For months we have gone with the idea that we will turn it around once playoffs hit. Tonight the playoff teams played for $30 a point and the game was on. In the 1st game, three of our 4 bowlers went over 2 bills (Rick 234, Dan 223 and Jim 207) leading to our high game of the year 949. This led to dominant 135 point victory. Rick and Dan both earned the 4 strike chicken dinner.
Game 2 was not quite the success story as we sunk to a 788 and lost by 96 pins. After 2 games, each team had 2 points with $90 riding on the last game. Rick, Dan and Jim, all cooled off in games 2 and 3, all averaging in the mid 170's for the last 2 games. It was Pat, shaking off the PP blues (Paulsen / Prybel), buried the memory of his 152 / 137 "efforts" in the 1st two games and exploded with a 233 in the 3rd (also earning the chicken dinner). This was a career best game leading to a series of 522. All 4 Los Diablos bypassed the 500 series mark (Rick 585, Dan 568 and Jim 553). This excellent team effort led to a 5-2 evening mark and tough guy talk about how great we are and how it was just a matter of time before we started to kick some butt again.
It is nice to have a solid effort under our belts as we head into the the final 2 weeks. One sad effect of the excellent bowling was the small poker pot winnings. We all agreed it will be nice to have Brian back so that the pots will be once again worth playing for...hurry back Captain.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Uh Oh.....an "O"-fer
The whole team was back for the 1st time in weeks and my buddy Brian looked like a new man. Our speculation that he was at an intensive bowling camp for the last few weeks was quickly dispelled as we saw him throw misguided ball after misguided ball. Is he going for the elusive sub 90 game, I asked myself? As it turns out he did achieve the team low of 86 (previous team low held by Mark and Pat with an 89). Of course the brothers aren't nearly men enough to have this score announced themselves so they talked Rick into doing it (it was funny, though). Dan (the unfeeling bastard) pointed out that Brian needed to bowl a 214 in this last game while kingpin Dan didn't even need to play a 3rd game for them to tie for the series.
Although I thought everyone knew I was an ass man, I was somewhat dismayed at Pat's shocked reaction when I proudly declared: "I'm an ASS man!". Maybe it was the timing of the comment since he had just referred to our teammate Rick as "Assman". Speaking of Rick, I find myself with a goofy smile on my face every time I think of his "She's Mrs. Candyland" comment regarding the 7 of clubs. Between that and the weekly USS (urine stained socks) comments, I am really glad I can affectionately call him my teammate.
I feel it is only right that I give Dan some credit. He bowled an impressive 614 series (230, 187, 197). At least he didn't gag like the last time he bowled over 230 and then followed it up with 125!!!! Hey, Dan....it's easier to bowl without you left hand clasping your throat!!!. Brian rallied in the last game to avoid his all time low 312 series, Rick was a little below average while Pat and I had 490 - something series. Right at our averages but bowling your average is kind of like kissing your sister....or in this case kissing your neighbor!! One more week of this humiliation and then I am off for a week of Deliverance-like adventures down in the backwoods. Pat sure has a pretty mouth!
Author's note: All accounts above are pure fiction and written by the same author as always. Any similarities to real people on a weekly bowling team in Wheaton is pure coincidence. Any change in style from an impartial 3rd party to a 1st party team member perspective is done strictly in the interest of providing a different point of reference.
Although I thought everyone knew I was an ass man, I was somewhat dismayed at Pat's shocked reaction when I proudly declared: "I'm an ASS man!". Maybe it was the timing of the comment since he had just referred to our teammate Rick as "Assman". Speaking of Rick, I find myself with a goofy smile on my face every time I think of his "She's Mrs. Candyland" comment regarding the 7 of clubs. Between that and the weekly USS (urine stained socks) comments, I am really glad I can affectionately call him my teammate.
I feel it is only right that I give Dan some credit. He bowled an impressive 614 series (230, 187, 197). At least he didn't gag like the last time he bowled over 230 and then followed it up with 125!!!! Hey, Dan....it's easier to bowl without you left hand clasping your throat!!!. Brian rallied in the last game to avoid his all time low 312 series, Rick was a little below average while Pat and I had 490 - something series. Right at our averages but bowling your average is kind of like kissing your sister....or in this case kissing your neighbor!! One more week of this humiliation and then I am off for a week of Deliverance-like adventures down in the backwoods. Pat sure has a pretty mouth!
Author's note: All accounts above are pure fiction and written by the same author as always. Any similarities to real people on a weekly bowling team in Wheaton is pure coincidence. Any change in style from an impartial 3rd party to a 1st party team member perspective is done strictly in the interest of providing a different point of reference.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
That Damn 10 Pin
It has been suggested that Los Diablos may not be an appropriate title since our recent efforts do not seem to justify what should be an intimidating name. Or, could it be that our play has gone to hell and that our name is totally befitting of our collective performance? Time will only tell and there is one fact that remains...we ARE in the playoffs and anything can happen once the big bucks are on the line!
Despite the fact that the scoreboard showed we were down over 100 pins very early on in the 1st game, Rick shook the dew off the lily and bowled five quick frames to get caught up after his late arrival. This seemed to spark the team on and going into the 10th we were in the thick of things...until we finished the 10th that is and managed to lose the game by 4 pins. Was it Jim's split inspired open frames in the 8th and 9th frames? Was it Pat's solid 6 spot in the 10th or Dan bowling 5 pins below his average? Perhaps Rick failing to mark in the 10th...we all could have picked up 4 pins somewhere along the way. The disappointing finish to game one led to a good 'ole fashion ass-kicking in the 2nd game. We did however salvage the 3rd game to maintain our stranglehold on last place.
Both Pat and Dan Prybel'd, pulling off the unconventional 1st ball gutter, 2nd ball spare routine. Rarely has this feat been achieved since the departure of "Walk-away Mark" and to see it twice in one evening is baffling. What could cause two 160 + bowlers to do this? I am not sure but it may have been indirectly related to Jim's disturbing comment (request?) to Scott about throwing him a big bone. I don't even want to know whose big bone was being referenced and where it was going to be thrown but my anal sphincter is puckering up as I type this!!
The glory of 1st is in our past, unfortunately now we are solidly LAST!!!
Despite the fact that the scoreboard showed we were down over 100 pins very early on in the 1st game, Rick shook the dew off the lily and bowled five quick frames to get caught up after his late arrival. This seemed to spark the team on and going into the 10th we were in the thick of things...until we finished the 10th that is and managed to lose the game by 4 pins. Was it Jim's split inspired open frames in the 8th and 9th frames? Was it Pat's solid 6 spot in the 10th or Dan bowling 5 pins below his average? Perhaps Rick failing to mark in the 10th...we all could have picked up 4 pins somewhere along the way. The disappointing finish to game one led to a good 'ole fashion ass-kicking in the 2nd game. We did however salvage the 3rd game to maintain our stranglehold on last place.
Both Pat and Dan Prybel'd, pulling off the unconventional 1st ball gutter, 2nd ball spare routine. Rarely has this feat been achieved since the departure of "Walk-away Mark" and to see it twice in one evening is baffling. What could cause two 160 + bowlers to do this? I am not sure but it may have been indirectly related to Jim's disturbing comment (request?) to Scott about throwing him a big bone. I don't even want to know whose big bone was being referenced and where it was going to be thrown but my anal sphincter is puckering up as I type this!!
The glory of 1st is in our past, unfortunately now we are solidly LAST!!!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The computer is back...an update
A few weeks without the services of the home computer and the blogging world is clamoring for a Los Diablos Bowling team update. In the past few weeks we have seen our 1st 600 series, turned in by Rick with an impressive 618. If Rick could actually get a mark in the 10th I could see a 700 series in his future. Nice job. Speaking of marks in the 10th.....the whole team (all five of us) went without a mark in the 10th frame of the 1st and the 3rd game...and Brian wasn't even here!!! Needless the say, we let a 7-0 evening turn into a 2-5 evening. Dan turned in the season's high game for the team with a 231 (previous team high by Dan at 226) and immediately found the 1st ball gutter ball that had previously eluded him and managed to score 105 pins lower in the next game. As a team we also shattered our previous high of 902 with a nice 927 effort. Pat's recent tear has put him in the low 160's, steadily improving his average.
Clearly some highs and lows over the last few weeks. Now let's do a little reflection on the season. Remember how we started out? 14-0 after 2 weeks and 19-2 after 3 weeks. We all knew that torrid of a pace would not continue but as of 11/13/07 we had a very respectable 50-27 and were solidly in 1st place. We started the downward slide about this time and limped into a 1st half of the season playoff spot with a record of 60-52 (10 and 25 the last 5 weeks of the 1st half). It doesn't get any prettier...since our 50-27 in November, we have gone 25 and 66. OUCH.
We are running out of time boys, winning breeds winning and losing breeds losing. We need to get back in the habit of winning in order to make some noise in the playoffs. We started the season solidly in first, it now appears we are aiming for worst.
Clearly some highs and lows over the last few weeks. Now let's do a little reflection on the season. Remember how we started out? 14-0 after 2 weeks and 19-2 after 3 weeks. We all knew that torrid of a pace would not continue but as of 11/13/07 we had a very respectable 50-27 and were solidly in 1st place. We started the downward slide about this time and limped into a 1st half of the season playoff spot with a record of 60-52 (10 and 25 the last 5 weeks of the 1st half). It doesn't get any prettier...since our 50-27 in November, we have gone 25 and 66. OUCH.
We are running out of time boys, winning breeds winning and losing breeds losing. We need to get back in the habit of winning in order to make some noise in the playoffs. We started the season solidly in first, it now appears we are aiming for worst.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Above average again, 2-5 again
For the 2nd week in a row we bowled significantly above our average in 2 of the 3 games yet we only managed to pick up 2 points. We blew away our 790 average in the 1st game with a solid 837 and came back with an 859 in the 3rd game. We had a rock solid effort in the 3rd with our scores ranging from 148 - 194 and all team members bowling at or above average.
Pat, with his weekly Sunday practice sessions now being complemented by hours of nightly WII (sp?) bowling practice, has really reaped benefits of the extra time dedicated to this red neck sport that we enjoy every Tuesday. Pat enjoyed another stellar performance leading to a 557 series (197, 169,185). Rick's 3rd game 194 broke his 2 consecutive games of 167 on the way to a nice 527 series. Jim's 1st game of 178 led the way to a near 500 series (498), while Dan (468) and Brian (409) were in the general neighborhood of their averages but overall had very lukewarm efforts.
The team shirts may be irritating our opponents into the extra incentive of kicking our butts each week but this would just be another lame excuse. Since about December 1st, we have been in a team funk with a very poor record tainting our strong start to the season. Let's remember, this season is a marathon not a sprint.....We are not the best, we are not the WORST...there still is time to finish FIRST!! Any ole' strike will do boys.
Pat, with his weekly Sunday practice sessions now being complemented by hours of nightly WII (sp?) bowling practice, has really reaped benefits of the extra time dedicated to this red neck sport that we enjoy every Tuesday. Pat enjoyed another stellar performance leading to a 557 series (197, 169,185). Rick's 3rd game 194 broke his 2 consecutive games of 167 on the way to a nice 527 series. Jim's 1st game of 178 led the way to a near 500 series (498), while Dan (468) and Brian (409) were in the general neighborhood of their averages but overall had very lukewarm efforts.
The team shirts may be irritating our opponents into the extra incentive of kicking our butts each week but this would just be another lame excuse. Since about December 1st, we have been in a team funk with a very poor record tainting our strong start to the season. Let's remember, this season is a marathon not a sprint.....We are not the best, we are not the WORST...there still is time to finish FIRST!! Any ole' strike will do boys.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Bake your balls boys and let the oil drip!
It is somewhat disheartening when we bowl 15 pins above the team average and get annihilated by almost 100 pins!! We took an even worse beating in the 2nd game, losing by almost 200 pins!! Fortunately, the third game combo of us having our best game (822) and the opponents having their worse (995) resulted in us escaping with 2 points, winning by a whopping 4 pins. Dan's "I'm clutch in the 10th" comment to Brian almost came back to haunt him as he tight roped his 1st ball along the gutter and left a sloppy pin placement for his spare attempt. Pat's effort for the evening, a career best 543 (199, 153, 191), were the only bowling scores worth mentioning. Nice job!
As usual, there were some classic comments made during the evening (none quite as good as the Jim D "outfit" comment last week). "It's a shame its not a mirror", "She wasn't parting the sea she was picking seeds", "All I am looking for is a little peek a boo(b)" and "The lanes are finally drying out its time to go full throttle" to name a few.
As we were leaving for the evening, Mr. 300, started telling us about some urban myth about baking your balls in the oven. My first reaction was "how do you keep your short curlys from burning?" After a little clarification I realized he was talking about BOWLING balls. I don't care what he was talking about but no one is going to put my balls in the oven.
As usual, there were some classic comments made during the evening (none quite as good as the Jim D "outfit" comment last week). "It's a shame its not a mirror", "She wasn't parting the sea she was picking seeds", "All I am looking for is a little peek a boo(b)" and "The lanes are finally drying out its time to go full throttle" to name a few.
As we were leaving for the evening, Mr. 300, started telling us about some urban myth about baking your balls in the oven. My first reaction was "how do you keep your short curlys from burning?" After a little clarification I realized he was talking about BOWLING balls. I don't care what he was talking about but no one is going to put my balls in the oven.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
2008 - Grab your balls we are going bowling!!!
After our 2 week hiatus Los Disablos came to the alley as a united team. Everyone wearing the new team outfit......except off course, the captain!!! It wasn't long before our opponents discovered our unified look and had a nice little laugh. Although Brian's apparent snub and or boycott of the T-shirt did inspire one of them to ask: "what's wrong with him, didn't he get the e-mail?" I'm sorry Brian, I know Scott's shirt says "captain" on it, but please, get with the program.
It was somewhat alarming to see Los Diablos at 0-7 and at the bottom of the standings as they have re-set the league for the 2nd half. Despite an un-inspired 1st game 778 (11 below average) we actually dominated the opener by over 70 pins, thanks to Pat (177) and Rick (191) keeping us alive. The 2nd game we regressed, bowling a 762. Rick again bailing us out with a 198. We did rebound in the 3rd with a solid 826. Rick (202), Jim (190) and Dan (183) led the solid effort.
Brian, taking the T-shirt boycott a step too far, turned in a girl's 7th grade intramural league effort with games of 125, 119 and 120. Wow! When are you getting that new ball? We did manage to take the night 5-2, perhaps inspired by the shirts or a visit from former sub Jim D. Some classic comments were made, though none as disturbing as the "Wow, Jim, you really look like you are bulking up!! You really fill out that outfit!"
It was somewhat alarming to see Los Diablos at 0-7 and at the bottom of the standings as they have re-set the league for the 2nd half. Despite an un-inspired 1st game 778 (11 below average) we actually dominated the opener by over 70 pins, thanks to Pat (177) and Rick (191) keeping us alive. The 2nd game we regressed, bowling a 762. Rick again bailing us out with a 198. We did rebound in the 3rd with a solid 826. Rick (202), Jim (190) and Dan (183) led the solid effort.
Brian, taking the T-shirt boycott a step too far, turned in a girl's 7th grade intramural league effort with games of 125, 119 and 120. Wow! When are you getting that new ball? We did manage to take the night 5-2, perhaps inspired by the shirts or a visit from former sub Jim D. Some classic comments were made, though none as disturbing as the "Wow, Jim, you really look like you are bulking up!! You really fill out that outfit!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)