1983 Waukegon Open

[@DJL587a]

In addition to watching bowling in the 80s, I love watching the commeercials. Brings back memories.

[@teejay6063]

🤣 So true. And the commentary.

[@scottdavidson9963]

​@@teejay6063yup

[@youtoobe169]

I don't say it often enough, but thanks for posting all these!

[@richardk.fitzgerald8354]

A tremendous telecast! Extraordinary performance by Zikes!

[@scottdavidson9963]

Bowled in pro am with Zikes at Sunset Bowl in Waukegan in 1983.

[@kenyongray2615]

What a performance! The lefthanders were two of the greatest of all time but geez, the lanes were not set for that side of the lanes. Les deserved kudos for bowling the way he did. Thanks for the video.

[@selthejester]

What great words from the owner of the bowling centre but hat off to Les on such a fine effort. He thoroughly deservred to win and I enjoyed watching every minute,

[@robs531]

I didn’t know Tom Baker was in NC now. I missed the chance to visit him at our PBA50 regional at my casino.

[@joeb9743]

I think my favorite part of these old telecasts are the old commercials

[@beeemm2578]

Ol Mike Durbin....one of NE Ohios finest. Lots of great bowlers and bowling history in this area.

[@gubment0cheese]

USA had the most professional telecast.... Thanks for uploading........

[@cattnipp]

Not really. They set the camera right where the bowler blocks the view of the pins.

[@irishpogi]

Other than the gaffe in the first frame of the championship match and the lucky strike in the third frame of the same game, Les bowled impeccably.

[@mrbowling300]

John, I remember watching this as it happened back in the day...I was visiting my grandparents in Florida.

[@scottdavidson9963]

Such a nice and humble man.

[@cattnipp]

What kind of a TV network keeps setting up the camera right where the bowler blocks the pins from being seen?

[@beeemm2578]

28:45 sounded like a car crash

[@thinkcivil1627]

This shows how the game has evolved to fit the changes made to newer lanes and equipment. This was 1983. The next time you hear the argument about old school vs today's players; regarding which generation was better, just tell them to watch this match. It wasn't an accident that the average age of the players that made the TV finals was around the mid 40s and the winner was in his late 40s. That bowling center's lanes had the old school setup and those with a big curve couldn't be consistent. Even Johnny Petraglia put his ball in the waxing machine for 2 hours before the match to help kill the curve. It doesn't mean that one generation is better than the other, it was all about the style of play matching lane conditions and equipment. That's why there was so many players with more of a straight ball style years ago. Now, the equipment, balls, lane conditions and even the pins are very different (older heavier wood pins vs lighter plastic pins of today). It has meant that players of today simply evolved with the changing equipment and lane conditions. The older players had to throw more of a straight ball, and today most of the players crank a big hook. It has led to the saying: "If you crank you go to the bank. If you stroke you go broke."

[@douglasharris5216]

Think Civil as far as pins I only know of one solid plastic pin, The Twister, the worse piece of crap ever endorsed by the USBC. As far as I know pins are still made of wood, although the more modern ones are plastic coated

[@jamesnewton23]

Pins weight never changed

[@Igloo3471]

Today's game is garbage. All set up so cheating two handers and no-thumbers can shoot telephone numbers while shutting out the down-and-in straighter type player. No wonder it's dying.

[@Riz2336]

Man Les threw a lot of good shots for that win.

[@beeemm2578]

Yes he did. For Les, its just one of those days when you're just on a magical ride. Is he still alive? I saw he bowled or was involved in something in 2017, which is incredible. The man won a tournament in 1949!

[@irishpogi]

@@beeemm2578 Les is still alive as far as I've been told. He is 90 years old. He and his spouse Mary Cay co-own Beverly Lanes in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

[@Zoomer30_]

As a kid born in the early 70s (who bowled league), Saturday afternoon at 2PM the TV was on Channel 6, ABC. My favorite was Earl Anthony.

[@Metalhead4EVR]

Jonathan J exactly my experience as a junior bowler in the 70's thru the early 80's. Anthony was my favorite also. Even though I respected him I thought Marshall Holman was a bad loser.

[@teejay6063]

Jimmy certainly throws a good ball.

[@teejay6063]

Nice 8-10 Jim. Dude almost fell over on that shot.

[@selwynmorgan2048]

Great to see a little guy and boy didn't he do it in style.

[@toddmaniatoddmania9844]

Petraglia won the 1975 Firestone TOC and the 1979 PBA National Championship? Wow, I thought it was 1971 and 1980. Embarrassing.

[@Zoomer30_]

Reading a newspaper to pick a stock. As Scotty would say "How quaint"

[@myusernameonly2]

Interesting how Phil Ferguson went on to commentate on PBA shows several years later.

[@anandguruji83]

LES ZIKES HITS 2ND AND 3RD FRAME STRIKE 1:37:37 1:37:38 1:38:17 1:38:18

[@anandguruji83]

LES ZIKES HITS 2ND AND 3RD FRAME STRIKE 1:37:37 1:37:38 1:38:17 1:38:18

[@sommerssmith]

Like cola vending machine? That was soooooooooooooo short lived.

[@douglasharris5216]

Matthew Smith are you being facetious?

[@michaelschweizer4772]

The contestants bowled well in the 1983 Waukegon Open.