PBA Xtra By Dennis Bergendorf
PAPER KEGLER
A veteran writer and tournament bowler finds competing with the best can be awfully trying.
Note: BJI staff writer Dennis Bergendorf was a PBA senior member from 1998 to 2012. Although his best PBA finish was fourth (in three senior regionals), he managed to win over 20 non-pro weekend events in a 50-year tournament career, and has several USBC honor scores. He was allowed to participate in the Dick Weber Super Senior Classic as a pacer. Here is his story.
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was assigned to cover the PBA50 Fort Wayne Classic for Bowlers Journal, and as I checked and re- checked the schedule, the event
preceding it began burning a hole in my psyche. The Dick Weber Super Senior Classic was shaping up to be a historic affair, and I decided I just had to be a part of it. There is not much I can add to the
lore surrounding our sport’s greatest am- bassador, except to say that back in the
1960s, my father crossed with Dick (who was teamed with Carmen Salvino) in the old BPAA All-Star Doubles. Dad (no slouch himself) was mesmerized by Dick’s talent and professionalism. That professionalism hit home when I finally met Dick at my first BJI story as- signment, the 1977 Showboat. I got a quick comment from him on Thursday, and when I said “Hello” on Friday, he re- membered my name. What an ego boost for a neophyte writer.
DENNIS BERGENDORF
historic super senior field was that I didn’t have the $475 entry fee, and the chance of finding a sponsor was one step this side of squadouche, mainly because my game was on the skids. Neck surgery in the spring may have played a role, but, in any event, I’d been bowling so bad I couldn’t throw a ball in the ocean. From a pier.
But that didn’t stop me from declaring
Steve Stein and Ron Profitt at the ball table in the paddock. Even the “old guys” have to work on equipment.
All right. One more story. Some 24
years later, he and I happened to cross at the big senior regional in Taylorville, Illinois, where the shot was tough and I was as lost as Edgar Winter in a blizzard. Dick, who had just celebrated his 72nd birthday, was anything but lost. He kept the ball in play, racking up 2-teens and 220s to stay near the top of the leaderboard. It took me seven games to notch a deuce (a 213)— which coincided with Dick’s rolling the tournament’s only 300. The SRO crowd went nuts, so I said to the cagy old pro, “Dick, it’s great that you could be here to see my fans celebrate my 213.” I’d turned the tables on an old DW joke, and he seemed to appreciate it. But then, there was little that Dick Weber did not appreciate. But I’ve digressed. Easy to do when the name Dick Weber is involved. The first challenge to my being a part of the
myself ready to take on Dale Eagle, Johnny Petraglia (who looks 40) and George Pappas (those wrinkles and silver ponytail shout Flower Power!, but the smooth stroke and accuracy shout Hall of Fame!).
Johnny Petraglia offers PBA East Region competitor Steve Stein of Staten Island, N.Y., a few thoughts. Stein finished 64th in the PBA50 Dick Weber Super Senior Classic.
So I called Dick’s son John, the PBA50
Tour director, suggesting I bowl as a pacer, then write about it. No entry fee, and no chance of taking a check from a
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