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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 19, 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 8, 2003 Zeroing in on legendary mark Walter Ray Williams Jr. is on pace to match the late Earl Anthony for player-of-the-year honors By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune It was said about the title of the Earl Anthony Classic last week. It will be said about the Medford Open this week at Lava Lanes. Ultimately, it must be said about the pending Professional Bowlers Association player-of-the-year award. The road goes through Walter Ray Williams Jr. And it figures to be a bumpy ride for other commuters. If the multi-dimensional Hall of Famer — he has a degree in physics from Cal Poly Pomona and is a six-time world horseshoes champion — continues at his current pace, he'll zoom past everyone and into the record book. Again. Williams has been voted player of the year five times by his peers, most recently in 1998. One more and he'll match the late Earl Anthony for the all- time lead. "It's definitely in the back of my mind," says Williams, who moved into second place all-time with his 35th career win in Detroit in November. "My goal is to go out there and do every shot the best I can, give myself a shot at a strike every time, win every match I can and win every tournament I can. "Of course, I know I'm not going to do that, so I'm going at it as a long-term goal rather than short-term. Hopefully, it will turn out well in the end." His bid took a turn for the better last week in Tacoma, Wash. Williams made his tour-leading sixth championship-round appearance — beating Chris Barnes, his primary competition for player of the year, along the way — and took over the season points lead. Williams tied for third place, losing in the semifinals when he shot 213 against Norm Duke’s perfect 300 game. Nevertheless, after eliminating Barnes, 4-1, in the Round of the 32 and making the TV finals, Williams jumped to the top of the points chart. He has 201,600 points to Barnes’ 197,000. Duke is third at 175,260. "We're definitely having a good fight for player of the year," says Williams. "The year is half over and there are still three really big tournaments, so anything can happen. Right now if you voted, it'd be a real good race between Chris and myself." A recent fan vote on the PBA’s Web site gave Williams the nod. While there is personal satisfaction gleaned from a victory over a rival, Williams' win over Barnes last week won't have near the bearing toward the season-ending award as the three major tournaments coming up: next week's ABC Masters in Reno, Nev., the U.S. Open and the World Championship that caps the season. Each is worth double money and double points. One major win could vault anyone in the top 10 into top-player contention, as Jason Couch's Tournament of Champions victory did in mid-December. Two wins would likely solidify the honor. "The majors will decide all of it, probably," says Barnes, adding that though some separation can occur in events such as the Medford Open, "the race is nowhere near being over." He says he's intense for every match and that all matches are important. But when he and Williams hook up, as they did last week, "it's one of the few times you have a chance to control your own destiny." It was in another match between the two that an outside force interfered. At the Empire State Open in Loudenville, N.Y., in the fall, Williams had a slight lead midway through the semifinals when the flash of a photographer's camera went off in front of him as he delivered the ball. "It was probably the most distracting thing I've had happened to me," says Williams, in his 23rd year on tour. "You expect some of that, only this was on TV and I was bowling for a chance to win the tournament." Williams, working on three straight strikes, threw a bad ball and opened in the sixth. That coincided with an adjustment Barnes made that worked like a charm. He got a spare in the sixth, then strung together five strikes and won going away, 239-198. "It was definitely an interesting thing to happen," says Williams, who reacted by yelling "something I shouldn't have at the guy. But it was very irritating." He admits it might not have mattered, given the way Barnes finished. He also noted that the PBA used to have a rule that a player hindered by a visual distraction could have the shot over. Williams was outspoken in his view to abolish the rule and maintains that stance. Neither Williams or Barnes fared particularly well here last year, when each lost in the first round of match play. They hope to take a longer road this time. 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 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S