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P/SUNNY Temp: 57 °F Wind: NNE at 4 mph Sunday, April 20, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 11, 2003 Medford�s Marshall Holman reacts after his victory over Walter Ray Williams Jr. in Friday�s Medford Open. Photo by Monica M. Arman The Meteor strikes Holman posts stunning triumph over Williams in a classic matchup of Hall of Fame bowlers By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Fans who convened at the posh, neon-splashed bowling center that features hip-hop music and tip-top electronics might have been surprised. They walked right in on "That 70’s Show." Marshall Holman played the retro role to the hilt, conjuring abilities and antics of yesteryear to give the Professional Bowlers Association Tour and a faithful, sometimes fawning following a performance to remember. In a matchup of PBA Hall of Famers that a network producer would have drooled over, Holman defeated Walter Ray Williams Jr., 4-2, Friday in the first round of match play in the Medford Open at Lava Lanes. Holman meets Mike Edwards, a 4-2 winner over Robert Smith, at about noon today. There seemed to be a huge discrepancy when the pairings were announced Friday afternoon, after each player had advanced from morning play to the Round of 32. Williams is the leading contender for a record-tying sixth player-of-the-year award and is second in all-time wins with 35, including one this season. Holman bowls in a scratch league on Thursday nights. "It was a lot of fun, but I didn’t think I could beat him," said Holman, 48, who last won a PBA event in 1996, eight years after his next-to-last title. "I knew it was possible, but I didn’t think it was probable," he said, "especially when Walter got locked in." But this was a night for the improbable, a night for the Medford Meteor, as Holman is known, to show a little spark. He did it with his game, winning the first two convincingly to further juice an electric crowd. He did it with his behavior, clenching both fists, shouting and, after the biggest of shots, sliding euphorically across the lanes like a mug atop a bar. The Holman who once had wild hair and wilder pants provided a blast from the past. "I tend to become very self-centered about my space on the lanes," said Holman, who had 22 titles in a touring career that ended about four years ago. "I want it all. The people out here know how I work, but I’m probably the toughest person to bowl next to because you don’t know what I’m going to do. "I thought I’d calm down a little in my 40s, but I guess not." To the delight of the spectators. Williams didn’t even seem to mind so much. He’s already had Round of 32 bouts with stars Chris Barnes and Parker Bohn III, so the pulsating atmosphere was not new. Neither was Holman. "I’ve known Marshall for a long time and competed against him for a long time," said Williams. "I had a lot of fun during the match — although, I think he had more fun." After Holman won the first two games, 247-228 and 264-251, a ticklish buzz wove through the crowd. Williams, with a heavy hand from Holman, squelched it in a hurry. Holman missed spares as if he had them to spare, opening in the first two frames of the third game to give Williams more room than he needed in a 258-210 triumph. First, Holman chopped the 3 off the 3-6-10 line. Then he missed the 7 pin wide left. He missed two spares in the fourth game in much the same fashion, and Williams pounced again, winning 256-213 to square the match. When he led 2-0, Holman’s mind-set "was to keep making good shots, and I didn’t do it. The last thing I wanted to do was let Walter back into it. I thought I was dead." Holman doesn’t like to use a hard-surface spare ball with no break to it because he prefers not to change grips. He has amended that notion and will have one drilled by today’s match. "With the lanes as dry as they are on the back end," said Holman, "it would be ludicrous not to have a spare ball." Just as the match had swung in Williams’ favor, back it went to Holman in Game 5. The lanes broke down noticeably, favoring the latter’s shot. Holman moved his delivery inside and found success, starting and ending the game with turkeys. Williams opened twice with splits and lost, 234-203. The "nice reaction" he had in the previous games was gone. "After awhile," he said, "I couldn’t get that to work. I had to figure something else out, and I was not able to do it. I was close, but that’s not good enough out here." It appeared he would have little trouble evening the match in the sixth game when Holman again chopped the 3-6-10. But Williams opened in the sixth, and this time, it was Holman attacking. The home favorite strung together seven strikes, taking a 125-114 lead through six frames, then wrapping it up in the ninth. Williams spared in the eighth, prompting Holman to jump from his seat and walk away, the better to maintain the intensity coursing through him. He did likewise when Williams spared in the ninth, then threw his clinching strike and took his long victory slide, seemingly from the past to the present. The game was Holman’s, 244-203. "There was a lot of electricity," said Holman. "I did not want to let myself or the fans down. They’re not just fans, they’re my friends and my family." And they doubtless enjoyed the show. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S