Post by Billy Tops on Jun 7, 2004 19:12:54 GMT -5
I remember this day in 1957 at Ovington Lanes, it was the last night of the bowling league that Butch was a sub for on his fathers team, he was 13 at the time, they were in second place bowling the first place team, they had to win all three games to capture the championship. Butch had been bowling real well, his father let him bowl all three games and he came through, he led the team to a sweep, they were now number one and had the championship.
The best bowler on the other team was Jimmy Nolan, for that matter he was the best bowler in all of that part of Brooklyn, Jimmy was a southpaw and threw a ton, he was in his mid twenties and worked as the head pin boy at Ovington Lanes, this was before bowling was automated there, he had a hot Irish temper.
Butch’s father was in his mid thirties, was a Swede, and had a real bad square head temper himself. One word lead to another, I was astounded when Butch’s father said, i'll put my son up against you in any other house but this one, how much do you have the guts to bet. First of all, Butch had never bowled for money before, outside of league bowling and some pot games.
Jimmy was considered unbeatable in ovington, that's why his father said in any other house. To me it all sounded crazy; Butch was very good for his age, but not in Jimmies league. We go down to Lee-mark Lanes on 88 St, I was never there before, it was one of the brand new big modern bowling establishments. Butch’s father and Jimmy agreed to a three game total wood match for $50. Butch was bowling with an Ace black and white ball; the type used on the black TV lanes every Saturday night from Neptune lanes in Brooklyn. As Butch stood at the line, ready to throw his first ball, his legs were shaking so badly I thought he was going to fall right on his face.
Jimmy started with a split, some how the ball fell out of Butch’s hand for a strike. He went on to bowl the three best games of his life, 258, 277 and 238 for a whopping 773. Needless to say he won the match, his father gave him the fifty dollars plus fifty more from the bowling league championship, all in one dollar bills, The bank roll was so big Butch could hardly put it in his pocket.
The next day Butch and I walked in for the first time to the place where his story really begins, Ave M Bowl, He had a hundred in his pocket, his ball and bag in his hand, he was on top of the world and I was right by his side ready to book his match's
I would love to hear some stories about the experiences you guys had... Billy
The best bowler on the other team was Jimmy Nolan, for that matter he was the best bowler in all of that part of Brooklyn, Jimmy was a southpaw and threw a ton, he was in his mid twenties and worked as the head pin boy at Ovington Lanes, this was before bowling was automated there, he had a hot Irish temper.
Butch’s father was in his mid thirties, was a Swede, and had a real bad square head temper himself. One word lead to another, I was astounded when Butch’s father said, i'll put my son up against you in any other house but this one, how much do you have the guts to bet. First of all, Butch had never bowled for money before, outside of league bowling and some pot games.
Jimmy was considered unbeatable in ovington, that's why his father said in any other house. To me it all sounded crazy; Butch was very good for his age, but not in Jimmies league. We go down to Lee-mark Lanes on 88 St, I was never there before, it was one of the brand new big modern bowling establishments. Butch’s father and Jimmy agreed to a three game total wood match for $50. Butch was bowling with an Ace black and white ball; the type used on the black TV lanes every Saturday night from Neptune lanes in Brooklyn. As Butch stood at the line, ready to throw his first ball, his legs were shaking so badly I thought he was going to fall right on his face.
Jimmy started with a split, some how the ball fell out of Butch’s hand for a strike. He went on to bowl the three best games of his life, 258, 277 and 238 for a whopping 773. Needless to say he won the match, his father gave him the fifty dollars plus fifty more from the bowling league championship, all in one dollar bills, The bank roll was so big Butch could hardly put it in his pocket.
The next day Butch and I walked in for the first time to the place where his story really begins, Ave M Bowl, He had a hundred in his pocket, his ball and bag in his hand, he was on top of the world and I was right by his side ready to book his match's
I would love to hear some stories about the experiences you guys had... Billy