onefrombills
03-07-2009, 01:11 AM
LAS VEGAS - There was a time when Roger Wiemer of Springfield, Mo., didn't think he'd be able to make a living in the bowling industry, but for more than six decades, he has proven to be a successful bowling center proprietor and a fiery competitor on the lanes.
The 76-year-old right-hander solidified his place in bowling history when he celebrated his 50th trip to the USBC Open Championships on Wednesday night.
Wiemer was the first of 10 bowlers scheduled to reach the milestone this year and the 99th in 106 years of Open Championships competition. His tournament journey began at the 1949 event in Atlantic City, N.J., which still is the most memorable of his 50 events.
"It sticks in my memory because the proprietor who went with us to that tournament knew Joe Norris," said Wiemer, who was just 16 years old when he made his Open Championships debut. "We all went out for dinner together and that really made it a memorable experience."
Wiemer's career on the lanes started two years earlier when his older brother helped him become a pin boy at a bowling center.
"My brother had asked a bowling proprietor if he could have a junior school league," Wiemer said. "The proprietor said he would if my brother could provide the pin boys, and that's when he volunteered me to set pins. He got me the job, and they had their league, and now, here I am."
During his tournament career, Wiemer has knocked down 86,197 pins and compiled a 196.8 average. He showed that he hasn't missed a step with 599 in singles, 590 in team and 588 in doubles for a 1,777 all-events total at Cashman Center this year.
Wiemer bowled his team event with his two sons, Randy and Steve, his grandson Zach and Greg Shields. The team shot 2,855, while Wiemer and Shields teamed up for a 1,329 doubles total, which puts them in 10th place overall.
"I'm happy I've knocked out as many pins as I have, although I would have liked to have had a few more," said Wiemer, who missed a handful of tournaments after his debut, but has been to every event since 1968. "I'm sorry I missed so many tournaments. I wish I could have gone to those other 11."
Holding a job and raising a family kept Wiemer pretty busy during the 1950s, and it just wasn't possible to slip away to compete in the Open Championships. And now, even though his three bowling centers require a lot of attention, Wiemer officially is retired, and there isn't much that could keep him and his teams from the tournament lanes.
"We usually bring two teams," Wiemer said. "Besides the family, it is fellows who work at the bowling center. For a lot of them, it's their first time. It's exciting to watch them on these conditions for the first time."
With so many years invested in the industry, Wiemer has seen the game of bowling evolve and often thinks about how the conditions of the game have changed over the years.
"I can remember when everybody had just one ball and was probably lucky to have it," Wiemer said. "But it's not so anymore. There are different balls for different conditions."
Wiemer said his only strategy for bowling is to be aware of what to expect on the lanes.
"Work hard and practice a lot," Wiemer said. "Learn the game, learn the conditions. Learn how to recognize and play different lane conditions. It's a must."
Even after 50 trips to the Open Championships, Wiemer knows he definitely hasn't had enough.
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
The 76-year-old right-hander solidified his place in bowling history when he celebrated his 50th trip to the USBC Open Championships on Wednesday night.
Wiemer was the first of 10 bowlers scheduled to reach the milestone this year and the 99th in 106 years of Open Championships competition. His tournament journey began at the 1949 event in Atlantic City, N.J., which still is the most memorable of his 50 events.
"It sticks in my memory because the proprietor who went with us to that tournament knew Joe Norris," said Wiemer, who was just 16 years old when he made his Open Championships debut. "We all went out for dinner together and that really made it a memorable experience."
Wiemer's career on the lanes started two years earlier when his older brother helped him become a pin boy at a bowling center.
"My brother had asked a bowling proprietor if he could have a junior school league," Wiemer said. "The proprietor said he would if my brother could provide the pin boys, and that's when he volunteered me to set pins. He got me the job, and they had their league, and now, here I am."
During his tournament career, Wiemer has knocked down 86,197 pins and compiled a 196.8 average. He showed that he hasn't missed a step with 599 in singles, 590 in team and 588 in doubles for a 1,777 all-events total at Cashman Center this year.
Wiemer bowled his team event with his two sons, Randy and Steve, his grandson Zach and Greg Shields. The team shot 2,855, while Wiemer and Shields teamed up for a 1,329 doubles total, which puts them in 10th place overall.
"I'm happy I've knocked out as many pins as I have, although I would have liked to have had a few more," said Wiemer, who missed a handful of tournaments after his debut, but has been to every event since 1968. "I'm sorry I missed so many tournaments. I wish I could have gone to those other 11."
Holding a job and raising a family kept Wiemer pretty busy during the 1950s, and it just wasn't possible to slip away to compete in the Open Championships. And now, even though his three bowling centers require a lot of attention, Wiemer officially is retired, and there isn't much that could keep him and his teams from the tournament lanes.
"We usually bring two teams," Wiemer said. "Besides the family, it is fellows who work at the bowling center. For a lot of them, it's their first time. It's exciting to watch them on these conditions for the first time."
With so many years invested in the industry, Wiemer has seen the game of bowling evolve and often thinks about how the conditions of the game have changed over the years.
"I can remember when everybody had just one ball and was probably lucky to have it," Wiemer said. "But it's not so anymore. There are different balls for different conditions."
Wiemer said his only strategy for bowling is to be aware of what to expect on the lanes.
"Work hard and practice a lot," Wiemer said. "Learn the game, learn the conditions. Learn how to recognize and play different lane conditions. It's a must."
Even after 50 trips to the Open Championships, Wiemer knows he definitely hasn't had enough.
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.