redsfann and jr11(and anyone one else bowling the ABC Tourney)...

[Nole]

Being up $1300.00, it sure made it easier to get in 50 brackets. So I'm invested for $500.00 and feeling giddy before team event. The night couldn't have started much better. I come out of the gate and shoot 213. I figure that got me by at least 35-40 brackets. 2nd game, here come the splits! 4-9's, 3-10's. I shoot 177 2nd game. The scores were so low every where I looked so I figure I got by a few even with a 177. 3rd game.....159!!! Damn, now I'm pissed! I collect $340.00 for my efforts. I felt greatful I got that much back, believe me.

I just looked at the time and have to head out for a golf match with the guys. I'll check back later today and finish this up.

I wish I could tell you it's worth waiting for but it's not. Damn the conditions were just really tough this year.

Talk to you later.

nole

 

[Nole]

Got 10 holes in and then the skies opened up bigtime. Still got a raincheck for 18 so that's cool.

After the team debacle the night before, I decided to get in 40 brackets for singles and 40 for doubles. Now I'm invested for $800.00.

Never got going in doubles shooting 195-174-180. I knew I would still make a few bucks back, again seeing how low the scores were. I got back $170.00, a loss of $230.00.

On to singles. Come out of the gate shooting a 235! I'm thinking I probably got by 35-38 brackets with that game. If I could just shoot another big game that would guarantee me a nice return on my investment. I shoot 197. Not bad but not great. I figure I'm going to be in at least 25 finals though. Now, I just need to bowl a 200+ game and I'll be collecting some serious cash. I shoot a 169! Two 4-9 splits, one in the 4th frame and one in the 8th. Those were my only opens. I finish with a 601 which will cash but it could have been much more. I ended up only winning $380.00 in bracket money.

1699 for all-events.

I ate mostly around the Sheraton. They have a nice oyster bar kind of restaurant there and then the buffet in the atrium.

Turns out there was a Ruth's Chris steakhouse just down the road on I-10. That ticked me off. I really like their steaks.

reddsfann, I don't know what to tell you. It's tough there is no doubt. I do have one recommendation to you. I bowled 36 weeks in my league and never once worried about my thumb. When I got to team event, I could not get my thumb in the thumb hole. I actually bowled that set with 1/2 my thumb hanging out. I was so pissed. I had both holes enlarged Thursday AM before singles and doubles. The humidity apparently really effected my thumb. Be sure to check this before you check in. The shops will open the thumb hole for you a minimal fee. The pro shop said many guys were having the same problem. Don't forget!!!!

I'll go for now. If you have any questions, let me know.

nole

 

[eman]

Nole,

That is not bad of shooting. Of course we want to bowl better but as long as you had a good time and won a little cash from bowling or the casino that is all good.

 

[redsfann]

Wow, this thread has really taken off...

Nice to see some fellow keglers here at jack's. Nole and I have talked bowling for a couple of years now, and I know jr11 and YYZ are bowlers, but its nice to see some unfamiliar handles in this thread.

I have shot 4 279s with a high series of 755. I have never had more than 8 strikes in a row and in 3 of my 4 279s, my 9-spare came before the 5th frame, so I can honestly say I've never felt the pressure of having 9 in a row entering the 10th...

Thanks for the report, Nole. It wouldn't be Nationals without a difficult shot, would it? Glad you made some money at the casinos, doubt I'll make it to either place as this trip is all about New Orleans for me.
This is the 1st year we have taken 4 teams to Nationals, and of the 20 bowlers, 12 of us are bringing wifes/girlfriends. Of the 32 of us going to Baton Rouge, 22 of us are heading to N.O. after bowling for 4 days of the Big Easy. Already have reservations for dinner at K Paul's ( Paul Prudomme's restaurant) for Saturday night and have heard good things about a couple of others that we are going to check out--in addition to 3 nights of debauchery on Bourbon Street, of course....LOL.
I'll be sure to fill you fellow bowlers in on the bowling part of the trip next month when I return....

 

[redsfann]

Almost forgot, thanks for the heads up on the thumb problems, Nole.
My thumb tends to swell every week in league, so I've got layers of tape in it so I can adjust as I need to.
Sounds like I'll just be pulling tape out of the ball all shift long.....

 

[slick willy 17]

it's no easier for a lefty, that's just what every righty says, all the time. Eman, I had my first 300 last year, it's pretty exciting. One piece of advice, put your knees together in the 10th to stop them from shaking. Since you guys are bowlers, you'll appreciate this. Last year, I was bowling in the fourth round of the biggest annual tourney in my area. It's called the big 10. 64 bowlers, double elimination, 8 saturday nights in a row. I was clean but couldn't carry the first two games shot 224,216, my opponent was clean and was carrying, 277,258 I was down 535-440 going into the last game. It was also the night of my brothers bachelor party. So, all of my friends and family were there, I am the oldest of nine kids, so, I had a huge crowd there.

Well, I came back and my brother and a friend of mine said, that looks like fun. I just said, he needs to shoot 204 and I need to shoot 300. Well, he stopped carrying, pulled a couple, left a couple of four pins. and only doubled once I believe. I kept stringing them. The only close call was the seventh when I carried a mixer. I was perfect through nine, but he could lock me out with a strike. Well, he left another four pin, converted it, and struck to finish with, you guessed it, a 204. I was pretty nervous, but incredibly confident. I buried all three and put all ten in the pit.

740-739

I got knocked out the next week by the eventual winner, but I didnt care, I got my ring, a plaque, and a pretty sweet story to tell. And, man did we ever get fukced up that night.

 

[THE HITMAN]

Nice to hear all the bowling stories & input.......nice thread for me.

 

[redsfann]

Great story, Slick willy 17--
I'm also a lefty, and I hear it all the time about how its easier for me than the righties. If thats the case, why is all the chit I get for being a lefty coming from righties that have higher avgs than I do?
Where in the Hawkeye State do you live? I had the front 6 a couple of weeks ago at the state tourney in Des Moines and then threw 2 big splits in a row and screwed up a nice chance at a good game.
It also cost me the win in many brackets-- I still cashed, just not as much as if I'd have thrown a solid 240+ game there at the end...

 

[slick willy 17]

I live in Dubuque. Right up the road. If you can get free, you should really consider coming up for the Big 10. It is an incredible tournament. Get me email from Jack if you are interested and want any info, or anything like that.

Willy

 

[slick willy 17]

also Redsfann,

I was in Des Moines just last weekend. Here is my singles scores, was in 30 brackets

246 got thru 26 of 30 brackets
171 got thru 1 of 26
266 won 1 bracket

flushed at least a couple hundred down the toilet that 2nd game

Oh well, we had fun, but my brother dumped me in doubles for the second year in a row.

 

[redsfann]

Slick Willy 17--

That Big 10 tourny does sound like a lot of fun.
It is an annual event, right? I'm sure me and a few of the boys would make the short roadie up to Dubuque for it.

Same thing happened to me in doubles at State as well. I tossed a 659 while my partner could only manage a 564.
And the 659 only returned me what I put in for the brackets! What killed me was the final game as I started out with the front 6 and then had 2 big splits for a 217...
I made more $$ in brackets in Singles for my lousy 573, believe it or not...lol

I'll get your e-mail from Jack to get more details from you about the Big 10.