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42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 19, 2004 Commentary Waliczek won’t let standing pin knock him down By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Curiously, you didn’t have to overturn rocks Sunday in hopes of finding Lonnie Waliczek. You didn’t have to form a search party, didn’t even have to race out to the parking lot to stop him from a hasty retreat. Advertisement As much anguish as many people felt for the Professional Bowlers Association finalist after his second stunning collapse on national television in as many weeks, he was in a remarkably sane state, mingling with fans in the Lava Lanes lobby shortly after the conclusion of the Medford Open. Truly, the pluckiness he exhibited seemed above and beyond. To all, that is, except him. "I don’t think there’s anything very profound to be said," said the seventh-year pro out of Wichita, Kan. "It sounds kind of funny, but I just happen to be in the same position I was in last week." Waliczek all but had his ticket to the finals here punched. In a semifinal match against Pete Weber, he entered the 10th frame needing only a mark to win and advance. Yet, his first ball didn’t bite enough at the tail end, zoomed to the right of the head pin and left the 1-2-4-10 washout. He made a valiant effort to pick it up, but failed. "I wasn’t completely upset with how I threw that shot," Waliczek said of his first ball. "And I definitely was not upset by the way I threw the spare." In his bid to pick up the spare, he wrapped the head pin around the 10, barely missing a collision and conversion and giving Weber a 197-195 triumph. "I don’t know what to say about Lonnie," said Weber, who, even after winning the tournament, was noticeably empathetic to his tour partner. "He made a poor shot in the 10th but a great shot to pick it." Anyone who has bowled much at all has had it happen. "The wrap-around 10 is a common thing," said Waliczek. "But it’s still bad luck." A week earlier, he was on the verge of his third career title at the Earl Anthony Classic in Seattle. Again, he needed a mark in the 10th to win, again he left a washout — the 1-2-4-6-10 — and again he didn’t pick it up. The previous week, however, didn’t enter his mind as he toed the line Sunday. "Not even a little bit," said Waliczek. "I’m not going to make that into a thing. It’s just not the result I would have preferred." Waliczek, who remained proud to have made two finals in a row, said he has more important things to concentrate than a couple of bad shots at the most inopportune time. "I need to stay focused on what’s important to me," he said. "What’s important is that I keep getting better and keep putting myself in that position more and more. "Another thing I have to remember is that this is what I asked for, to be out here. This is what I want, so I have to deal with the ups and downs." It’s safe to say, Waliczek is due for an up. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times