In the midst of a busy Sunday afternoon, I took a short break and accidentally found some bowling on ESPN. Now, I always loved watching the sport as a kid, and it was the lone sport in which I had any ability, for some strange reason.
About 10 to 15 years ago, I received the opportunity to write a story about a pro bowler named Tim Criss, who is from Harford County. These guys practice endlessly, so Tim asked if I’d mind driving up to Aberdeen and talking at this small eight-lane bowling alley where he’d be practicing. I said sure – always curious to watch a pro bowler in action.
Tim started to bowl a game, and I realized that talking would be hard because he kept walking up and back, up and back, while throwing a ball. So I began to think quickly about how in the world an interview could be done if this man kept walking and bowling?
Finally, he accidentally solved my problem “You ever bowl much?” he asked, nicely.
Now, he bowled tenpins (the bigger ones). I was pretty decent at duckpins (the smaller ones), even won top average in my league at age 15 – when I was ranked fourth but the top three guys dropped out in the last two months, but ah, that remains my secret – but I could bowl tenpins. Just wasn’t as consistent as with duckpins.
He asked if I’d like to bowl against him while we talked.
Bingo! I’d get my interview and maybe have a laugh or two in the process of him crushing me in a game. OK. We started bowling and probably for the first time in my life, I didn’t really keep track of the score. This place did it electronically. I knew I was doing well while he struggled at times.
By the ninth frame, I realized that I might have a shot at winning – and I did. I beat him. I couldn’t believe it. I had to turn my head away because I was laughing. Now, here’s the funny part. I never got the exact score! I think it was 157-149.
Now, Tim had been so nice to me that I couldn’t believe it. He congratulated me and then informed me that we’d bowl once more. Uh-oh. I wanted to leave right there and said I was fine and had everything I needed and smiled.
He said I’d bowl once more.
He beat me by 80.
But I still always smile when remembering that day.
Jeff Seidel is a Baltimore-based freelance writer.
Chilean-Jewish artist Mauricio Avayu is working on his most ambitious project yet: capturing the key moments of the Torah in 40 large murals.
Each month, Jmore is giving away $50 gift cards to some of our favorite local restaurants. Here are the official rules.
Each month, Jmore is giving away $50 gift cards to some of our favorite local restaurants. Here are the official rules.
Each month, Jmore is giving away $50 gift cards to some of our favorite local restaurants. Here are the official rules.