You can also call us during the show at 541-776-4499, email us at djones@mailtribune.com or post your questions on
the Sports Chat wall.

Become a fan of Sports Chat on Facebook. Just click on the link (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) and then on “Like” to receive occasional updates.

Ehrhardt, a senior guard, is the school’s all-time leading scorer and a four-year starter. She has signed to play basketball at Corban University.

Sager will speak with Mail Tribune sports reporter Dan Jones at noon on Facebook! Log on to the show (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) to watch and participate. Jones and Sager will take questions and comments live. You can also call us during the show at 541-776-4499, email us at djones@mailtribune.com or post your questions on the Sports Chat wall.

Become a fan of Sports Chat on Facebook. Just click on the www.facebook.com/mtsportschat and then on “Like” to receive occasional updates.

Dan and Dave Do Stuff is a new video series from the Mail Tribune. Jones of the sports department and Sager from the copy desk compete against each other in various local challenges.

Ryan Pfeil, Mandy Valencia and Anita Burke have done the hard work, doing all the behind-the-scenes filming, production and promotion.

Sager is an award-winning member of the staff who is originally from Texas.

Check out the show’s facebook page and check out the trailer.

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120119/MEDIA03/120119965/-1/MEDIA

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)

●12^th in 1993 ($100,310)

●16^th in 1995 ($135,685)

●14^th in 1997 ($123,535)

●6^th in 1998 ($114,280)

●2^nd in 1999 ($287,190)

●3^rd in 2000 ($222,715)

●6^th in 2001-02 ($157,475)

●3^rd in 2002-03 ($150,470)

●13^th in 2003-04 ($87,852)

●10^th in 2005-06 ($119.800)

●10^th in 2006-07 ($100,800)

●17^th in 2009-10 ($57,445)

●20^th In 2010-11 ($34,825)

Top 20 on average list (12)

●18^th in 1993 (216.14)

●14^th in 1997 (216.44)

●11^th in 1998 (219.55)

●2^nd in 1999 (225.18)

●9^th in 2000 (217.32)

●2^nd in 2001-02 (220.93)

●6^th in 2003-04 (220.94)

●4^th in 2004-05 (224.09)

●7^th in 2005-06 (221.09)

●4^th in 2006-07 (225.42)

●17^th in 2009-10 (216.87)

●14^th 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):

● 3^rd in 1994 ($173,922)

● 17^th in 1995 ($83,720)

● 15^th in 1998 ($72,765)

Top 20 on average list (4 times):

●19^th in 1992 (214.83)

● 5^th in 1994 (210.1)

● 8^th in 1995 (220.47)

● 13^th 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):

● 11^th in 1994 ($106,959)

● 20^th in 1996 ($72,195)

● 8^th in 1997 ($110,495)

● 3^rd in 1998 ($154,105)

● 6^th in 1999 ($91,430)

● 14^th in 2000 ($45,900)

Top 20 on average list (1 time):

● 10^th 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):

● 19^th in 1996 ($74,823)

● 7^th in 1997 ($126,430)

● 14^th in 1998 ($72,820)

● 14^th in 1999 ($60,595)

● 9^th in 2000 ($67,075)

● 18^th in 2002-03 ($69,850)

● 1^st in 2006-07 ($200,530)

Top 20 on average list (5 times):

● 20^th in 1996 (218.79)

● 12^th in 1997 (216.64)

● 9^th in 1998 (219.81)

● 7^th in 2000 (217.64)

● 10^th 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):

● 11^th in 2003-04 ($99,285)

● 3^rd in 2005-06 ($205,270)

● 17^th in 2006-07 ($60,160)

● 10^th in 2007-08 ($100,400)

● 3^rd in 2008-09 ($179,820)

● 3^rd in 2009-10 ($130,705)

Top 20 on average list (9 times):

● 12^th in 2002-03 (217.71)

● 7^th in 2003-04 (220.62)

● 14^th in 2004-05 (220.59)

● 2^nd in 2005-06 (223.82)

● 7^th in 2006-07 (224.60)

● 6^th in 2007-08 (221.89)

● 8^th in 2008-09 (220.32)

● 6^th 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 66^th 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):

● 15^th in 1991 ($87,330)

● 14^th in 1992 ($74,508)

● 12^th in 1995 ($96,341)

● 7^th in 1996 ($107,217)

● 13^th in 1998 ($74,190)

● 9^th in 1999 ($75,060)

● 8^th in 2000 ($72,700)

● 8^th in 2002-03 ($120,150)

● 4^th in 2004-05 ($186,050)

● 19^th in 2006-07 ($53,750)

● 17^th in 2007-08 ($66,190)

● 16^th in 2008-09 ($69,650)

Top 20 on average list (9 times):

● 18^th in 1995 (218.15)

● 8^th in 1996 (220.73)

● 14^th in 1998 (219.07)

● 9^th in 1999 (223.21)

● 5^th in 2000 (218.05)

● 7^th in 2002-03 (219.53)

● 9^th in 2004-05 (221.00)

● 13^th in 2006-07 (221.76)

● 16^th 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):

● 4^th in 1995 ($39,875)

● 8^th in 1996 ($30,417)

● 5^th in 1997 ($45,425)

● 1^st in 1998 ($117,300)

● 8^th in 1999 ($28,545)

● 6^th in 2000 ($30,115)

● 2^nd in 2002 ($32,725)

Top 10 on average list (5 times):

● 3^rd in 1995 (222.09)

● 4^th in 1997 (222.37)

● 1^st in 1998 (226.36)

● 6^th in 1999 (224.51)

● 10^th 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):

● 2^nd in 2000 ($66,650)

● 1^st in 2001 ($62,900)

● 3^rd in 2002 ($27,780)

● 5^th in 2003 ($23,700)

● 1^st in 2004 ($28,600)

● 2^nd in 2005 ($38,500)

Top 20 on Senior Tour average list (6 times):

● 1^st in 1999 (225.45)

● 1^st in 2000 (222.69)

● 3^rd in 2001 (221.00)

● 1^st in 2002 (221.56)

● 6^th in 2003 (214.99)

● 2^nd 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):

● 2^nd in 1991 ($40,900)

● 1^st in 1992 ($62,725)

● 2^nd in 1993 ($74,940)

● 6^th in 1994 ($37,995)

● 6^th in 1995 ($37,430)

● 10^th in 1996 ($27,515)

● 4^th in 1997 ($49,685)

● 3^rd in 1998 ($42,020)

● 8^th in 2000 ($25,825)

● 5^th in 2002 ($25,200)

Top 20 on Senior Tour average list (10 times):

●1^st in 1991 (221.48)

● 2^nd in 1992 (219.53)

● 3^rd in 1993 (216.31)

● 3^rd in 1994 (221.10)

● 7^th in 1995 (219.03)

● 7^th in 1996 (220.37)

● 6^th in 1997 (220.87)

● 5^th in 1998 (223.50)

● 10^th in 2000 (217.37)

● 3^rd 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.

Turner posted on Facebook that he’ll be joining the teaching staff at Cascade High in, of all places, Turner — up in the Salem area. The FB post doesn’t say so, but he’ll take over as the head football coach as well, replacing Karl Elliott, who is in his 70s. Cascade is also where Turner began his coaching career in 1976 as an assistant. He was there nine years, then at Rainer for one season as head football coach before coming to Medford and joining Rod Rumrey’s staff at North.

Turner, a mean slowpitch softball player to boot (trust me),  moved on to Crook County in 1998 to be the head football coach. It was on to Mountain View in 2008, and he led the Cougars to the Class 5A state championship in December and was named coach of the year. The Cascade move is surprising, only because he was a hot commodity here, where, as his FB post says, he was married and his kids were born. But he and his wife, Mary, also have many ties — including family — in Turner.

Here’s what Jay Reese posted on his radio website from Bend: http://jayreesesports.com/archives/1695. It has more recent pictures of Turner than I put here.

Picknell will speak with Mail Tribune sports reporter Dan Jones at noon on Facebook. Log on to the show (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) to watch and participate. Jones
and Picknell will take questions and comments live. You can also call us during the show at 541-776-4499, email us at djones@mailtribune.com or post your questions on the Sports Chat wall.

Become a fan of Sports Chat on Facebook. Just click on the link (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) and then on “Like” to receive occasional
updates.

Picknell, 6-foot-5 senior center, suffered an ankle injury against Crater that will keep her sidelined for two to six weeks.  The top-ranked Panthers are 13-0 overall and 3-0 in the Southern Oregon Hybrid.South, which is ranked 11th nationally, hosts Ashland at 7 p.m. Friday.

Picknell, who has signed with Stanford, was averaging 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

Delaney will speak with Mail Tribune sports reporter Dan Jones at noon on Facebook. Log on to the show (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) to watch and participate. Jones and Delaney will take questions and comments live. You can also call us during the show at 541-776-4499, email us at djones@mailtribune.com or post your questions on the Sports Chat wall.

Become a fan of Sports Chat on Facebook. Just click on the link (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) and then on “Like” to receive occasional updates!

Delaney, a 6-foot-2 senior post, scored a game-high 18 points in the Panthers’ 73-47 win over Red Bluff at the Abby’s Holiday Classic on Wednesday.

They got off to a good start in the Nike Interstate Shootout Tuesday, beating No. 5 Clackamas, 81-62. Here’s the Oregonian story.

There hasn’t been a big-school state winner from down here, so maybe the perception of the strength of play has a degree of merit. But that notion clearly is in danger with the Panthers, a quick, big, athletic team that comes at you with the intensity of a blender at full speed. It’ll be interesting to follow them through this tournament, that has nine of the top 10 teams in the state and powerhouses from elsewhere in the 16-team bracket.

Here’s what oregonprepsports.net had to say about it.

Herklotz will speak with Mail Tribune sports reporter Dan Jones at noon on Facebook. Log on to the show (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) to watch and participate. Jones and Herklotz will take questions and comments live. You can also call during the show at 541-776-4499, email djones@mailtribune.com or post your questions on the Sports Chat wall.

Become a fan of Sports Chat on Facebook. Just click on the link (www.facebook.com/mtsportschat) and then on “Like” to receive occasional updates.

Herklotz and the undefeated Knights (8-0) take on unbeaten Phoenix (7-0) — led by Alex Young and Tyler Dungannon — tonight in the Wells Fargo Advisors Christmas Classic finals.

Herklotz, a senior post, had 16 points and 10 rebounds to help lift North Valley past Cascade Christian on Wednesday.

Kyle Singler, right

While there is some dissenting opinion out there — mostly emanating from Michigan — it seems Kyle Singler hit a home run by signing to finish the season with Real Madrid in the ACB European professional basketball league. Money isn’t everything, or even the main thing, it seems, with Singler. That said, he’ll make more this season than he would have in the NBA, and he should mature by leaps and bounds playing regularly against top-level competition.

In Detroit, the negatives far outweigh the positives: unsettled roster on a team expected to be among the NBA’s worst, virtually no preseason camp/schedule compared to other years, a battle just to get in the rotation for minutes. With Lucentum Alicante, Singler has proven his worth over what will have been 10 games by the time he joins Real Madrid next week. He blends nicely into the team-oriented European game, and when the season ends in Spain, he should be even more attractive to the Pistons.

Singler’s agent says the 6-8 forward yearns to have a long career in Detroit, eventually, but who’s to say what will happen after this year? As welcome and loved as he seems to have become in just two months, it seems imprudent to make any bold assertions to that effect just yet.

As for the naysayers, the few comments I’ve read weren’t overly thought out. One writer in Michigan questioned whether the Pistons should even want Singler, since he turned his back on them. The writer questioned his “loyalty” to the franchise. Huh? How can you be loyal to something you’ve never been a part of? Ask Duke or the Medford community how loyal he is. He also thought Singler should have waited until he could speak with Pistons brass before making the Real Madrid commitment. But, strike while the iron’s hot, right?

It’s not Singler’s fault the NBA put itself in the mess it’s in. I like that he’s thinking independently and doing what’s best for himself in the long run rather than kowtowing to the perception that the fractured league is the end-all, be-all and that he must go there no matter the consequence.

Oh, the other basher of Singler’s decision that caught my eye — and burned my ears for all the F-bombs he dropped — was from a Pistons uber fan who was really, really, really irked because Singler wouldn’t be available to help his team. In due time, perhaps, in due time.

If you like, go to our poll and let us know what you think.