Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990 TAG: 9007030155
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Eddie Quinn will be at Salem's Lee-Hi Lanes on Saturday for the bowling competition in the Virginia CorEast State Games.
But if Quinn had his druthers, he would be rolling a ball in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Roanoker can't help but think about what life would have been like on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour.
"I came close to pursuing a pro career a couple of times in the early 1970s," Quinn said. "I would have loved to have gone out there.
"It wasn't a lack of desire or lack of ability. It was a lack of financial support.
"I was raised in Northwest Roanoke and my folks didn't have any money. So, therefore, there was no way that without support from the people in the Roanoke Valley with money that a guy like me could have gotten out and participated in the right programs.
"If I had been in another area of the country, say St. Louis, I would have stood a much better chance."
His dream now long gone, Quinn settles for watching the pros on television and being considered one of the best - if not the best - bowlers in the Roanoke Valley.
"I gave up on the dream when I was about 28," said Quinn, 43. "Now it's too late to even think about it."
He may not have made the pro tour, but Quinn certainly has left an indelible mark on the local bowling scene. This past season, Quinn posted the highest average in the city, scoring 220.4 and 219.3 in two leagues.
"I had a good year," Quinn said.
Quinn's numbers were not surprising considering he has been a scratch bowler since his early 20s. During that span, Quinn has rolled three perfect games and a career-high 793 series.
"I got started bowling through my dad," Quinn said. "He used to bowl in the old duckpin league on Jefferson Street above the old Sportsman [restaurant]. I tagged along with him and I got interested. At first, I wasn't very good, but I wanted to be good.
"I just kept working and working on my game until I got to the point I could be a scratch bowler. I didn't get to where I'm at by a total gift. It was years and years of practice."
Quinn said the reason for his success is simple - consistency.
"I consistently pick the ball up the same way on the rack, and I consistently do the same things on the approach," he said. "You've got to do the same thing every time and establish a routine.
"I can look at the second arrow and I can put the ball on that arrow 99 times out of 100. And that's really the key to the game.
"Plus, I've always been able to adapt. I've bowled in a lot of different houses over the years. I lived in Harrisonburg and West Virginia for a couple years each, and I averaged over 200 there, too."
Of course, Quinn has an occasional off night. But his off night is better than a career night for most bowlers.
"When I shoot 580 or 600 [for a three-game series], I use the driving time home from the alley trying to figure out, `Why? What did I do wrong? What caused this particular night?'
"But you leave after shooting 750 and you're all wired up."
As of Monday, nearly 100 entries had been received for the State Games bowling competition, which will be held Saturday and Sunday at Lee-Hi Lanes.
Besides Quinn, other top entries are Radford's Ronnie Ridpath and Debbie Akers.
All competitors will roll two three-game blocks Saturday. The top three bowlers in each of six divisions - men's, women's, boys', girls', senior men's and senior women's - will advance to the finals Sunday at 10 a.m. Qualifier No. 3 will face No. 2, with the winner moving on to meet No. 1 in each division.
by CNB