onefrombills
04-21-2009, 05:19 PM
LAS VEGAS - USBC Hall of Famer Andy Varipapa made a name for himself as bowling's premier trick shot artist, but he also was a knowledgeable instructor and an accomplished competitor on the lanes.
Nearly 25 years since his death, his legend lives on and his teachings were put to good use as his grandson Andrew Ruffolo of Merritt Island, Fla., took his own show on the road and made his debut at the Open Championships this week at Cashman Center, minus the trick shots.
The 54-year-old left-hander finished his first trip to the Open Championships with 501 in doubles, 496 in singles and 486 in team for a 1,483 all-events total.
"This is a really nice tournament," Ruffolo said. "I never pictured it to be like this. And the lane conditions are really tough. It caught me by surprise."
Ruffolo grew up by his grandfather's side and lived with him for 14 years. Varipapa took him bowling often and eventually was the influence that got him involved in the competitive side of the sport.
"My grandfather was a big influence on me when I was younger," Ruffolo said. "Besides all of the trick shots, he was an amazing bowler. Not many people know that. They just look at his tricks and remember him from that."
Ruffolo remembers watching his grandfather execute his famous trick shots in person. He also has all of the tricks on tape and will watch them on occasion.
"He never taught me any of his tricks," Ruffolo said. "They are amazing and I could never do them. I don't even try. I don't think anyone in the world could do them"
Varipapa's tricks included the boomerang ball, which he make come back to him from halfway down the lane, and converting the 7-10 split by rolling a ball with each hand at the same time.
Even though Varipapa was known mainly for his tricks, he focused much of his time on studying the game itself and teaching it to others. In his free time, he would take his grandson and other family members out to bowl. While on the lanes, he would offer lessons to anyone who would listen.
"He liked everyone, and everyone liked him," Ruffolo said. "He was very helpful and would teach anyone he could. One time, we were practicing, and he got up from his seat and walked a few lanes down and started working with a stranger on his game."
In 1946, at the age of 55, Varipapa became the oldest winner of the BPAA All-Star tournament, and he made history again a year later when he became the first bowler to win the 100-game event in back-to-back years.
Varipapa also tossed more than 60 perfect games in his career and coined the term "Andy Varipapa 300 game," which consists of 12 consecutive strikes spanning two games.
"It is hard to live up to his legacy," Ruffolo said. "I don't even try to. I just try to be the best bowler I can."
Varipapa passed away in 1984 but left an impression on his grandson and the entire bowling community. Ruffolo had a special relationship with Varipapa and knew him like no one else did, and in all of the time spent together, Ruffolo has one memory that stands out the most.
"We were bowling one day when my grandfather was about 80 years old," Ruffolo said. "At this time he was throwing the ball really slow due to his age. I decided to imitate him throwing the ball really slow. He turned around and saw me doing this, and I thought I was a dead man. He came up to me and said do it again. We all laughed about it."
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.
Nearly 25 years since his death, his legend lives on and his teachings were put to good use as his grandson Andrew Ruffolo of Merritt Island, Fla., took his own show on the road and made his debut at the Open Championships this week at Cashman Center, minus the trick shots.
The 54-year-old left-hander finished his first trip to the Open Championships with 501 in doubles, 496 in singles and 486 in team for a 1,483 all-events total.
"This is a really nice tournament," Ruffolo said. "I never pictured it to be like this. And the lane conditions are really tough. It caught me by surprise."
Ruffolo grew up by his grandfather's side and lived with him for 14 years. Varipapa took him bowling often and eventually was the influence that got him involved in the competitive side of the sport.
"My grandfather was a big influence on me when I was younger," Ruffolo said. "Besides all of the trick shots, he was an amazing bowler. Not many people know that. They just look at his tricks and remember him from that."
Ruffolo remembers watching his grandfather execute his famous trick shots in person. He also has all of the tricks on tape and will watch them on occasion.
"He never taught me any of his tricks," Ruffolo said. "They are amazing and I could never do them. I don't even try. I don't think anyone in the world could do them"
Varipapa's tricks included the boomerang ball, which he make come back to him from halfway down the lane, and converting the 7-10 split by rolling a ball with each hand at the same time.
Even though Varipapa was known mainly for his tricks, he focused much of his time on studying the game itself and teaching it to others. In his free time, he would take his grandson and other family members out to bowl. While on the lanes, he would offer lessons to anyone who would listen.
"He liked everyone, and everyone liked him," Ruffolo said. "He was very helpful and would teach anyone he could. One time, we were practicing, and he got up from his seat and walked a few lanes down and started working with a stranger on his game."
In 1946, at the age of 55, Varipapa became the oldest winner of the BPAA All-Star tournament, and he made history again a year later when he became the first bowler to win the 100-game event in back-to-back years.
Varipapa also tossed more than 60 perfect games in his career and coined the term "Andy Varipapa 300 game," which consists of 12 consecutive strikes spanning two games.
"It is hard to live up to his legacy," Ruffolo said. "I don't even try to. I just try to be the best bowler I can."
Varipapa passed away in 1984 but left an impression on his grandson and the entire bowling community. Ruffolo had a special relationship with Varipapa and knew him like no one else did, and in all of the time spent together, Ruffolo has one memory that stands out the most.
"We were bowling one day when my grandfather was about 80 years old," Ruffolo said. "At this time he was throwing the ball really slow due to his age. I decided to imitate him throwing the ball really slow. He turned around and saw me doing this, and I thought I was a dead man. He came up to me and said do it again. We all laughed about it."
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.