Bowling

In the 1950s, the early days of television, bowling was a popular sport, both for participants and spectators.  I remember watching bowling on TV.

Don Carter was one several professional bowlers who competed in televised events.  Women bowlers were leaders in female sports in the post-WWII era.

One of the confusing aspects of bowling is its scoring.  One time as an adolescent, I asked my Uncle Sam Friedland (really a cousin by marriage) how it is scored.

He patiently explained: for a strike, ten points plus the pins on the next two balls; for a spare, ten points plus the pins on the next ball.  Today, scoring is automated.  No need for pencils.

When I was in Junior High School (Kingsford Park), I was the captain of a bowling team made up of Bob Thayer, Dick Cafelone, Bob Allison and one other whose name I cannot remember.  We were in first place going into the last week of competition.

The opponents of the second place team did not show up and forfeited their match.  Thus, the second place team would jump ahead of us pending the results of our final competition.

Before we bowled, I was offered a compromise: a playoff between the top two teams.  I accepted.  Turns out it was a bad choice.  We bowled so well that my team ended up in first place despite the forfeit. 

The playoff was on a Saturday morning.  Two games, total pins wins.  Our gym teacher, Mat Barkley (a classmate of my Aunt Frances), kept score.  We lost by one pin.  They got trophies, we got nothing.  

I walked home with Bob Thayer.  He cursed our bad luck all the way.

Years later my son Bret signed up to be on a bowling team in Mid-Queens Fresh Meadows.  As I recall, he was the smallest on his team, but he was the best.  I bought Bret his own bowling ball and we occasionally went to the lanes and bowled.