How awesome is Norm Duke?

This is his 26th season on tour. Opens the '08-'09 campaigning winning the biggie, the PBA World Championship - starting the year off like NASCAR does at Daytona.

He's won THREE STRAIGHT MAJORS. No one in the PBA's 50-year history has done that. Not Weber, Dick or Pete, Earl Anthony, Walter Ray Williams, etc.

When Tiger Woods wins 3 in a row, the media goes apoplectic. That's how big Norm's win was last Sunday. He's 44 - and not slowing down.

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The 2008-2009 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is underway as the PBA celebrates its 50th year.

Yes, the Tour has a new blanket sponsor after three years with Denny's in the title roll.

Last year ESPN's Rob Stone in his first season anchoring the Tour telecast created "hambone" to ID a four strikes-in-a-row.

Bury the hambone. Hambone is out. "A woodie" is in for '08. I'll change it when Lumber Liquidators starts selling meat products.

Who will dominate on Tour this year? My bet is on Jason Couch. He sat out last year recovering from a knee injury. He was great in '06-'07 being injured. Imagine how he'll be with no pain or flex restriction.

Comeback Player of the Year? Springfield, Illinois' Jeff Carter. Out for most of the year recovering from a wrist cyst. It's out and Poolside Guzzler (his nickname on the http://www.pba.com/ forums) is in. I'm prejudiced though - I've bowled with Jeff and enjoy his friendship.

His all time record of 112 300 games and an all time highest league season average of 261 don't hurt either. Jeff's also one of the Bowler's Journal Top 100 teachers in the country. I hope I can make that list in a couple of years. Yes, I give lessons and use video with my students. Email me here if you have any interest in upgrading your game.

Rookie of the Year? No prediction. It's impossible to make because you don't know who's going to emerge from the TQR (Tour Qualifying Round) for the 5-7 weekly spots not taken by the regulars. Rhino Page proved that last year, coming out of every TQR strong, finished 9th in points and the best Rookie of the Year in the 49 year history of the PBA.

Tim Behrendt from St. Louis has bowled TQR's and after a year under his belt, should break through for a tournament or two...or more. He finished 11th yesterday in the PBA Pepsi Tournament Qualifying Round out of a 78 person field. Tim only needed 66 more pins to qualify for the main tournament, which would have been a minimum pay of $1,800.

I also see Mike Remaklus from Florissant out for the PBA TQR's. He finished 14th. I've known Mike for a few years - he definitely is tour material.

In the meantime, I'll update this with pictures, videos, etc. and make this interactive for you. Send this URL to your bowling friends. That's what the game is all about, having fun - and sharing info.

Welcome to the Bi State Bowling Times group - dedicated to promoting bowling by publicing events and news about the sport in the area.

St. Louis is rich with bowling heritage. It has been tarnished a bit with the loss of the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum which is moving to Dallas - and I believe that this is the last month it will be open so please, visit one last time if you haven't been there.

The only way this group will be successful is for you to participate and to let others know about it. Community groups grow very quickly so please help out.

There are a lot of great featurds on my.stltoday.com for the group, so let's use them all.

Thank you and look forward to your participation.

Scott Simon