Burkett, Bettis, Howard among Top Celebrity Bowlers
02/12/08
What do former Major League Baseball pitcher John Burkett, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and current Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard have in common? These standout pro athletes are now all validated stars in another sport - bowling.
US Bowler, the two million-circulation magazine serving the sport’s avid and casual participants, has announced the first-ever proficiency ranking of celebrity bowlers and Burkett, Bettis and Howard made the top 10 (see complete list below). Burkett, the two-time all-star and 15-year hurler for five different teams, is ranked
1 based on a list of credentials that includes eight perfect games.
"That’s pretty cool," said Burkett when informed that the US Bowler expert panel put him at the top of the list. "Those are some big-time athletes that I beat out. I think it would be great to have a bowling version of ‘High Stakes Poker,’ something like ‘Celebrity High Stakes Bowling.' "
"We’re pretty comfortable with the outcome of our research and deliberations," stated Tom Clark, Executive Editor of US Bowler, who spearheaded the panel that determined the ranking. "It is certainly an inexact science, but we have developed a solid sense of who the most accomplished celebrity bowlers are and we are proud to recognize them in the pages of US Bowler."
The first edition of the US Bowler Celebrity Rankings is published in the February edition of the magazine and on the Web sites www.usbowler.com and www.bowl.com.
Other members of the expert panel include:
In undertaking the project, US Bowler has taken a cue from Golf Digest, which published rankings of celebrity golfers in 2006. Because of the enormous universe of bowlers and the subjective nature of celebrity, the ranking is based on research, anecdotal knowledge and certified USBC averages, as available.
"Celebrity involvement in the sport has become a phenomenon-type happening over the past few years,” added Clark, also the Vice President, Marketing/Communications for the United States Bowling Congress. “The objective of this project is to begin to harness the collective power of these public figures and their affinity for bowling. We also hope it will stoke the competitiveness of some of the pro athletes, who take all their sports activities quite seriously."
Clark added, "Most importantly, the coverage will provide exposure and, hopefully, inspiration, for the celebrity charity fund-raising initiatives that have become so prevalent because of bowling’s easy access, affordability and sociability."
US Bowler is America’s 35th largest magazine by circulation (two million) and bowling is America’s largest participation sport with more than 66 million bowling at least once per year. The unprecedented list, which will be updated intermittently, will be an ongoing feature of the consumer magazine, which is published by Luby Publishing of Chicago on behalf of the USBC.
US Bowler magazine is also conducting fan voting and seeking nominations at www.USBowler.com and www.bowl.com, asking Web site visitors to submit names and details about accomplished celebrity bowlers they have read about or seen in their recreational and league experiences.
"I pledge to defend my #1 ranking vigorously," added the top-ranked Burkett, who won 20 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1993 and pitched in two All-Star Games. “I’m right here in Fort Worth, Texas. Let Chris (Paul), Gilbert (Arenas), Dwight (Howard) and TO (Terrell Owens) know I’m waiting for them."
February, 2008
1. John Burkett: No one can dispute the former MLB pitcher’s proven credentials. No hearsay here. Burkett has been a USBC member since 1988 and has eight 300 games and three 800 series to his credit. Posted a 221 average in 2006-07, and a 2,082 all-events score at the 2006 USBC Open Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas.
2. Jerome Bettis: The former NFL running back and Super Bowl winner has a 200 average and one perfecto to his credit. A huge promoter of the sport, Bettis was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2006.
3. Tom Candiotti: Another former MLB pitcher, Candiotti averaged 212 in the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Rollers League in 2006-07. Inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2007. He has three 700 series and bowled his first certified 300 in March 2007.
4. Dave Mirra: BMX biker, X Games star. Posted a USBC 167 average in 2005-06 while bowling in the Monday Night Handicap League in Greenville, N.C. Has posted one 600 series.
5. Dwight Howard: Orlando Magic forward. Bowls “every chance I get.” Claims a 185 average and a high game of 244. Owns five balls, including a New York Yankees ball, a “Finding Nemo” bowling ball and three “pro” balls.
6. Michael Conley: Memphis Grizzlies guard. Throws strike ball right handed and spare ball lefty. (As seen on his YouTube video from Peyton Manning’s charity bowling event last year.) Owns a Black Widow ball and claims a 243 high game and 190 average.
7. Gilbert Arenas: Washington Wizards guard. Bowled in leagues in Los Angeles as a teen. Still bowls throughout the summer months. Claims a high game of 277…”one spare.” Owns three balls, including a “Sugar Ray Leonard” translucent ball with a boxing glove in it. “When I bowl I have special bowling names. They call me Black Fever and Hurricane. My favorite nickname is People’s Champ…which is why I have a bowling ball with a boxing glove inside.”
8. Chris Paul: New Orleans Hornets guard. USBC Spokesperson. High game of 256. Bowls at every opportunity. Hosts Chris Paul’s Winston-Salem Weekend charity bowling event.
9. Terrell Owens: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. Competed in ESPN Bowling Night tournament in 2005. Claims a high game of 288 and 185 average.
10. Jimmie Johnson: NASCAR champion. Opened Victory Lanes bowling center in part of fellow driver Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction.
USBC News
US Bowler Magazine ranking panel puts baseball, football, basketball stars at top of list
What do former Major League Baseball pitcher John Burkett, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and current Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard have in common? These standout pro athletes are now all validated stars in another sport - bowling. US Bowler, the two million-circulation magazine serving the sport’s avid and casual participants, has announced the first-ever proficiency ranking of celebrity bowlers and Burkett, Bettis and Howard made the top 10 (see complete list below). Burkett, the two-time all-star and 15-year hurler for five different teams, is ranked
1 based on a list of credentials that includes eight perfect games.
"That’s pretty cool," said Burkett when informed that the US Bowler expert panel put him at the top of the list. "Those are some big-time athletes that I beat out. I think it would be great to have a bowling version of ‘High Stakes Poker,’ something like ‘Celebrity High Stakes Bowling.' "
"We’re pretty comfortable with the outcome of our research and deliberations," stated Tom Clark, Executive Editor of US Bowler, who spearheaded the panel that determined the ranking. "It is certainly an inexact science, but we have developed a solid sense of who the most accomplished celebrity bowlers are and we are proud to recognize them in the pages of US Bowler."
The first edition of the US Bowler Celebrity Rankings is published in the February edition of the magazine and on the Web sites www.usbowler.com and www.bowl.com.
Other members of the expert panel include:
- USBC spokesperson and NBA star Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, who landed at #8 in the rankings, behind Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas and ahead of Dallas Cowboys All-Pro Terrell Owens
- Six-time Denny’s PBA Tour Champion Chris Barnes
- Syndicated newspaper columnist, television commentator, author and bowling aficionado Norman Chad
In undertaking the project, US Bowler has taken a cue from Golf Digest, which published rankings of celebrity golfers in 2006. Because of the enormous universe of bowlers and the subjective nature of celebrity, the ranking is based on research, anecdotal knowledge and certified USBC averages, as available.
"Celebrity involvement in the sport has become a phenomenon-type happening over the past few years,” added Clark, also the Vice President, Marketing/Communications for the United States Bowling Congress. “The objective of this project is to begin to harness the collective power of these public figures and their affinity for bowling. We also hope it will stoke the competitiveness of some of the pro athletes, who take all their sports activities quite seriously."
Clark added, "Most importantly, the coverage will provide exposure and, hopefully, inspiration, for the celebrity charity fund-raising initiatives that have become so prevalent because of bowling’s easy access, affordability and sociability."
US Bowler is America’s 35th largest magazine by circulation (two million) and bowling is America’s largest participation sport with more than 66 million bowling at least once per year. The unprecedented list, which will be updated intermittently, will be an ongoing feature of the consumer magazine, which is published by Luby Publishing of Chicago on behalf of the USBC.
US Bowler magazine is also conducting fan voting and seeking nominations at www.USBowler.com and www.bowl.com, asking Web site visitors to submit names and details about accomplished celebrity bowlers they have read about or seen in their recreational and league experiences.
"I pledge to defend my #1 ranking vigorously," added the top-ranked Burkett, who won 20 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1993 and pitched in two All-Star Games. “I’m right here in Fort Worth, Texas. Let Chris (Paul), Gilbert (Arenas), Dwight (Howard) and TO (Terrell Owens) know I’m waiting for them."
US Bowler Celebrity Rankings
February, 2008
1. John Burkett: No one can dispute the former MLB pitcher’s proven credentials. No hearsay here. Burkett has been a USBC member since 1988 and has eight 300 games and three 800 series to his credit. Posted a 221 average in 2006-07, and a 2,082 all-events score at the 2006 USBC Open Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas.
2. Jerome Bettis: The former NFL running back and Super Bowl winner has a 200 average and one perfecto to his credit. A huge promoter of the sport, Bettis was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2006.
3. Tom Candiotti: Another former MLB pitcher, Candiotti averaged 212 in the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Rollers League in 2006-07. Inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2007. He has three 700 series and bowled his first certified 300 in March 2007.
4. Dave Mirra: BMX biker, X Games star. Posted a USBC 167 average in 2005-06 while bowling in the Monday Night Handicap League in Greenville, N.C. Has posted one 600 series.
5. Dwight Howard: Orlando Magic forward. Bowls “every chance I get.” Claims a 185 average and a high game of 244. Owns five balls, including a New York Yankees ball, a “Finding Nemo” bowling ball and three “pro” balls.
6. Michael Conley: Memphis Grizzlies guard. Throws strike ball right handed and spare ball lefty. (As seen on his YouTube video from Peyton Manning’s charity bowling event last year.) Owns a Black Widow ball and claims a 243 high game and 190 average.
7. Gilbert Arenas: Washington Wizards guard. Bowled in leagues in Los Angeles as a teen. Still bowls throughout the summer months. Claims a high game of 277…”one spare.” Owns three balls, including a “Sugar Ray Leonard” translucent ball with a boxing glove in it. “When I bowl I have special bowling names. They call me Black Fever and Hurricane. My favorite nickname is People’s Champ…which is why I have a bowling ball with a boxing glove inside.”
8. Chris Paul: New Orleans Hornets guard. USBC Spokesperson. High game of 256. Bowls at every opportunity. Hosts Chris Paul’s Winston-Salem Weekend charity bowling event.
9. Terrell Owens: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. Competed in ESPN Bowling Night tournament in 2005. Claims a high game of 288 and 185 average.
10. Jimmie Johnson: NASCAR champion. Opened Victory Lanes bowling center in part of fellow driver Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction.