HOWELL, MICHIGAN  MARCH 8 , 2002

It's 6:00 AM Friday morning - I remove the ice pack from my skull, the heating pad from my shoulder and the hot water bottle from my elbow. Did I get in a car wreck the night before? I wish. 

Despite the rumors, it's not all fame and fortune bowling for the Pin Pounders. It's tough competition, night in and night out, against seasoned athletes with names like Big Karl, Boon, and Salami. It takes it's toll, both mentally and physically. This is an inside look at the games outside the gutters that makes up Thursday Night Men's at Striking Lanes. 

Upon arriving, usually around 5:45 pm, shoes are promptly removed at the door and bowling shoes are slipped on. Rick (rolling 2nd in the lineup) quickly grabs his rhino ball and makes a b-line for Hubie in the pro shop. This pre-game ritual seems to be working well for Rick seeing that he's carrying a career high 161 average. 

Very simply, a night consists of three games five bowlers per team. Each game is worth 2 points with series team totals counting for 1 point. A total of 7 points are up of grabs with the series taking about 3 hours to complete. But this is only window dressing for where the true games lie. 

It's the aforementioned side bets that keep things interesting. At the top of the list is the inevitable beer frame that I'm informed that I owe. Trust me, during the first few weeks the learning curve was high. A beer frame means you buy a round. How is this dubious honor bestowed? Many ways (more of which I'm sure I'll learn as the season progresses). The most common is when all bowlers strike save one.  The one buys. Also qualifying for a beer frame are; ten gutter balls in a season, if you win $20 or more, five opens in a row, 50 pins under average for a game, 100 pins under average for a series, failing to break 100 in a game, if no beer frames have be bought by the 3rd game 5th frame then pin count on the first ball with carryovers for ties into the 6th . . . . as you can see, there are many ways to get stung.  Oh yeah, picking up splits count the same as a strike.  Of course all stats are meticulously tallied. 

How can you win $20 or more in a night? Again, many ways. House Pot of Gold, Mystery Ball, Strike Ball, 50/50, etc. . . But these details are best left for future columns. 

When Beagle, the Pin Pounder anchor, has setup the 10th by marking in the 9th (just as Brock has always preached), the pressure is on. In a tight game, every pin counts. Time slows as Rick yells "Send a message JB, send a messenger". . . . Brock bellows "One ball, one time". He rolls a strike . . Rick again "10 in the pit, 10 in the pit" . . Billy "You're not done yet, You are not done yet" . . . Strike number two. JB returns to the rack briefly dangling his right hand over the hand dryer making slight adjustments in stance, line and ball speed. Kays calls out "Spell ball, Beagle, Spell Ball". . . More encouraging words from Rick "Through the roof JB, through the roof".  Strike number three, a Turkey.  The Pin Pounders win by 4 pins. 

I think it's the expressions on the Pin Pounders' faces as we slap high fives that keeps me going. A look of pure domination. A look that tells me we've accomplished something special amidst beers and poker with naked lady cards. That's when I know I won't quit bowling . . . That's when I know I can't quit bowling.