Here’s a top ten list from the first half of the year:
10. “Big Nasty” Wes Malott’s emergence as Mr. Versatility.
If anyone thought Malott’s high-revolution, powerful style of play was one-dimensional, they don’t anymore. For the first time ever this season, the Professional Bowlers Association named champions on each of the five PBA Experience lane conditions and while Malott won one title (the CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship), he made it all the way to The Show at three other pattern championships: The Viper, Chameleon and Shark. Throughout the PBA’s Versatility Swing during the first half of the year, no matter how the lanes were dressed, Malott (the season’s point leader at the break) has risen to the top.
9. The PBA Women’s Series will culminate with a 
special Showdown.
It was announced the six winners (or highest finishers if a player wins more than one) of the Women’s Series singles tournaments would advance to made-for-TV dedicated PBA ESPN telecast for women (the first of its kind) sponsored by the USBC. Meanwhile, five players have emerged from the “sweet 16” exempt women to get already secure extra face time on TV this year. Past Professional Women's Bowling Association stars Michelle Feldman and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, emerging star Stefanie Nation and Jodi Woessner have all won (Feldman winning twice) and made the show more than once. Missy Bellinder has also qualified for the Showdown, finishing second to Feldman at the CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship.
8. An amateur makes The Show; meets up with familiar face on TV.
Anthony LaCaze, who didn’t even have a “name” shirt to begin his week, in an unbelievable story advanced all the way from Tournamen Qualifing Round to The Show at the Lake County Indiana Golden Anniversary Championship. He ultimately fell only in the semifinal and the fact his opponent in his TV match had been the best man at his wedding (exempt pro Bill O’Neill), well, you can’t make up a story like that.
7. The first PBA Senior event final in 7 years was broadcast on ESPN.
Upstart journeyman senior pro Timothy Kauble captured the title at the Golden Anniversary Championship, but it was his reaction to his first strike that was the most memorable moment. It seems the last time Kauble was on TV prior to his win, it was when he was a teenager participating in a “Dick Clark-style” teeny-bopper dance show. Kauble’s mistake was telling ESPN bowling announcer Rob Stone about his previous “TV experience,” but after striking in his first shot on television, Kauble preempted any chance for Stone to embarrass him by doing a little boogie dance right there at the foul line.
6. Players are sporting a new look this season as official PBA jerseys are unveiled.
For most PBA players, uninspired golf shirts with sticky patches made way for stylish, dye-sublimated sports jerseys sporting fresh designs and dramatic logos by Gemini Sport Marketing. The jerseys set the pros apart, give them a better avenue for branding themselves and connecting with fans and offer a better opportunity to sell valuable real estate on the jerseys. Tour and player sponsors also began taking advantage of the improved, greater exposure the jerseys provide. And the best thing is fans at home can design their own jerseys on Gemini’s web site in the mold of their favorite PBA stars and wear them in their own leagues and tournaments.
5. A lesson to all opponents: Never give Parker Bohn III even more motivation to win.
Spurred on to a renewed determination in his preparation for the Tour this offseason by being passed over for a spot on the first-ever “Dream Team” Team USA travel team that won gold in Thailand this summer, Bohn made two shows in the first half, winning one (the Cheetah Championship). The Hall-of-Fame Bohn, falsely rumored to be on the downside of his remarkable career, sits in third place on the points list (top lefty) and appears to be playing with an uncharacteristic chip on his shoulder since the Team USA snub – which once again makes him a threat to win every week.
4. Forget the Energizer Bunny. It’s Walter Ray that keeps going and going and going.
Walter Ray Williams Jr., nearing his 50th birthday and already solidified as the all-time winner in PBA Tour history, won the Golden Anniversary Championship, appropriately enough, to bring his lifetime record of wins to 45. At once, he served notice to two groups of players: 1) the exempt touring pros he’s dominated for decades, reminded again that he isn’t going away; and 2) the Senior Tour players who better win quick before he turns 50.
3. The improbable series of events leading to Mike Machuga’s victory at the Chameleon Championship.
During Friday night’s position round, Machuga seemed assured the fourth seed in the four-man stepladder finals. But an unprecedented and untimely scoring malfunction lead to Sean Rash getting to bowl his last position round game over, needing a 256 to move past Machuga into fourth. Rash, as Murphy’s Law would demand, actually did. But after officials pondered the fairness of the situation from Machuga’s perspective, the decision was made to change the TV finals into a 5-man stepladder, pitting Machuga and Rash in the first match. An extra half-hour was added to the ESPN telecast and after Machuga defeated Rash, he marched through the field playing an outside line while the others played in. The unpredictable events gave Machuga another title and gave the fans on site the treat of his signature move, the Machuga Flop. Once again, you simply can’t make this stuff up.
2. LeBron James’ PBA debut.
James, yes, THE LeBron James, needing a strike in 9th frame to give his doubles partner Jason Couch and he a commanding position in the title match of the inaugural Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational over host Paul and his partner Chris Barnes, fires an unstoppable rocket to the 1-2 pocket and strikes an unforgettable pose at the line, signaling victory. The close, high scoring match, filled with smack talk, capped the first-ever PBA celebrity televised event. Not only NBA stars James and Paul but Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay (all on the NBA scoring leaders first page this year) paired with PBA stars including Ebonite’s Tommy Jones, Doug Kent and Mitch Beasley in the event that secured more mainstream media for the PBA than any event in recent memory. It’s the PBA’s most-watched YouTube match so far this year. Avid bowler Paul’s charitable foundation and hometown of Winston-Salem benefited from the event, but it was LeBron, who also treated fans with his signature “chalk” move prior to bowling who stole the show this time.
1.Norm Duke wins third straight major championship.
Last season, “Duuuuuuuuuuke,” as the fans affectionately call him everywhere he goes, won the PBA World Championship and U.S. Open to close out the campaign. Then, he picked right up where he left off, winning the PBA World Championship in Wichita to start this season. It is the first time in the history of the PBA that a player has won three consecutive Major championships. Unbelievable. But does anyone doubt Duke will be a threat to win four straight next month at the H&R Block Tournament of Champions? Duke was also voted into the PBA Hall of Fame this season.
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