THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240230
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE ALLEYWAYS
SOURCE: Michelle Schloff
LENGTH: 65 lines
Now that former bowling columnist Bill Leffler has officially retired, I've found him a group of playmates at Pinboys of Chesapeake, just in case he couldn't resist visiting the alleyways every now and then.
Richard Hoover Sr. a retired nuclear planner at Newport News Shipbuilding, bowls full time and makes Pinboys of Chesapeake his workplace Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
``That's why I retired,'' Hoover said. ``It gets your mind relaxed and I get to see all of my friends.''
Hoover bowls on Tuesday nights for team Yahoo with his wife, Connie, a business manager for a local plastic surgeon and her brother, Buddy Whitt, a computer programmer for Farm Fresh.
``He just has so much fun with his buddies,'' Connie said. ``I'm not complaining, I've been married to a great guy for 34 years. It nice to see him have so much fun.''
The Hoover's bowl in the Tuesday night Playmates League. As of this week they are ranked seventh out of 22 teams. Teams like Looking for Strikes, Two, Who cares, The Gutter Trains, and The Rolling Harleys head up the league.
``We're called the Yahoos because when we get excited we yell yahoo,'' Hoover said. ``It's so much fun. We've met so many people and we have made such good friends. Our phone rings off the hook.''
The Hoovers first started bowling about 10 years ago when their son Rick was in a league at Indian River Lanes. Rick also has seen some time in a league at Pinboys of Chesapeake.
``He's the reason for all this fun,'' Connie said. ``He'd make us come out here and practice on Sunday mornings. I can't imagine not doing it.''
She likes it so much, Hoover decided to do a little cleaning up in a league of her own.
Connie Hoover did bowl in a seniors league, but she had to take her work more seriously.
``All of a sudden it became so necessary,'' said Hoover. ``Now we like to practice on Sunday mornings. It has become a ritual.''
They laugh at each other, critique each other and even pick each other up when something is wrong.
``It's nice to have them around,'' said Hoover. ``It's just a family affair.''
BOWLER OF THE WEEK: Ruby Hardison blasted her 129 average when she rolled a 232 game in the Thaila Lynn Baptist Church League at Pinboys of Lynnhaven.
TENPIN TIDBITS: Justin Harris nailed a 215 game and a 578 series in the Big and Little League at Indian River Lanes. ... Mark Stephens blasted his 158 average with a 265 game at Pinboys of Lynnhaven.
DUCKPIN DATA: Jena Carte with the Preps League at Oceana zipped to a 158 game with a 394 series. ... At the same alley in the same league, Stephanie Goodman rolled a 172 game and 328 series, and Alfred Albers pitched 70 pins over average to fashion a 168 game and a 393 series.
BOWLING NOTE: If you're interested in having fun and raising money for kids, contact Delisa F. Alvis at 446-2170 about the eleventh Annual Junior Achievement Bowl-a-thon. The tentative bowling date is March 15, at Pinboys of Chesapeake. The fee is $8 and covers three games, shoes, and a T-shirt. All of the proceeds will go to support Junior Achievement, programs that teach a positive message about business and economics to more than 7,000 Hampton Roads students.