July 10, 2008
Angel: Youth Open Team Today
Well the kids have finished with qualifying for Jr Gold, and it was definitely a learning experience for each of them. Spares were at a premium, and for those with the ability to capitalize on great shot making, they did very well. Unfortunately, our kids only had glimmers of shots, and missed key spares. There's been a lot of discussion on how "easy" the shot was this year, and the reality is scores are definitely higher for the kids who bowled well, but there are just as many kids who struggled. At least there were no parents screaming at kids on day three, unlike years past.
This morning, the kids head to Taylor, MI for the Youth Open team event, and Zoe finally gets to bowl with the bigger kids. Afterwards we'll be off to the Henry Ford Museum to see what they have going on down there.
The week is slowly winding down, and I've never been prouder of the kids as a group, or individually. We have had more new ones this year than any previous year and they've all gotten along swimmingly. Living in such close quarters we've had a few little tiffs, but for the most part, the experience has been incredible and memorable.
Gotta Split,
Angel
July 07, 2008
Michael: Early Morning Blues
We got up and bowled at Sunnybrook today. It played A LOT different than it did in practice. In practice, there was a lot more room and there was a shot from the outside. The only people I could see scoring from outside had a lot lower ball speed than me and they didn't do a lot to the ball. After fumbling trying to make that line work for four games, along with MANY missed spares, I move inside to a more direct shot and my scores were markedly better. I ended up shooting 948, but with all the spares I missed, it could have easily been 1050 or 1100. I crossed with Adam Martinez, who some may recognize as the winner of last year's Jr Gold tournament, and as it turns out, he only uses two bowling balls. He is probably one of the nicest bowlers I have ever had the pleasure of crossing with
After bowling, we went to Panera for lunch and headed back to the hotel. A lot of the parents and kids took a nap following or in place of lunch. A few of us walked over to the pool hall next door and played a few rounds. We then came back and ate "Michigan Tacos" from the hotel (hey, free food is free food).
We went to Dave & Buster's out by the side tournament we tried to bowl, and there was much rejoicing. We went, we played, we had fun, and we got prizes. Then we came back and waited for results to be posted.
--Mike
Let the Games Begin...
It's 5:40 local time, and we're already in the throes of showering and dragging ourselves out of bed. Of course, more sleep is always more desirable over less sleep, but I doubt most of them were sleeping much anyway.
I've talked about nutrition, hydration, maintaining focus, asking for help before they get too far done, and pretty much anything else that I could think of. This year the kids are probably more prepared than ever, and I know the group can work together better than ever. So as a dear Canadian-born bowler announces each week before league: Let the Games Begin.
And I'm proud of them all. Each and every one of them for different things individually and for being willing to try Jr Gold, and for representing Corbin, the San Fernando Valley, California and the country.
Ang
July 06, 2008
Dustin: Night Before Tournament Day 1
Hey all,
We've been in Detroit, Michigan for the last few days (since Friday) and just been relaxing, eating at chains that I've never eaten at, and practiced on 3 different sports shots.
As for food, we ate at Cracker Barrel, Tim Horton's, and Steak 'N Shake. Cracker Barrel was good and quite filling for the price. It was interesting that right after entering the store, it starts off with a retro candy/game store that has all the good but oldies like mini plastic coke bottles filled with colored sugar water that were around when my mom was a kid, ancient I know. Tim Horton's was good and had quite the interesting combination--soup, sandwich, coffee....and a doughnut. All around it was good and filling. But the creme de la creme was Steak 'N Shake which I had a melt that was absolutely amazing with a side-by-sided shake of Razzberry (Yes i know it's spelled with an sp but i felt like being original), and Vanilla which was bomb. Great food... gotta eat there again.
Bowling balls:
-Uranium Solid: High hook.
-Black Widow Pearl: Distance and snap at end (2nd most hooking)
-Total NV: starts up a little earlier than widow but arcs more than snap and overall hooks less
-Avalanche: low hook, small arc, and roll.
-Plastic spare ball- self explanatory
Bowling wise, I've been quite happy with myself. So far, we practiced on a medium/medium shot (42 feet with medium oil), a long/low (47 feet with low oil), and a short/high (35 feet with high oil). For medium oil, I was able to either bowl straight up 7 with the Widow Pearl or swing it from fifteen out to ten and it came back nicely after the lanes started to break down a little, or swing the Uranium, my strongest ball, from 20 to 10 and it was fine, or NV straight up 12ish. Overall, I did quite well...at least I think so. Then, on the long pattern, we bowled on a one squad used (non fresh and slightly burned out) shot. I was able to bowl straight up 5 with widow, up 10 with NV, swing 20-15 with Avalanche, or swing Uranium same as I did on the short shot. It wasn't too bad but I'm also assuming the lanes will be different when we bowl on them for tournament with more oil and a fresh shot. Finally, came the short pattern. I bowled right up 10 to start with Widow, which burned up and I moved out to 7-5 and was fine. NV was kinda iffy, but after breaking down up 10 was fine. Avalanche was swing from 20 to 13 again and came in nicely. Overall I'd have to say that I most preferred the Uranium which I was swinging from 25 out to 10 and carrying back beautifully and threw that the best. It was a fresh shot too, but again, I'm assuming that it will be slightly more oily on actual tournament.
I believe that I'm ready for this tournament and I'll do just fine. Although it's my first JR gold tournament, I just won't get too hyped up and freaked and should be perfect. All I can do is bowl and try to bowl as damn best as I can. So, as I'm now ready and it's just past midnight, I really gotta go to bed. We bowl at 8 AM tomorrow so that means getting up at 6, eating, and leaving no later than 7 to check in and turn in our ball check in cards.
Night y'all,
Dustin
Michael: Mocha Malts and More
After the entry I made last night, I'm going to try to keep this one short and sweet.
We woke up, it was past morning, so it was much better. We ate, loaded into cars, and hauled out 45 minutes NNW to Century Lanes. The shot there was the short pattern and it is probably going to give me a little trouble if I don't stay on top of it. However, it is by no means unplayable or difficult to strike on. Before the squad started, AJ and Juan walked in the doors and helped us during practice, despite running on very minimal sleep, if any.
A quick note on all three patterns from my point of view. The one tomorrow morning should be fairly playable after the first game or so for me. I'll start in the track area with either the Widow Pearl or the Fury Pearl, then either move out to about 25 or in to 10 with my breakpoint remaining at 8-10. Sterling should be a little easier for me. I plan to start around 20, and move farther in and make correct ball changes to suit the lanes as the day goes on. At Century, I plan to start in around the gutter with my Fury Pearl or Widow Pearl and make parallel moves and change balls as the day progresses. Overall, I believe this shouldn't be difficult as long as you stay on top of transitions and MAKE SPARES.
On the way back we hit Steak n Shake. I believe Gaby hit on everything that needed to be said about that. Only thing I'll add is the mocha malts are the ABSOLUTE BEST frozen dessert drink ever! Everything else Gaby said about Steak n Shake stands...maybe even twofold. We came back and went to play some more pool and go-karts. We had a big pow-wow with Juan in which he gave us a final bit of information as a pre-tournament pep-talk. The meeting was followed by Uno-playing, and dinner-ordering. Following dinner, we had a bowling ball cleaning party. YAY, PARTY! I'll refrain from any jokes regarding this, but the temptation is incredibly strong. Then we decompressed until it was bedtime. Some people hit the pool, some people went straight to bed, and I made sure everyone was prepared for tomorrow.
So, seeing as the tournament officially opens tomorrow (the important part, anyway), I wish everyone good luck, good times, good bowling, and most importantly, good eats.
--Mike
Gaby: This is hard....
As much as I love yabbering about my lovely experiences with friends and family, blogging is not something I enjoy....sooo forgive me if this is short. Well the day started off early, got up at 6 took a shower and woke up my mom. I went to eat breakfast with all my bowling buddies, our hotel has a very good waffle maker. After everyone was done stuffing themselves we all got our bowling "things" and headed down to Century Bowl in Waterford, 45 minute drive wasn't too bad. Driving in Detroit is very enjoyable, nothing like California. Most buildings are only one level, they have big lots, and unlike L.A. you see lots and lots of green. Vegetation is in abundance, so is the road kill but I'll get someone else talk about that.
Well I enjoy bowling, when I can make my spares. Let's just say that on these particular lanes the 10 pin was out of the question. I can make spares, but today I wasn't doing too hot when it came to that corner pin, it's my curse. But overall I like the lanes today, not like the wooden lanes on the first day, I had absolutely no shot on those. Well we have 12 bowlers, and we get grumpy without food. Some of us, too tired to have bonding time decided to go back to the hotel. But for the rest of us starving people what better place to go then the one and only "Steak n' Shake".
If you have never been to a "Steak n' Shake" stop being lazy and go find one. This was my first time going to a "Steak n' Shake" and I loved it. It's to die for, the food comes in big portions at a reasonable price. But the shakes are like nothing you've ever tasted. If you like shakes or malts and you haven't had one of these, guess what, you haven't truly had a shake or malt before. I must say that during our entire stay I am impressed with the service that restaurants have. We have a big group which makes it hard on the waiter and cook. But I found that people in Detroit are very nice, they don't mind making five different bills for one group, and the food always comes at once. It's just that simple.
We we got back to the hotel Micheal, Leif, Jeremy, Dustin aka Chavkin and myself went to the "Golf and Games". It's a arcade slash go-cart slash golf slash pool place. And when I say pool I mean a table two sticks and 15 balls, not the big hole in the ground filled with water. I played a few games of pool before Cory and I left the others and went to back to the hotel. Cory, Zoe and myself went on the hotel computer. We spent most of the time looking up funny videos on youtube. Shortly after we had a little pow wow.
All the parents and bowlers meet up for a short meeting. Juan, our Junior Gold Coach spent the time reviewing basic concepts for tomorrows tournament. My fellow bowlers can be pretty goofy which makes tournaments a lot easier. We make each other laugh and take stress off of each other. And since we know each other well we can help each other during the tournament. And although we are bowling against each other, we are their for each other. This is very important to remember. Each individual bowler had a one on one discussion with Juan. I asked questions about my mental game, but I don't wanna bore you with that.
We ordered pizza, chicken, hot wings, salad, and ribs from "Happy Pizza". I am now convinced that all food in Detroit is good. We all ate together, talked about funny, embarrassing stories, one which I will not tell. We talked about movies, and past tournaments, we played Uno and we did other things. After a while a few of us thought we should go clean our bowling balls. Well a few of us turned into everyone minus three. Let's just say that in the end Leif's hand was hurting and the white towel we started with was brown and black in the end, not to pretty.
So then a few of us went to the pool, but before I could get my swim suit I was dragged into this room to type this blog. I can say that I didn't want to but, it's been fun. I have to go now because although it's only 8:15 back at home, it's 11:15 in Detroit. And tomorrow we have to get up at 5:30 because we have the morning squad which means 7. My moms bugging me so, till next time =D. Gaby
Angel: Sunday Night Reflections
The kids bowled at Century this morning--the 35 foot pattern--and the third and final practice squad. AJ and Juan made it on their red eye relatively unscathed. The very nice people at Steak n Shake managed a lunch order for 17 people, and we returned to a hotel devoid of the loud family reunion and the "weddings gone wild" family. Some of the families have moved to quieter rooms, which with our early morning wake up manana will help them get ready for their squad.
Juan had a group meeting in the late afternoon in the lobby/breakfast room. He talked to the kids as a group about working together, and what they could do to assure making the cut. Then he worked with each kid individually in order to assure they knew their game plan for each center. The kids were presented with their Mickey Mouse ears, which we want them to wear for pictures. The idea of wearing them into the first squad and watching the other parents come unglued got a laugh. Then several of the moms coordinated a group dinner, and a quick pick up later, there was a spread of everything from pizza to wings to salads to riblets, all for $5 a person. AMAZING work, Joyce.
The kids are getting out of the pool right now, so I'll let them get started. We have an early morning, so they'e not going to be in my room long.
Gotta split,
Angel
