2017 FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions Stepladder Finals

The stepladder finals of the 2017 FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions feature EJ Tackett, Tommy Jones, Dom Barrett, Tom Smallwood and Pete Weber.
Originally aired live on ESPN Sunday, February 19, 2017.
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[@nickberg2821]

pdw is awesome. he's super nice too I met him

[@piFFD513]

Elena Gilbert - Yeah, I figured as much. But, most people show their passion for the game, and competitiveness in usually less... "aggressive" ways. Liked him before anyways, do even more now that I know he isn't a douchebag​ off the lane, lol.

[@michaelpatterson4718]

Tommy: "Randy, I figured out that over the years my rev rate has gone down, so I realized that I need to slow my ball speed down"Randy: "okay, so what's your game play going into today?"Tommy: "I'm gonna move right and throw it as hard as I can"

[@juliaaustic8708]

Michael Patterson, you're funny -Jacob

[@pokemon989359]

Tommy Jones had some serious balls making a 3-2 left on that last shot. I would have totally pussied out and made a 2-1. It may have been the wrong move, but making that big of a move on the last ball for a major takes moxy and courage. Both players showed determination and desire to win we can all strive for. EJ never quit, even when his shotmaking was failing him, and Tommy created a look all his own and made one of the ballsiest adjustments I've seen a pro make. Great show for everyone involved!

[@sagatbalrog]

Joshua Taylor please don't say the word Moxy again in ur life

[@BornIn1500]

Tommy didn't move "3-2 left". At 1:27:39 he says "moved 1".

[@Wolfman12395]

UNBELIEVABLE ENDING!!! O_O

[@Ben-jz3mt]

Yeah. EJ caught a break there in the 10th when TJ left the washout.

[@PhilTess]

That's twice EJ started crying before the match was over and ended up winning.

[@AEC996]

12:10 4-9 split conversion 14:13 2-10 split conversion 25:52 1-2-4-10 conversion 1:27:02 bad break

[@cameronmorgan0203]

32:02 is one of the luckiest breaks I’ve ever witnessed in bowling. Good job Dom 😂👏🏾

[@xhaltgaming4494]

NOOOO I WANTED TOMMY TO WIN SOO BAD

[@planetX15]

Smallwood or Jones?

[@conorbob7597]

planetX15 tom smallwood and tommy jones, so it's jones

[@SpyKids199]

That ending with Jones and Tackett was intense, didn't think that would happen. 👀

[@guitarzan5328]

50:33 Wtf was that all about: "oooOOAAAHH! oooOOAAAHH!" That scared the shit out of me!

[@danielpoopface]

Tim Budden there's a hype man there that makes them say "bowl" after he shouts 1-2-3

[@guitarzan5328]

Oh I see... thanks for that. It just scared me because it came out of nowhere and I couldn't hear the "1-2-3" before it, underneath the crowd clapping and cheering lol.

[@alexischeeseman4699]

Congrats EJ Tackett🥳

[@Johnviper9798]

The way Belmonte finished off Qualifying and Qualifying for Barbasol championship plus the final he is tearing it up with his new ball Timeless

[@anderovesen3458]

What an awesome finish in the final! Damn, that was unexpected :D

[@DanDDirges]

Bowling is my favorite sport to watch on TV. Men or Women matches equally. Match play that is. Not team play. Just wish it was on TV more often.

[@eli1047]

Even my bowling league mutes music whenever it comes on. Why does this big event have a MC. God.

[@radinsyah1574]

Don't complain about the DJ. It all started to go downhill for bowling when the pros started to wear Nascar jerseys, had WWE music between frames, competed outdoors under the sun (still unbelievable), and rodeo commentators. Totally classless.

[@SirJoelsuf1]

LMAO true story. Not to mention the completely unnecessary Celebrity invitationals. It's like they are TRYING to be a joke now.

[@LuchoVena]

I dont understand the jerseys as much, but bowling centers are already cool to bowl in. However, we using pants for bowling its impossible for me, my legs get really hot lol

[@garydavidprinceable]

I love how Randy is resurrecting Rob Stone with the "back to back jacks" line! lemme hear ya say hambone!!!

[@DanDDirges]

I like EJ but he needs to control his emotions when things are not going his way. It was really unnerving and embarrassing how he lost it at the end of the match.

[@SirJoelsuf1]

He's not even 25 yet, its common for younger bowlers to get mad. I've seen pro bowlers over a decade older than him rage just as much if not more. But yes he shouldn't have raged like that at all.

[@hersheyskwertz9315]

Dan D. Dirges not to mention, drama is good for sports.

[@chancemholton6611]

Hello.....pete weber

[@Lucky_Logan]

Oh my don't act like you never did that before lol. People deal with this kind of stuff in different ways. At least he didn't scream, punch or kick anything or even cursed. Get off your high horse and stfu

[@ttjason]

will tommy ever figure out he needs to slow down

[@bijiont942]

Maybe this loss will make him realize it. Tommy had this in the bag, EJ knew it too. Tommy over corrected and still was fast. Easy to arm chair that shot however it was silly when he only needed a mark, I mean toss it right at the head pin and you would carry better than that.

[@philarena8240]

Jason Schiffer g

[@johnm1629]

The irony of course was that TJ didn't even need to strike out. Just a count would have done it. I feel really sorry for him; that would have been a well deserved and fabulous win.

[@SirJoelsuf1]

No he won't. It's more or less a habit of his and I think he knows it. In order for him TO address it, he would have to take a significant amount of time off and get re-wired. This is something he should have done in 2011 or so.

[@LuchoVena]

I actually think EJ could had used the same track on the right, but slow that one down so it would come back in time. he was forcing himself to small chance to strike on the right by going left and have a weak acceleration off the dry and go through the nose

[@AwesomeFilmsify]

EJ has a Jackal Ghost?? Nice!! I've been looking into that ball for quite as while now. Looks like a beast on the lane.

[@cowboycolts]

30:05 just the way the camera pans to reveal that guy in the blue horse mask man that had me dying

[@dub_ganem]

That was me! 😂😂😂

[@markofthenorth9512]

What an ending!!! Get rid of the MC. It's like having a clown running around or something.

[@GamingFanactic911]

that was a heart-breaking ending for Tommy Jones, he choked. Congrats EJ

[@marinerrecap1766]

EJ is my favorite when he won I ran out of my house

[@Cerus98]

Colin Jaster - TJ lost more than EJ won. But that's what happens when you play with urethane on the outside and are forced to go reactive when you screw up. He had no idea how the lanes played on the inside.

[@tnjrcfl1]

Cerus98 don't think TJ used any reactive, Wide right with Urethane then just flat pulled his spare shot with plastic spare ball... he definitely gave it to EJ, 2 times...

[@cowboycolts]

yeah I was cheering for EJ even though I haven't seen him bowl all that much I usually cheer for Pete, but he got eliminated early there thing is I live in a town literally right next to Huntington, so it's good to see EJ showing them what us Hoosiers are made of, and my cousin was actually anchor for the Huntington high school girls team which both the girls and the boys for Huntington are absolutely amazing bowlers

[@bijiont942]

While I like watching EJ bowl I have to admit he acted pretty childish this time around which is odd. I haven't really seen him break down like that before. He wasn't nearly as composed as previous shows.

[@highrevbowling7615]

Yea, Smallwood is always a blast to watch

[@nunnaurbidznez3367]

The high angle camera is a treat for me. It shows everything about the ball motion much harder to see from lane level.

[@GeoffreyJohnston-pw3yj]

Congratulations to EJ Tackett on winning the tournament of champions

[@chuckers40]

I'm looking forward to the 2018 Tournament of Champions when it returns home to AMF Riviera Lanes in Akron, (Fairlawn) Ohio for the PBA's 60th season.

[@cowboycolts]

are these lanes being manually reseted? because somebody reached in and grabbed the pin 54:57

[@Magoosle]

They usually have a mechanic up the back making sure there are no pins left in the pit before the next shot, pulling out dead wood, catching pin jams before they have a chance to cause a problem etc. You can see them on some other telecasts as well.

[@xLABClanx]

Yeah EJ!

[@thegdoat1]

Randy Pedersen makes some of the funniest comments!!!!!

[@Jonatthan007]

Finally the cheering stuff after each strike or split conversion is over.... That cheering 123 strike was really annoying. Thanks PBA---

[@JonatasAdoM]

Firelake about to be firelane, that lane right lane was crazy.

[@ainelawlor5755]

this is what bowling is today we can't live in the past we live in the now actually making bowling look brilliant it's making me want to safe up and go to one of these tournaments having a Mc is pretty awesome i would love one at our tournaments. he gets the crowd going people that's better then just watching a tournament. Bowling now is way better then it use to be it's changing to young bowlers are taken over you hardly see Chris Norm or pdw not even Belmo it's the youth that are taken over

[@toscodav]

I guess you didn't notice PDW and TJ in this tournament. Not so fast with this young movement BS.

[@piFFD513]

Those spares at 12:06 & 14:09 ... wow !

[@JayAyers]

Bring Mike back! Bring Mike back!

[@mattbrooks4921]

E.J. wow, what a beast!

[@xmisterblackhatx]

E.J. is definitely beastly, but he won that sitting down. I'm not taking anything away from his win. E.J. won because he bowled a better game than hus competitor. Bottom line.

[@stylebent]

WOW LOOK DID I SAY EJ WAS LUCKY AF?!

[@MichaelP0418]

He literally chokes in every other match I see him in. Guess he deserves a break once in a while lol

[@tnjrcfl1]

WOW... STUNNER Hate it for TJ, but he let this one go twice, shame. congrats to EJ again... next numerous in row player of the year?

[@karlbiddle5045]

bruh how tf did tommy miss that

[@lephuocthanhlong-jackthanh190]

Oh my goodness! Tommy Jones need Mark to win but he leaves the washout 1-2-4-10 conversions and then he didn’t converted that. Then EJ Tackett wins the 2017 PBA FireLake Tournament Of Champions. What a bad day!

[@lephuocthanhlong-jackthanh190]

Because Tommy Jones missed the headpin

[@Muggel65]

Did anyone notice how crowded the old tournaments were. This place here today has so many free seats. Sad

[@sunny2dae]

Is it just me, or did Tommy look like he pulled that last shot on purpose?

[@thomaslawrence1726]

round1 Japan cup, remind you of anything?

[@VREXAL]

E & T Vids I thought it looked familiar

[@thomaslawrence1726]

JASchoe LOL

[@piFFD513]

That spare at 14:23. Wow!

[@paldijdjdfijd6186]

Dude that was the biggest choke ever

[@andrewphillips1011]

The first, semi final and title matches were exciting and close

[@alonzotanner1226]

Dom Barrett has a great form. I wish he won but he just couldn’t get into a groove on the left lane. And Pete Weber man I swear I think he lost his flair more than a decade ago. He used to be a force to be reckoned with on tv. Now he’s so inconsistent. Shame..... Still he’s a great bowler to watch too. His form is still perfect and he’s almost 60.

[@chuckers40]

I don't mind the arena finals, but build more than just two lanes. Build 4 or even 6 lanes. The Firelake bowling center should be sufficient.

[@cameronmorgan0203]

My boy TJ got robbed. He should have made that 10 pin the 5th frame and he wouldn’t have needed that mark in the 10th.

[@Mrbowler300]

I like EJ tacket

[@RollYourRock]

720p... really? - C'mon PBA !!

[@big9305]

I'd be thankful that we have this in the first place.

[@Daveyo747]

When you got a ton of people telling you what you need to do to win, or what ball to use, or where to throw it etc and etc., and you cannot think for yourself, you lost already the game. If you watch Weber, and some others they actually depend on their advisers believe it or not aka as their sponsors that they have a contract with for a period of time. Two things I would like to see come back. #1, during the title matches those bowlers should figure things out on their own regarding its conditions. #2, I would like to see the PBA present the trophy and the check to the winners rather than them picking it up. That really sucks. Return back to the days of old.

[@andrewphillips2179]

the title match between E.J. Tackett and Tommy Jones had a dramatic finish

[@LuchoVena]

not so invisible hand 1:04:04 why?

[@4megaryder]

Is net neutrality already active cause holy shit there are so many ads

[@loestackztrucking6131]

What kind of urethane ball was TJ using ?

[@dankenny3900]

Loe Anderson black hammer

[@user-zn6ox5ij2n]

Ej,daisuki

[@toscodav]

where is Tracie?

[@mythoughtsarefreedom]

Kimberly is so 🔥!😘

[@tylerberg4360]

🔥 🔥

[@LairdPrydae]

Does anyone know what ball that is at 1:11:00 That EJ has? Is that a 900 pearl?

[@LairdPrydae]

Annnd after watching further, they told me. The Octane.

[@pigeonpoopenheimer3377]

It's actually the Octane Carbon

[@BrandonRideout135]

Im new to the whole professional bowling seen but how can two lanes with the same oil pattern play differently

[@dondavi5798]

Varying degrees of wear and material condition of the lane. One side may have a dip around somewhere or a soft spot. Weber kind of referenced it when asked about his game after first match. A lot of things can change the condition. The balls move the oil around, even heat from light placement can thin out the oil making it easier to scoot to the lowest area of the boards.

[@SirJoelsuf1]

1:20:40 "You can say 'gosh darn it' and not get fined" I wonder what happens if you just abbreviate cusses, like "F'n A," I wonder if players get fined for that?

[@amonacoamonaco]

Man poor tommy. That had to hurt

[@fiddlefaddle1]

Really, Let's get rid of the DJ ! If you want bowling to be recognized as a true sport, stop treating it like a freaking game show. I have enjoyed bowling for over 50 years. I watched it since it came out in the early sixties and I have been bowling that long too. Unfortunately, it has devolved into something that many avid bowling viewer barely recognize. If you want bowling to ever get to the Olympics, you better change the format, the surroundings, and quit trying to cater to the young and hip.

[@Cerus98]

pfretman - It doesn't matter. The summer olympics are already overloaded. There's also no way to measure bowling. It's a sport yes but not every sport belongs in the olympics. Not that being in the olympics is a big deal anymore.

[@fongbrandon]

I get what your saying and don't mean to sound disrespectful at all. If they keep catering to the older generation the younger group wont be interested in the sport, in a way its a big transformation for the PBA to cater to the younger generation. They really have no choice to get the sport to grow.

[@bcason92]

Basketball has a "DJ" does that make it any less of a sport and more of a game show? And the crowd seems to enjoy and participates with him every tourney I've watched, so what's the compliant. Listen ... YOU HAVE TO CATER TO THE YOUNG CROWD. HELLO! Haven't you old ass people realized this? Television doesn't give a damn about you and the purest way of thinking that most older sports lovers have. They want and need market to the 5-30 age groups because they're the ones that will a. keep the sport a live and b. evolve the sport. Sorry but let's be honest here.

[@Cerus98]

Hi hater - I once read that bowling is a multiple billion dollar industry and that more people participate in it than any other sport. It's not going anywhere. But it "died" on TV a long time ago and it's unlikely to come back to its glory days where PBA pros were more popular than football or baseball. It doesn't really matter what they do - MC or not. As long as it's only broadcast on ESPN nothing will change.

[@fiddlefaddle1]

Cerus98 You're not much on reading,are you. First,I'm far from a hater. I venture to guess that I have forgotten more about bowling than you will ever know. Everything that I stated WAS about televised bowling. I never said that the bowling industry was in jeopardy. Televised bowling is dying but,ESPN does not hold the monopoly. Let's not forget CBSSN and X Frame. I hate it when someone will gloss over something and glean what they want and then attack.

[@TheeKoifish]

im dreaming big but i want to be a pro bowler

[@SirJoelsuf1]

Meh, its not as great as they say it is on TV. Much more profitable to bowl in local events and megabucks tournaments. I wanted to be a pro bowler as well, but there is a lot that goes into it, both monetary and otherwise. Golf, on the other hand...

[@SuPeRHeRoDuDe3124]

noooooooo!!!!!

[@jsun1721]

오마이갓 토미존스 다이겨놓고 뭐하는짓인가여? 상대선수 졌다고 좌절하고 있었는대 볼링 참 어렵네

[@cjtv5274]

Anyone notice that hand 52:59?

[@SuperBobby47]

Wow of all the rotten luck. The 10th frame is the worst one to mess up in. What an ending....

[@egibs3565]

To this day I still think Tommy Jones gave Tackett this win

[@johnsully96]

and thats why you bowl all ten.

[@ThePrestoul]

EJ Tackett is the young Pete weber with a bad temper.

[@metinbaydere]

it is like norm duke-mika koivuniemi finals.mistakes and mistakes.

[@pavetheworldlovely]

45:15. Anyone ever leave that?

[@williamwimmer8887]

I see it occasionally with less experienced bowlers. If you hit the 6 pin thin on the right, it will slide between the 5 & the 9 pins without hitting them and then take out the 8 & the 7, leaving the 1-2-3-4-5-9 pins standing. It also happens sometimes when you're practicing shooting at the 10 pin with a full rack.

[@23hunter152]

Tackett acted like a bigger baby than Sean Rash here

[@ianthomas5955]

If you think this commentary is bad, how about the idiots we have to put up with in the UK when the Weber Cup is televised. They don't know the difference between a split and a washout and haven't even a clue about which number pin is which.

[@BrandonRideout135]

why does pete wear a golf glove?

[@SuperBobby47]

That's a bowling glove

[@pigeonpoopenheimer3377]

Actually Pete cuts the thumb off of a batting gloves. He wears it so his fingers don't tear and so they stay dry

[@justinkane4359]

It’s a golf glove (White FJ)

[@andrewphillips1011]

EJ tackett was shocked to win the fire lake tournament of champions when tommy Jones could not convert the 1 2 4 10 washout in the 10th frame

[@DavesRc]

Come on tommy. wtf. get your shut together you could have just thrown a strait ball to win.

[@chandlerb6728]

1:27:35 Tommy Jones fails to convert the 1-2-4-10 washout when he needed a mark to win the 2017 Firelake PBA TOC just like Lonnie Waliczek did back in 2004 at the PBA Earl Anthony Classic Presented by Storm against WRW and the Medford Open against PDW.

[@lukesimino8908]

Wires Jason belmonte

[@edwardholland7455]

what is MC and why is everyone saying fuck MC?

[@airtimehillzone]

That guy in the horse mask was hilarious.

[@nicd1826]

i wanted weber to smoke all of them.

[@mariongarrett1679]

"

[@damionchunheakimster]

I know it's a stretch, but I can't help but feel T Jones threw the match. Whether on purpose or just out of consciousness, I feel as if he let Tackett win.

[@justinwhitley322]

kinda crybaby-ish for EJ? Wanna gosh darn it and smack his hand when he didn't carry the 10 pin instead of being a true professional and act like a pro bowler? Just my opinion..

[@SirJoelsuf1]

It is, but I've seen bowlers older than him rage about even more trivial stuff. Weber for example, wanting the crowd to be perfectly still like statues when he bowls haha.

[@justinwhitley322]

I agree with the logistics of what happened, but at the time I don't think it was right for it to be shown on live tv. Maybe I didn't word what I said right lol but that's my opinion on the issue..

[@dylanmccarty15dm]

Justin Whitley You'd be pissed to if you was in his shoes, he knew he could strike he just wasn't really trusting his ball to come back if he went right, youd be pissed at yourself, especially if you're bowling for a career. I know you make up from loss, but it'll still eat at you knowing you can do better.

[@LuchoVena]

he should had thrown rigth and slowed it down then instead of forcing it

[@LegosAndBowling]

Justin Whitley absolutely agreed

[@user-rl2wx6jw4n]

두손볼러 없스니깐 존나 쳐재미없다ㅡㅡ

[@timothyguy6973]

the DJ stuff is completely STUPID.

[@-ouv]

I'm a big fan of EJ and I understand the pressures and hard work but I just didn't like the way he acted at the end there. I get it but just didn't sit well with Me, but he won congrats

[@regaeontop]

F ing terrible !!!

[@maxsanchez2339]

Thank god no shitty 2 handed bowlers made it, back to reality.

[@maxsanchez2339]

ItsDolphinn yup but less accurate and harder to repeat shots

[@leezhenghan437]

Max Sanchez two handed bowler here and i disagree

[@jazlarvonsteich]

Both your comments reek of ignorance.

[@fongbrandon]

back to reality but yet if you look at all the pros in todays game most of the top tier pros are 2 hands.

[@LuchoVena]

there is no difference in release from a two hander to a single hand, the left doesnt help the ball hook, it only helps guide the ball until it released oneto the bowling hand, which throws it the same. There are slo mo videos about this and its virtually the same. There are even one handers that rev higher or as much. They only seem to rev more consistently because by keeping their body low and then "plow" up helps the reactions, but can also be done one handed, as you can see it done by EJ, he gets lower than most and explodes UP

[@Jrk_1986]

They need to get rid of dave. He is the worst commentator.

[@Kirbystar1234]

I feel like Pete Weber and Donald Trump would be best friends

[@brianwu2697]

They are both on their THIRD wives, too!