So there we were in our “on-camera” seats at the PBA Geico open, on the right hand side of the lane, about four rows back. Understand, it costs extra money to get the on-camera seats. Last year, though, we had seats all the way at the far end, down by the pins, and friends and family who tuned in to see us said they never did. So this year I figured, y’know what, spend the extra money, Ariel will get a kick out of it, you only go around once.
So who did the cameramen spend most of the time focusing on when they weren’t close-up on the pros?
Four blondes in tank tops holding up individual letters that spelled “ESPN.” Where were they sitting? In the cheap seats at the far end down by the pins.
Guess I should have seen that one coming.
The games themselves ranged from blowouts (the guy we were rooting for, Jeff Lizzi, got blown out of the water by about sixty pins in the semi-finals) to squeakers (rookie Chris Johnson was cruising as he opened with six strikes. Then he left a 7-10 split and failed to pick up either pin with his second ball…a costly error when he wound up losing the match by one stick.) The winner was Pat Healey Jr., for those who keep track of such things.
Frickin’ blondes. Bet they had more fun, too.
PAD





No offense, but I’d probably rather see the blondes in tanktops 😉
I was looking for ya. Once the blondes made their first appearance, I figured there was no chance of you getting on.
Couldn’t believe Johnson lost that game after starting the way he did. When he didn’t pick up a pin on the 7-10, I thought “hope he doesn’t end up regretting that”.
Next time, dye your hair blonde and wear a tank top.
Del … no.
Maybe PAD shoulda held up his ESPN sign too? heh.
Aside from the one blowout, this was probably the most exciting week of bowling so far this season. The other three games were squeakers.
And, yeah, that blown 7-10 after a string of strikes like that really hurts. Cost him, what, 3 pins? Granted, who knows what would have happened to him in the tenth if he had pressure on him to bowl three strikes…
Still, lots of fun.
I’m still trying to figure out who it is I’m rooting for anymore. With my favorite, Walter Ray, unable to even make the cut this week, it’s getting tough. I like this Chris Johnson kid, though. (I can call him “kid” since he’s younger than me.)
I do like Patrick Healey, though. There’s hope there. And I hope Chris Barnes wins one one of these days. I’m starting to feel sorry for him. Always the bride’s maid…
ESPN did a great job bringing Traber and Duke back to look at the tape of last year’s great finale, too. Hope you got to see that.
-Augie
You know Peter, I can help you out and get you some ESPN swag so they’ll see it and want to put you on air. For the rest (i.e. the blonde hair and the tank tops), you’re on your own.
Brandy
As a sports cameraman (sorry, cameraPERSON) usually a big part of our day is spent looking for eye candy. Although a few guys that I work with think that’s our WHOLE job….