Meet me at T.G.I Fridays, today is $4 MOJITO DAY! 

Back  to regularly scheduled business. Looking for a good bar? I got you!

@baltimorebars says:

• Magerks has $2 drafts and 1/2 price appetizers 7-10, $2 Coronas & Miller Lite’s from 7-close http://is.gd/lVeO
• Claddagh Pub Tuesdays: $2 Heinekan & Amstel Lt bottles 9-close http://is.gd/lXwV

Meanwhile, in college life…

The Alpha Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. present: HOT CHOCOLATE AND KONFESSIONS.

• December 2, 2009
• University Student Center Room 212
• 6:11  pm – 8:11 pm

“Ladies kome have an intimate konversation on various topics with the nupes of AI. Free Hot Chocolate will be served!”

My favorite DJ’s, Powerhouse DJ’s presents: POWERHOUSE STRIKES BACK

• December 2, 2009
• Timonium Lanes: 2165 York Rd. Timonium Heights, MD 
• 18 to party, 21 to drink
• Advance tickets: $15 All inclusive: Unlimited bowling, shoes & party!
• Buses leave Morgan State @ 9:30 on Hillen Road in front on the Armory
• Buses leave Coppin State @ 9:15 at Daley Circle
• For more information and advance tickets
  Call 443.732.0557 or 917.971.7111
  Email deejayki@gmail.com

Now, for the Grown & Sexy 21+ crowd…

Party for a good reason this weekend. The T.I.P.P.E.R. Foundation, Inc. is hosting its First Annual Benefit at 9 pm at Diamondz Events (9980 Liberty Road Randallstown, MD)

The Traumatic Inpatient Parent Provider Emergency Reserve or T.I.P.P.E.R. Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization developed to provide a wide variety of comprehensive support services for the caretakers of victims inflicted by a traumactic life changing event, more specifically, physical injury. Families of these victims are often faced with social, financial, and emotional changes which could dramatically impact their normal daily lives. These families are faced with restructuring their homes and every aspect of their lives to meet the needs of their injured loved ones. The object of The T.I.P.P.E.R. Foundation, Inc. is to provide financial, educational, and emotional support for these families via case management services during theirloved one’s recovery.

• Semi-Formal to Formal attire
• Tickets are $55 each or $100 a couple
• Music by DJ Sugar Chris
• Ticket price includes dinner while in supply
  -Buttermilk Chicken Breast with Cornbread dressing
  -Green Beans
  -Red Potatoes
  -Rolls
  -Maryland Crab Soup
  -Desert
  -Beer
  -Wine
  **with an optional cash bar
• RSVP at 410 833 3531
• Donations can be made out to
  The T.I.P.P.E.R. Foundation, Inc. 
  P.O.Box 75
  Randallstown, MD 21133

Chloe shows up at the bowling alley later with Chip, her boyfriend-of-the-moment. She doesn’t bowl but she likes to slum it and drink beer.

“Hey, J,” she says, taking off her denim jacket. “It’s hot in here.”

“No shit,” I say.

“Love the shirt.” She fingers my collar. “Soon you’ll be watching nature programs with mom and dad in your matching fat suit.”

“Shut up.”

I am dying to tell her about John Edwards but Chip is sitting right there, one long arm slung around her shoulder. I don’t know him well but sort of dislike him already. Reasons? 1) His name is Chip. 2) He wears baseball caps. 3) He isn’t shy about being affectionate with Chloe, even though he barely knows the family.

Finally his dumb ass leaves, and I lean closer to Chloe. Her skin smells sweet and I immediately back away a little.

“Guess who I just saw?” I hiss.

“Who?”

“John Edwards.” It takes her a moment to process the name.

“Wait, the John Edwards? The guy from high school?”

“No, the former presidential candidate, idiot. Yes, the guy from high school!”

“Hotness. What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t know. Bowling, I guess. And he was here. He’s gone now. But –” here I pause for dramatic effect. (I love doing that.) — “He asked me for my phone number!”

“Shut up!” Chloe elbows me. “You’re back in town a month and already the hottest piece of ass in southeastern Michigan asks you out?”

“Do you think he was asking me out, though?”

“Oh, totally. I mean, why else would he bother asking? It’s not like you were friends.”

“True.” I consider this for a minute. Can a vampire date a human? And I don’t mean in that platonic Bella-and-Edward kind of way. (Yes, I just went there.) Do I even want to date anyone? I try to focus on my libido for a minute. I picture the last time I had sex. But I don’t really feel anything.

My youngest daughter finally has to pay the consequences for destroying property. During a temper tantrum the other day, she slapped my wife’s digital camera out of her hands- and it hit the ground. With the lens now broken, at least my daughter admitted that she needs to pay for the item- including tax I might add- and will be spending time doing chores to work off the item.

Afterward we had a discussion about what seems to be troubling her these days. After a few minutes figuring out what it wasn’t, she admitted that negative attention is better than no attention at all- and she feels like she hasn’t been receiving enough physical affection from us as a family. Ergo, if I’m not getting my needs met, I’ll resort to putting other people through pain because that’s what I know best.

We asked her how that’s been going lately- and she admitted it hasn’t been working. It’s easier for me to reward positive behavior and catch people doing the right thing and also ignore negative behaviors. If someone is being toxic, I just tune them out and eventually they get the message that when they decide to be real, respectful and responsible I will tune back in.

What amazes me about my children is for how verbal they are, they chose not to express their true feelings in the moment- we end up having to spend hours in back and forth interchange to get down to the true problem at hand. Maybe they are worried that they will be punished for expressing their feelings. Maybe they think we won’t take their feelings seriously. But I believe we’ve always been an open, honest family in that we give people a chance to work on their feelings, problem solve and come to resolutions- even if it’s a temporary one.

So it may be tough to work on with your children, or even other family members, but spend more time rewarding positive attention and let’s go for the good in life rather than shifting focus all the time on the negative. Show an interest in what your children love and you may be surprised how positively they react. My oldest daughter right now has a spring in her step as she tries out for cheerleading again. My youngest daughter is interested in this as well so they are bonding better while she goes through these practice sessions.

It’s hard to believe that we are a little over three weeks away from Christmas. I’m hoping that everyone have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. I’ve been under the weather the past 24 hours, it appears that we all took turns passing around a bug and I think I was the last one to get it. I have a number of things that I’ve been caught behind on that I hope to catch up with by the end of the week. My first bowling tournament of the season will happen this weekend in Brattleboro, VT- and I hope to get the season off to a strong start. I have year end lists to complete for my music websites I contribute to and more albums that have trickled in to review.

Keep going for the good in all that you strive to achieve.

Another weekend rolls by and nothing happened.

You went to work, did your homework and sat at home doing the bare minimum with your friends.

Here’s an idea, hit up 300 San Jose — located at 5420 Thornwood Dr. in San Jose near Westfield Oakridge Mall — for a night of fun and games without the ridiculous Dave & Busters prices.

300 is an entertainment center that focuses on the young adult by providing cheap bowling, pool and a pretty substantial bar and grill.

Each lane has comfortable leather seating and club style lighting.

The bowling drops to $3.50 per game, after 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and there is a 10:00 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors, creating a more college friendly atmosphere.

Happy hour, from 4p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, offers $3 domestic drafts and well drinks.

300 has several big screen televisions showing sporting events, music videos, and more and the bar section has excellent lounge style seating if you just want to sit and have a good time with your friends.

It’s an all-around place for the young adult looking to relax and have some fun.

For additional information on 300 San Jose visit their Web site.

Marlon Maloney

-Online Content Editor

I know what you are thinking, but no it’s not a drinking game. It’s Marc Cantone’s new documentary Bowling Blind! Marc is also the front man of The City and Horses. He even once appeared on the Cosby Show as Rudy’s love interest. Marc lives in Williamsburg, but don’t hold it against him. He actually works, unlike the other stiffs in that hood. Go easy I lived there too once, for many, many years. He is constantly  working on his films and music and is one of the nicest dudes ever. Not to mention he lives and dies blue just like me and Jay Z. That’s right a die hard Yankee fan!! A few months ago Marc invited me to attend a practice session and allowed me to take some photos. It was pretty f-ing cool. The people were great and unique. They could count how many pins they knocked down just by listening. So we will start this Brooklyn Mast thing off right, with hard working creative dude Marc Cantone.

http://www.bowlingblind.com/main.html

Here is the trailer:

http://www.myspace.com/thecityandhorses

In my review of the first season of The Simpsons, I mentioned that “Life on the Fast Lane,” was the season’s only episode that contended for a spot in the series’ pantheon. In “Simpsons Classics,” I’ll do my best to explain why “Life on the Fast Lane” and episodes like it belong in said pantheon.

The first great episode of The Simpsons, “Life on the Fast Lane” deals with Marge’s temptation to cheat on Homer with Jacques, a French bowler impeccably voiced by Albert Brooks.

Most Simpsons episodes that consider extramarital temptation in later years do so from Homer’s perspective. Homer is wooed by country star Lurleen Lumpkin, has trouble resisting coworker Mindy Simmons, and even gets married to a second woman in Las Vegas. Each of these episodes places moral culpability on Homer; in other words, it’s never anything Marge does that leaves Homer vulnerable to outside affairs.

“Life on the Fast Lane” is very different. Marge is driven away from her husband by Homer’s own selfishness, illustrated first by his forgetting her birthday (thinking momentarily that it was his own) and then presenting her with a bowling ball—with “Homer” engraved on it—as her present. This reprehensible act of husbandry isn’t even isolated; as Patty/Selma detail earlier in the episode, Homer’s past birthday gifts to Marge include a tackle box and a Connie Chung calendar.

It’s easy, then, to sympathize with Marge’s view that perhaps destiny has brought her to Barney’s Bowl-A-Rama, where she meets Jacques. Jacques is more attractive than Homer, he is wittier than Homer, and he is more caring than Homer; he is obviously an upgrade. The second time he meets Marge, he presents her with a bowling glove: “You got it in my size, and it has my name on it; it’s really for me!” Marge responds. Indeed, getting a gift all her own seems a first for Marge.

Marge is drawn to Jacques, who is perhaps the finest of Brooks’ many characters on The Simpsons.* His wit plays well off of Marge’s naïveté, even if his definition of brunch—“You don’t get completely what you want, but you get a good meal!”—strikes me as inadequate. Marge blushes when he asks if she wants a mimosa, thinking it’s a pet name he has for her. Jacques explains it’s just orange juice and champagne before adding, “You’re so wonderful that you thought it was something offensive.” Later, after infamous gadabout Helen Lovejoy spots Marge with Jacques, he says, “You’ve got a lovely friend there. Let’s hope something runs her over.”

*You can make a case for Hank Scorpio, but I’d stick with Jacques for two reasons: 1. He’s not a clear parody of a Bond villain; 2. Brooks’ voice for Jacques is unique, and he doesn’t use it again and again for various characters as he does with Scorpio’s (which is the same as the voice for Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie, among others).

This is all to say that BOTH Marge’s attraction to Jacques and her considerations of leaving Homer are justified in the episode. That’s different from Homer’s temptations, where although we could understand why he wanted to be with Lurleen/Mindy,* it’s hard for him to justify leaving Marge. I mean, the worst thing Marge does in “The Last Temptation of Homer” is get a cold. The way these episodes operate also speaks to the implicit assumption all viewers of The Simpsons have: that Homer is lucky to be with Marge, and not vice versa. “Life on the Fast Lane” helps cement that perception in the series’ first season.

*And especially Mindy. She’s the ideal woman.

While Jacques attempts to woo Marge, we see the effect her absence has on her family’s home life. She herself overcompensates by offering the kids oversized lunches, Lisa and Bart endure various stages of grief, and Homer is completely resigned to losing his wife (best shown when he glumly puts away the glove Jacques gave her—he won’t be the one to bring it up—and by his game of “catch” with Bart, when he doesn’t even say “Ow” as a baseball at full speed hits him in the head). Throw in the fact that Marge contemplates the affair right after her birthday—a time of increased introspection for a woman—and “Life on the Fast Lane” possesses a tone of distinct realism, where almost all of the characters’ actions are both in character and understandable.

In the end, it’s a small compliment from Homer about how Marge makes his peanut butter and jelly sandwich that saves his marriage. The way Homer (or Dan Castellaneta) delivers the line is evocative of the line that initially won Marge’s heart in high school: “I’ve got a problem. Once you stop this car, I’m going to hug you, and kiss you, and then I’ll never be able to let you go.”

The episodes that deal with Homer and Marge’s marriage always strike me as some of the series’ most realistic and best. And it all starts with “Life on the Fast Lane.”

O boliche profissional foi tema central de um dos episódios da famosa série CSI (Crime Scene Investigation), o oitavo da décima temporada, que é transmitida nos Estados Unidos pela CBS e aqui no Brasil pela TV por assinatura AXN (9.ª temporada, às Segundas – 20h e reprise às Terças – 10h e 15h, Domingo – 12h e 19h).

“Falta uma bola na bolsa e um corpo na cabeça”

Este episódio do CSI gira em torno de um evento de boliche profissional que ocorre em Las Vegas. A sinopse da história diz que o torneio é interrompido abruptamente num momento crucial da disputa, devido à descoberta de um terrível crime. Durante o episódio, a equipe de investigadores tenta solucionar o mistério de quem cometeu o assassinato.

Jason Thomas, um escritor e colaborador de produçãodo site www.pba.com (na seção online Xtra Frame), foi convidado para ser o consultor de boliche para este episódio, no qual ensinou aos membros do elenco e várias estrelas convidadas como jogar boliche de maneira profissional. Thomas também atuou como dublê nas jogadas mais importantes, para dar mais realismo nos lançamentos das bolas. “Esse trabalho foi a realização de um sonho para mim”, disse Thomas, “Fiquei impressionado com a disposição e carinho da equipe técnica e dos atores para garantir que os elementos e o clima do boliche fossem os mais realistas possível.

CSI é um dos programas mais populares da televisão mundial, e é assistido por uma média superior a 20 milhões de telespectadores a cada semana. A série original gerou mais duas no mesmo formato, CSI: Nova York e CSI: Miami (também transmitidas pela AXN aqui no Brasil).

Esse é um dos raros episódios da série na qual os personagens aparecem no encerramento se divertindo num jogo de boliche.

Ficha técnica:
Série: CSI
Temporada: 10.ª
Epísódio: 8
Título original: “Lover’s Lanes”
Primeira exibição nos Estados Unidos: 19/nov/2009

Os episódios (em inglês) podem ser assistidos pelo site oficial da CBS (clique aqui). Até esta data a 10.ª temporada ainda não estava disponível, mas tem um brincadeira muito legal para quem está inscrito no Facebook.

O investigador Nick Stokes (George Eads)

O investigador Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda)

O investigador Nick Stokes (George Eads)

O investigador Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda)

Yesterday in Social studies in school, we were watching Bowling For Columbine. It’s a movie where Michael Moore tries to examine, why the massacre at Columbine High School (Colorado, USA) happened, and why there in general are so much violence in the States. It’s a very good movie, which I can definitely recommend for outbounds (and everyone else). It’s incredible how many dies by a gun each year in USA – about 11 thousands, while for example England only has about 68 victims of gunshots! A little information to include in you “grand vision” about the Land of Opportunities?

Believe me when I’m saying that I’m not trying to scare people or make them dislike USA. Personally I love the United States, no matter how much violence their country contain, and if you do too, then this small text should not change that. I forgot to write about this yesterday, and I felt like posting it, since Colorado is one of the States on my list that I’d like to go to. Not because I’ve gotten scared to go to that state, but solely because I felt like sharing the mentioned movie with you all ^^

Nippori & Bowling!

Despite the fact that I’ve been here for 2 months already, I haven’t explored Tokyo nearly as much as I’d like to, so it was nice when a friend of mine offered to take us to an area we haven’t been to at Nippori station. It was dark and a little cold, so we didn’t spend much time there. There are apparently a lot of little shrines scattered around the area, so maybe I’ll check it out during the day when there’s more light, and when the map I’m following isn’t so fail.

Mmmm…meat…courtesy of our “tourguide” haha

The different types of barriers to prevent people from jumping on the tracks never cease to amaze/amuse me.

After we decided that we had grown tired and cold, we decided to retreat to bowling at Big Box. We also managed to bully my guy friend into doing purikura with us. SCORE. I came in 3rd both times. I guess I’ve gotten rusty, considering I haven’t been bowling in like 3 years. Nonetheless, it was fun to watch my one guy friend try to be all masculine in trying to beat us girls. He came in 2nd during the first game, but he got all serious and came in 1st during the second game. Silly boys and their egos.

Afterwards, we went to a nearby sushi place for dinner. Surprisingly, it’s only the second time I’ve had sushi since I’ve gotten here. It was really good though, but I agree with my friends – salmon tastes better in Canada.

so, yesterday we went bowling again. we had it all neatly planned out:

play 2 to 4 games, pack up and pay and (at 00:15) get the last tram home. but the tram didn’t arrive. so we reluctantly decided to walk.

and on our way home we found out why the tram had not arrived: it crashed with a cab.

oh and: then i wanted to withdraw some money, only to find out that, once again, there were some ‘connection problems’. ah well.

Oi amigos e bolicheiros de Sampa e todo o Brasil! Vamos para a nossa terceira matéria (os links para as outras duas estão no final desta). Escolhi um tema que creio ser bem interessante e que está na cabeça de muitos bolicheiros ou bowlers, SAQUE!

Como todos sabem, o saque é como o jogador libera a bola da sua mão, é exatamente a finalização do arremesso, também chamado de delivery, entrega na tradução exata do inglês. Ou release, que é “como” ele entrega a bola na pista.

Para começar o assunto, o saque é o resultado de todo o approach ou aproximação, que é segundo Benê Villa, nosso grande guru e treinador, o fundamento mais importante do boliche.

Para realizar um bom saque, o atleta tem que chegar inteiro no final do approach, isto significa em português bem claro, que o jogador tem que chegar parado muito firme na final do approach e em seguida, milésimos de segundos após, sacar a bola.

Devemos reparar muito atentamente nas outras pessoas ou em vídeos da PBA, que alguns atletas sacam a bola imediatamente à parada ou até mesmo literalmente param e executa o saque depois, isso é o correto, todo o movimento do início ao fim, é regido pelo que se chama timing em inglês, ou traduzido na nossa língua “cadência“, “sincronismo“.

Timing, é todo o sincronismo do arremesso do boliche desde o início do movimento até o saque, invocando novamente o Benê, tudo o que podemos fazer no arremesso da bola, consiste entre o início do movimento até a hora do saque, após a bola ter saído da nossa mão, nada poderemos fazer a não ser torcer! Pode parecer elementar, mas é bom ter isso em mente.

Se a gente erra o timing, erramos também o saque e conseqüentemente, o arremesso.Explicando melhor, quando a gente inicia o movimento, existe toda uma sequência, como segue:

1 – Swing – (balanço) O movimento, do momeço ao fim.

2 – Push away – (direcionar para frente) movimento de esticar o braço com a bola para frente – início do movimento. É o primeiro movimento junto com o primeiro passo, para quem dá quatro passos e o segundo movimento para quem dá cinco passos.

3 – Back Swing (Pêndulo) – (balanço para trás) movimento da bola que sobe para trás, até a sua parada.

4 – Follow trough – (seguimento do arremesso) – é o movimento desde o fim ou parada do pêndulo até a saída da bola de nossas mãos até o finish ou final do arremesso.

5 –Release – (soltura, saque, delivery) – é a largada da bola, saque, realização da soltura da bola, tema principal desta matéria.

Vejam, amigos, que tudo é uma sequência para um bom saque. Cada pessoa saca de um jeito, o que acarreta em um giro diferente. Sacamos a bola para que ela gire.

A bola é projetada e construída para girar. Seu núcleo, possui várias formas, abaixo temos duas, o da esquerda é geometricamente assimétrico e o outro menos assimétrico. O núcleo é uma das coisas principais para a trajetória da bola fazer a curva. O núcleo aliado com o material da superfície, coverstock definem a trajetória da bola.

Se a bola tiver uma superfície porosa, “entrará mais cedo” e se tiver uma superfície mais polida, “mais tarde”.

Fora tudo isso ainda temos a furação, que altera muito o comportamento da bola.

Aliado ao material existe o aspecto jogador, cada pessoa tem um saque diferente da outra, em função de muitas variáveis.

Columbia Full Swing - Núcleo na cor marrom

Columbia Power Swing - Núcleo na cor vermelha

O track da bola é o resultado do seu arremesso, é o resultado do seu saque.

Tracking ou trilha, é a marca gerada pela pista na bola, pode ser do óleo ou de desgaste por atrito, mas a trilha mostra como é o giro do atleta.

A marca preta mostra equilíbrio e potência, não é colada nos furos e nem muito baixa.

A trilha verde mostra um atleta que gira para a frente e não vira muito ou nada a mão.A trilha azul, mostra o atleta que já vem com a mão de lado na entrega da bola ou release.

Comparativamente, o azul pode até gerar mais curva na bola e o verde menos curva. Não podemos confundir poder ou potência com a curva, as coisas nem sempre andam juntas.

Basicamente existe o saque onde a bola vem por baixo da mão e só vira segundos antes da saída da bola.

Dicas para saques poderosos.

Antes de mais nada, por que do girar da bola e não simplesmente jogar a bola reta? Pode parecer óbvio, mas esta série de matérias é para se falar claramente sobre as coisas simples e também das mais sofisticadas.

O posicionamento dos pinos de boliche na atual formação é o chamado triângulo perfeito, eqüilátero, veja a figura.

Parece algo simples, mas as coisas simples são as mais fascinantes. O triângulo e a disposição dos pinos é algo perfeito, isto faz com que o strike seja um arremesso perfeito, onde estão envolvidos a velocidade, peso da bola, ângulo de entrada da bola e sua trajetória. Numa bola reta tudo isso tem que acontecer ao mesmo tempo.Lembre-se, o pino é bem pesado e ele exerce alteração de trajetória na sua bola, física, ação e reação.

A bola reta é muito precisa, ela derruba diretamente o pino 1, ainda pega o pino 5 o pino 8, 3 e 2. O pino 3 pega o 6 e 10 e o 2 pega o 4 e 7, tudo muito preciso. Se o ângulo de entrada for mais para o 1, o pino 6 passa na frente do 10 e ele fica em pé, se o ângulo for mais para o 3, é o 4 que passa na frente do 7. Além dessas variáveis, existem outras que fica o 5, fica o 8 e o 9.

A bola em curva ou hook, permite maior margem de erro, ou seja, já não é necessário que a bola seja tão perfeita para que o strike aconteça. O ângulo de entrada da bola, permite que o pino 5 seja derrubado com maior facilidade, pois devemos lembrar que o pino desvia a trajetória da bola, mesmo com bolas de 15 ou até 16 lbs.

Além disso, a rotação da bola faz o que costuma-se chamar de “trabalho de pinos” os pinos que derrubam os outros, ficam mais produtivos e também interagem mais nas tabelas. Muitas vezes o pino 1 bate na tabela e vem buscando algum pino em pé, conhecido como mensageiro.

Sequência do Strike

Posição 1

Posição 2

Posição 3

Posição 4

Posição 5 - Pinos no chão

Os desenhos tentam mostrar que um strike não é algo simples, o “trabalho” de pinos é complexo e trata-se de pura física, de como a bola entra, atinge os primeiros pinos, e inicia-se a sequência de pinos batendo uns nos outros, na tabela, etc.Muitas vezes achamos que a bola é muito boa e fica um pino dez, tudo tem explicação os pinos não mentem.

Posição de saída: o saque é muito minucioso, desde como a gente veste a bola na mão e a segura na posição de saída (empunhadura), já faz muita diferença no saque.

Podemos notar que muitos jogadores da PBA (Professional Bowlers Association - USA), adotam vários tipos de empunhadura da bola, basicamente existe um para a bola normal e outra completamente diferente para pinos isolados, os quais a grande maioria usa trajetórias mais retas.

Pode-se quebrar o pulso para baixo ou empunhar a bola de lado, para que a trajetória seja mais reta.

O saque pode ser feito com três tipos básicos de giro:

Saque para a frente: o jogador não vira a mão no momento do saque, apenas vem com a bola por baixo e saca para frente.

Saque 45º: o jogador vira cerca de 45º a mão no instante do saque.

Saque 90º: o jogador vira cerca de 90º a mão no instante do saque.

Outros saques, onde o jogador já vem com a mão de lado, criam um track menor, o mostrado na cor azul no desenho acima. Existem muitas variações sobre saque, não podemos dizer que algum deles são errados e sim que os que falamos são mais certos e promovem mais poder no impacto da bola com os pinos.

Usando o Relógio como referência na primeira posição o delivery deve ser feito direcionando o dedo médio para 5 horas, devemos lembrar que a mão veio reta e somente vai virar segundos antes do delivery.
Assim que o movimento continuar para frente, o dedo médio deverá estar em 4 horas.
Comece a soltar a bola, mantenha sua mão reta e na direção de 3 horas com o dedo médio, mantendo sempre o braço reto, o braço sempre deve ficar reto.
É comum esse erro de “cobrir” a bola, quando o polegar sai e os dedos continuam girando a mesma. Rodar não é o mesmo que “girar”. Isso produz um track na chamada Careca.
Outro erro é colocar muita pressão nos dedos e levantá-los com força, mudando o giro e ocasionando o barulho da bola passando pelo furo do polegar…Plup!Plup! e, desastre…

O saque correto, a bola está apoiada na mão e não pendurada nos dedos, claro que este é o saque mais difícil, quase todos nós sacamos a bola nos dedos, quando isso é mais destacado é que acontece o “plup”.

Na PBA apenas o Ryan Shafer que dá o tal “plup” com os dedos, mas ele não é referência, tem um jogo muito muscular e pêndulo quase zero.

Sequência do approach 

Posição 1 - Stance - Posição Inicial, mão embaixo da bola

A mão está embaixo da bola. O pulso levemente voltado para dentro e “cocked” (dobrado), com o polegar apontando para frente.

Nota: Muitos instrutores acreditam que o melhor posicionamento da mão esquerda (na foto) deve ser somente para ajustar a posição da bola, sem sustentar qualquer peso.

 Durante o push away, mantenha o pulso na mesma posição conchada e levemente voltado para dentro. Quando a bola estiver na posição vertical seu pulso continua “cocked” e o polegar apontando para o chão. Você pode usar o indicador para ajudar a manter o pulso “cocked” sem precisar colocar muita pressão nos dedos para suportar o momento do back swing. NÃO movimente o pulso!

Posição 2 – início do back swing

Na foto acima repare que a bola está na mesma linha da cabeça (aplicado na Escola Americana de Bowling). Os dedos dentro da bola mostram que o pulso está cocked e está cupped (dobrado e em forma de concha), Pressionando, para poder suportar o peso da bola…

Não importa o quanto você levanta a bola no back swing, o que muitos acreditam, é que deve-se manter a bola cocking e cupping quando do “realese”.

Outros, somente o fazem na hora de “entregar” a bola gerando mais spin de acordo com a velocidade, contração da mão em concha e voltada para dentro. (cupping e cocking).

Parece complicado, mas continue lendo para entender melhor.Isto é para explicar que os grandes jogadores conseguem manter a bola nessa posição até o ultimo momento quando da entrega ou “delivery” da bola na pista e sempre com suavidade.

Posição 3 - Início do Folloy Trough

A bola está descendo e o jogador se prepara para o delivery, e entrega da bola.

Na foto, quando o bowler começa a escorregar para soltar a bola, nota-se que continua com a mão conchada e voltada para dentro (cocked & cupped).

A mão “conchada” garante que o pulso não “quebre” e prejudique o saque.

Polegar para frente e o indicador apontando para o chão. Bola na mesma linha da cabeça e bem junto da perna esquerda. “F” e “G”.

Foto "F"

Foto "G"

Foto "H"

Para um jogador com pulso pobre, ao se aproximar da perna esquerda e antes de chegar na linha de falta, o mesmo deve “empurrar” a bola para frente soltando o polegar antes (Foto G), para evitar que a bola saia rodando na careca (foto J), quando deveria sair girando no axis rotation (Foto I).

Foto "I"

Foto "J"

Na foto J note que o pulso está meio quebrado e o eixo de rotação está quase horizontal, a bola vai girar na careca.

Na foto I, a mão está vindo por trás, da forma correta e o eixo está no na diagonal.

Quando a bola estiver na altura da ponta do pé esquerdo, deverá estar naturalmente nas pontas dos dedos. Se continuar com a mão conchada e voltada para dentro neste momento, ocasionará uma “over reaction” e a bola fugirá do axis rotation fazendo um arco sem energia e com imprevisíveis resultados.

Note que o polegar apontado para a lateral na figura “J” mostra a mão “passando“ por cima da bola (repare a linha vermelha a chamada bola morta.).

Na figura “I”, está a posição correta e com resultado de “axis rotation“ correto. O polegar está apontando para baixo. A mão ainda está levemente conchada, o que ocasionará uma excelente axis (linha vermelha inclinada) rotation.

Cobrir a bola.ALTURA DO ARREMESSO

A entrega da bola deve ser suave, os grandes jogadores conseguem manter a bola nessa posição até o ultimo momento quando da entrega ou “delivery” da bola na pista e sempre com suavidade.

IMAGINE–SE JOGANDO UMA BOLA NUMA SUPERFÍCIE DE ÁGUA E FAZENDO A ENTREGA SEM NENHUM “SPLASH” QUANDO TOCAR A PISTA.

Instrutores ensinam a soltar a bola somente quando estiver a menos de 4 polegadas do chão (10 cm) e, claro, bem próximo do pé de apoio, para daí então, fazer a entrega e determinando as revoluções ou giro.

Muitos tentam ganhar mais “revolutions” na bola tentando levantar a mesma com os dedos, o que causa inconsistência, chegando ao pocket com impacto pobre e sem energia.

Além disso, a variação de altura dificulta a repetição, que é um dos pontos fundamentais do boliche. Essa altura no delivery da bola se chama Loft, alguns profissionais da PBA, utilizam o loft como recurso, para fazer a bola entrar menos, exemplo disso são Michael Fagan e Robert Smith, mas isso não é fácil de fazer, o próprio Mika Koivuniemi nesta temporada de 2009 diminuiu significativamente seu loft que era grande, seu arremesso muito forte, as vezes batia muito fraco nos pinos, por uma diferença de menos de uma tábua, mesmo para ele era difícil manter o loft.

Assistir jogos da PBA é muito educativo para ver tudo o que foi tratado nesta matéria, existem jogadores que são tidos como referência em aproach, como Cris Barnes, Parker Bohn III e outros por sua simplicidade e eficiência, Norm Duke e Walter Ray Willias Jr.Esta matéria contou com a preciosa colaboração do professor de Golf, formado pela PGA, Celso Palma.

Até a próxima!

Wagner Cerchiai

Para ver o Bug Bowling II clique aqui…

Para ver o Bug Bowling I clique aqui…

Remember the 80’s? I went to a lot of concerts, bought a lot of records, made a lot of friends, attended many high school functions and sporting events. I learned a lot about myself. I developed my sense of who I am and where I wanted to go in life. I learned to take risks and reap the rewards- as well as how to handle failures a little bit better. These are some of my favorite moments.

First concert: Iron Maiden/ Twisted Sister, Worcester Centrum, January 1985.

I went to the show with two of my friends that my mom and dad worked with at the State Line Auction store. We thought about going to the show weeks before the concert- so we ended up getting seats in the upper balcony nosebleed section. It didn’t matter to me. My friends were there to see Twisted Sister- who I thought were good, but they weren’t the mighty Iron Maiden. Dee Snider was having a hard time singing because of a bout with the flu- so he would run off the stage during some of the solo sections and had to rehydrate himself.

I sang every word to the entire Iron Maiden show. I lost my voice and had bells ringing in my ears for a couple of days. I bought the Powerslave tour shirt when bands would sell baseball jersey length sizes. I converted my friends from being Twisted Sister fans to Iron Maiden fans. I would see the band on 4 subsequent tours- but their stage show and ability to connect with everyone from the front row to the back was a tell tale sign they would be around for future generations to follow.

First job: Mr. Otto’s Flower shop. I was 14 at the time. I learned so much about the flower delivery business- how to interact with customers, the personalized touch, how to make arrangements, the degree of politeness necessary to make the customers feel special and that appearances go a long way. I only stayed there for 6 months before moving on to a cafeteria job at the Winchendon School, but I applied a lot of what I learned from Cliff and Keith to my philosophy with deejaying. Years later as an adult, I would get the opportunity to bowl on the same team as Keith on Monday nights before he retired from bowling. Amazing how your life can come full circle.

I also remember saving my best friend’s prom in 1988 by quickly running around to gather our equipment and getting what would could from our collections. I remember the church dances, our drive to start a teen center called the Hot Spot, the school football games, the bonfires and pep rallies, and the sense that our town was a nurturing, small town community where you really gained the chance to know everyone.

I thank the people who challenged my shy ways, who encouraged me to step outside of the boundaries I set for myself and become a better person as a result. I hope I have been able to give you that same level of courage, friendship and insight that you’ve given to me. We can each come from different backgrounds and different worlds and still find some level of common ground.

It’s good sometimes to reflect on our time growing up, see where we are today and champion our accomplishments.

O Shopping Vila Olímpia, inaugurado nesta semana em área nobre da capital paulista, é o 50.º shopping da cidade e abriga 187 lojas espalhadas em seis pisos. Em um dos pavimentos, os visitantes têm à disposição uma praça de alimentação com diversas opções, além do Boliche Villa Bowling, com 12 pistas automatizadas e sofisticada decoração.

O Villa Bowling foi inspirado nas melhores casas americanas de boliche, com 12 pistas Brunswick, equipadas com bolas importadas e desenhadas pelo estúdio de design Pininfarina, o mesmo dos carros Ferrari. Grandes telões e uma iluminação especial indireta, que vem das pistas, dão um clima quase de balada. Há também um restaurante.

O Vila Olímpia possui 6 andares, 187 lojas, 1.587 vagas para carros e 34 opções de lanchonetes, cafés e restaurantes – que ocupam o quarto andar inteiro do prédio. O Shopping Vila Olímpia (Rua Olimpíadas, 360) é mais uma opção de compras e lazer

Entre os restaurantes, destaques para filiais importantes como o Andiamo Ristorante, Galeto´s, Folha de Uva, Spaghetti Notte e Angosto Grill. Ainda entre as lojas, destaques para a de outras áreas, como a de marcas de roupas, que contempla o visitante com filiais da L´Occitane, Lupo, Hering, Levi´s, Arezzo, Polishop, Camicado, HP Store entre outras.

O ambiente do shopping visa proporcionar conforto aos clientes, por isso a decoração interna possui materiais nobres, como aço e madeira.

Além disso, a iluminação e o paisagismo se entrosam para deixar o clima ainda mais confortável. Para dar acessibilidade interna, todos os andares terão escada rolantes duplas, facilitando assim o deslocamento do visitante.

O Cinema do Shopping Vila Olímpia também merece destaque. O empreendimento receberá as salas vips do Grupo Kinoplex, que terão capacidade para 100 pessoas com direito a poltrona de couro reclinável. Ao total, o complexo terá sete salas, que podem abrigar até 950 pessoas.

Wednesday evening, a bunch of us including Alex, Elaine (Alex’s wife), Jamie, Lisa, Jenny and I went to this eating place called Sunset Grill & Pub located inside Seletar Camp. The exact location can be quite tricky, and it took us a few spinning arounds before we decided to follow one of the cars in hope that it was heading there. Indeed, our intuition was right, and we finally reached this secluded place.

The idea of eating there for dinner was for their popular Buffalo Wings, which come with 10 different degree of spiciness. We ordered a dozen of Level Ones first and a few other side dishes. It wasn’t really much of a kick, so we challenged ourselves to another half dozen of Level Threes. It was then that I felt the chilli whirling inside my stomach! It was really damn evil!

We stopped there at level three, and that was all we could take. LOL~

Last evening, Timothy, Fukuan, Zhihao and I bowled in the PBC Thursday League. I managed to do quite well, with lines of 182-166-212 for a 560 series (186.7 average). The rest of them had a pretty hard time on the lanes, and didn’t do as well. If my mental calculation is correct, I believe we lost the night’s games to our opponent. If there’s any consolation to the team, I won all my four points against my direct opponent. Hehehe… =X

Our son has often referred to our family as the Soprano’s. I, on the other hand, have always referred to them as the Kennedy’s. Regardless each in their own right is a family.

This morning around 2:00 a.m. we were called to aid in a family matter. While following MacGyver home, I was flooded with recollections of several past events, which were equivalent to tonight. Events that occurred years ago so comparable in nature as to tonight’s events, it is eerie.

Thankfully, it was an event that was not serious, it was very comical though a sharp reminder of what family is all about. It was also an introduction of sorts to a new family member. I know she felt bad about calling us at 2:00 a.m. this morning to assist, but she handled the situation correctly. There is one rule that is always followed regardless of any disagreements or spats between the family members, and it is very simple but best summed up by this song by B. Scott and B. Russell.

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother…

Welcome to the FAMILY!
Happy Thanksgiving!

I went bowling last night instead of my usual Wednesday cinema trip. Bowling’s an interesting one for a friendly night out, you see there seems to be three groups of people when it comes to casual bowling. There’s the average, the annoyingly good and the downright bad. I, if you’re interested, fit into the average group quite comfortably.

It causes a problem, obviously you want to win. But you don’t want to look like too much of an arrogant ass in front of the people who struggle. At the same time you are sitting there wishing failure on your closest rivals, all the while trying to be friendly to them. The cracks always start to show though, a misplaced smile at first, then and out-and-out celebration at someones failure. Oddly though, the second the game ends. Everything returns to normal in your group, friendships return and the rivalries you had moments ago seem unimportant.

The best thing about bowling though is the shoes, despite the fact that they’ve been worn a 100 times and probably reek of sweat under that spray they use, they just seem to bring something special to the bowling experience.

Right after my first teaching demosntration as a practicumer, i realized I lost my cellphone yet again. I had no choice but to get my globeline cut from my previous phone and have it re-activated in another sim card. So now, I have a sim with the same number but without a phone. I don’t even want to bother getting another one if not for my line subscription.  The good side though is at least I won’t be changing numbers again.

Goodbye Cellphone. At least I got to be with you for a month.

My cousins–Ate Peaches and Andre, my tito and tita are on their flight back to the US as I blog about this. We only get to see them every 5 years or so that’s why despite an early class i made sure I was with them on their last night. We bonded over dinner and a couple of bowling games, had lots of laughs, conversations and hugs. I am sure am gonna be missing them.

Goodbye cousins–for now.

45th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup/45.ª Copa Mundial de Boliche QubicaAMF, Malaca/Melaka, Malásia/Malaysia, 14 a 21 de novembro de 2009

Os 3 melhores classificados após 40 partidas disputaram o título de Campeão Mundial numa série melhor-de-três.

Semifinal
O campeão mundial de 2005 (Ljubljana, Eslovênia), o simpático canadense  Michael Schmidt, segundo colocado após 40 partidas, não teve muitas dificuldades para superar o indonésio Ryan Lalisang. Michael venceu por 2 a 0 (202-180 e 247-217).

Final
Na disputa decisiva, porém, o coreano Choi Yong-Kyu, líder com folga na fase classificatória desde a segunda rodada, não perdeu a concentração e poder de jogo e não deu a menor chance para Michael. Choi conquistou o título de Campeão Mundial da Copa Qubica AMF, o primeiro para a Coréia nos 45 anos do maior evento do Boliche do mundo. Choi fez 2 a 0 sobre Michael (236-173 e 227-208).

Schmidt, curiosamente, completou a sua coleção de medalhas da Copa Mundial Qubica AMF, pois ganhou Ouro em 2005, Bronze em 2006 e agora levou a Prata para casa. E, por muito pouco, não aconteceu a dobradinha canadense, entre Schmidt e sua compatriota campeã Caroline Lagrange.

Classificação Final
1.º - Choi Yong-Kyu, Coréia
2.º - Michael Schmidt, Canadá
3.º - Ryan Lalisang, Indonésia

Choi Yong-Kyu