1977 Midas Open - Don Johnson vs. Earl Anthony
The date was Feb.
12, 1977 at the Expressway Lanes in Gretna, LA for the $100,000 Midas Open. It
happened to be Don's son, Jimmy's (PBA titlest himself) birthday. Don qualified
5th, and plowed through the field of Mark Roth, Cliff McNealy, Marshall Holman
to meet #1 qualifier Earl Anthony. The winner would get $14,000 with the loser
$8,000. "Three or four times each game I kept reminding myself that I had
to win for Jimmy, who was celebrating his eighth birthday," Johnson said.
"I've never wanted to win a tournament so badly." If Johnson or
Anthony had rolled a 300 in the title match, they would have received a $250,000
bonus from sponsor Midas International. Eight perfect games were recorded during
the tournament. I'm sure Earl Anthony was disapointed in losing this tournament.
As the #1 qualifier, he led the field by nearly 400 pins. But in a one game
match, anyone can win. Let's join Chris Schenkel and Nelson Burton, Jr. with the
call.
pt 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydvcmgOAZAE
Pt 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omsScyt_R58
PART 1 PART 2