So, whom would you vote for for the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame. I received my ballot recently and thought I’d share here who/what they’re looking at. We can choose up to two in each category. If no one gets enough votes in one of them (I think it’s two-thirds of all the votes cast), they’ll send out another ballot with the top three vote-getters. If no one is chosen the second time around, no one gets in in that category.
I won’t reveal my selections at this point … will let it play out first. Here’s the list:
JASON COUCH
Clermont, Fla.
Birth date: 11/8/69
PBA Member since: 1991
Tour Pro/Exempt: 1992 – present
Career Money to date: $1,754,187
PBA TOUR
Bowled in 420 PBA Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 59
PBA Tour titles: 16
PBA REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 137 Regional tournaments
PBA Regional Tour titles: 25
PBA TOUR STATS
Top 20 on money list (13)
●12th in 1993 ($100,310)
●16th in 1995 ($135,685)
●14th in 1997 ($123,535)
●6th in 1998 ($114,280)
●2nd in 1999 ($287,190)
●3rd in 2000 ($222,715)
●6th in 2001-02 ($157,475)
●3rd in 2002-03 ($150,470)
●13th in 2003-04 ($87,852)
●10th in 2005-06 ($119.800)
●10th in 2006-07 ($100,800)
●17th in 2009-10 ($57,445)
●20th In 2010-11 ($34,825)
Top 20 on average list (12)
●18th in 1993 (216.14)
●14th in 1997 (216.44)
●11th in 1998 (219.55)
●2nd in 1999 (225.18)
●9th in 2000 (217.32)
●2nd in 2001-02 (220.93)
●6th in 2003-04 (220.94)
●4th in 2004-05 (224.09)
●7th in 2005-06 (221.09)
●4th in 2006-07 (225.42)
●17th in 2009-10 (216.87)
●14th in 2010-11 (218.13)
PBA TOUR STANDARD TITLES (12)
1995 Windsor Locks, Conn.
1995 Mechanicsburg, Pa.
1995 Indianapolis, Ind.
1998 Las Vegas, Nev.
1999 Bay City, Mich.
2001-02 The Villages, Fla.
2003-04 Grand Rapids, Mich.
2005-06 Vernon Hills, Ill.
2005-06 Fountain Valley, Calif.;
2006-07 Fountain Valley, Calif.
2006-07 Henderson, Nev.
2010-11 Cheektowaga, N.Y.
PBA MAJOR TITLES (4)
1993 Touring Players Championship
1999 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions
2000 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions
2002 Tournament of Champions
OTHER PBA AWARDS
PBA Rookie of the Year (1992)
Ranked 24th on list of 50 Greatest Players in PBA History in 2009.
BRYAN GOEBEL
Shawnee, Kansas
Birth date: 10/15/61
PBA member since: 1981
Touring Pro/Exempt: 1990-1999
Career Money to date: $950,059
PB A TOUR
Bowled in 386 PBA Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 31
PBA Tour titles: 10
PBA REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 81 Regional tournaments
PBA Regional Tour titles: 5
PBA TOUR STATS
Top 20 on money list (3 times):
● 3rd in 1994 ($173,922)
● 17th in 1995 ($83,720)
● 15th in 1998 ($72,765)
Top 20 on average list (4 times):
●19th in 1992 (214.83)
● 5th in 1994 (210.1)
● 8th in 1995 (220.47)
● 13th in1996 (220.06)
PBA TOUR STANDARD TITLES (9)
1990 Miller Lite Challenge, Tucson, Ariz.
1991 Kessler Open, Riverside, Calif.
1994 Active West Open, Ontario, Canada
1994 True Value Open, Peoria, Ill.
1994 Merit Mixed Doubles (with Aleta Sill), Reno, Nev.
1994 Greater Detroit Open, Taylor, Mich.
1995 Tucson Open, Tucson, Ariz.
1996 Tucson Open, Tucson, Ariz.
2002 PBA Medford Open, Medford, Ore.
PBA TOUR MAJOR TITLES (1)
1998 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions, Overland Park, Kansas
STEVE HOSKINS
Tampa, Florida
Birth date: 1/21/69
PBA member since: 1987
Touring Pro/Exempt: 1984-2003/04
Career money to date: $1,034,771
PBA TOUR
Bowled in 334 PBA Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 31
PBA Tour titles: 10
PBA REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 129 Regional tournaments
PBA Regional Tour titles: 15
PBA TOUR STATS
Top 20 on money list (6 times):
● 11th in 1994 ($106,959)
● 20th in 1996 ($72,195)
● 8th in 1997 ($110,495)
● 3rd in 1998 ($154,105)
● 6th in 1999 ($91,430)
● 14th in 2000 ($45,900)
Top 20 on average list (1 time):
● 10th in 1998 (219.80)
PBA TOUR STANDARD TITLES (8)
1993 Quaker State Open, Grand Prairie, Texas
1994 Tucson Open, Tucson, Ariz.
1994 Quaker State Open, Grand Prairie, Texas
1996 Comfort Inn Classic, Sunrise, Fla.
1997 Ebonite Challenge, Rochester, N.Y.
1998 AC-Delco Classic, Lakewood, CA
1998 Philip Morris Mixed Doubles (with Kim Canady), Las Vegas, Nev.
2000 Lone Star Open, Pasadena, Texas
PBA TOUR MAJOR TITLES (2)
1997 Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship, Pittsburgh, Pa.
1999 Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship, Akron, Ohio
OTHER PBA AWARDS
Harry Golden Rookie of the Year (1989)
DOUG KENT
Newark, New York
Birth date: 2/9/67
PBA member since: 1988
Touring Pro/Exempt: 1991- 2010-11
Career money to date: $1,519,447
PBA TOUR
Bowled in 452 PBA Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 39
PBA Tour titles: 10
PBA REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 83 Regional tournaments
PBA Regional Tour titles: 4
PBA TOUR STATS
Top 20 on money list (7 times):
● 19th in 1996 ($74,823)
● 7th in 1997 ($126,430)
● 14th in 1998 ($72,820)
● 14th in 1999 ($60,595)
● 9th in 2000 ($67,075)
● 18th in 2002-03 ($69,850)
● 1st in 2006-07 ($200,530)
Top 20 on average list (5 times):
● 20th in 1996 (218.79)
● 12th in 1997 (216.64)
● 9th in 1998 (219.81)
● 7th in 2000 (217.64)
● 10th in 2006-07 (222.43)
PBA TOUR STANDARD TITLES (6)
1996 Greater Detroit Open, Taylor, Mich.
1997 Oronamin C Japan Cup, Tokyo, Japan
1999 Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open, N. Brunswick, N.J.
2000 Indianapolis Open, Indianapolis, Ind.
2002 PBA Empire State Open, Latham, N.Y.
2006 GEICO Championship, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
PBA TOUR MAJOR TITLES (4)
1991 ABC Masters, Toledo, Ohio
2002 PBA World Championship,
2006 USBC Masters, Toledo, Ohio
2006 Denny’s World Championship, Wyoming, Mich.
OTHER PBA AWARDS
Chris Schenkel Player of the Year-(2006-07)
Ranked 43rd on list of 50 Greatest Players in PBA History in 2009.
MIKE SCROGGINS
Amarillo, Texas
Birth date: 3/12/64
PBA member since: 1989
Touring Pro/Exempt: 1990-1996, 2000-present
Career money to date: $1,394,129
PBA TOUR
Bowled in 379 PBA Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 41
PBA Tour titles: 8
PBA REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 216 Regional tournaments
PBA Regional Tour titles: 36
PBA TOUR STATS
Top 20 on money list (6 times):
● 11th in 2003-04 ($99,285)
● 3rd in 2005-06 ($205,270)
● 17th in 2006-07 ($60,160)
● 10th in 2007-08 ($100,400)
● 3rd in 2008-09 ($179,820)
● 3rd in 2009-10 ($130,705)
Top 20 on average list (9 times):
● 12th in 2002-03 (217.71)
● 7th in 2003-04 (220.62)
● 14th in 2004-05 (220.59)
● 2nd in 2005-06 (223.82)
● 7th in 2006-07 (224.60)
● 6th in 2007-08 (221.89)
● 8th in 2008-09 (220.32)
● 6th in 2009-10 (220.27)
●20th in 2010-11 (216.95)
PBA TOUR STANDARD TITLES (6)
1992 ARC Sacramento Open, Sacramento, Calif.
2004 PBA Baby Ruth Real Deal Classic, Fairview Hts., Ill.
2008 Motel 6 Dick Weber Open, Fountain Valley, Calif.
2008 Pepsi Championship, Omaha, Neb.
2009 Pepsi Red, White and Blue Championship Presented by USBC, Wichita, Kansas
2009 Etonic Don Johnson Eliminator, Columbus, Ohio
PBA TOUR MAJOR TITLES (2)
2005 Miller High Life USBC Masters, Milwaukee, Wis.
2009 Lumber Liquidators 66th U.S. Open, N. Brunswick, N.J.
DANNY WISEMAN
Baltimore, Maryland
Birth date: 9/24/67
PBA member since: 1987
Touring Pro/Exempt: 1991- present
Career money to date: $1,539,854
PBA TOUR
Bowled in 499 PBA Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 48
PBA Tour titles: 12
PBA REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 110 Regional tournaments
PBA Regional Tour titles: 9
PBA TOUR STATS
Top 20 on money list (12 times):
● 15th in 1991 ($87,330)
● 14th in 1992 ($74,508)
● 12th in 1995 ($96,341)
● 7th in 1996 ($107,217)
● 13th in 1998 ($74,190)
● 9th in 1999 ($75,060)
● 8th in 2000 ($72,700)
● 8th in 2002-03 ($120,150)
● 4th in 2004-05 ($186,050)
● 19th in 2006-07 ($53,750)
● 17th in 2007-08 ($66,190)
● 16th in 2008-09 ($69,650)
Top 20 on average list (9 times):
● 18th in 1995 (218.15)
● 8th in 1996 (220.73)
● 14th in 1998 (219.07)
● 9th in 1999 (223.21)
● 5th in 2000 (218.05)
● 7th in 2002-03 (219.53)
● 9th in 2004-05 (221.00)
● 13th in 2006-07 (221.76)
● 16th in 2007-08 (217.60)
PBA TOUR STANDARD TITLES (11)
1990 Kessler Open, Riverside, Calif.
1990 Fair Lanes Open, Baltimore
1991 Toyota Classic, St. Louis
1991 Seattle Open, Seattle
1995 Great Lakes Classic, Grand Rapids, Mich.
1995 Splitfire Spark Plug Open, Erie, Pa.
1998 PBA Oregon Open, Portland, Ore.
2000 Columbia 300 Open, Austin, Texas
2001 PBA Johnny Petraglia Open, N. Brunswick, N.J.
2002 PBA Miller High Life Open, Vernon Hills, Ill.
2008 PBA Exempt Doubles Classic, Las Vegas, Nev.
PBA TOUR MAJOR TITLES (1)
2004 Miller High Life Masters presented by ABC, Milwaukee, Wis.
Ranked 42nd on list of 50 Greatest Players in PBA History in 2009.
2012 Senior Tour Nominees
PETE COUTURE
Cocoa, Florida
Birth date: 6/2/1945
PBA member since: 4/30/71
Years as a Senior: 16 (1995-present)
Career money to date: $958,137
PBA SENIOR TOUR
Bowled in 147 Senior Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 40
PBA Senior Tour titles: 9
PBA SENIOR REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 38 Senior Regional events
PBA Senior Regional Tour titles: 6
SENIOR TOUR STATS
Top 10 on Senior Tour money list (7 times):
● 4th in 1995 ($39,875)
● 8th in 1996 ($30,417)
● 5th in 1997 ($45,425)
● 1st in 1998 ($117,300)
● 8th in 1999 ($28,545)
● 6th in 2000 ($30,115)
● 2nd in 2002 ($32,725)
Top 10 on average list (5 times):
● 3rd in 1995 (222.09)
● 4th in 1997 (222.37)
● 1st in 1998 (226.36)
● 6th in 1999 (224.51)
● 10th in 2007 (217.57)
PBA SENIOR TOUR STANDARD TITLES (7)
1996 Reno Senior Open, Reno, Nev.
1997 Showboat PBA Glass City Senior Open, Toledo, Ohio
1998 Showboat Greater Albany PBA Senior Open, Clifton Park, N.Y.
1998 Boise Senior Open, Boise, Idaho
1998 PBA Naples Senior Open, Naples, Fla.
2000 PBA National/Senior Doubles (with Dave Husted), Reno, Nev.
2002 PBA Senior Jackson Open, Jackson, Mich.
PBA SENIOR TOUR MAJOR TITLES (2)
1998 ABC Senior Masters, Akron, Ohio
2002 ABC Senior Masters, Tucson, Ariz.
OTHER PBA AWARDS
PBA Senior Rookie of the Year (1995)
PBA Senior Player of the Year (1998)
BOB GLASS
Lawrence, Kansas
Birth date: 10/24/47
PBA member: 1979-2007
Years as a Senior: 10 (1997-2007)
Career Money to date: $487,215
PBA SENIOR TOUR
Bowled in 78 PBA Senior Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 38
PBA Senior Tour titles: 9
PBA SENIOR REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 58 Senior Regional tournaments
PBA Senior Regional Tour titles: 12
SENIOR TOUR STATS
Top 10 on Senior Tour money list (6 times):
● 2nd in 2000 ($66,650)
● 1st in 2001 ($62,900)
● 3rd in 2002 ($27,780)
● 5th in 2003 ($23,700)
● 1st in 2004 ($28,600)
● 2nd in 2005 ($38,500)
Top 20 on Senior Tour average list (6 times):
● 1st in 1999 (225.45)
● 1st in 2000 (222.69)
● 3rd in 2001 (221.00)
● 1st in 2002 (221.56)
● 6th in 2003 (214.99)
● 2nd in 2005 (222.45)
PBA SENIOR TOUR STANDARD TITLES (7)
2000 Central Pennsylvania Senior Open, Sinking Spring, Pa.
2001 Greater Syracuse PBA Senior Open, Syracuse, N.Y.
2001 Pennsylvania PBA Senior Tour Open, Sinking Spring, Pa.
2001 PBA Senior Hammond Open, Hammond, Ind.
2004 PBA Senior Epicenter Classic, Klamath Falls, Ore.
2004 PBA Senior Chillicothe Open, Chillicothe, Ohio
2005 PBA Senior Chillicothe Open, Chillicothe, Ohio
PBA SENIOR TOUR MAJOR TITLES (2)
2000 Brunswick PBA Senior National Championship, Jackson, Mich.
2001 ABC Senior Masters, Reno, Nev.
OTHER PBA AWARDS
PBA Senior Player of the Year (2000, 2001, 2004)
GENE STUS
Taylor, Michigan
Birth date: 7/12/40
PBA member: 1990-2007
Years as a Senior: 17 (1990-2007)
Career money to date: $541,480
PBA SENIOR TOUR
Bowled in 173 PBA Senior Tour tournaments
Top five finishes: 50
PBA Senior Tour titles: 11
PBA SENIOR REGIONAL TOUR
Bowled in 77 Senior Regional tournaments
PBA Senior Regional Tour titles: 6
Top 10 on Senior Tour money list (10 times):
● 2nd in 1991 ($40,900)
● 1st in 1992 ($62,725)
● 2nd in 1993 ($74,940)
● 6th in 1994 ($37,995)
● 6th in 1995 ($37,430)
● 10th in 1996 ($27,515)
● 4th in 1997 ($49,685)
● 3rd in 1998 ($42,020)
● 8th in 2000 ($25,825)
● 5th in 2002 ($25,200)
Top 20 on Senior Tour average list (10 times):
●1st in 1991 (221.48)
● 2nd in 1992 (219.53)
● 3rd in 1993 (216.31)
● 3rd in 1994 (221.10)
● 7th in 1995 (219.03)
● 7th in 1996 (220.37)
● 6th in 1997 (220.87)
● 5th in 1998 (223.50)
● 10th in 2000 (217.37)
● 3rd in 2002 (219.62)
PBA SENIOR TOUR TITLES (11)
1991 Cal Bowl PBA Senior Open, Lakewood, Calif.
1991 Ebonite PBA Senior Championship, Battle Creek, Mich.
1992 Pacific Cal Bowl PBA Senior Open, Lakewood, Calif.
1992 Ebonite PBA Senior Championship, Buffalo, N.Y.
1993 Ebonite Senior Championship, Venice, Fla.
1994 Chicagoland Senior Open, Oak Lawn, Ill.
1996 PBA National/Senior Doubles (with Eric Forkel), E. Providence, R.I.
1997 Showboat Naples Senior Open, Naples, Fla.
1998 Showboat Seattle Senior Open, Seattle
1998 Showboat PBA Northwest Senior Classic, Beaverton, Ore.
2002 PBA Senior Northern California Classic, Brentwood, Calif.
OTHER PBA AWARDS
PBA Senior Player of the Year (1992)
SPECIAL
On July 2, 1992, Stus defeated Don Gilman, 300-188, in Lakewood, Calif., to become the first Senior to shoot 300 on national television.
2012 PBA MERITORIOUS SERVICE NOMINEE
Harry O’Neale Jr.
O’Neale was appointed PBA South Region Tournament Director in 1980 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2011. It’s estimated that the PBA South Region had less than 200 PBA members at that time, in a territory encompassing nearly 450,000 square miles.
O’Neale was instrumental in growing the popularity of the regional program in the organization’s South Region from 15 tournaments annually to 32 by 1985 and for many years had more than 40 tournaments in a season – more than any other PBA region.
Initially tournament fields were comprised of 25 bowlers or less but that number would grow to more than 100 on a regular basis. At one time he was responsible for processing more than 4,000 entries in a single season.
As a tournament director, O’Neale’s travels within the South Region often consisted of 500-750 miles one-way and a typical regional weekend would require 30-35 hours on-site, not including the hours of work for post-tournament wrap-up, scheduling, communication and networking with proprietors and bowlers.
Through his work, O’Neale was also integral in increasing membership in the South Region, reaching its pinnacle of 971 PBA members in 2006 – also unmatched by any other region.
Prior to his PBA employment, Harry competed on the PBA Tour, bowling his first event in 1961. O’Neale won the PBA Regional Players Invitational in 1972. He has been involved with PBA events in some fashion for over a half-century, leading the South Region for over 30 years and serving on the PBA Executive Board for 20 years.
Mark Gerberich
The PBA’s move to conducting televised Tour finals in special arena settings in front of huge crowds gained significant momentum under Gerberich’s leadership as PBA Commission from 1996-2000.
The three arena finals the organization conducted in 1994 were so successful that eight tournaments in ’95 put their championship rounds in arena settings, including the largest paid attendance in bowling history – 7,212 fans attending the 1995 BPAA U.S. Open in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. In 1996 a record 10 events were held in special arena settings.
The organization’s first outdoor arena final was conducted in 1999 in Bryant Park in New York City and was televised by CBS.
Gerberich guided PBA during challenging times in the late ‘90s and was instrumental in orchestrating the sale of the PBA to Chris Peters, Mike Slade and Rob Glazer in 2000.
He improved PBA operations and service by creating an international television production subsidiary with one-stop advertising, marketing and support services while also supervising the restructuring and streamlining of the organization’s financial management system, greatly reducing operational costs.
He also supervised the purchase of the PBA Players Services operations, increasing profits, reducing costs and increasing customer service.
He was instrumental in negotiating and signing Brunswick as the Tour’s first ever umbrella sponsor in 1997 and created the organization’s outside board of directors to increase the organization’s reach and accountability.
As commissioner he directed nearly 200 events in the U.S., Europe and Asia which included supervising sales, marketing, public relations, television and licensing for those events.
Soon after joining PBA in 1983, Gerberich was instrumental in the development and administration of PBA’s Tour school.
Bill Bunetta, (1919-2010)
Bunetta became a noted figure in the sport first as a competitor and later as one of the most respected teachers in bowling history.
The Detroit native was a charter member of the PBA who won his only PBA Tour title in Fairless Hills, Pa., in 1960. He also was a member of the E&B and Pfeiffers of Detroit, and Munsingwear of Chicago teams that contributed to his five American Bowling Congress Championships titles between 1949 and 1955. He was inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame in 1968.
In 1995, at age 76, he became the oldest bowler in history to roll back-to-back 300 games (a record that has since been broken by a 77-year-old Canadian).
But beyond his successes on the lanes, Bunetta may be best known for his innovative coaching systems—including the “3-6-9 spare-shooting system” and his years of conducting clinics and exhibitions. He was often sought out by many young professionals for coaching assistance.
“Bill was the pioneer, the forerunner for tenpin bowling instruction and education,” said PBA Hall of Famer Dick Ritger and a former member of the AMF Staff of Champions. “Bill was the Master Teacher…and I was chosen to be…his understudy.
“Bill studied the game as no one had. He was the most technically-advanced person of the time. He had researched, developed and would explain why as he taught the mathematical spare systems…
“The intricacies pertaining to the full roll and semi roll releases, and how each are attained, were also Bill’s innovations. All aspects of the physical movement, including the swing, release, balance and timing were studied and analyzed. He would explain what was most beneficial for success and why…”
Ritger noted that Bunetta also researched and taught principles of bowling ball rotation, entry angle, ideal speed and more. His charismatic, easy-going approach made him the sport’s most popular ambassador in his era. His theories and instructional systems helped a number of hall of famers achieve greatness. Among them were Mark Roth, Mike Aulby, Marshall Holman, Dave Davis, Parker Bohn III, Nelson Burton Jr., Billy Hardwick, and many others.
Bunetta was the recipient of the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association Lighthouse Award, which was subsequently re-named the Bill Bunetta Memorial Lighthouse Award.
He served as a PBA vice president and chaired the tournament committee in the late 1960s, and also was commentator on the “Championship Bowling” television show in the 1960s.
Chris Peters
Chris Peters turned his passion for bowling into ownership of one the most well known sports organizations.
Peters, an early employee of Microsoft who would later become an innovator and executive with the company, led the effort to purchase the PBA with partners and fellow Microsoft executives Mike Slade and Rob Glaser in 2000 for $5 million. The purchase occurred at a critical time for PBA when the organization was on the verge of bankruptcy and was struggling to maintain its position as a leading sports entity.
Peters and his fellow owners provided an infusion of capital to ensure a solid foundation for the organization while at the same time providing forward-thinking vision and developing innovative ideas to enhance the fan experience, especially in the areas of event presentation and online coverage. The introduction of a professionally-designed “arena” style set for TV finals, including professional presentation of signage and an overall enhanced image that helped the PBA generate more new non-bowling corporate sponsorships than the PBA had seen in several years.
The following milestones were achieved under his tenure as an owner and Chairman of the Board of PBA:
• Hired former Nike executives to enhance the organization’s position as a major sports organization.
• Re-launched a more comprehensive and fan-friendly PBA.com.
• Developed live online broadcasting through Strike Pass subscription service (now Xtra-Frame), one of the first sports to provide online video, to provide fans with greater in-depth video coverage of PBA events.
• Successfully negotiated long-term contracts with ESPN to establish a consistent time slot for PBA Tour telecasts.
• Introduced the PBA Exempt Tour for the 2004-05 season, creating an “elite” tour to better showcase PBA Tour players and provide the Tour’s most successful players with guaranteed opportunities to make a living by including record prize money for standard events. Each major featured a minimum $100,000 first prize, with the PBA World Championship offering a then-record $120,000 first prize.
