Wai Sallas rolls on Shabbas and explains the great “sport” of bowling, with an assist from the bowling greats of The Big Lebowski to Kingpin
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We’ve gone complex simplicity of baseball to the grace and pageantry of football to the beautiful game of soccer. Stayed on the pitch with rugby, And then came back super local, with ultimate frisbee. We’ve hit the links with an assist from Happy Gilmore and Caddyshack. and last week we honored the now-coopted Native American pastime of lacrosse.
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“I have studied the astrological musings of the mystics, and I can conclude one thing: of all things cosmic, bowling is the best.”
~ Jarod Kintz
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Vince Lombardi once said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” While he was arguably the greatest football coach to ever walk the sidelines, Vince Lombardi obviously did not bowl.
The chase for 300, the lure of stale beer and pretzels, or good wholesome family entertainment has drawn millions of people to dimly lit, raucous arenas of fun.
It’s quite simple, really. Each person grabs a weighted ball and rolls, hurls or spins it down a narrow path, avoiding the hazard of gutters with the goal of knocking down 10 pins that stand at the end of the lane. Rinse and repeat 10 more times and there you have it.
Anyone can do it.
There are only a few rules in bowling, which is why it’s great for all ages. Never, however, EVER, go over the line while bowling, or you may enter a “World of Pain.”
As “Pal” may have led on to before, bowling alleys can have an unsavory element to them. 40 years ago, the bowling alley was a glorified arena where bowlers were treated like kings and men and women flocked to watch the best.
While the crowds for state championship bowling events have diminished, those who bowl still have the flair.
Even though bowling’s professional scene is not on par with the other, more popular leagues, you can still catch the PBA tour on ESPN throughout the year. This is one event you’ll want to watch.
Bowling, catch the fever.
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So there you have it: Bowling, explained.
What sport do you want us to enlighten you about in next week’s Sports Explained?
We want to hear from you!
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Photo Credit: YouTube/screen capture
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