Strike: The Greatest Bowling Story Ever Told | Made With Kickstarter | The New York Times
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- On one ordinary night everything might change for Bill Fong, an underdog bowler, as he begins to get strike after strike. Will he attain the “perfect series,” or buckle under the pressure?
Produced by: Joey Daoud
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Strike: The Greatest Bowling Story Ever Told | Made With Kickstarter | The New York Times
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I had a bowler on my league a few years ago, he had never had a 300 he had seen 297, 298and 299, He had 9 in a row, 3rd game, first shot 10th frame buried the shot in the pocket, 9 pin leaned weak, and stayed up, he spared it, and strike the last ball. 279 game, just under an 800 series, wife and I got home from the lanes 20 min later, and got word that he had a massive heart attack and died on the way home from the bowling center. He was only 35 years old. The next week on league, during our play, that pair of lanes was left turned on, but not bowled on, and his favorite drink placed on the table behind them ad a memorial tribute from the league.
+Paul Huffman Good on his leaguemates. That was really nice. I'll never understand why stuff like this has to happen to good people and their families.
+Paul Huffman Got tears in my eyes reading this; because I know that the house I bowl in, this would be something we would do for one of our league mates. As well as any house to be honest. Last Sunday, we had a moment of silence in memory of one of our guys. I never met or knew him; but this comment really hits home with how close a league community is with each other. To me, it feels like we're all part of one big family. Sorry to hear about the loss of your league mate.
We had funeral today for a team mate, and team captain, he died of Cystic Fibrosis at the young age of 35. Bowling was his life, I had a tournament today after the funeral and said this is for Jesse, and shot the highest score I ever had in a tournament. His story is here on you tube it's the Jesse Huntley Story. The rest of my season is dedicated to Jesse Huntley.
In the last few years we've lost a lot of bowlers at the lanes. We miss them all. Bowlers have a unique camaraderie that I've never experienced in other sports. But remember old bowlers don't die...the just end up in the gutter.
Same here. Just buried a bowler this weekend. I think we've lost 3 bowlers within 2 weeks of each other.
I remember bowling a 900. It took me 6 games though.
Me too. Took me 15 though
ptrinch I did it in no tap😅😅
@@toaddoesntlikemayonnaise2169 He got 900 averaging 150 pins a game for six games thats the joke lol
RideIt They bowled 6 games. They could have scored only 150 each... it’s entirely possible. You must be a kid that uses bumpers
It took me 4 😂
The one standing pin made him stroke out.. actually insane how he lived through that. Big ups to Bill Fong, hope he gets that 900 someday..
yeah because of all the tension built up, and its the most dangerous when you dont feel it build up because it all just releases on you all of a sudden.
We NEED a Will Ferrell movie about professional bowling. Such a niche sport with so many strange characters.
Great idea semi pro but bowling version lol would be awesone
Go watch Kingpin with Woody Harrelson
Why watch unfunny Will Farrell when you can watch several actual comedians in Kingpin?
"The Big Lebowski"
@@ge8198 Apparently, Will Ferrell apparently did a few of the crowd shoutouts in Kingpin uncredited.
He drilled my ball last week. Good dude
There was a guy a little over a decade ago who threw an 899 at my house in the exact same way, leaving a 10 pin at the end. The story goes he said he was "tired of throwing strikes and wanted to change it up a bit."
Update: I was incorrect. His first game was a 299. He purposely threw it because he had never thrown a 299, so he adjusted to purposely leave a 10 pin at the last frame. The next 2 games he wound up throwing a couple of 300s. Obviously, he didn't know that would happen and deeply regrets throwing the 299 when he could have easily thrown the 300.
+Nick Warren At least that's the story Ive heard about it. His name is Tim Nunn. He threw it at colonial lanes in Flushing, Michigan.
+Nick Warren Last spring / summer, we had one of our youth bowlers throw his very first 300 game I believe during a competition. The story I was told from one of his team mates at the time, was that the next game started, and each team member got up and threw a strike for the first frame; so, it comes time for this kid's next frame, and he gets up, and throws his ball in the gutter. He turns around with a smile on his face, and goes, "I needed that." I felt awe and amazement hearing this story....to throw what could have been a second 300 game, just because you got your first, and didn't immediately want a 2nd. The attitude that decision showed impressed me beyond words. And to this day, this bowler and his attitude he carries still impresses me.
+Kyah Rose lol yeah. The general rule is if you have a really good game, then you can expect a bad game after that. For me, if I throw over 270, I wind up throwing a 170 or 180 immediately afterward. That makes it all the more impressive to me that this guy was able to do this.
+Nick Warren I'm from that area and have heard that story too. That score is impressive because it's hard to carry the corner pins at Colonial. Back in the day I would ave 15-20 pins less because of leaving 7's.
That one pin would've killed me lol. I would've been on the ground crying lmao
or having a stroke
Clyde Bigsby lmfao
I am really surprised this is in TX. I would have expected some one to pull out their gun and just shoot the last one down. lol
I bowled against Bill in a different league at Plano Super Bowl. I read about this in the paper and when I saw him that week I complimented him and shook his hand. I've never had a 300 so it awes me that he got all the way there to the last ball in the 30th frame. I hate the freaking 10 pin... Truly an a great accomplishment regardless of that stupid pin at the end.
the ringing 10.. i would never bowl again if I came this close to a 900 series and blew it
I agree
+b4ssfunk3d 899 is a great achievement and while it is a disappointment not to achieve perfection, to say that someone who bowls an 899 blew it, is just crazy.
To get that far, to to get that close, you love the game too much to stay away. Geez, one ounce of force more, you've got a point *bassfunked!*
Flat 10. but for the sake of the story, we'll say ring 10.
@@ki5995 looks like someone's projecting their insecurities about being asian. so cringeworthy...
We had a funeral today for one of my team mates and captain, he died from Cystic Fibrosis at age 35, His story is here on you tube, the Jesse Huntley story, I had a tournament right after the funeral and got the best score I had ever gotten in a tournament. I dedicated the rest of my season to him this year. I just bought a new ball a week ago. And used it today.
+Paul Huffman I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. It's good that you remembered him here.
I'm sorry about your loss paul
Paul Huffman
Yeah
I couldn't find the video on him
And there I am happy with getting a turkey
Same, got a few hambones and some games over 200.
I once bowled 10 strikes in a row......and that 279 stands as my all time high. Would have got a 700 series that night but, like Bill, left a solid 10 pin.
so much appreciation for all the sports. im 22 now and when i was younger i always thought soccer and basketball. But honestly there are so many fun sports that this world cant be too bad
so if I'm reading this right, this guy had to divorce his wife and have a stroke in order to bowl an 899 series?
sounds about right lol
😝
He would have been the Bobby Fischer of bowling but he got married.....
*"The nine-pin was still standing, so a pin from nowhere . . ."* at 7:28 I love that ! It happens now and then, just when doubt steps into the mind, serendipitous good fortune breaks it down. What an inspiring story, this video is great timing for me to view. I have only bowled one 300 game, back in 2012. I am entertaining a return to bowling after health issues have kept me away for the two years. My two sports, that I love, might just see me about once again. Racewalking and Bowling. Never Give Up!
I’ve been to Plano super bowl with my kids many times. A little drive from where we live but we make the drive. Great lanes and superb pin action. 899 is on a different level. This guy is a monster.
An Asian that dropped out of school..... okay, now we're witnessing history
@Dfg Sdfg no, something is wrong with you
What a dumb statement...racist, actually...
the word 'joke' isn't even in your dictionary lmao
I'm Asian and I dropped out of high school too. That's normal it's not rare mate.
@@j.a.posadas6359 r/wooosh
I had the rare opportunity to meet him at his pro shop, I can tell you one thing he is an extra ordinary person, child of God indeed
LOL AT 4:27 I GENUINELY STARTED TO STOP BREATHING FROM LAUGHING BECAUSE OF THAT RANDOM FACT COMING FROM THAT GUY
I didn't realize this happened in plano. I used to go to the super bowl all the time, and heard about this. just never looked into it, to see who it was. this is pretty nifty.
899 that’s devastating
For the first hundred years of the game, 900 was an impossibility and the first person to do it, Glen Allison was denied recognition because the ABC deemed the lanes to be blocked, that is to say dressed in such a way that hitting the pocket becomes absurdly easy. Today's "house" patterns are exactly that, a blocked lane. I don't believe that anybody has ever done it without the help of "user friendly" lanes.
+Paul Money the whole sport is a gamble in that the lane/board tolerances and oiling patterns are unpredictable. Anybody(*) can bowl a 900 if they oil the lane themselves, always practice on that lane, and no one else uses it.
(*) This is to say, it's not easy but if someone *always* bowls under *exactly* the same conditions it's possible with some effort. Otherwise it's just dumb luck, which is pretty much all the time.
This is the whole problem I have with bowling as a sport. Oiling patterns and the lack of modern-day tolerances for the playing field, etc. This stuff needs to be standardized and computerized at levels we have yet not seen before simply because yes, it really does make that much difference at the top levels.
+droid #droidforUSBCpresident. Have mercedez-benz build the technology
+Paul Money i know of 100's of people who think bowling a 300 on league lanes say it's " too easy " you know how many of those bowlers say bowling a 300 on those lanes has actually bowled 1? none of them because it's easy for them to say any1 can bowl on those ditched lanes well as i have said to them many times how come you haven't bowled 1 then? there are many factors that can happen to a pair of lanes that can make it difficult to bowl a 300 first and foremost the oil doesn't stay still the whole game there are 7 other bowlers sometimes even 9 other bowlers depending on your league format with all different styles and lines that you have to contend with, another thing is weather if it's hot the oil is thin if it's cold the oil is thicker which can be hard to handle and also the air conditioner may in fact move the oil as well so to say it's easy to bowl on a house pattern yeah it may be but doesn't gurantee a 300
SR555666
All I was saying is that it is easier these days! The feat is devalued compared to the past that's all. You used to have to hit a board at the arrows with a good shot, now you can bowl into an area several boards wide and missing the headpin on the right is almost impossible. It's like bumper bowling.
I started league bowling about 1964 and with several very long gaps I am still playing today and averaging more than I ever could when I was at my best. So it goes, perhaps it doesn't have to be hard, but 50+ "sanctioned" 900 series? Since you ask, it's true I'm still waiting for my first 300! Hope springs eternal.
some patterns are easy i'll give you that but where i bowl do you know how many 300's have been bowled in my centre? 9 and i own 3 of them and there has only been 2 800 series so yes some house patterns are easy but there are some house shots that are very tricky like tonight for example there were 5 200+ average bowlers on our pair of lanes tonight and not 1 of us shot a 600 series because there are so many factors these days that play into lane conditions
read about this guy in our SAT prep critical reading haha
noreply6 saaaaame lol
Robert Renteria no way ahahaha
He faced the beast and lived to tell about it. Thats Guts. Glad I watched.
4:15 I know how those mics work... you have to press the button. Director could have at least turned it the other way.
Watched my dad when I was about 12 bowl in a league mid 1960's , had 11 strikes and a 9 on last ball. 299, probably more of a memory to me than if he had bowled a 300 game. He did this with an old hard bowling 16 lb ball, not one of the newer balls of today. I still have his ball, I am 69 now, will pass this along to my kids with this story of their grandfather.
I'm glad he got his health and a shop out of this.
First, i actually know this guy. My bowling balls are drilled by him. He bowls in a league every night
Cool does he still get 300s?
+Wheelman714c does he bowl in any sport shot leagues? or is he just a house bowler
What's second?
JaQuan Jones I clicked just to be sure someone said it. Bravo.
Every day of the week?
Kudos,
A fine human interest story about a local house bowler who did something very special.Extreme dedication to his craft paid off. My observation is that Bill's style is not overly impressive but it works well for him.
The first 35 strikes in a row is incredible feat for even a very good bowler below the Professional Level. Seems that he went into "robot" automatic mode to be able to repeat his stroke without feeling the pressure.Hopefully, Bill Fong, is in good health and spanking the pins at the Plano Super Bowl in Texas.
Thanks, LA Guy
I know this guy. He bowls at my alley.
Wow they really through us a curveball with that 899
This is fantastic. I love random stories like this. It takes skills and some luck.
I love bowling and that was an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it.
The worst part about throwing 10, 11 strikes in a row is when everyone else stops what their doing. When I threw my 300, I told everyone around to keep doing what they're doing. When they stop it changes your pace of how you prepare for each shot. They all continued what they were doing and I hit the pocket, for my first 300.
Glad you made it. Man 899 they should name a bowling robot after you. The Bill Fong Strike machine!
Bill , I had a super great bowler in my wife's family and she was like you, something special to watch...She died last year in her 80's ...Keep on top of your health and enjoy your talents...We wish you the best...
+Builder99 Very sorry to hear that. So cool to see a person (Possibly) still dealing with something hard be very positive towards one another. God Bless You!
I wonder if Michelle Obama claims she went to school with him when she recaps her school life
Lol
She never amounted to anything, and married a bum. lol I have far more respect for Bill Fong than I ever had for her!
DeedsResearcher , I don't reckon a former president of one of the most powerful countries is a bum
Michelle Obama was never a president
I never knew that being a lawyer (Michelle Obama) means one has never amounted to anything. Hmmm
I think he is Asian.
You know funny you should mention that. It seems that may have come up 1 or 50 times.
He is asian
The Casual Gamer lol you kidding me? He’s definitely African.
Definitely from another planet.
laugh out loud definitely from another dimension
My dad had a 879 a few years ago.he has 279-300-300 the strike he missed he buried the pocket and left a 9 pin (he is a lefty)
Video or your lying
What line does he throw ?
Loved the slow motion perspective shots of everything.
There was a bowler at rutland bowlerama that just shot 900! January 14,2019.
JJK5 -Games wow
Oh yeah yeah
Yeah, John Wilbur. I know him
the old manager at my alley knows him
I was there when #20 Johnny Mart through his 900 series. Freakin Awesome! GO Johnny Mart!
I came for the bowling, I stayed for the earnest examination of race relations in the American south
Gives new meaning to the term stroker...
11:22
epic story, caps it off with a jersey strike
Jersey strike? you must be from Brooklyn.
@@mickieg1118 lol
@@mickieg1118
Not quite, that's what people call it around here though.
Bill Fong: Re Getting Nervous - "Just throw it hard" , don't slow down , stay in the zone
Congrats on such dedication !
very interesting in 2014 I went 890, went 300, 300, 290. left a 10pin, spared and went of the sheet. Did this at a tournament and the complete tournament stopped to watch the 290.
It's kind of crazy to think I had a chance at this, I bowled back to back 300s but the first frame in the 3rd game I ended up ringing a 10 so it wasn't even close. I ended with a "crappy" 816 series, but I actually understand what he means when he said you just feel like you are in some kind of zone. My back to back 300s was all a blur and it just seemed easy and just came off my hand the right way. The only difference on my 3rd game is i lost carry, because i still murdered the pocket. (Also if no body believes me which is fine but there's proof on Pacific Ave Bowl's facebook of me throwing B2B 300s.)
Hey, at least you didn't bowl under 800 after two 300's! I bowled a 300 my first game and only shot 690 :-/
@@FormerSaint80 Ouch must have been a rough 2 games. Was that your first 300?
@@Pejarox7620 First and only sanctioned 300. Bowled one in practice, but that doesn't count :P Back to back 300's though, that's crazy! I saw one guy in league bowl 16 straight strikes to start a series, but that's the most I ever witnessed. Bowl any other 300's?
@@FormerSaint80 yeah just 1 other one, it has a 827 attached to it, i went 276, 251, 300 was my first ever 300 and 800. I've bowled 6 299, 1 298 in practice so being 3 for 3 when it counts is awesome
@@FormerSaint80 whats your biggest series?
Getting an 899 missing the very first pin would be way less frustrating than missing the 900th.
xMortalz That’s impossible. The highest score you can get in a single game with a 9 count in the first frame is a 279.
Actually it is 290
if you do 9/ in the first frame then the highscore is 890
I have a 300 game. But nothing near 899. Truly amazing. Well done Bill!!!
me too i have 1 300 and the same night i shot my 300 i got my high series 733
I act like a PBA megastar when I string 3 strikes in a row!
I celebrate, but I recognize that I am not that good. It's nice to know that I have room for improvement. Something to aim for. I guess even Bill Fong does. He may be the best in his league, but he competes against himself.
Really appreciate your work.
Thanks, Matt.
That's my buddy - awesome job that night ;-)
This is literally the best story ever told. He should go to the PBA
SethPlayz although he is good, he couldn’t keep up with the younger guys with 600 revs and throwing it 20mph
@@Ct-ml2ug senior tour bro. Walter ray bowls in it i believe
does any of these people above even watch bowling??? lmao there are 40-50 year olds who win titles even today
@@joeyspagnola2952 Have you even heard of Junior Gold ? Youth Bowlers will become the next stars as the old dies out
Just recently a man from my hometown of Rutland Vermont bowled a 900, very impressive.
Great video. Like watching a movie.
Just noticed the video of his feet when he said "I moved 1 to 1 with my feet". He's a right hander, and he came in high so a 1 to 1 move would be to his left (into deeper oil). The video shows him moving his feet to his right. Easy blunder for a video crew who does not understand the physics of advanced bowling.
Yup, saw that too. 😂
I was so close to being a part of this exclusive club. I bowled 866 last April. 300,300,266-29 strikes in a row and on the 6th frame of the 3rd game I stoned an 8 pin. Most intense I have ever bowled.
PSB is such a good alley (:
Ladies and Gentlmen the Steph Curry of bowling 👏🏼
Beautiful story congratulations
Help me understand how this is the greatest bowling story ever told.
Watch it
Aaron Larsen lmao I obviously did. Kingpin has a better storyline. The man should be pro if he’s that good.
Shane S you obviously dont bowl if you think kingpin is the greatest. its not even real smg
Neooooo obviously you’re not a golfer.
Shane S that has NOTHING to do with that. And yes, i am a golfer. I shot 75 in a tourney for medalist. So yes, i am a golfer too
Bill...
Nobody:
This video:Fong
Everyone else:O’ neill
Amazing guym Thank you for sharing. Will definitely check this out.
I remember when I was in JR league my friend bowled a 298 ...in a full back brace ( curved spine ) .. he was doing something different that day to get leaned over ...trouble was it messed him up for the rest of the year ... he mind fu*ked himself :)
I haven’t bowled a combined 900 in 22 years lol Jesus!
What a shocking story. But at the same time, congratulations on bowling the state record of 899!
I thought I was coming here to watch Kingpin again !
Bill is a legend ♥️
Climbing Everest, that's what Bill Fong was doing.
My high game is 259 at 15. I've got some work to do lol.
You'll get there :D. My high game before 259 was 234 with a six pack from the 3-9th frame.
@mikey flyzlow Thanks! And good to know. :)
Andrew Austin my high is 243 at 14!
Nice job man!
I'm just a non-competitive 14 year old bowler but my high game is only a 162
Bruh I’ve been to that place before wow history
bravo. brave heart. u rocked the lanes
What contract?
Why he look like that one substitute that always gives u a attitude
Excellent ....
Bill, your story is amazing. I work in healthcare and bowling has become my outlet after my shift at the hospital, and after my divorce. I'm so glad you were able to catch your cardiac issue before you know what. I hope my league team never has to face you. My team's name is F U Ten Pin (FUTP).... hoping you get that 900.... don't leave the 7
One of my teams was called FTTP.
I found this video spirtual; thanks.
Never heard of him. Why isn't he on the PBA tour?
Can he only bowl well on house patterns?
Blessings...
5:15 YUP, THATS ME!! :D
Where??
Sorry, you misunderstood. Being asian means I need to be the best at everything. :p
This is a cool story he’ll get a 900 series someday ❤️
I'll be impressed when you do one of these on Glenn Allison.
Well that took a major twist... bloody ringing 10 pin.
Great story.
Maybe that last pin standing saved his life...
The closest I have gotten to a 300 is a 298. On my last shot I left a 6 and a 10 pin standing.
That’s tuffff
899 is an amazing accomplishment and congrats on that and sorry about the heart issue. "They don't give contracts to someone who was just short." is an absurd thing to say!
Yes they do and you are in the best position to get a "contract", you own/work at a pro shop. I have several friends that work or own pro shops that have never even been close to an 899 and none have had above a 850 and one has a 205 avg. in a regular THS house league that have amateur contracts because they work in pro shops. 4 have amateur contracts, not pro shop contracts, with Storm, 205er has an amateur contract with EBI. You could easily get one based on your ability to promote the product.
Closest I came to perfection was 857. 278, 279, then 300. All three times I didn't strike were seemingly perfect pocket shots leaving the 8 pin.
wish you man a good health and don't give up to reach the 900!!!
I love bowling and have been for over 40 years, never had a sanctioned 300 game.
You are probably a better bowler than me i have only been doing leauges for 18 years i have a 185 average and i have 1 300 game in a sanctioned leauge
Doug is the Dude
That's really interesting. :)
I’m pretty sure you don’t need to bowl a 900 to get a bowling contract
I bowl a 114 and I'm happy.
I'll never understand this guys mindset about it. "they don't give contracts to guys who are just short of getting one" there isn't many 899s out there be proud of it. Not easy to get in that zone and definitely draws eyes for sure
Release for higher rev rate would be key for me
900! And here i am getting happy when i get pass 100.
You can almost never get the best out of yourself without a friend like Doug. Way to roll! I wanna buy you a Caucasian
0:56 “pin”nacle
God darnit you