Unemployed & broke to Pro Bowler in 1 year… Bowling’s own “rags to riches” story | PBA Bowling

Everyone loves a good rags to riches, inspirational story. Bowling itself has its own such story in the form Tom Smallwood. Tom Smallwood went being laid off and unemployed, to becoming a PBA world champion & full time bowler. Today we look at Tom's incredible story and how he made it as a pro bowler, when it looked like the dream was finished.
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[@joshdomerese1789]

smallwood lives in my city and i bowl on league with him, such a great guy and his kid bowls on it too bc it's an adult youth league

[@_fluxxx]

Who asked

[@ScubaChris]

I love watching this guy bowl! Now i appreciate him more as a bowler after listening to the great commentary:)

[@BucksCorner101]

Your videos are always top-tier in quality, editing, information, storyline, and the list goes on. I, along with many others, thoroughly enjoy your content and dedication to producing it. Thank you as always!

[@chuckgan]

There was a tv show in the US based on his life. it was called How We Roll. Unfortunately, it was canceled after one season.

[@TV-Tony]

Was just gonna say this. It was on CBS and I really enjoyed it. Pete Holmes played Smallwood.

[@arcadesunday4592]

Super interesting subject matter as usual.

[@RayWelpott]

This show was between 15-17 since Salah was playing at Roma, crazy how they still have the scores from those games

[@RayWelpott]

Show against Belmo

[@keyser456]

His approach is interesting to me. He holds onto the ball with both hands for several steps until he gets close to the line. He's like a 2-handed bowler ... until the last second! Cool video. Great content as always!

[@edwardranno7119]

Good for him!!

[@gigeo48]

watched the entire series and enjoyed it. too bad it got cancelled

[@ForYouPlays]

quite a unique style

[@Riz2336]

Hard work pays off sometimes I guess

[@Verminity]

One of my favorite bowlers

[@blakebdger]

I know that guy!!!!!!!

[@BornIn1500]

lets be real... nobody is getting "rich" in bowling. Even the lowest paid player in the NFL (minimum salary) makes $750,000 a year. That's multiple times what the highest paid player in the PBA earns. For Smallwood, from 2011-2020 he had 5 years ranging between $20,000 to $37,000 a year. And obviously that's before any expenses. I'd say he would've been better off working for that General Motors company. Hopefully he has a real job for the off-season.

[@Samuel-xs2yv]

Plenty of bowlers are millionaires lol

[@BornIn1500]

@@Samuel-xs2yv There's not "plenty". There's like 50 who have made over 1 million. And making 1 million over the course of an ENTIRE CAREER doesn't come close to making someone a millionaire. Just think... someone making $50,000 a year will make $1 MILLION in 20 years. So are people with a $50,000 salary called millionaires after 20 years? Of course not, kid. lol. They're middle class at best. Far, far, far from "rich". Adding up their entire career earnings and calling them rich millionaires if it hits 1 MIL is absurd.

[@Samuel-xs2yv]

@@BornIn1500 I never said rich, I said millionaires, and plenty of bowlers are. It's quite easy to brand yourself and invest these days by using winnings and expanding outside of competition revenue. They clearly aren't reaching NFL type salaries, but plenty surpass "middle class at best" haha

[@bowlingvanjapan4099]

. This story has been so oversold. Tom is a great guy but the pba took the headline and ran with it.

[@steve99912]

lol rage to riches. more like rags to rags

[@infospot4119]

I met Tom Smallwood in January 2023 at my bowling center, one of nicest people I met in my life. Not just a good bowler, he is a class act person. 👍🎳🎳

[@matthewthomas1335]

Bowling?! You should see Smallwood with a block of cheese 🐀