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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 13, 2003 Bryan Goebel, above, celebrates after the final frame of Sunday�s championship match against Danny Wiseman. Goebel�s victory, the 10th of his career, was worth $40,000 in prize money and a Rolex watch trophy. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman It’s a Goebel event Bryan Goebel defeats Danny Wiseman to win the Medford Open championship By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Two months ago, Bryan Goebel nearly closed the door on a distinguished career. Sunday, he opened another door. He had to. Opportunity knocked. Goebel completed a trip from one extreme to the other when he defeated Danny Wiseman for the championship of the Medford Open at Lava Lanes. When the colorful Wiseman got a flat in his spare shooting, Goebel zoomed past for a 257-212 victory in the second annual Professional Bowlers Association event. The win was worth $40,000 and a Rolex watch trophy. More importantly for Goebel, it was his 10th title, the magic number to be eligible for PBA Hall of Fame induction. "That was my only goal, to win No. 10," said Goebel, who, in a funk, almost retired for good to his home in Shawnee, Kan., in November. "I feel very good." He thought back to other veteran players — Norm Duke and Randy Pedersen — who had tearful reactions to recent landmark triumphs. "I thought I might start crying, too," said Goebel. "But I’m too excited to cry." Wiseman reached a milestone, becoming the PBA’s 25th millionaire with runner-up money of $20,000. He would have had more reason to rejoice had he done so with a win, but two open frames — the second and sixth — proved to be his undoing. Immediately after the second, Goebel stepped up and began a run of six strikes. Wiseman, who won earlier this year and has 10 career titles as well, was closed out well before the last of those pins toppled. He finished with a spare and five straight strikes. "I missed two spares all week," the Baltimore bowler said of his first 31 games. "Today, I missed three. And I pride myself on making spares." The most costly was in the sixth, when he slipped on his delivery and dumped the ball into the gutter before it reached the 10 pin. "When Danny missed that 10 pin, I knew if I stepped up and threw the next strike, all the pressure in the world would be on him," said Goebel. "He’d have to throw all strikes, and that’s not an easy thing to do." Goebel became the tour’s 14th winner, the longest stretch in history without a repeat winner to start a season. The old record of 13 was set in 1977 and matched in 1980. The win ended two sources of frustration for Goebel. One was the Hall of Fame issue. Under the lax guidelines previously in place — to win three titles, be at least 37 years old and have 12 years of PBA membership — he qualified easily. But the standards were amended in September, making them far more stringent and bumping him off the list. To now be eligible, bowlers must be retired from full-time competition for at least five years or be at least 50, and have 10 tour titles or two major championships. Inductees ultimately are voted in by the Hall of Fame board. "I was disappointed that after years of guys going in with nine, eight, seven wins, they suddenly say you have to have 10," said Goebel, who also has one major title. "I thought I had a chance as it was, then it’s, ‘These guys are in, but you can’t be.’ " Goebel would be the first to admit he didn’t bowl like a Hall of Famer last fall, cashing only once. He went home for Thanksgiving, skipping the tour’s eastern swing, bent on retiring. But when his wife, Kelly, told him money wasn’t an obstacle and that if he wanted to return to the tour, he should do so, Goebel called the PBA and asked to be signed up for the West Coast swing. During his long holiday break, Goebel got coaching from Bob Glass, a back-to-back player of the year on the Senior Tour, and practiced extensively. After failing to cash a week ago in Tacoma, Wash., he’s a winner again. "He bowled great," said Wiseman. "I’ve said to him all week, and I’ll say it again — ‘Aren’t you glad you didn’t retire?’ " To get to the finals, Goebel defeated David Traber, 212-209. Traber was cruising along with a slight lead until he opened in the sixth. Still, Goebel had to pick up a 10-pin spare in the 10th and get at least eight pins on his final ball to win. He struck. Wiseman won the wild-card match over Hugh Miller, 203-181, then knocked off Bob Learn Jr., 228-212. Learn and Traber each earned $10,000 of the $200,000 prize fund. Miller won $9,000. 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