Bowling Legend's Decades-Long Fight For Recognition of Perfection | ABC News

For almost 35 years, bowling legend Glenn Allison, also known as Mr. 900, and his fans have been fighting to have his perfect 900 series recognized in the record books.
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[@brandonzuzak6748]

What a legend “I was there”

[@tbonelee3629]

absolutely awe inspiring. and he still looked great on the lanes at 85. Bravo!!

[@GRA2itous]

Still love watching this more than four years later.

[@20alphabet]

Same here.

[@valtaylor5787]

How humble he is!!!

[@russellgilbert3453]

C'mon, USBC, do the right thing. Give this man his glory while he can enjoy it.

[@bachcottage-ck8tl]

Russell Gilbert ikr this is bowling history, like he needs credit

[@chasemoulton4982]

No Jeremy sonnefeild is mr 900 and it well always be that way not fully sanctioned

[@MIKIEEYEZ1975]

As the great nan LARRY Holmes once sAid “ Jeremy Sonnenfeld couldn’t carry Glenn’s jock strap! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@20alphabet]

@@chasemoulton4982 Hardly. Sonnefields ball wouldn't have been legal in 1982. Even now Glenns would be.

[@chyrie8]

Since the lanes were not eligible for sanctions, USBC can give all the $ back from those league bowlers that paid to bowl as a member.

[@patrickburnsmusic]

EXACTLY!

[@20alphabet]

Good catch. Can't have it both ways. Also, every score from that night must be deleted and bowling averages, pin totals, and awards adjusted for everyone who bowled that night.

[@joeyounglove]

Glenn should absolutely be acknowledged as having the first legit 900 series. Great to hear his story.

[@johngadd2622]

I can remember this at the time, and i read in publications, and one fellow mentioned "i don't care if he bowled it with mayonnaise on the lanes" I felt for him, what a wonderful series, he was sure gifted

[@marybuithoale]

what a great story! I love bowling.

[@bobbyricigliano2799]

I've been a bowler my whole life, I've bowled at La Habra, and I certainly know who Glenn Allison is. Every bowler does . His 900 series was absolutely legitimate, and I've never heard ANYONE in the bowling community in the last 40 years say that it wasn't.

[@jamesklatt]

Bowling use to be a Saturday Afternoon fixture on ABC Sports for over 30 years.

[@20alphabet]

Bowling's governing body prior to urethane took care of the game, and it's members... and managed it well. Absolutely horrible what has become of bowling under the USBC.

[@billfromfl416]

You’re a class act Glenn !

[@casualobserver2305]

What a load of BS. Give the man his award. Compared to today’s Rodney Dangerfield balls and all the technology. His 900 is the most impressive of all.

[@alparas2216]

I used to live in McKinney, Texas. One Saturday morning I played a round of golf at Oak Hollow Golf Course as a single and one of the men in the group was introduced as "Glen". Later, after leaving the course I found out it was Glen Allison. The real thrill came after the golf game. But still, what a thrill.!

[@billoeth3343]

Glenn absolutely deserves to be acknowledged as achieving the record for the first 900 series.

[@matthewrichards6889]

He is worth it, he should get the series sanctioned. This man is awesome!!!

[@lylebarnard7447]

The USB C should retro activate this man's 900 the next time 900 with bulb I believe was in 1996 some 14 years later Glenn Allison should be recognized for his 300

[@robertblaney5033]

The ABC turned down every award score that beat the ABC series record of 886 . This guy did it with a YELLOW DOT BALL !!! If you bowl 900 today, with the equipment of today, nobody really cares. Bowl a 300 game today.... nobody cares. Bowl a 800 series today... nobody cares......no big deal. This man’s accomplishment will never be matched. Today, the USBC approves EVERY award score, they don’t even bother to check the lanes. Bowling today is a joke compared to back in this man’s day

[@steveboone1498]

But if you do it at nationals they tell you that your series is invalid.

[@BrakRulesAll]

When I was a junior bowler in the early '70s, a pal had 4 sanctioned 300 games by the time he was 17. He bowled a 5th - while still in juniors - and the ABC rep came in and ruled that the lanes were "blocked", i.e. the same illegal (at the time) condition that sunk Glenn's 900 series. What was criminal was that a) this RARELY happened, despite "favorable" lane conditions being very common, and b) he was a JUNIOR!! His award would have been another $10 trophy, not the diamond & gold 300 ring that the ABC was awarding adults with at the time. I was shocked to hear there have been 26 perfect 900 series since Glenn's? That's ridiculous, Obviously there are no rules about lane conditions nowadays, which is a joke. You can turn a 190 average bowler into a 900 guy if you doctor the lanes to his liking.

[@20alphabet]

Yes, basically you are correct.

[@ThePoet007]

Absolutely no way to have a pair of lanes with the exact same condition back when they hand oiled the lanes. Glenn shot his 900 during the 2nd league that night. Absolutely impossible for “Blocked” or “rigged” conditions. Plus, he used a conventional grip and a PLASTIC BALL!!!!!!!!

[@donaldcummings8407]

@@ThePoet007 I have several youtube bowlers that I watch, and when you have MULTIPLE league bowlers shooting 230's and 240's I know for a FACT they wouldnt bowl that high of games on the lanes I grew up with as a kid. NOT . A . CHANCE .

[@pestka7151]

Got a 188, 192, and 198 tonight at league. Thought of this story the whole time. Am definitely going for a 900 series

[@TheSellers300]

Think about it for a moment... This was something that no one Would ever thought of achieving. Glen made it possible. As for Bowling; this is History. How can anyone hold creditability for 900 without Glen.Greatest Let down in sports.

[@alschumacher9463]

I GOT TO BOWL WITH HIM YEARS AGO.

[@richbirrell6767]

I was association secretary for my home town for 18 years. I had to certify several award scores. I reading the rule book it stated that the oil pattern was a consistent increase for edge to middle of the lane it is a legal oil pattern. Now the question is what is consistent. If you measured the oil pattern on a graph , as long as it was a consistent increase in oil it is legal. Even if the graph showed the increase in the middle as many times the amount on the edge. It just can’t have a bare track. As far as I am concerned, American Bowling Congress created a possible legal blocked condition and they have a lot of guts to declare this a non sanctioned score because of blocked lanes.

[@Reloadeez]

So they checked the lanes two weeks later and said the oil pattern was to easy? All they had to do was take the data from the season and find the statistical average on that pattern and compare it to other facilitys they deemed ok. Edit After researching this more the ABC certified a 300 game and a 299 at that same facility the same season on the same oil pattern. He got screwed.

[@20alphabet]

There was an attempt by those on the east coast to keep Allie Brandt's record top. They didn't want the record broken by a west coast bowler, regardless the credentials. Thanks in part to Bill Taylor, this story achieved nationwide publicity. Anyone familiar with the story, from back then until today, is not in agreement with the travesty of justice that took place. However, there's another thing to notice. Those three 300 games, thus the 900 series was recorded and included into the makeup of his book average for that year... an average _WHICH WAS SANCTIONED!_ They sanctioned his average which included the 900! Also, if an establishment is found to be outside of compliance, that business _must be cited._ La Habra 300 Bowl was not cited for any such violation, meaning the score is valid. So you see, the governing body had to violate several of their own rules to disqualify Glenn's 900.

[@richdouglas2311]

I don't think it was two weeks. I suspect the ABC rep checked them that night. If not, the lanes would have been re-oiled 14 times, which would obliterate the ability to test them.

[@Reloadeez]

@@richdouglas2311 I got the two weeks from an old article, two other articles mention they came out the next day or 2 days after. There now has been 37 sanctioned 900 series, my how times have changed.

[@patrickdare5356]

In my local association lanes were checked either that night after league bowling was done or the next day before league bowling started the next evening. There is no way that the lanes would be unchecked for such a historic event for two days let alone two weeks. My dad was a center GM at the time and he said it was pretty commonly accepted that no one would be certified to break Brandt's record. Let's be real. The method for checking lanes was to run a strip of scotch tape over the width of the lane to pick up the oil and another strip to attach to that strip to seal the tape in, then feed it to a machine that read the thickness of the oil between the strips of tape. Not the most technically accurate reading. Also, what should matter is if the lanes are legal at the start of bowling, not at the conclusion.

[@channelingusllcix3512]

I bowled a 214 the other day on my phone's bowling app

[@holdmybeer]

Nice!!

[@channelingusllcix3512]

holdmybeer yes my parents are proud, they hung the screen shot on the fridge

[@holdmybeer]

The fridge! You're going places, I promise you that.

[@channelingusllcix3512]

holdmybeer :D

[@RRBuilder611]

I have 32 300s on mine

[@richdouglas2311]

The key here is the poor testing technique used, not that the rules have changed. As Glenn notes, there is no way to measure the lanes after two leagues have bowled on them. The oil pattern simply isn't the same. They should have looked at others' performance that night, and realized that there was no inherent advantage in the set up (the scores were lower than normal that night). Glenn deserves recognition as the first person ever to do it, and to do it under circumstances far more difficult than today. One other thing, Glenn was a professional for a long time before this happened. It's not like throwing high games was an unusual thing for him.

[@mullerpb74]

The old testing equipment was a joke, regardless of when they checked the lanes.

[@pestka7151]

This gave me chills. Is he still alive and if so where and how can I contact him? I'd love to talk to him if he's still kickin!!!

[@manofariley6361]

I know I am a year late responding. But hopefully you'll still see this. Glenn was seriously injured in an auto accident in late 2017. He no longer works at the bowl, but he still comes in. Not sure if he is still bowling after the accident, but he still hangs out at the bowl.

[@randkinca]

@@manofariley6361 He is still bowling. Participated in the last 2 USBC Open Championships to keep his participation streak alive. He is currently bowling the Thursday night league, Frank's Gold Cup Trios, at La Habra 300.

[@TheLvbowler]

He is more fraile now but still come to la habra 300 all the time, met him on multiple occasions at tournaments there, really nice man and still loves the game

[@richdouglas2311]

Your computer doesn't get Wikipedia?

[@GRA2itous]

Can confirm as his Grandson that he's still alive and healthy for a man his age. Still bowling when he gets the chance.

[@Mikey300]

So, Allie Brandt died about 2.5 months before Glenn Allison threw his 900. I wonder what Brandt would have said about Allison had he lived to hear about it. Maybe Brandt would have told the ABC that they were full of it for not certifying Allison's series. Growing up outside of Pittsburgh, many of our fathers bowled in industrial leagues, and my father told me about Brandt's 886 back in the 1960s.

[@richdouglas2311]

Note that Allison used a conventional grip, an extreme rarity for a professional.

[@Fmr.PBABowlerJoeJenkinsII]

Give Glen what he deserves!!!!

[@TheChicago35]

great story..

[@mpup54]

ive yet to hear the numbers on the approval/disapproval. What were the figures that were broken and what was the standard limits for middle oil length back then? If I never hear any figures then yea, its too subjective. Back then there was sort of a conspiracy to not let anyone achieve a perfect 900 series. Once it became apparent these couldnt be stopped they changed their stance on being stingy about this.

[@Aereaux]

I remember bowling at La Habra 300. When you bowled on the end air it was like bowling in a tunnel. Really dark. When I bowled there in the late 80s the place was kind of a toilet. Dirty and the lanes were in poor shape.

[@kneevie]

Guy got robbed so bad, what assholes. Give the man some recognition at least if not the sanction. I'd be ecstatic w 1 300 let alone 3. So far I've only gotten to 297🙈

[@danfreiberger5137]

That DBA so-called Lane Analyzer was a rather flimsy device at its best. I know because I have used one of those devices and found its readings to be very inconsistent. Now they wanted to measure the oil AFTER two leagues have bowled, not BEFORE anyone bowled on the lanes. It was obvious that ABC just could not recognize perfection ... until some time after it became known as USBC. We now have 40 such series recognized, including two by a kid in New York who bowled his sets under rather suspicious circumstances? After on one occasion after I completed a strip and oil run (when we were stripping lanes by hand), I ran that device on four lanes (out of 40) at random and got different readings on those four lanes despite having done all 40 lanes the same way. ABC subsequently stopped using that device that resulted in who knows how many honor score rejections due to the inaccuracy of that stupid DBA Lane ANALyzer! Also, in that same 40-lane center, there was an occasion in which we had our first 300 games shot at the center in five years which ABC also rejected, claiming the lanes were walled up. Again, the lanes were inspected AFTER, not BEFORE, anyone bowled on those lanes. So, on another occasion, we had the ABT tournament at our center for a weekend so to ensure that all scores would be recognized, we had ABC come out and inspect the lanes BEFORE anyone bowled, after I completed stripping and oiling the lanes. The lanes were inspected, and we were told that all scores will be recognized. It was part of a trap we were setting on ABC ... we told ABC that's how the lanes were done the day the 300 game was bowled therefore what was the problem? ABC did not have an answer for us on that one, but what a nice trap we set on ABC after that nonsensical rejection of the 300 game.

[@Mkelly300]

Its absolutely ridiculous this wasnt sanctioned. I have an unsanctioned 800 also for the same reasons beyond my fault and thats annoying also. But this in this time frame with this equipment is an absolute tragedy.

[@jhankemeeyer1970]

also sanction Ray Orf's 890, shot with a black beauty!!!

[@djw6430]

Glenn bowled his 900 on a night when the House average was down, even on 13-14 where the only valid 900 was bowled. Not only did the ABC/USBC reject his honest score, the USBC continues to protect dishonest scores. Today, bowling with aggressive balls on easy lane conditions, a 200 average is normal. Today, thanks to ABC/USBC cowardice, bowling is a game, not a sport. Glenn's average was 214 on the night bowling's only valid 900 was bowled by bowling's only Hall of Fame 900 bowler.

[@kcazzo4906]

Bowlers do not have control of the oil machine. Why were bowlers penalized for what they cant control?

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

Maybe the USBC sanctioning chief was named Allie Brandt III. (Inside joke)

[@richdouglas2311]

Awesome!

[@20alphabet]

The USBC won't sanction it, because that organization doesn't care about bowling. If they did, bowling establishments wouldn't be closing at the rapid pace they are. Leagues would fill the houses, and businesses would sponsor teams. The avid bowler has been replaced by derelicts and unattended children who spill food on the approach and won't rent bowling shoes. Lane courtesy has been replaced by tirades between drunks and anyone near. Rather than studiously keeping score, they can now meander the building in search of more conflict. The USBC doesn't care.

[@CurtisL8.3066]

A guy in my Thursday league shot 300, 300, 280. Fucking stone 8 got him.

[@ThePoet007]

280?

[@CurtisL8.3066]

@@ThePoet007 yep stone 8 in the 2nd frame. Had to remember what happened, made this comment 3 years ago

[@ThePoet007]

@@CurtisL8.3066 Like I said…….280?

[@kevinhennessy7061]

Last week a guy in our league thru a 847 series 279 twice and then a 289

[@20alphabet]

Pretty much like a 630 series back in the 1970s.

[@ThePoet007]

@@20alphabet so true. Todays lane conditions and balls make the game much easier.

[@20alphabet]

@@ThePoet007 The great Jim Stefanich said as much. When asked in an interview which was easier, a 300 in bowling or a hole-in-one in golf, Jim answered that a 300 is far easier than a hole-in-one with today's equipment. He also said that prior to double-voided pins and urethane balls a 300 was harder than a hole-in-one. Jim was both a top ranking professional bowler and a professional golfer.

[@ThePoet007]

@@20alphabet Wood lanes, oil that is sprayed on with a hand sprayer and dust mopped for a more even distribution and re-mopped between leagues, rubber bowling balls and a conventional grip. Now, go throw a 300 under those conditions. Better yet, throw a 900. I worked as a pin boy doing basic machine maintenance during league play in the mid 70’s. Plastic/polyester balls became popular yet didn’t have the ability to hook as well as some rubber balls of that era. What Glenn Allen achieved is extraordinary for the time. He averaged 214 during that era, absolutely incredible under the conditions of that time. “How they can say the lane conditions back then didn’t meet proper requirements is beyond me” !!!!!!

[@randyzeitman1354]

?... what did he sip on?... Crown Royal?

[@Hitman_4Hire]

I see 900 is the score

[@buzzerbeater9828]

IT WAS THE DRINK

[@gianmarcoramos6798]

2

[@exitar1]

At this point it doesn't matter anymore they screwed bowling, up pins fly all over the place they lost track of how many 300's that have been thrown and nobody cares anymore...

[@erikknudson3077]

wake up USBC.

[@kittle3494]

first

[@massofgass]

Nobody fucking cares.

[@suzanneallison6203]

Movin' On douchebag

[@20alphabet]

CONGRATULATIONS!

[@20alphabet]

@@suzanneallison6203 👍🏻

[@whatisthis2809]

@@20alphabet read the first reply

[@cyworld2707]

People miss the whole point of bowling. It's a form of exercise whereby you don't notice that you are exercising. It's like free ice skating exercise where you want to achieve your best and natural form of expression. When you introduce the whole element of competition and achievement, you add that undesired factor of stress to the equation which negates any gain in the recreation. So if you bowled 900 over 3 games or 297 over 3 games, so what! Absorbed and festering over not getting recognition has truly taken a toll on this man. It was financially good for the bowling establishment but not for Allison. I would much rather watch Robert Smith punish the pins in his cranker style and leave a shell shock pin standing occasionally than to watch this guy slow mo his way to 900.

[@farpointgamingdirect]

cy world You haven't got a clue

[@tvteddy826]

It's hard to fathom how stupid this guy is....

[@manofariley6361]

"I would much rather watch Robert Smith punish the pins in his cranker style and leave a shell shock pin standing occasionally than to watch this guy slow mo his way to 900." You talk about the benefits of exercise and health related to bowling, and then proceed to dump all over Allison's classic style, and praise and encourage Robert Smith's cranker style. Let's compare... Glenn Allison, nearly 90 years old, still bowls two leagues a week and averages over 200. Robert Smith, not yet 50 years old. Retired from competitive bowling due to chronic back and other physical problems.

[@GRA2itous]

Yikes, you're a lovely person aren't you?