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35 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 8, 2004 A ‘W’ here would be fitting for Williams PBA Notes By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Walter Ray Williams Jr.’s specialty is physics, in which he has a degree from Cal Poly-Pomona. But he can also talk mathematics. As in, what are the odds of him winning the Earl Anthony Medford Classic this week at Lava Lanes? "Hopefully," says the world’s No. 1 ranked bowler, "I’ll give it a good effort. If you like odds, I’ll say 1-in-10 or 1-in-15. Actually, those are probably a little too high. Probably one out of 20." The subject came up because a victory here would be Williams’ 41st on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. It would tie the record of the late Earl Anthony, for whom the tournament has been named. Talk about your odds. Two long, distinguished careers merging in this manner at this juncture? Advertisement "Just being able to get to that point would be an honor," says Williams, who won the season’s fourth tournament, the Uniroyal Tire Classic, one week after losing in the semifinals of the of the BowlersParadise.com. "To do it at that specific event," he says of Medford, "that would be rather extraordinary. I just want to get out there and do the best I can. I wish I was good enough to say I’ll do it, but I’m not that good." If he’s not, no one is. Which is kind of his point. "Winning tournaments is not something you do every day or every week," says Williams, who shares the record of six player-of-the-year awards with Anthony. "It’s a very difficult thing to do. When you get to match play, there are 63 other guys with a different viewpoint. They’re all trying to beat me, especially the guy I’m bowling against. "I’ll try to do the best I can. I guess my odds are as good as anybody’s, maybe better." Anthony’s widow, Suzie, and son, Mike, are expected to be on hand this weekend. DANNY WISEMAN’S season-opening win in the year’s first major, the Miller High Life Masters, was hardly a fluke. After suffering through hand and toe injuries the past two seasons, the 15-year veteran addressed his fitness level. Wiseman hired a personal trainer in June and worked out five days a week, reducing his body fat, he says, from 19 percent to 11.5. The only reason it’s now hovering around 12.5 percent is age, he says. "That’s midsection," reasons the 37-year-old. "That’s just not being 22 any more." Wiseman, one of the flashier personalities on tour with his flame-logoed shirts and occasionally wildly cut and colored hair, exorcised demons when he won his first major. Bad breaks had seemed to follow him to the big-ticket events. This time, he rebounded from a poor opening day and eventually beat Patrick Allen for the title, 268-183, at Miller Park in Milwaukee. "I feel a lot stronger than I used to," says Wiseman, runner-up here two seasons ago. "My leverage is better. It’s amazing. I’ve been out here 15 years, so I know it can go down as fast as it goes up. You have to keep a level line mentally. Enjoy the highs when they’re there and deal with the lows." The Masters win was worth $100,000 and double points, putting him atop each category. People have suggested he’s in the running for player of the year, but Wiseman won’t look that far ahead. "Got to keep humble," he says. "Stay with the flow." It can all go away in a hurry, as he was reminded in his only other telecast this season. In the semifinals of the Pepsi Open two weeks ago, confusion with the lanes led Wiseman to roll a 164 in losing to Mike Edwards’ 222. Wiseman went with the flow. "You lose more than you win in anything you do," he says. "You learn from the losing, which enables you to eventually win." SEVERAL AREA bowlers will take part today in the pre-tournament qualifier from noon to 5 p.m. They’re vying for spots in the 64-man bracket. Five PBA members and one amateur will advance to match play Thursday. The amateur faces Williams in the first round. Among the pros in qualifying are Grants Pass’ Kevin Croucher and Ron Wilkins, Ashland’s Steve Mead, Klamath Falls’ Greg Newtson and Roseburg’s Jeff Dreier. The amateur list includes Medford’s Jerome Lee and Kevin Henley and Central Point’s Jason McCleary and Chuck and Matt Eilenberger. ONE PLAYER WHO won’t be bowling this week is Blaise Bedolla of Roseburg. He didn’t finish high enough in the point standings last season to qualify for the exempt tour, but he’s been tearing up the Northwest Region, which is another portal to the tour. The point champions in each of seven regions earn a spot on tour next year. Bedolla has 262,616 points in 16 events, well ahead of second-place Jason Williams of Vashon Island, Wash., who has bowled 13 events and has 207,212 points. They are the only two over 200,000. A double-points regional event is being held in Reno, Nev., and Bedolla can’t afford to miss it. FORMER PITCHER Tom Candiotti has been chosen as the commissioner’s exemption for the Geico Open in Mesa, Ariz., Jan. 5-9. Candiotti, who spent 16 seasons in the major leagues, is an avid bowler and appeared in the Odor-Eaters Open last season, averaging 201.22 over his nine-game set. He now works for ESPN and Toronto-based Sportsnet. Candiotti pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics. 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. 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