Either Chris Barnes has a black cloud hanging over his head, or Michael Haugen Jr. has a good-luck angel sitting on his shoulder.

There's no other way to explain how Haugen rolled to victory in the H&R Block Tournament of Champions—one of the Denny's PBA Tour's four majors of the season—that unfolded on Jan. 23-27 at the plush Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

While Barnes started the TV championship match with three strikes, a spare and a double, Haugen ran into two splits, no doubles and trailed by 52 pins (148-96) in the sixth frame. If it had been a boxing match, the referee would've stopped it and awarded Barnes a TKO.

"This game is not over yet," Hall of Fame writer Dick Evans commented to a fellow scribe. "Chris Barnes has a habit of psyching himself out on TV."

"No way," the other tenpin scribe said. "This match is as good as over. Haugen is dead."

About that time, Haugen changed bowling balls. Then, the game took such a dramatic turnabout that one would've thought it was caused by voodoo, black magic and/or witches.

Starting in the seventh frame, Haugen strung five strikes (a double Hambone?) and a nine-count for 215. Barnes went spare, spare, open—he whiffed a 10 pin in the ninth—spare and nine for 214. If he had struck on his final count ball, the game would've ended in a tie, but Barnes left a stubborn 4 pin.

As Barnes slumped to the floor, Haugen leaped from his chair and pumped his right fist several times in exultation. Haugen's good-luck angel prevailed, as did the black cloud over the head of Barnes, who had to be kicking himself all the way back to his home in Double Oak, Texas.

Barnes has not won in eight TV championship round appearances. That's second only to the PBA futility TV record of 0-for-12…held by Barnes.

Haugen, of course, was ecstatic. His opening remark at the post-tournament press conference was, "Just another day at the office!"

A native of Long Beach, Haugen now lives in Cave Creek, Ariz.. He was asked if he had given up hope of winning in the sixth frame. "No," Haugen promptly replied. "You can't ever give up…you always hope for the best.

"I thought anything can still happen, a 7-10 or 4-9, but I never thought Chris would miss a 10 pin," Haugen said. "I figured if I could strike out, Chris would have to double in the 10th to beat me."

As it turned out, Barnes spared the 2 pin in the 10th, then needing a strike to tie, left the 4 pin. Haugen said the title and the championship trophy meant more to him than the $50,000 winner's check. The two-year Denny's PBA Tour exemption was also a big plus.

Actually, Haugen was fortunate to finish the T of C. He almost had to withdraw on Wednesday night, after completing the qualifying round.

"I played poker Monday night," Haugen explained. "I played until 6 a.m. After I bowled the qualifying round—he qualified in eighth place for match play—I felt so sick Wednesday night that I wound up in Urgent Care at the hospital.

"I was given all kinds of medication, and the next day I felt better so I bowled match play. The 6-1, 185-pound right-hander went 15-3 in match play and was top seeded for the TV show.

A writer asked Haugen, "How do you account for the fact that you competed in 200 tournaments in 10 years before winning your first title (the 2007 Lake County Indiana Classic on Nov. 18), then two months later you're the top seed for the TV show and win your first major?"

"Winning that first title did wonders for my confidence," Haugen replied. "I even changed my way of thinking. I no longer worry about what my opponent is doing. I just concentrate on my game and worry only about me.

"I've never been in a better place at this time of my life," Haugen added. "I have no job (in Cave Creek), so I just bowl and play golf. Bowling is my real job. And I was thrilled to bowl in such a beautiful center as Red Rock."

Everything seems to be falling into place for Haugen, a 41-year-old bachelor, who recently signed a 5-year contract to join the AMF staff.

Life is good.

The PBA Exempt Doubles Classic was held in conjunction with the T of C at Red Rock. The taped TV finals were to be shown on Feb. 5, or one week after the T of C.

The winners were Danny Wiseman of Baltimore and Michael Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., who were top seeded for the Baker-style championship round. The dynamic duo won a narrow 210-208 triumph over Joe Ciccone of Buffalo and Ronnie Russell of Indianapolis.

Russell, making his initial TV appearance, needed a double in the 10th frame in order for his team to win. He got the first strike, but then left the 2-5, which he needed to convert to send the match into a one-ball roll-off. Russell, obviously nervous, missed both pins to the left.

It was the 11th title for Wiseman and the first for Fagan, who split the $40,000 first-place prize. Each also won a one-year Denny's PBA Tour exemption and qualified for the next Tournament of Champions, expected to return to Red Rock.

Ciccone and Russell divided the $18,000 runners-up check.

Wiseman, like Haugen, was not feeling 100% while bowling. A friend asked Wiseman how he was feeling, and he answered, "Terrible!"

Ever since Wiseman was rear-ended in an auto accident this past year, he has had pain in several areas of his body, especially in his neck and back.

Wiseman, 40, has spent 19 years on Tour. He has often played in pain. Like during the 2003-04 season when he was hampered by an injury to his right (bowling) hand. He rebounded to win the 2004 USBC Masters, his first major title. In 2005-06, Wiseman struggled through the season with ankle and wrist injuries.

Wiseman, famous for the colorful shirts he wears while bowling, is also noted for customizing his Ford Mustang and displaying it at car shows. He has won 16 trophies, including three best-in-shows, according to his PBA bio.

Wiseman says his favorite TV show is "Monster Garage" (of course), and he enjoys attending NASCAR, IRL and NHRA races when he isn't bowling on the Tour.

For more about Wiseman, check out his fascinating website at www.dannywisemanbowling.com.