Bowling Philosophy-U.S. Open Recap

A look into the future...we hope.

"The Dawning of a New Era?"

by Tommy Scherrer

Back in 2005, Bill O'Neill burst onto the professional bowling scene by narrowly missing the televised finals of the U.S. Open and as an amateur no less. He was immediately labeled the next "can't miss" product, and the resume would suffice that he was a "can't miss" talent. A 4-time First Team All-American at Saginaw Valley State, a 3-time Collegiate Bowler of the Year, numerous junior title wins, local tournament wins, collegiate all-event wins, what didn't Bill O'Neill win from the ages of 12 to 22?

Bowling has had its share of Next Ones, some living up to the hype (Marshall Holman/Parker Bohn III), some not living up to the hype based on injury (Rick Steelsmith/Robert Smith), and some possibly overhyped yet it was totally justified when they came out (Chris Barnes/Patrick Healey Jr.). All of these players had plenty of success and major titles, but some fell short of what our expectations are. Naturally, it is almost impossible to live up to hype: it blows our conceptual minds to think My God...look at this guy's talent. Steelsmith's got Holman's physical gifts with the professionalism of Mike Aulby. He can win 30 titles in today's game. Sadly, injuries and some unfortunate luck on television relegated Steelsmith to only two titles as a pro (and the 1987 Masters as an amateur). You cannot predict what can happen in a player's professional career when it comes to health or circumstances on television; rather it is something you have to hope works out. O'Neill's first 4 seasons, however was not just "can't miss" but "can't win". He finally eradicated the winless demons by winning the Chameleon championship in 2009, proving his tremendous talent had paid off. The next question was could he take the steps to being the Next One?

If Bill O'Neill was to take step one to being the Next One in professional bowling, he had to win yesterday's 67th U.S. Open. He did not disappoint, firing a tremendous 267 game in the championship match over reigning and defending champion Mike Scroggins for O'Neill's first career major title, $60,000, and a fresh 3-year exemption on the PBA Tour. The situation was perfectly set up for O'Neill to make the leap to superstardom...beat two former U.S. Open champions in Scroggins and Tommy Jones, dominate the way he did, make it two horse race for Player of the Year, and set up at long last, the passing of the torch situation to the next generation.

Wait, you say? Didn't we have the torch passed with Barnes? We all thought we did but sadly, our reflections go back to Sundays and Barnes has not lived up to "hype" of Sundays. For that matter, O'Neill has not up until this season, winning twice. But look at circumstances for the future: Barnes is now 40 years old. His shelf life may only have another 8-10 years, which is still plenty of time for Barnes to be one of the faces of the PBA, but he cannot be the Alpha Dog of bowling anymore. His time has come and gone, some would joke never arrived, but that is disingenuous of people to say: the guy is too Damn good...except on Sunday. O'Neill is 28, to be wed in May, a major champion bowler, the best of the young guns of bowling, and on the verge of becoming one of the youngest Players of the Year in PBA history. This makes more sense than Barnes constantly teasing us with his virutoso performances on Friday and Saturday then looking like he is afraid of the moment on Sunday.

The actual passing of the torch, however, started in almost perfect fashion. Step one: beat the incumbent. Scroggins was the defending Open champion and the top seed for the televised finals, with a chance at making history. O'Neill looked in trouble early, then rattled off ten consecutive strikes to crush the party at Scroggys. He marinated, grilled, and virtually ate Scroggins on national TV. If you are going to win a major, it better be against someone who has been there before to make this work. Step two: go get Walter Ray Williams, Jr. Find him, bowl him, beat him, destroy him. Obviously, you cannot script those moments like Ric Flair-Sting in pro wrestling but these guys are good enough to make a show together in the final 4 tournaments that it almost makes tremendous sense, doesn't it? If the game is ever going to fully bypass what has been a 24 year run of greatness by Walter Ray with no legitimate successor to the throne, doesn't this has to happen? Doesn't Bill O'Neill have to cripple Walter Ray? If so, when?

The opportune time would be this season. Williams and O'Neill are currently 1-2 in the POY race, Williams is 50, O'Neill is 28. Williams has more titles than anyone else in PBA history, O'Neill has two. Williams has won Player of the Year a record tying 6 times, O'Neill has never sniffed it. This season would be the perfect time. To clear up any confusion, the torch still belongs to Dead-Eye Williams. Has been that way for roughly 17 years, no one can even attempt to argue this. It isn't as if the fate of the bowling world depends on it happening this year, but you figure both players will find another themselves on Sunday at some point to end the year, they are just that good. You hope as a fan that you see them together and with a title at stake. More than just a title at stake, however...it would be the possible future of professional bowling at stake.

This has nothing to do with Walter Ray as much as it does with O'Neill. The game needs a new focal point, a new superstar, a new Alpha Dog to carry the PBA and bowling for the next 10-15 years. Walter Ray has been arguably the best player to ever lace up bowling shoes, but nobody has rivaled his dominance consistently enought to take over the game's mantle. Is that too much for Billy O to handle? We don't know but if this is going to work out in the most ideal way, O'Neill beats Walter Ray for something super significant to take his place as bowling's top dog. Doing it this year to beat him for Player of the Year would be the beginning of a brand new era in the sport of bowling. It's about time we start looking to see if this can happen. It's about time we see a new era of bowling truly be ushered in.

It's about time...isn't it?

The author: Tommy Scherrer is a USBC Level I instructor and former collegiate bowler at William Paterson University. He is currently writing Bowling Philosophy to provide conversation and insight into the world of bowling, the business, and the profession.