Her bowling dates — including one in March with friends actress Selena Gomez and ‘Glee’ star Cory Monteith — have earned the Nashville songbird a nomination for induction into the International Bowling Museum Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization that promotes bowling.

And if you think that Taylor hasn’t earned the honor, consider that People reports Cory confessing that Taylor “kicked my ass,” after a game at Pinz in Los Angeles this past spring. “I’m not gonna deny this. I was just an uncoordinated mess that day and I couldn’t put the ball into the pins. I couldn’t do it. It was bad. She just brought the A-game. And I brought the B-game.”

Taylor is no “shoe”-in for the honor. She’s one of nine celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, and Bill Murray, who were nominated because their bowling has helped promote the sport. Taylor fans can help make sure their favorite singer bowls a perfect game. Visit the event website between now and Saturday, August 7 to cast your ballot.

There’s even something in it for you: Once you vote — which you can do once a day between now and the deadline — you can download a coupon for a free game of bowling on ‘World Record Day’ on August 7. On that day, 3,000 bowling centers across the U.S. will join forces to set a new world record for the most bowling games played in a 24-hour period.

also see: trophies, medals and plaques

They admit it’s a “complicated story” but one American couple has come to Saskatoon determined to tell it.

Pat Glascock and Michael Hall are the curators of ‘Carvings and Commerce: Model Totem Poles 1880-2010,’ one of the Mendel’s four summer exhibits.

“It’s a story that, for various reasons, you might want to ignore,” said Hall. The Detroit-based artists have collected totem poles created for commercial purposes by the native peoples of North America for the past six years and are presenting, for the first time anywhere, a history of the commercial totem pole.

“This exhibition tells the whole story of the model totem — its birth, its growth and its current state,” said Hall. “We wanted to tell a story that’s never been told.”

The husband and wife team are a sculptor and painter, respectively and have worked for about four years on the Mendel exhibit, acquiring poles from the basements of museums and from long-time collectors across North America. The idea was proposed to them by Dan Ring, the Mendel Art Gallery’s Chief Curator, after he visited the couple about four years ago. At the time, the couple had about 40 poles in their personal collection, including their first — a beam carving by preeminent carver Charlie James.

This is the first exhibit of its kind to catalogue the history of totem poles created for commercial purposes, and spans the 130 years since indigenous peoples began creating the poles for sale or trade.

“The disparagement that’s connected to the idea of ‘made-for-sale’ drops away the minute you walk in this room,” said Hall, who was busy placing the poles at the Mendel Wednesday.

“Are they artifacts, are they art? It kind of goes back and forth between,” said Glascock, touring through the exhibit. “I think if anyone really takes a close look at them, in most cases they would consider them to be art.”

The pieces are divided between four phases of creation from 1880 until 2010 and feature contemporary works by some of the most prominent west coast carvers.

The First Nations people of the northwest started making model totem poles, in other words “ownable, portable versions of the large poles that were in their villages” for sale and trade, in about 1880, said Hall.

People visiting the northwest, whether traders, tourists or adventurers, took those small poles away with them as souvenirs or memories of the visits. It enabled a means of survival for the people who found a new audience for this approximation of indigenous culture around the world.

“The model totem pole was born in the late 19th century and has found a way to survive through a couple of world wars, people walking on the moon, the turn of the millennium, and persist into the present,” said Hall.

By the mid-20th century, making of the poles was not reserved just for the native peoples of the north- west. They were ubiquitous. Boy Scouts were carving totem poles, and “home shop hobby guys” were making them in their basement. Poles were given away as bowling trophies.

“They’re really quite magical, and they have their own appeal. That appeal has found a new audience,” said Hall.

DISTRICT Sports Officer Arthur Duncan presented the Rotary District 1010 Bowling

The picture shows, from left – sports officer John Miller, Arthur Duncan with the Trophy and president John Knox. The winning rink comprised club members Brian Carr, John Miller, Alex Wilmott and Alan Fenton.

Phillips’ 300 was part of a 755 series, and Hammond’s perfect game led to a total of 706. Israel finished with a 739 in the Dr. Pepper Scratch league and Reavley posted a 675 series in R&W Builders.

His legs bend at the knees. He pauses and holds the blue and green bowling ball out in front of him. The men cheer him from the back. Then he lets the ball go, tossing it into the air and throwing it down the wooden lane in one steady motion.

Strike.

His hand goes up in the air. His face lights up.

“Now Pop’s just showing off,” one of the men in the group yells. They all laugh.

This is what brings 91-year-old Jackson Woods joy — his love of bowling.

Woods has been coming to Boulevard Lanes for the last nine years. This was his daughter’s idea after her mother and his wife, Coren, died in 2000.

He shares their story in between his turns at the lane.

Coren was from Level Land. He was from Due West. They were in high school. He played baseball. She played basketball. The first time he saw her on the court, he wanted to know more about her. So he started going to all the basketball games.

“She inspired me, the way she was playing so I kept going,” Woods said. “I went to every game I could. At first, she didn’t pay me no mind.”

It was 1939 when he first saw her play. In 1940 they were married.

With a smile, he said it was his black 1929 Ford that made the difference. He’d noticed other girls, but when he met Coren, he knew he’d be blessed to have her for a bride.

“She was in church,” Woods said. “Everybody called her the queen of Level Land. She was the dream of life.”

He and Coren T. Woods shared 60 years together.

They had four children together: Clinton, Drunelle, Fred Wallace and Jerome Jackson Woods.

He worked at the Chiquola Mill in Honea Path for all but five years of their marriage. Coren joined him at work after the children were grown. And she worked 14 years there. Together they put all four children through college.

“My kids never gave me any trouble,” Woods said.

He’s proud of the life he and his wife had.

“My kids are my joy,” Woods said.

And it was Drunelle who led him here. She was determined to take care of her father in her mother’s absence.

So she suggested the same sport that her own husband started playing 30 years ago.

“She said, ‘Daddy, you’re not going to stay in these four walls,’” Woods said. “I’d never picked up a bowling ball in my life.”

Now he’s part of the Senior League. His team is “The Fun Bunch.”

Woods plays at the Boulevard Lanes on Clemson Boulevard in Anderson on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Woods leaves his worries behind when he heads to the bowling alley.

And it keeps him healthy. He wears glasses. But he’s not walking with a cane and the only pill he takes is the occasional medicine for acid reflux.

“I love it,” Woods said. “When I leave home, I just have my mind on bowling. I don’t have any worries here, because the bowling takes it away.”

Fridays are reserved for competition. He and his daughter, Drunelle, both play the lanes those days. They play together, part of the same team. Then on Wednesdays, he practices with his buddies.

Some days are spent earning trophies and maybe a small pot of money. Woods won about $50 in one competition. And his team took home a first place trophy in one competition.

But each time, he plays for bragging rights. Today is one of those days.

He’s here with Lawrence Jones, 61, Herbert Davis, 74, Rufus Gambrell, 70, Theo Harrison, 61, and Herbert Gibert, 61. They all cheer him on and when its his turn, they all call for “Pop.”

Rufus Gambrell laughs with Woods, and gives him the most grief. There’s an affection there, like a father and son might share. Gambrell is the one who taught Woods how to play.

Woods is teaching him how to calm his temper and how to stay active.

“I know I haven’t known Pop that long, but I love him to death,” Gambrell said. “My old man is gone. So it’s Pop who talks to me and listens to me.

“He’s an inspiration to all of us kids,” Gambrell said, smiling.

So whether Jackson Woods wins or loses his game, he’s still the “Pop” at this bowling alley.

by http://www.independentmail.com/

The Scouts senior capped an outstanding 2010 postseason by winning the girls singles portion of the Pennsylvania State Championship Bowling Tournament Friday at North Versailles Bowl in the Pittsburgh suburbs.

Scheipe won the tournament after defeating Nicole Stagliano of Gov. Mifflin 189-125 in the championship match trophy.

It was the third individual championship of the season for Scheipe, who also won the Berks girls individual tournament and the Eastern Pennsylvania girls singles championship.

Scheipe, who placed fifth in qualifying with a six-game score of 1,146 Friday, had to win three matches to reach the final.

She beat Manheim Township’s Becky Gerhart 202-157 in a stepladder final elimination match, Warwick’s Briana Ord 198-161 in a quarterfinal match and Cedar Cliff’s Brooke Bower 187-183 in a semifinal match.

Stagliano qualified seventh with 1,124 to reach the 12-bowler stepladder finals

She also won three matches before reaching the final. She beat Ephrata’s Christian Leid 157-155 in an elimination round match, Hempfield’s Justyne Falbo 186-159 in a quarterfinal match and Hempfield’s Ashley Howe 182-160 in a semifinal match.

Exeter’s Britney Chamuras was the top qualifier with a six-game score of 1,264, but she lost to Bower 190-175 in a quarterfinal match.

In the boys competition, Twin Valley’s Derrek Rhoads was the only Berks bowler to reach the stepladder final, earning the eighth qualifying spot.

He lost to Serra Catholic’s Ryan Jamison 192-142 in an elimination round match.

Penn Manor’s Cody Johnson won the boys title by defeating Woodland Hills’ Antonio Palangio 222-165 in the championship match.

The team competition will be held today at North Versailles Bowl.

The qualifying round begins at 9 a.m. and the finals begin at 2 p.m.

Pennsbury finished with 37 1/2 wins to Neshaminy’s 38, ending a 10-year reign whereby the Falcons claimed at least a share of the league trophy for 10 consecutive seasons.

In what could be viewed as a sign of things to come, the Redskins split with Pennsbury last Wednesday at Levittown Lanes. The Falcons now have nine league losses after dropping four to William Tennent, three to Harry Truman and now two to the ‘Skins.

Bowling leadoff for Neshaminy, senior Brandon Cummings rolled a 650 series including a high game score of 234.

Sophomore Jeff Murtha bowled a 665 series including a high game 229.

Senior Rob Raddi rolled a 666 series and a high game 225.

Junior Chris Walters bowled a team high 690 series and a team high 258 score in a single game.

Anchor John Margicin rolled a 656 series, including a 254 high game score.

The ‘Skins got out of the gate quickly Jan. 13 at the home of the Falcons, taking game one 1,193-1,027.

“We knew we had to at least split with them to stay in first place,” stated Neshaminy coach Al Moss. “When we beat them by that much in the first game, that made it a lot easier for us, mentally.”

But Pennsbury bounced back, taking games two (1,136-1,042) and three 1,117-1,092). Neshaminy took total pins, 3,327-3,280.

“They’re too good of a team to think you’re going to go in there and sweep them,” stated Moss.

The split pushed the Redskins to 21-3 on the season and kept them in first place by two games over William Tennent (19-5).

For Pennsbury, senior John Terroni rolled a 585 series including a high game 205. Senior Ryan Taylor bowled a team-high 693 series including a high game 258. Junior P.J. Lewars posted a 683 series including a high game 248. Junior Darin Gordon rolled a 663 including a high game 235. Senior Tyler Nicol rolled a 172 in game one with junior Jeremy Syska posting scores of 247 and 237 in the next two games.

Moss expects a four-way horse race for the SOL National bowling trophy this season with the studs in the race being Pennsbury, Neshaminy, Truman and Tennent.

“Everybody is beating Pennsbury this year which is the odd thing and we have beaten them least,” said Moss.

Neshaminy’s next big match is Monday, Jan. 25 versus Council Rock South. The Skins beat the Hawks the first time around but that was at Penndel Lanes. The next match with South will be at Brunswick Zone in Feasterville, home of the Hawks.

“Penndel will drive a sane person absolutely crazy. Our only advantage is that we bowl matches there and we practice there.

“No one likes coming there and I don’t blame them; if I was the opposition, I wouldn’t want to come there either.”

After that it’s on to Bristol Pike Lanes Jan. 27 versus Truman and Feb. 3 back home at Penndel Lanes against Tennent. The last match of the season is Feb. 10 against the Falcons in a match that is sure to tilt in the ‘Skins favor.

It’s at Penndel.

But when he lost his job two days before Christmas 2008, he decided it was time to pursue his dreams — and struck it big as a professional bowler.

Smallwood, 32, started bowling for fun when he was about 14 years old. He said although he wasn’t good at the time, a few friends who also bowled drove him to get better. He eventually became an amateur bowler, bringing home trophies and amateur prize money, supplementing his income bolting in seatbelts.

Smallwood worked at a General Motors factory in Saginaw, Mich., supporting a young family. Two days before Christmas in 2008, like so many autoworkers in Michigan, he was let go.

“I have a 2-year-old, and a house and car payments,” Smallwood told ABC News. “We couldn’t just go find another job that paid the same amount. So it was tough.”

“While he was looking for a job he said, ‘I gotta start bowling,’” she told ABC News. “Well, that would mean taking some of any little income that we are getting and kind of gambling it, saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to go bowl this tournament.’ Well, that money was for a bill. So he always walks out the door and it’s like, ‘No pressure, but you better make some money.’”

Bowling was in his wife’s blood, too. In fact, they began their romance at a bowling alley.

“I was bowling in a ladies classic league,” she said. “Tom was bowling as well and we were just sitting across the table from each other and I actually had his phone number and just called him. … I think I knew I was going to end up with a bowler, because I bowled myself, and you know, my family bowled.”

Last summer, Smallwood scraped together $1,500 for the Professional Bowlers Tour qualifying school. The school was five days, nine games per day.

“Basically all my hopes and dreams were into that one week, because it’s a once-a-year deal,” he said. “You only get one chance a year.”

Smallwood said he told his wife: “This is it, my last hopes, chance, dreams of ever doing this again.”