Posts Tagged‘pba’

NBA All Stars Join PBA Celebrity Invitational

January 14, 2012    ·    Bowlers Way    ·    Headlines, News

LOS ANGELES – Four time NBA All-Star Chris Paul has a new team and a new home, and he will once again join forces with the Professional Bowlers Association to host the Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational presented by Sheets™ Brand to benefit charities supported by his CP3 Foundation.

Paul, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the 2011-12 season, will host the fourth annual fundraiser at Lucky Strike LA Live (800 W. Olympic Blvd., across from the Staples Center) on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 7-10 p.m. PT. Red carpet and pre-show activities will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational (presented by Sheets™ Brand) is a focal point and one of the highlights of the year for the CP3 Foundation,” said Paul. “We’d like to thank the PBA, Lucky Strike LA Live, ESPN, event sponsors Sheets™ Brand and Storm Bowling Products, and all the participants for making what is becoming an annual tradition for the CP3 Foundation and its charities. It’ll be a lot of fun and I expect to defend my title.”

To date, the following celebrities confirmed to participate include Paul, Reggie Bush (former USC star, Super Bowl winner and Miami Dolphins running back), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers forward and reigning NBA Dunk Contest champ), Michael Strahan (NFL great, Super Bowl winner and Fox NFL Sunday analyst), Jesse Williams (of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy) and comedian Kevin Hart. The made-for-television event which will be taped for broadcast by ESPN on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m. ET, just ahead of the Super Bowl telecast.

Chart-topping teen sensation Mindless Behavior will perform music from their current hit CD, “#1 Girl,” one of the biggest selling debuts from a new artist in 2011. The group gained popularity touring with Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, and the Backstreet Boys and create a frenzy wherever they go. Their new single “Girls Talkin Bout” is climbing the radio charts now.

The PBA Tour will also have an all-star lineup led by PBA Hall of Famer and 35-time Tour titlist Pete Weber; Jason Belmonte of Australia, one of only two players in Tour history to win a Tour title with a unique two-handed delivery; six-time Tour winner Wes Malott, and four-time winner Ryan Shafer. Storm Bowling Products will once again be the official bowling equipment sponsor for the event.

The event is open to the public and information for purchasing tickets may be obtained by calling Lucky Strike LA Live at 213.542.4886 or emailing jennifer.itagaki@bowlluckystrike.com. Ticket prices are $75, $125 and $225.

Paul, an accomplished bowler who often refers to bowling as his second-favorite sport, founded his CP3 Foundation in 2005 as a tribute to his late grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, and the Winston-Salem, N.C., community where he grew up. The foundation provides funding for activities ranging from a scholarship program to food drives to recreational support programs for children in under-served communities in both Winston-Salem and New Orleans.

“The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational has grown to be one of our most anticipated events every year,” said PBA Commissioner Tom Clark. “Chris and his fellow superstar friends love bowling with our stars and the PBA is proud to partner with the Paul family on behalf of the CP3 Foundation, which continues to brighten kids’ lives.”

Paul and Belmonte have won back-to-back titles in the special event. Celebrity bowlers who have participated in previous events include fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay; NFL stars Hines Ward, LaMarr Woodley, Jack Del Rio and Bush, and hip-hop stars Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Lil Wayne and Nelly.

http://news.pba.com/post/2012/1/10/NBA-All-Star-Chris-Paul-Hosts-Fourth-Annual-PBA-Celebrity-Invitational-Presented-by-Sheets-Brand-at-Lucky-Strike-LA.aspx

PBA Spare Shots

January 14, 2012    ·    Bowlers Way    ·    Headlines, News

Rookie Josh Blanchard’s hard fall in last week’s PBA World Championship Mike Aulby Division Final seen on ESPN has attracted a lot of national media attention. He has been featured on ESPN SportsCenter, ESPN Around the Horn, ESPN Pardon the Interruption, ESPNews, LIVE with Kelly Ripa, the Howard Stern Show and numerous other local sportscasts. His misfortune has also become a YouTube hit, among other internet blog sites, with hundreds of thousands of views.

PTI’s Tony Kornheiser accepted a challenge from Blanchard and as a result plans are in the works to schedule a match at Tony’s hometown lanes Strike Bethesda (Md.) sometime in the future.

“I would have never dreamed in a million years that it would have gotten this much attention,” said the former Wichita State bowler. “Everything happens for a reason and I’m actually having a lot of fun with it. I’m looking at it as an opportunity to turn it into a positive for the sport.”

“Josh is a future star of the sport and we know one day soon he will be able to turn his rough debut on TV into a great story of perseverance,” added PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.

Jason Belmonte won the Mike Aulby final with a 300 game during the show. He will be featured with Osku Palermaa, Sean Rash and Ryan Shafer in the PBA World Championship final Sunday on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET.

SEAN RASH TO FULFILL “WISH” FOR YOUNG CANCER VICTIM

Sean Rash will fulfill the “wish” of 16-year-old Benjamin Doyle of Casper, Wyo., providing the young cancer victim with a personal visit and a bowling lesson during the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters.

Rash will meet with Doyle, who is suffering from brain cancer, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Strike Zone inside Sunset Station Hotel/Casino in Henderson, Nev., in response to a request from the Make A Wish Foundation. Doyle and his family also will be invited to attend the live ESPN coverage of the USBC Masters finals on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. PT as guests of the PBA and USBC.

REGIONAL UPDATE: Thanks to an 8-0 match play record, Dale Traber of Cedarburg, Wis., won the T-Byrd Lanes Senior Open regional in Rochelle, Ill., Jan. 8 for his ninth Senior regional title to go along with his 38 regular regional titles.

In the title match, he defeated Robert Flaws of Chicago Ridge, Ill., 226-179 to take home the $1,500 first prize

PBA Regional activity continues for Midwest and Central senior players with the Lynwood Bowl Senior Open in Lynwood, Ill., Jan. 20-22, and the Sparetime Lanes Senior Open, Feb. 3-5, in Decatur, Ill. Both events are sponsored by Allstate Insurance.

The PBA Central Region also will conduct the Legend Lanes Regular/Senior Doubles Classic in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Jan. 27-29.

February’s highlight for non-senior players include the new Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Feb. 10-12 at The Orleans in Las Vegas. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

http://news.pba.com/post/2012/1/12/PBA-Spare-Shots-Josh-Blancharde28099s-Fall-in-WC-Division-Final-Gains-Widespread-Media-Attention.aspx