike if you put in the right place. The law, which will be enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), also * A strike on every tenth frame fill ball will add 2 pins to your average. applies retroactively to children’s toys and clothing made before then. That has prompted fears that yard sales and second-hand stores may be driven out of busi- * Avoid bowling league with anyone who finds excuses not to pay league fees, ness overnight when the CPSIA went into effect.