Tell me about the Japan Tour that's comming up next week.

[GeoLes]

PBA moves to the international format now. I have only seen PBA events on TV. The Japan tour sounds like there may be new and different dynamics afoot. What can I expect? Are the oil patterns different? Are the pro bowlers more spinners, than the usual crankers and down-and-inners? Are the particiipants more flashy in style, dress? Is there a Japanese version of Randy Pederson?.... or is it "Randy Peder-san" :)

Sorry, cheap asiian humor there. I couldn't resist.

[J Anderson]

American professionals have been competing for the Japan Cup for many years. If you get ESPN classic you will occasionally see a Japan Cup finals, usually one with at least 3 American finalists.

I'm not sure what the standard is but only a limited number of Americans are invited. It may be the tour winners from the previous year, or maybe the top ten or so from the PBA points standings.

[martinezsam2495]

it's fun to watch,
the Japanese have unique styles, and I love when they say STRIKE-KU!!!
I speak Japanese but I"m at a 1st grade level, lol

[GeoLes]

Next, we will be bowling "Gangman Style" :)

[vikingbowler88]

Japan tour scheduled to recorded on my DVR today! Cant wait to watch it

[e-tank]

watching it right now. its pretty good!

[vikingbowler88]

watching football right now then will put bowling on! Glad its good

[billf]

I will tell you this much.........................I watched it live lmao

[scottymoney]

Stupid DVR decided that it was going to take the day off. A bunch of shows never recorded. Guess I will have to find it online. Can't wait for Detroit, leaving Friday for the Saturday and Sunday tapings of the Winter Swing. 2 long days of bowling, will get to see a lot of action.

[GeoLes]

I will tell you this much.........................I watched it live lmao

I did not know wha to expect. I half expected the crowd to yell "Banzai" on every strike. I certainly did expect to see more energetiic "end-to-enders" and flashy attire and post strike rituals. Someting akin to a PW celebration). But not even a fist pump. The flashiest thing about it was the stupid "what do you call those things they bang together in the basketball game to try and distract the foul shooter?" . It seemed very out of place in pro bowling. The crowd was very reserved and respectful. The bowlers were ultra conservative in their delivery.

By no means did they "Bowl Gangam Style"

[e-tank]

The bowlers were ultra conservative in their delivery.


I noticed that too. Meanwhile you had guys like sean rash and palermaa on the other side reving it up

[Zothen]

Japanese fans are very different from American fans! American fans will yell,scream,cheer and get into fights. Japanese fans are very respectful of sporting events and as you saw,they do not make very much noise and they clap with those air wands.

Zothen

[billf]

I did not know wha to expect. I half expected the crowd to yell "Banzai" on every strike. I certainly did expect to see more energetiic "end-to-enders" and flashy attire and post strike rituals. Someting akin to a PW celebration). But not even a fist pump. The flashiest thing about it was the stupid "what do you call those things they bang together in the basketball game to try and distract the foul shooter?" . It seemed very out of place in pro bowling. The crowd was very reserved and respectful. The bowlers were ultra conservative in their delivery.

By no means did they "Bowl Gangam Style"

The Japaneese culture is very reserved and respectful. Sometimes annoyingly so. The younger people tend to be a bit looser, as with all countries. Can you imagine if they acted like it was a South American soccer game?!?!

[GeoLes]

Reminds me of the old "Dick Tracy" TV series character "Joe Jitzu". He would grab the bad buy by his gun and slam him round the whole time saying "So sorry.... Excuse please."

On the other side, MIko's performance was awesome.

[sukeetoshyoo88]

anyone notice mika wearing a columbia 300 shirt?

[J Anderson]

anyone notice mika wearing a columbia 300 shirt?

I didn't notice that. I think that Columbia 300, Ebonite, Hammer, and Track are all owned by the same parent corporation. I don't know If Mika changed sponsors within the group or what. I've often noticed Bowlers wearing one of those four jerseys using a ball or two from one of the remaining three on TV. Likewise I've see Storm bowlers using Roto Grip balls and visa versa.

[sukeetoshyoo88]

ahhh. i didn't know that. i only knew ebonite and track were together and storm/roto brunswick/dv8.
i guess that would explain why norton was using the first blood, or what looked to be the first blood during the chameleon championship.

[BrandonKR]

ahhh. i didn't know that. i only knew ebonite and track were together and storm/roto brunswick/dv8.
i guess that would explain why norton was using the first blood, or what looked to be the first blood during the chameleon championship.

Ebonite, Track, Columbia 300 and Hammer are all owned by Ebonite International. That's why you'll often see Mika, Scott and a few others switch logos and use different brand balls. Norton was using the Enigma and the First Blood and also on today's PBA League show he was using some sort of Ebonite ball.