The date was Feb. 27, 1982 at the Imperial Lanes in Toledo, Ohio. Earl Anthony owned the PBA National, and Imperial Lanes. It's a day I'll never forget, as Earl, the defending champion, qualified 1st, and needed to taste victory to become the first PBA player to reach $1 million in career earnings. He was up against my friend, Charlie Tapp, who had qualified 5th, and plowed through Dave Davis, Steve Westberg, and Mike Durbin in order to challenge Earl for the title. It wasn't Charlies's day, as Earl was victorious, 233-191, and earned his 5th PBA National. Earl would come back in 1983 to defend his title, once again, ending up with 6 PBA National titles. Sit back, and enjoy the final game of the 1982 PBA National.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8Vk8kfgD8
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7OZJaIyCxU
Earl's opponent
was Charlie Tapp. I asked Charlie if he had any insight into the match..here's
what he said:
"The year before I just missed the top 24 and right afterwards I told my
roomie Joe Hutchinson "Hutch,I can win this thing next year". So I
looked forward to it for an entire season.
Right before the show Hutch and I talked on the phone and he told me, "
Charlie, be sure to stay close no matter what, because somewhere along the line
Earl will throw one bad and give you a chance".
I thought he threw 2 of them bad, the greek church in the second and the first
one in the 10th. That thing was DOA but he got lucky. I really thought I bowled
a better game than he did.
Also considering that the ball I used all week somehow turned up missing on
Saturday morning. I had to use one I never touched the entire tournament. I
spent more time working on that stupid thing than paying attention to what I was
doing.
It was a great thrill no matter what. Plus I have to be in the LeRoy Neiman
painting somewhere.
I got a smooth $250.00 for wearing the shirt!
I think that was the show that (Dave) Davis asked for a re-rack and told
(Tournament Director) Harry Golden he did it just so he could get him on camera.
Speaking of the re-rack, it took 15 seconds to get Harrys attention because he
was looking down while opening a piece of candy. He couldn't hear me because he
had the head set on and the wrapper crackled like the building was on fire.
What great memories!" (more)
$200,000 TOLEDO TRUST PBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
After months of anticipation, years of hard work and brilliant bowling, Earl Anthony climaxed his unparalleled career by winning an unprecedented fifth PBA National Championship to become the first bowler in tour history to surpass $1 million in lifetime money earnings. Anthony achieved the long-sought goal by defeating Charlie Tapp from the top-seeded position, 233-191, to earn the $38,000 top prize in the $200,000 Toledo Trust PBA National Championship at Imperial Lanes. Just as in his previous National Championships (1973, 1974, 1975 and 1981), Anthony was the man to beat practically all the way. After surpassing qualifying leader Mike Durbin in the fifth round, the seemingly unstoppable lefthander took control and built a 272-pin first-place margin going into the championship round. Durbin outlasted Steve Westberg for second place while two-time National Champion Dave Davis secured fourth, with Tapp barely edging veteran Roy Buckley for the fifth and final spot. Tapp, enjoying an outstanding Winter Tour but still looking for his first PBA title, set out to make his initial victory a major one. He slipped past Davis, 198-194, and Westberg, 221-211, as well as Durbin, 226-197, in his climb up the stepladder format to the championship game. Anthony, bowling "the biggest game of my life," started with a strike before leaving a 4-6-7-8-10 split in the second frame to fall behind Tapp, who had also suffered an open frame, by three pins. Anthony came back with three straight strikes, but Tapp doubled in the eighth and ninth frames to put the pressure on, making Anthony mark in the final stanza to lock up the victory. Anthony's million-dollar ball was uncharacteristically light in the pocket, but the pins scattered as he raised his arms in triumph. "I've never been this thrilled before in my bowling career," said the winner. "There is no way I can top this victory. It was our national championship on national TV in the highest-paying tournament yet. All that and going over the $1 million mark." He reached the seven-figure plateau with $12,586 to spare, all earned since 1970. The National represented his 38th PBA title, far more than any other bowler has achieved. It was an historic victory, highlighting a tremendous career by a truly great individual.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Tapp defeated Davis, 198-194; Tapp
defeated Westberg, 221-211; Tapp defeated Durbin, 226-197; and in the
championship match, Anthony defeated Tapp, 233-191. 56-GAME TOTALS OTHER CASHERS * - Match play alternate. ** - TV finals alternate.
32-game qualifying leader - Durbin, 7117. 24th place -Robards, 6701.
PRO-AM CASHERS - Earl Anthony ($100). Bill Spigner, Arnie Goldman, Roger
Haskell, Pete Weber, Dave Kappel, Mike Durbin, Jimmie Pritts, Mitch
Jabczenski, Dick Weber, Gary Skidmore, Jeff Valentine, Ron Williams,
George Pappas, Guppy Troup, Alvin Lou, Jim Vernacchio, Paul Gibson, Bob
Handley and Fred Conner ($50 each). |