Better Bowler? Walter Ray Williams Jr. vs.Earl Anthony

jjgold · 05-28-10, 12:04 PM

Close actually

Bowling had more coverage on major tv back then but not as competitive as now

Any of the newer studs are better

I say Walter Ray

will2survive · 05-28-10, 12:37 PM

thanks J.J.--- guys like Chris Barnes aren't in the players that I mentioned league.They try to spice bowling up but I like the old school better and guys like Marshall Holman,Parker Bohn(the 2nd or 3rd-lol),Amletto Monicelli(pardon the spelling),John Patraglia,Brian Voss to name a few. Yes Walter Ray is a spectular athlete and carries the sport well even though it's lost popularity

will2survive · 05-28-10, 12:44 PM

I miss the guys like Brian Voss,Parker Bohn III(he still plays but not as much),Mark Roth,Marshall Hollman,Amletto Monicelli,Wayne Webb,Carmen Salvino(what an awkward approach and handle to the ball)--there's more guys--just slips my mind at the moment

milwaukee mike · 05-28-10, 12:45 PM

wow i thought i was the only one that watched bowling.
growing up here in milwaukee there used to be a show at 6:30 EVERY NIGHT called "the bowling game" (took over after bowling for dollars went away) where they had teams bowl against each other, just frames 7-10.

youtube "the bowling game milwaukee" if you want to see some great old footage...

will2survive · 05-28-10, 12:47 PM

sorry --it came out twice

smitch124 · 05-28-10, 12:52 PM

I always lean to the right-hander, while in the finals it doesn't make a big difference, in the qualifying rounds the lefty has to deal with much less changing in lane conditions while the right hander is always having to adjust. That being said, Earl didn't need to adjust as much with his down and in style.

Great question, I go with Walter Ray though.

will2survive · 05-28-10, 01:10 PM

I'm a lefty and Earl sure didn't seem to put a lot of strength and spin on his ball but it worked

TexansFan · 05-28-10, 01:27 PM

I was born in the 60's and I used to watch the PBA most every Saturday. I've always felt that left handers had a slight advantage myself, but the two bowlers you listed (Anthony and Williams) are both excellent.

Anthony won more majors than Williams, including two Triple Crowns. Williams broke his record of total tour titles won a few years ago but he has bowled longer than Anthony did.

I'll give the slight edge to Earl Anthony.

will2survive · 05-28-10, 01:39 PM

very interesting-- I like when there are contrasting views instead of it being one sided. I used to watch the PBA on Saturday afternoon as a kid on ABC and beg my mother to take me moonlight bowling (late at night)--It was a thrill(remember I was a kid)--They had the champagne ball and the pins were colored.I wish that Pete Weber would get his game back because he's great for the sport,so much fun to watch his reactions

katstale · 05-28-10, 01:41 PM

Several points to consider. In the early 80's a poll was done among pro bowlers as to who was best (right handed and left handed) from the 3 basic areas of play (outside, inside and middle). There were three different clear cut winners on the righty side. As their should have been, I believe Roth was selected as the best from the inside line. Walter Ray was probably the gutter winner.

From the left side, Anthony was the clear winner from all 3 angles.

Lastly, I offer this. When Anthony retired from the PBA, he went home, grew a beard and essentially did not pick up a bowling ball for a year. As the Masters approached, his long time sponsor Ebonite (might have been Brunswick) came to him and asked him if we ould show up and put in a token appearance. He balked at first and said he didn't want to shave his beard and hadn't practiced. They told him he could keep the beard and begged him. He relented. He practiced for 2 weeks prior to the tournament, showed up and proceeded to win the Masters. Still, in my mind, one of the all time great feats ever in sports.

Edge to Anthony. Class guy thru and thru.

TexansFan · 05-28-10, 01:43 PM

I also think that bowling got a little easier over the years because of the technology of the balls.

I bowled in leagues for years and always carried an average between 195 and 205. I've even bowled an 800 series once. Lots of 289's, but never a 300.

TexansFan · 05-28-10, 01:48 PM

This is a nice thread, good job. It brings back lot of memories for sure. I can remember names like:

Earl Anthony
Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Mark Roth
Marshal Holman
Brian Voss
Mike Aulby
Dick Weber (he was mainly a 50's and 60's bowler though)
Pete Weber Jr.
Wayne Webb
Norm Duke

katstale · 05-28-10, 01:48 PM

To take your point further, Anthony remained true to his sponsors and bowled the last 10 years of his career with inferior equipment to all the other top pros on tour. Be almost like a guy in golf playing with wooden shafts and half a bag of clubs. He was that good. Once hit a dime 20 ft down the lane i think it was 19 of 20 times to win a prop bet.

will2survive · 05-28-10, 02:18 PM

Thanks Texas Fan--those were the 2 names that I couldn't remember

Mike Aulby had a nice little stint as top bowler and crowd favorite Norm Duke

will2survive · 05-28-10, 02:21 PM

How about Del Ballard Jr.(I think that was his name)------his wife is a top level bowler--she's on ESPN----if you ever see some of the women bowl( college and pro)---they're very enthusiastic but I'm always going to root for Pete Weber

will2survive · 05-28-10, 02:26 PM

Bob Learn Jr(bowled the perfect game on tv)
Dave Husted
Bob Benoit
Mike Durbin(announcer)
Nelson "Bo" Burtin

will2survive · 05-28-10, 02:30 PM

Aulby was very underrated: when he was on top of his game--he was difficult to beat

TexansFan · 05-28-10, 02:33 PM

Yep, all good names. It's sad that the league was bought for 3 million some years ago and it's now relegated to basically a few spots on ESPN.