Bowling, The Wright Way - April 22, 1996 by Don Wright
77th WIBC Championship Tournament

The 77th Annual Women's International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament is underway in Buffalo, New York, and although the doubles and singles event is held at Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga and the team event is at Transit Lanes in Williamsville, we'll call it Buffalo, anyhow.

I travel to a lot of tournaments, but the ladies just seem to have a better knack at getting it done on time, and right. It really is a great tournament.

The Buffalo area is a great part, probably the best part of New York state, and I can say that having grown up just 70 some miles from there. I was born in Avon, New York and lived in Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown, Lima, Holcomb, and Rochester, so I know a little about the area.

Bowling is now, and always has been big in Buffalo where they have more than 50 bowling centers. The Buffalo Women's Bowling Association is the 11th largest local association with 12,372 bowlers, ranking second in the state behind Rochester.

Thruway Lanes is a 52 lane center and Transit is 60 lanes. Both have excellent Pro-shops, restaurants and lounges. While on the subject of restaurants, this part of New York is famous for great food. The best fish fries in the world are a western New York favorite. My favorites are "beef on weck," a roast beef sandwich on a salty deli-style bun, that the kids say is "to die for." Something absolutely unique to western New York are white hots. Not Bratwurst, folks, white, pork hots. The best Italian food and sausage in the United States can be found on this bowling trip.

Wonderful, friendly, blue collar and farm families will make your stay most enjoyable.

Travel through the finger lakes, or go east to Canandaigua, New York and see the beautiful farm rich countryside. While there, stop in at Roseland Bowl, maybe touring professional Doug Kent will be there. Stop at Schooners Restaurant and see Jack and Darla Holly for the best fish fry you ever laid a lip to.

The BWBA can be very proud of what they did. They showcased their beautiful area with a quality championship tournament.

By the way, my "Sweetie" G.G. Wright left holding the high single game. She started her final team game at Transit Lanes with nine consecutive strikes. He first ball in the 10th frame nearly tripped the four pin, but it stubbornly stood. After her spare she buried another in the pocket and left the true tap, 8-pin and finished with a 278. "In the ninth frame almost anything would have made me cry," she said. Me too!

DID I SAY THAT? - While in New York I had a chance to visit my Sister and all my relatives and participate in a 40 frame game with my Nephew and his Son. That was great fun. That is an enjoyable tournament format. But, I also had a chance to watch my Niece and Nephew compete in league play at Roseland Bowl, a 60 lane center and Brongo Bowl, a 16 lane center in Honeoye Falls. I haven't seen that many one ball bags in bowling centers in the past ten years. It was amazing. I saw Manhattan rubber balls, Dick Weber Power Balls, Columbia Yellow Dots. A reactive resin was a rare thing. When I asked why, I was told they were too expensive. I check the pro-shops and they were more expensive than here.

No extra spare balls. No balls on the seats in the bowlers circle. I never saw one "Macho Mule" the entire time I was there. We have senior women dragging those things behind their wheel chairs.

The competition was good, but the fellowship was better. Folks talked about farming, taxes, kids and just about anything except bowling. That was what they were doing in between the fellowship and being neighborly. It was refreshing.

JOHNNY PETRAGLIA - While in New York I had a chance to see the televised finals of the Johnny Petraglia Open and Johnny gets my vote as bowling's number one professional. As a Vietnam veteran I salute Johnny for his efforts with the wheel chair bowlers, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and what he means to so many veterans. I don't know who will get the Bowler of the Year award, but I know who get the Professional of the Year award, Mr. Petraglia. There are winners and there are champions, Johnny is a true champion.

See ya soon!