Bowling with the Bucs

You can go bowling with the Pittsburgh Pirates if you’re so inclined:

Pirates Charities and Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Shortstop Jack Wilson and his wife Julie will host the fifth annual “Bowling with the Bucs” fundraiser tournament, sponsored by Trib Total Media, on Sunday, May 31. The event, which offers fans the opportunity to interact with their favorite Pirates players and celebrities, will benefit Pirates Charities and its mission to make a positive impact on the local communities.

The event is scheduled to take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the AMF Noble Manor Lanes in Crafton. Fans can donate $125 for the opportunity to bowl with Pirates players and celebrities or $75 to watch the action.

I’m too lazy to check, but I’m almost positive I blogged something about this event last year. I can’t for the life of me remember what my impression was, however, so why not opine again?

The opinion: I’d be all over this event if I lived in Pittsburgh, if for no other reason than I bet Nyjer Morgan — he of the old school stirrups — shows up with traditionalist two-tone bowling shoes, a metal-reinforced wrist-brace, and the vintage Guppy Troup ensemble. Morgan is both stylish and a traditionalist, so I can’t imagine him not utterly owning this event.

Note: a semi-recent update on Guppy Troup. While he sounds happy and well-adjusted and everything, I was very depressed to learn that he works as a school janitor during the week. Intellectually I know better, but I used to watch a lot of PBA when I was a kid, and sort of imagined that pro bowers lived some rarified movie star life, and that Troup, Mark Roth, Pete Weber and Nelson Burton, Jr. were the bowling version of the Rat Pack. Lovin’ and leavin’ em, you know. Troup throwing money around like it was nothin’. Weber, the wild man, getting into bar fights all the time. Roth, the Sinatra-like leader of the crew, and Nelson Burton, Jr. liberally giving out the “tip of the week,” if you know what I mean.

OK, I may have said too much at this point.


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Ron
14 years ago

You just channeled my childhood.

mgflolox
14 years ago

I’ve been to PBA tournaments in Alameda and Dublin, CA and I can tell you, ol’ Gup was a hell of a lot of fun to watch during and after the competition. And believe me, bowlers have groupies too. Probably the most down to earth and fan friendly pro athletes there are. And if you don’t think they’re athletes, just try bowling 42 games in 3 days and see how you feel afterward.

Kelly F.
14 years ago

May I brag, Craig? I worked as a “pinsetter” during a PBA event in the early ‘90s, and at one point during the week, I walked right past Pete Weber—close enough to touch him, but I just nodded.

Also, I heard that he’s a jerk, especially when he drinks. But that’s just hearsay.

Repoz
14 years ago

“Roth, the Sinatra-like leader of the crew”

Maybe if Sinatra had a gambling habit hooked up with the N.Y. Rangers.

If only Mark had cared more…