2023 PBA Tournament of Champions Stepladder Finals 4 of 4

an event built around Champions an invitation reserved for bowlers who know exactly what it takes to win at the highest level that's how you start an intentional to answer the age-old question who's the best the first history [Applause] The Pinnacle of the sport it's not a coincidence all that history happened here at this Tournament of Champions this is every competitor's dream oh yes best versus best for a major championship nothing but strikes the PBA Tournament of Champions Starts Now what a show foreign [Music] the world's finest have gathered inside historic Riviera Lane for professional Boeing's Premier invite only event the Tournament of Champions and what a way to start things off as the king Jason Belmonte begins his hopeful March through our step ladder final with the meeting against Jason Sterner Matt Ogle your 3C then business picks up with two forces chasing Player of the Year honors Anthony Simonson and the man who's trying to go wire to wire as number one here at the TOC EJ Tackett here are the odds to win provided by Fox bet and Tackett minus 140. he is your favorite velmo sitting there at plus one thousand bowling's most iconic venue the Sport's most infamous Lanes right there 27-28 it is time to Toc so happy you're with us today on Fox Rob Stone the Hall of Famers plural Norm Duke and Randy Peterson here with you let's start with the man who will wrap things up on our show number one seed EJ Tackett a guy who has absolutely owned the tour so far serious heater he's on here in 2023 EJ Tackett already three wins in just five events this season here he wins the United States open as the number one seed he also won this event in 2017. he's leading the tour in all stats and he's just one win away today from putting a real Stranglehold on the player of the year race he'll be in our final match but we begin with Jason Belmonte is belmo the greatest this sport has ever seen yes I mean he's so solid in all regard he's got a great spare game his middle game Second To None he throws the most powerful ball on Earth and he's clutch now look everybody out here can throw it right you got to be able to bowl and this just in Rob Jason belmoni can bolt he can bolt he's got a bit of an intimidation factor to his game as well and here's your odds on favorite to take our Opening match and bomo standing by with our Kimberly Pressler thanks [Applause] really relaxed today I feel great um you know today I feel like I've got absolutely nothing to lose a climb from the sixth seed which traditionally I shouldn't even be having an opportunity to win this event so now I've got this opportunity it's uh it's time to take it as best I can sounds like you're ready and this crowd is definitely ready guys we're gonna send it back to you they are Juiced up for sure as we get set for match number one against belmo your favorite over Sterner according to our partners at Fox bet [Applause] three times the 39 year old from Australia has won this tournament 2014 2015 2019 nobody nobody has ever won it four times could that change today [Applause] not at all how he wanted to start early on Jason Belmonte Norm starting pretty far to the right yeah I've been watching practice and he and Sterner have been practicing between I'd say first and second arrow and I didn't see that coming we're only Jason did either open frame in the first look I've been watching and it's been iffy at best too I mean they haven't just been pounding pocket either yeah that has been a theme throughout the last couple days here again this is day three of an unprecedented March through the 17 man stepladder final we've never had that in the history of the PBA Sterner your four seat belmo had to win twice last night over Andrew Anderson and Kyle troop just to get here [Applause] great opening shot there by Jason Sterner now look if you watch his bowling ball it is just massively dull what he's trying to do is get a weaker ball to read the early and mid part of the lane and that's key when you're playing right of the third Arrow rolling that 15 pound Rock right there some of the discussions we've had through the course of our coverage of the TOC a lot of the bowlers dropping down to a 14 pound bowling ball [Applause] right up the Gap with urethane for Jason Sterner and off the red hot start something we haven't seen throughout the stepladder finals here at Riviera early heat applied by Sterner let's see how belmo reacts again open frame in the first for the man many consider the greatest ever this is the front of the 10 ball change yes sir and a line change I mean that was near to the third Arrow again his first shot on that right lane I missed this 10 pin conversion just once this week [Applause] I'd like to give a shout out to my brother back in Orlando Frank Dean Geronimo absolutely loves Rob Stone by the way but never misses a telecast frankly we love you thanks for tuning in buddy Frankie huh Frankie Geronimo nice nice this is belmo last night guys taking on 5c Kyle troop and went down to that 10 frame Bell moat needed a double and he's at six double and five to win it all didn't get it troop needed a double couldn't get the second one so belmo able to move on to 16 to 10 to today's final step ladder well a lot went on in that 10th Frame dude no kidding no kidding yeah late night as well past 11 p.m Eastern here we are in the noon hour in Velma with his first strike so open frame spare strike trending in the right direction [Applause] I think it might have been a good thing that he split right out of the gate that gets him into I think his comfort zone without any question if he starts out with a strike out of the gate then I think he stays with that non-reactive ball farther right longer he could have been trouble oh [Applause] just a bit inside on that last shot by Sterner I mean normally when it doesn't hold pocket you're throwing the urethane from that zone what are you thinking you better have hold left to Target otherwise I mean he's not going to swing that thing and get it back so if you don't have left you don't have right what do you have right but that isn't that the whole purpose of throwing your thing that's what I thought absolutely foreign Brunswick oil pattern they are rolling Randy on the Don Johnson 40. Don Johnson Hall of Famer one of the greatest of all time and you can take a look to see what the players have done throughout the stepladder finals apparently Jason Sterner did not get this memo he's about 10 to 15 boards right of those lines yeah and Don Johnson 40 just means the lanes have been oiled to 40 feet down the lane that's all right so one misses wide the other one left on the right lane well that tells you how good the first two shots he made was you can see he flipped that one over and got it right and it just has no way it's going to get back just leaving the two pin I think is uh pretty good results John with a low scoring that we've seen over the last three days this you know nine spares not bad foreign this week in match play Belmonte with the comfortable win [Applause] well Norm you talked about it in the open most powerful strike ball out on tour and it pretty much shows up right here God that is just brutal you and I never threw messages like that ever and it's expected oh he expects that absolutely yeah oh yeah watch out the Kings got a triple foreign yeah all that power and you see on the right there look at the accuracy you combine those two and you're a force Rob had a great comment as well and you on camera the intimidation fact oh yeah there's no doubt about it I mean all great have intimidation fact let's see how Stern reacts really fast and again that outside Zone were they're pretty slick what does he need to do here guys I probably changed to reactive and get pretty close to where Beaumont is well I'll never throw better shots now neither of those he loved but when you're missing a head pin if you can miss the head then that is the first thing that made me nervous as a player if I could miss both directions or the head pin you say make better shots but when your mind feels like you can't miss an inch left or right how do you make a great shot it's much harder to make a good shot you feel like you're bowling in a phone booth exactly in fact you may as well be bowling in a phone hasn't struck since the second changes that here in the sixth well he needed that one you could feel Uncle momentum starting to slide to the belmo camp Sterner able to stop some of the bleeding it is a tight one in our Opening match here in the final round of the PBA Tournament of Champions live on Fox [Music] oh the PBA on Fox is sponsored by Guaranteed Rate knock your initial mortgage rate down by up to 3 percent with rate reduced from Guaranteed Rate learn more at rate.com Rob Stone Rand Peterson Norm do Kimberly Pressler welcoming back to Fox sports live coverage of the PBA Tournament of Champions sixth event of this PBA season Jason Belmonte still looking for win number one for most any other professional bowler that would be an unrealistic comment for Jason Belmonte it's very much what's taking you so long he's heard it all week and he responds with the strike his fourth in a row the kids like to call in a ham bone [Music] open frame spare and then four straight Norm for belmo yeah not only four straight but four straight really quality shots and if you're on the bench here and you're watching that it's scary what's scary is the struggles that belmo had early on here Randy at the TOC the work he made throughout the course of the week that slow start and then really starting to find his comfort zone you know guys for me he makes it look easy and they're not easy but they're not easy that's shot making at its finest right and he's putting so much on the Bowling Ball that he gets to enjoy some room down Lane where you know if you're throwing it down and in like like Jason Sterner there is no room down Lane you have to hit your target you have to throw it perfectly and then you have to get this ball to hit starter working on a strike closing out the seventh [Applause] messenger takes out the ten needed that that is getting the ball to hit yeah that's what girls will do for you get some gun show going and you learn to rip the 10 out with a little bit of power also the angle doesn't hurt any oh the winner of this one to take on Matt Ogle your three seed and then Anthony Simonson and your one seed e j Tackett baseball season right around the corner here Returns on Fox April 1st oh what a break wow that one held that one held a little and then it took the four at first now it didn't go through the nose and leave the big split looked like he should have left a four pin here but when you're throwing that much ball speed you get some of that pin action yeah and I think it's because of the ball speed that it was able to hold line ready yes sir do you hear something I do I feel like we're being pursued there it is yeah we've got a six-pack alert fellow can strike here he's got a thousand dollars and he is way right that six-pack alert sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon of Milwaukee Wisconsin please remember to drink responsibly and hopefully we'll have a six-pack alert later in the show but velmo grounded after five straight so all this time it just takes a beer for get him to choke one a little PBR sponsorship That Boy tour heading to Milwaukee a couple weeks he'll throw the spare ball that hooks very very little he'll go right at it well done huh tight one here as we enter the ninth four pins separating the two jasons Sterner though with the hammer John Mayer please take my secondary rank belmo out of re-racks now raining and seven time PBA Player of the Year Jason Belmonte told us yesterday he pretty much has to win this tournament if he wants to be anywhere in the conversation for another player of the year title huge effort here in the ninth and not at all a little in what he expected four seven good call he was yeah just a little in and he leaves the fast eight but you know he's trying to set up the 10th Frame and like you said right now Jason Sterner with the hammer covers it one more frame for belmos he takes a seat and let's see what Sterner can do here in the ninth and 10th oh you see your max scores right there 253 235. sterner's Achilles heel has always been getting too amped and overthrowing it no question see if he can keep his emotions in check and Ace the ninth and Tenth Frame it's really been into that bowl U2 and that's part of it is they've been addressing all parts of the game not just throwing it but also how to handle things mentally how to keep yourself calm in situations exactly like this [Applause] Norm you mentioned all you it is bull you the letter u.com um Rick Benoit our good friend Brad Angelo involved in that and he gave a lot of credit to full you talking about how that website how that Instagram page helped contribute to his understanding of the play the oil transition to the strategies and how they're being interpreted great intelligence offered there by bullu and we call him Rick Benoit I was just gonna say that but I I didn't want it it's all right Rick Benoit you want to go Benoit I didn't want to step on you can go anywhere you want thank you guys so now we move on to the tank well now no matter what Jason does in the 10th Frame he can't shut out Jason Belmonte yeah five pin game going into the tenth here you go is what we want this is what you get at the TOC one of our themes last night when we had four straight hours of coverage every pin matters just five pins separating these two [Applause] nerves that was one of the questions we had about Sterner Randy talked about him getting himself maybe too amped up in certain situations remember finished second at the PBA world championship last year lost in that roll-off that was it he was just a little ant yeah I mean just wasn't a good shot and you heard him say his own name oh Jason 245. second time he's faced it this week what was it again one more shot yeah only the second time he shot the 245 this week 48 games worth of two two of those a game crazy all right see the max score 217 for Sterner [Applause] that's the easiest thing to do out of here right now these lanes are really really hard yeah I had an open frame in the first that came on the left belmo on the right here to wrap things up in the tent a mark and he moves on to take on that Ogle next [Applause] that's always the best way to throw a Mark it's just in a pit right out of that gate [Applause] Sterner is done belmo moves on you know we mentioned in the open how clutch he is watch this shot solid at the line he gets to watch the whole thing the ball just runs everything right into the pit sixth strike of the match giving him the win Elmo will continue to roll out well he looked at another ball there guys and um just trying to see what kind of options he may have he's going to go to a third ball now I'm just looking for the best reaction and what gives him the biggest margin of error right and not only that let's say the first ball uh you know lets him down he gets now to at least have a comfort zone with two others maybe not as comfortable 231 217 the final Belmonte moves on he is now just three wins away from his 15th major title most in PBA tour history next up for him your three seed Matt Ogle who has an awfully interesting side hustle in Louisville more on that when we return foreign [Music] fifth year the Tournament of Champions has been held here inside historic Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn Ohio just outside of Akron just south of Cleveland we are set for match number two and it is three versus five Matt Ogle set to take on Jason Belmonte our friends at Fox bet have been put in Mr belmo as the favorite here in match number two Elmo three straight wins two last night one today Matt and he's now starting wins away from yet another title in another major belmo minus 150 Ogle plus 125 those are the odds courtesy fair to say Mr Belmonte has a advantageous lead in the TV Comfort Department over Mr Ogle first career singles television appearance for the 38 year old from Louisville that's a way to start it Maddie yeah there's some exhaling going on right there we all remember that first shot right yeah get it over with he looks over there and up steps the king three times EOC champ did it last in 2019. [Applause] one of my own guys two players with similar power levels playing two similar lines no doubt about it I mean Jason Belmonte has had a influence on all of bowling and so many players even one Enders are converting to the two-hand style and that's why power Norm if you were reincarnated would you come back with one hand I would leave it too I would leave it be in my error and this error definitely two hands [Applause] foreign [Applause] no now that's a great sign right there and you you and I see the same thing that ball could have just checked up at any time and it just laid there I mean just game number two and already left the middle Arrow right and they're going to enjoy that the rest of the day I think these two handers they don't mind getting left see ya oh boy yeah guys I remember my first shot ever on television was a strike the second shot felt like I was going through an obstacle course so yeah you know it's understandable but he's going to make the spare I just feel he's going to make this spare he's going to settle down and for the rest of the game he's going to be quite fine you know you talk about that first time you remember quite vividly as as do I uh also one of the things that especially when you're struggling and you're getting ready to shoot 150 and your friends are watching at home is you start to sweat like Shack at the free throw line you know it's actually uncontrollably everybody sweat like Shaq when he was the one free throws Matt Ogle going with the one is his choice of orb back on the strike train is Ogle so strike eight spare strike for the man from Louisville that's a good sign for him too he got that ball a couple boards left and it laid down just like belmo's ball did so I'm thinking both guys have a pretty much the same margin of error they have the same playing field gets down to who can bowl better 30 tour titles won by this man from New South Wales Australia [Applause] so uh guys I have a question for you and I want to get your opinion on something if you're swinging a golf club at 100 miles an hour and the face is a little opener a little closed it still finds the golf course if you're swinging it at 125 miles an hour and it's one degree open or one degree closed it's in the parking lots right right isn't it kind of the same thing with the two-handed High Rev players yes unless they're playing just left of their previous track which they both are so you know in the golf course they don't have those big Banks there that hold the ball close you know you just hit it right into the you know the swimming pool but my point is does it make the release Point more critical of course oh yeah a good point there but if they get a little bit of track ride of them then it doesn't then it's all in their favor this is the four pin once this week takes care of it there so belmo three strikes to open and then a nine spare lead at 19 belmo sits Ogle pops up Ogle from Louisville Kentucky mentioned his side hustle owner of Ogle Lawn and Landscape Landscaping Company in Louisville does a little snow removal during the season go set them up with Kyle troop who's moving out to Louisville take care of his spread perfect going for the 10 pin this week is Ogle we got it so we mentioned this is his first singles televised appearance his first window 2019 the Roth Holman doubles championship in Oklahoma partnered with Sean Rash Randy you and I were there rash was pure class they had to win and he stepped aside and said it's about this man Ogle getting his first tour title in the eyes gave it away the celebration family was there to enjoy it with him such a great moment family here today with Ogle as well free seed at the TOC he's got some work to do right now though in the fifth looks off that's all so it boils down to one thing right shot making bingo oh get down 10. the Ogle crew wife Stacy son Gavin dad Doug belmo pops up lead at 22 as he gets set to close out the fifth [Applause] he's in such a peaceful place at such ease right now your home for Saturday baseball MLB on Fox all season long the biggest stars and teams square off in the biggest games on the best day of the week although Sunday's a pretty good day of the week by the way Major League Baseball action returns Saturday April 1st on Fox I don't see any Tampa Bay Rays in that Pro mobile yeah but we'll change that I do see mookie I see a good bowler in there let's go Mookie you're not wrong there velmo in the sixth looking for a double oh my oh my [Music] God Elmo's march to another Toc and another major it's going pretty well this Sunday what will Ogle have to say about it we conclude their match when we return [Music] we welcome you back to Fairlawn Ohio just outside of Akron just south of Cleveland we are inside the historic Riviera Lanes Fox Sports continuing coverage of the PBA Tournament of Champions we were here with you Friday night four hours last night and now two hours here on Fox Matt Ogle Jason Belmonte Ogle down 32. and this is not going to help hmm too far right yep too far right you can see the number right there 3.6 it's hard to get it back from that spot that's been proven throughout this 17 player step ladder finals there's a big shot here I mean this thing gets out of hand if he doesn't make the split hasn't made it yet this week oh for three going after the 210. it'll be oh for four not the right time for an open frame comes right out of that commercial break so difficult for these Pros to bounce back from that three and a half minute wait sitting on the bench yeah we see that all the time much much better didn't quite get the pop on that shot that Jason is experiencing I thought it'd look better down by 45 he doesn't need any 10 pins floor pins anything right now you need strikes and a lot of help from Belmonte which I don't think he'll get I don't either [Applause] for the spare for Ogle of course this is Hall of Fame week here and three new inductees into the PBA Hall of Fame Lenny Boris Pete mccordick Fred coach Fred Borden greatest coach ever from Akron yes sir coach teacher proprietor author as well published 14 books tomorrow's instructional videos amazing guy tough only in over 50 countries Jason Belmonte another shot you know what's been fascinating about belmo here on TV at the TOC this week has never had a solo stand-alone strike every time he struck another one has followed yeah always been a pair of strikes and that's huge in the game of balloon when you score it you know without that second strike or third then it just is a mark the lead at 55 inside Riviera lanes and you know you say those two words Riviera Lanes show some respect to it and Randy there is something unique about this facility sure is I mean I can remember the first time I ever came to Riviera and you see that sign out front and you know all those banners out there yep all the banners I mean look at all the banners they used to have them out on uh the Main Street out front and it would line up the Boulevard and you drive down that street and look for your Shield I remember that that drive looking for money please it up you know the thing for me though was there's Normie the thing for me yep George Brandon my old tour roommate right behind him but you know the thing for me was I can't remember how many times I'd be on a flight and a guy would ask me hey so what do you do and I said well I'm a professional bowler and he goes oh that's awesome what do you do for a living and I can't tell you how many times that happened I know it happened to you back in the day Norman I'll tell you what the one place you always felt like a like a professional like you where somebody was in this building foreign y I could not tell you how proud you were to walk through those doors yes like all those before you some absolute Legends have won this tournament Pete Weber Marshall Holman Jason couch three in a row the great Earl Anthony Billy Hardwick never-ending list of names mad on that not on that list Randy Peterson uh no runner-up my friend yes in 2003. he needs this to stay alive game over Belmonte moving on and he will face one of the greatest young talents we have in the Anthony Simonson oh boy so this is four straight wins over two days here for Jason Belmonte four four somebody's on a run somebody's actually on a run for sure yeah beat Andrew Anderson and Kyle truth last night just to make Today's Show Jason Sterner went down and now Matt Ogle has lost so how about our remaining three Jason Belmonte Anthony Simonson e j Tackett best three on Earth at the moment at the moment [Music] [Applause] it's intro the three four and five hitters for the Yankees right now batting number three I mean that's a there's a murders road yeah on our show I mean isn't it fitting though to come down to those three players in this building at this event and no disrespect to Ogle right no I mean that's not what we're saying yeah you know I I'm so glad that Ogle made this show though because as a Dallas Striker he was on my team last year I need for him to get this experience because he's coming back I'm sorry go ahead Rob well belmode I was just gonna say he went to a different ball because he has that he has that opportunity now the game is well in hand or this match rather so he's looking at another piece of equipment like he did that's a great luxury last game right and and so the question is what's he gonna go with probably the right one I mean he knows what he's doing but I mentioned that Dallas Strikers look Matt Ogle is going to replace me I'm no longer the player manager I'm only the manager he is my replacement I'm proud to say that I'm glad he got this experience way to go Maddie yeah there's Dallas Strikers well that's the PVA League coming your way this summer yeah three-time defending Champion Portland Lumberjacks that's a great way to 37 for belmo his scores going back to last night 214 216 231 237 belmo trending in the right direction four straight wins two more wins and he's got himself yet another major title would be his 15th up next for him though your two seed Anthony Simonson who's very much in contention for Player of the Year honors plus we're going to talk about what this facility Riviera means to the pros next [Music] welcome back to the TOC let's jump into the flashback machine go back to 2013 in the indie Pete Weber dropping Jason Belmonte 224 179 at the ripe old age of 5-0 the oldest player to win the TOC it was his 37th and last career PVA tour with his 10th career Major title and Pete Weber finished 55th this week here it's okay it's more than okay it's just good to have Pete back absolutely great to see Pete uh competing and it's always a good time when you're able to watch one of the greatest that's ever laced him up out here on the hardwood yeah the biggest name in Bowling Weber not only that Pete what a great great show he puts on never a dull moment I don't know what you're talking about whoever we know Pete's back home watching this one and uh he's welcome anytime absolutely anytime that we're around please always good to have you well after nearly 25 years at other venues the Tournament of Champions returned here to Historic Riviera Lanes back in 2018 these lanes and we've been talking through the broadcast a special place for Old Pros for current pros and Kimberly you know the value of this venue to the guys who are rolling on the tour right now thanks Rob the historic sign above the front doors here Riviera says it all through these doors past the world's finest Bowlers and to the current generation of Pros it's just an honor to be able to compete here as you'll see next impressing questions presented by go bowling the quote on that door is it's always amazing to walk through it and you definitely you definitely have this little moment where you kind of look up and it's that that Field of Dreams where you know you could hear the announcers and the voices of the of the players from yesteryear it has a different Aura like when you walk into somewhere that has that much history in it it feels like a place you're supposed to have a major tournament as soon as you walk in the door you see the doors and and you've seen the guys walk in and out and you know walk in that door and you're like yeah baby I do remember seeing it as a kid and walking through those doors was just one of the coolest things I've done out here I didn't really know if I belonged walking through those doors the very first time I did it uh yeah I mean you're talking about the greatest players ever and and think I was really worthy of that when you hear River area Lanes what do you think history you know the best of the best of Boulder uh the best of the best of one there to go back in that building and to be able to compete on the lanes that those guys competed on it just it's it means the world to me every time I put my fate on on the approaches I I get that feeling of you know who has put their shoes on walked on these approaches before me and it's definitely an empowering moment I mean I think Jason said it best right field of dreams I mean this is like you said it's the Madison Square Garden of bowling it's the lambo field uh and it was the the one tournament that was always circled on the calendar it's still circled on my calendar and I don't even bowling history in this building and good times and bad for all players by the way look at the crowd behind us it goes almost wall to wall yeah in this venue from over my right shoulder all the way down people have been lying up and they have been here for hours to take in arguably the premier event on the PBA tour and we are now down to arguably the premier three on the tour right now Anthony Simonson is your two seed he is set to take on Jason Belmonte as you see your odds to win provided by foxbat that semi-final Showdown coming up next as the TOC rolls on here on Fox Sports foreign [Music] [Applause] sports live coverage of the PBA Tournament of Champions one of five Majors on the professional Bowlers Association tour match number three coming your way 2C to Anthony Simonson set to take on Jason Belmonte the winner to meet your one seed e j Tackett foreign [Applause] how about that start for Simonson yeah and how about Simonson going straight out of the gate and then leaving that little Shaker 8-10 yeah kind of unlucky there you know that that ball can strike right here I mean he catches enough of the head pin to catch the two pin but it can't get to the eight not what he wanted to see open frame to start yeah we've been talking so much about EJ Tackett and Jason Belmonte let's not forget about Anthony Simonson correct so young so many titles so early just 26 years old we'll get into his credentials in a moment Jason Belmonte Randy we've been talking about it since Friday who's going to go on a run who's going to go on a run here at the TOC with us under unprecedented 17-man step ladder Final belmo's on that run right now four straight looking to make it five straight wins left the Ten Pin there and we talked about it before we went to break and belmonte's going with a different bowling ball here against Simonson looks like he's moved farther left he liked it I liked it ten pin didn't like it this would be by far belmo's best outing of the season again it's only the sixth event of the season but it's rare over the last decade and change where you'll say to yourself we've had six events we haven't seen belmo yet that's very rare but he admitted that you know the travel is so difficult to overcome when he's coming from Australia that he has to get his legs underneath him and I think it just took a couple more weeks to get his legs he's got him now four wins in a row looking for number five oh he was telling us the other day he's been quote close right other than that 70th finish at the U.S open some top ten some top 20s just one or two shots away needs that break on paper things have been going very well but execution wise not as good but still pretty happy needs those strings to connect and those strings started last night today so far Simonson gets his first strike after that open frame in the first 10th year on the tour for Anthony Simonson already 11 tour titles and Randy four of them Majors the youngest player to win a major the youngest to win two majors three Majors four majors now he goes for five take a look at his Arsenal Rob and Norm he's going with the idol and he's piping it it's pretty straight from out but he can do so many things with a bowling ball oh no doubt about it incredibly talented uh could be a handful yes I imagine I mean Anthony Simonson is not scared of anyone no right in between second and third Arrow yeah he mentioned he was throwing an idle you see that big blue stripe around it that's that die in the oil that has been applied to the lanes he's weigh in now [Applause] [Music] weigh in with full hand s couple boards left with his feet still using that same break point down Lane as you can see that stripe that line going down the lane and again that streak continues not a solo strike at a minimum a pair of strikes here on television at the TOC so far nine spare in the first strikes in the second and the third as you see his numbers all time in TV finals and majors in belmo burning an early re-rack three in a row thank you [Applause] yeah I'm not sure he was very confident about carrying the 10 pin there but the ball kept going it kept going no deflection that's why he gets the six pin into the wall back into the tin and that's why he's got a turkey foreign with a little bit more on Mr Simonson and where he is bowling out of these days yeah you guys may have noticed that his home center is now changed to the compound well that is actually his friend Chris Hutchinson who is a professional poker player's home now Chris has a pair of lanes in his house where Anthony now bowls when he's not on the road you know they've been friends for a few years now and Anthony joked with us saying that he's Chris's backup mechanic but uh I'm thinking that's not a bad trade-off to be able to bowl on a pair of exclusive Lanes not at all as we welcome you to the Beer frame sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon of Milwaukee Wisconsin ask for the original please Drake responsibly and that is now four straight for Simonson man fears the compound by the way very much sounds like a movie title coming your way this summer yeah I was I was at a different compound uh we didn't have any bowling lanes different [Applause] oh another 10 pin you know and I was thinking if the Simonson cat gets comfy playing that line uh look out well any of the remaining three if they get comfy look out this looked comfy that's two out of three ten pins on the right lane and the one that he got was was skinny so you can bet he's concerned with it so half the battle is is throwing a good repeating shots shot making the other is choosing the right piece of equipment to get it to go through the pins properly to strike when you do hit the pocket right and having the Right Touch to get it to behave at that break point the way you want so it doesn't deflect when it goes into the pins a little bit of deflection there that's the ring and Tin still he'll take that shot just about every time he did switch to an rst X2 Rob's favorite more letters please got a hold you see that right here a little bit of left and it laid there tight one as expected between Belmonte and Simonson the winner to move on to our title match and take on one seed E.J Tackett [Music] the online Graphics you see today including the ball Tracer courtesy of clutch bowling who will be more clutch here in our semi-final showdown between Anthony Simonson and Jason Belmonte standing room only crowd here inside historic Riviera Lakes if we take a look at strike track 3D and uh the two players playing Flames completely different Simonson obviously the red ball Belmonte the blue ball what you wonder why that red ball so far out in front well Simonson's going much straighter so he has to have ball speed to keep it online but Monty's a slower speed to get it to come around the corner but check this out all right launch position that's pretty much where the ball is hitting the floor at release and then we check out the positioning at the arrows but check this out guys exact exactly the same break point down Lane exactly the same and that is the key there the break point into the pocket doesn't really matter how you get it to that break point just get it there it matters how it gets to the pins afterwards get it to that spot get it to that spot do you ever just look at the break point Norm I always look at the break point I'm glaring at the air so instead of the arrows I glare at the arrows I think break point okay oh my goodness fresh out a commercial break which is a tough shot to throw he threw it I mean I could have went either way that's a strike eight out of ten upper body gets parallel to the floor Simonson labels that shot and leaves the stone seven those numbers courtesy of Lane talk what a great resource they are for our broadcasts so that spare by Simonson breaking up his run of four straight strikes hey Rob you want to know where to get more info lean talk lanetalk.com oh.com yeah got to throw the dog is that a new logo by the way there nope all right pretty cool logo though I like it Simonson down by one after that crappy break he just got in the sixth [Applause] man so he leaves that squishing 8-10 Norm he follows it up with I think it's four in a row I can't see the scoreboard yep four in a row and then he leaves that solid seven and now that shaker 10. um it's really the only thing that's separating the two now keep in mind Belmonte two ringing Ten Pins yeah all solid shots every one of them that's what we expect from these two and DJ coming on Elite but this is Elite level stuff exactly they're throwing it with two hands and all that power and look at that they're accuracy it's like Mike Durbin out there sometimes where they're so accurate they just put it right on top of the strike before it yeah except there are 20 boards left of where Durbin used to play this pair and 250 plus RPMs more belmo five titles last season looking for his first tier in 2023. got a hook first time he is not paired strikes together on television through our coverage of this edition of the TOC fortunate here Norm I think only leaving the 4-8 fortunate I mean that that was right on the edge of the cliff yeah but I still think that he got it where he wanted really he said that that no that was right of where he wanted but he said that well he still liked it look out okay obviously from the ball reaction that was right on the edge of the cliff yes no doubt no doubt but he knows where that Cliff is and he said did I'm gonna believe him hey when he talks I'm believing him well I'm no I'm not buying it okay I'm not buying what you're selling sorry I'll come down on the price some negotiating going on two pins separating these two three frames to go the winner to take on one seed EJ Tackett I want to say hello to Donnie Griffin joining us here Regional VP for Bolero Corporation foreign so appreciative of everything Bolero has done for the PBA No Doubt No Doubt so now it swings to Simonson off a pair of nine spares come on that was a beauty just labeling shot after shot can't strike he'll make it spare he'll regroup now I guarantee you Anthony Simons has got to finish for us right here well foundation frame coming up for both players here in the ninth but Simonson in my opinion to have any chance he has to strike here in the ninth frame you can see the max scores right there in front of you 249 belmo 236 Simo yeah this has been a good one right here two frames to go the winner to move on to our final the TOC oh boy I didn't like it oh my goodness first errant shot look at the numbers here folks only allowed to miss by an arrow if you're over there oh there was some dig I think and Jason did Miss by at least as much the last shot but it held pocket now that's Simon since the fall in an open frame in the foundation frame ninth yeah that's Simonson's call to play right of of Belmonte so you know just because he missed and got it and you missed and didn't um yeah Elmo can put the hammer down [Applause] oh really oh my goodness nine pin the audacity it looks like they just set that up right after he got you know 10. he strikes and then Here Comes the henchman he throws that nine pin right back up Paul goes right by it the Survivor to take on EJ tack at your one seat [Music] yeah Annie Mark will do here in the 10th once again for Belmonte come on man please take my second right so if you say please does that mean that you get it all the time just you're just polite he is really polite isn't he that's all he is I should have said please more on the rerack mother may I please exactly how about please can I change the cork in my thumb hole one more time this game tape please oh I never seen anyone fidget like you it's awesome me either a mark and bellmo moves on to our title match likes it belmo Tackett coming up next [Applause] the satisfying moment of the match sponsored by Snickers nothing satisfies like a Snickers but nothing will satisfy that man Jason Belmonte like another major title he is one win away from his 15th major title it's that stat Norm that leads a lot of people to say that is why he is the greatest this sport has ever seen yeah I mean after two rounds in this week he's 150 pins out of the cut with six games to go I was asked is that too many well for most way too many for most yeah not belmo he made it and now he is bowling for the title I don't even know how many pins he was behind EJ Tackett after two rounds it was it was more than you want to count looking at another ball oon [Music] that's as low for the day one more but one more win away from another title at another major and his fourth Toc Crown but look who stands in his way the man trying to go wire to wire as number one here at the TOC e j Tackett and we will talk to our one seed when our live coverage of the Tournament of Champions on Fox returns [Music] the PBA on Fox is sponsored by Guaranteed Rate knock your initial mortgage rate down by up to three percent with rate reduced from Guaranteed Rate learn more at rate.com and by go bowling for friends and family fun log on to gobowling.com to find a center near you [Applause] our uninterrupted final from Riviera Lanes still to come Jason Belmonte and e j tackets registration for the inaugural 2023 PBA LBC National Championship now opened all Bowlers all skill levels from all centers this summer in beautiful Milwaukee Wisconsin you can compete in singles as well as optional doubles and team events you can even combine your scores with the pros you can enter right now over at pba.com and should you win you will get the Duke I Love It how about that trophy man talk about an honor that's the greatest honor I could ever even imagine is there a Randy trophy out there just you and like a nape pen hanging out somewhere no no now we'll work on that we'll get that going Randy Peterson Norm Duke the Hall of Famers Rob Stone here with you Randy we are getting set for an absolute dream final wire to wire at number one for EJ Tackett taking on Jason Belmonte going for another major title yeah I mean what's gonna happen I mean is EJ going to uh keep that train rolling or is Belmonte gonna derail the tacket express and put all the naysayers to bed now Fox bet uh with the odds on this one it's a push they're both that mine is 110 on this one we know it's going to be tight velmo running that ladder from last night into today but the story on the tour this season has been your one seed EJ Tackett he's standing by with Kimberly thanks guys this crowd is absolutely loving that they are out here practicing so EJ you find yourself in familiar territory the number one seed you made four shows already in 2023 so why is it that you have been so dominant uh it's just been a really good year you know physically felt really good at the start of the Year got a lot of confidence at the US Open and I just been rolling with that ever since you have also won the TOC before not in this building but you did tell us in the pre-show that typically you bowl really well here so what is it that's going to be key for you today to stop the freight train that is Jason Belmonte today uh throw a lot of strikes um this is actually going to be a nice little rematch from 2019 here when Jason got his 10th major so it's going to be a great show it sounds like we have a house divided here half demo fans half my fans I'm excited and ready to get at it good luck to you today thank you EJ Tackett in the driver's seat for Player of the Year honors but he's got to get by the reigning PBA player of the year the man on the left Jason Belmonte our championship match uninterrupted live on Fox Sports coming up next foreign there are tournaments with history you can't ignore the names of the Champions Velma raising the hardware this is an opportunity to join that company one game for bowling immortality the PBA Tournament of Champions final starts next on Fox time to hand out Hardware the final match here at the PBA Tournament of Champions and what a duel it will be Jason Belmonte has run that ladder going all the way back to last night it's an unprecedented 17-man step ladder Bell May started in the sixth hole last night took care of Andrew Anderson and then Kyle true today here on Fox drop Jason Sterner by 14. took care of Matt Ogle and then your two seed Anthony Simonson 219-200 up next for him your one seat EJ Tackett yeah he's been hotter than Fish Grease all all day today opening strike for Bell no [Music] [Music] tail the tape between these two total of 26 years on the tour 17 combined majors in 49 combined titles Hackett has essentially gone wire to wire this week as the number one man at the TOC his opening shot in the final left of Target and he's got some heavy lifting here now with the 3610 gunshot no split though no split just run this down he loses no count gets loose pre-6-10 the second most common leave this week at the Tournament of Champions what was the most common uh 10 pin I believe yeah oh EJ missed it open frame oh EJ all right come on [Applause] first well if you're gonna have an open frame what's the best frame to do it in Norm first okay yep I mean I thought so but I just wanted to check with you there's a look at tackett's Arsenal Venom shock for EJ there you go [Applause] all right I'll make one good one right here Elmo looking hit for his fourth Toc title and his 15th major already at 39 years of age nobody has won as many major titles as this man [Applause] that's the 10. that 10 pin again Norm yeah I mean it's really good shot too one of the best parachuters ever so he's gonna probably make this 10 pin how would you like to have that thousand one BET right now that'd be good because you know how to drop the Benny on it I would have dropped at least a dollar that's such a lie what is it Benny 100 Bill and Franklin oh Ben Franklin perform my time so let's talk about Jason Belmonte here at the TOC go back to 2014 took care of West Malott by one pin I always loved the old video If you will and how much these players have matured and changed so there's toc-1 the next year he did it again taking care of rhino Paige and then 2019 against the guy he faces today DJ Tackett 225 196. that was his 10th major hitting double digits obviously a huge accomplishment for Jason Lee since added to it we'll try to continue that run today it's a late drop I can strike here in our championship match for belmo not today for pin not today foreign check it out just a little love tap on the four right-hander's best friend Norm chip corporate much better back-to-back strikes for EJ Tackett and Randy we talked about his dominance from day one this week here at the TOC how about his dominance throughout the year and we're only into the sixth tournament but check out the average in that ranking has not been lower than first the entire week just pure dominance here at Riviera EJ bowling in the fourth title match of the six events the tours had this season it's pretty incredible [Applause] nice shot it's all those averages you know Belmont didn't Eclipse 220 average in any round this week and Tackett never less than 220. never less than two wow where's belmo's record in TV finals alone versus EJ Tackett 2-0 in majors in title matches versus EJ nine pins separating these two we close out the four bell no looking for two in a row and finding it I mean this is just kind of shaping up to be a dogfight don't you think I mean two of the greatest players on the planet going at it head to head at one of the most prestigious Majors we have in our sport at historic Riviera Lanes and an early re-rack again for Jason Belmonte he has not hesitated to use these early in the matches throughout the course of the day you can't take them home with you that's a good point can't take them home may as well use them listen if you need a couple extra seconds okay if you got a three pin doesn't look good to you you think that's a ring and 10 rack do you take the re-rack and move on and also use them for psychological effect as well let your opponent sit and stew a little bit longer as Belmar chases three straight got a hook wow the wheel the big wheelies is [Applause] five frames four strikes for belmo yeah and severe trauma caused to the one in the three pin on that shot right there as it drives them straight back they've been taken to the tent the blue tent attack it though after that opening frame [Applause] it's called a four bagger I'm on the hambone train from now on welcome good to have you on board different EJ Tackett on television this year guys for sure loads of confidence we already know the skill level RD3 wins this season yeah he's riding some momentum sure is looking for his 20th career tour title one pin separates these through five and that one through the nose and hey look what was left three six ten yeah that thing goes right out of my hand thank you a little grabby maybe at the release Point Norm because that ball short checked early but let's see the battery he rolled it right over the top of Jason belmonte's Ball track which sometimes uh gosh many of the players feel that they step left think a little push is going to happen and they get a check instead open frame his second and both on the 360 head yeah through two days he had not missed once makeable spare this event that's two days six game rounds twice a day we talk about the presence of Jason Belmonte and you're starting maybe to feel and sense that impact you give this guy just a sliver of an opening he's gonna crack that door open he's gonna kick it open and he's going to run right through it the lead at 16. get in your home and zero emotion foreign just throwing Haymakers and what a way to take advantage of that opening you know it may be your day when things like that happen huge break you know that's the breaks you get when somebody misses a spare right in front of you it happens so often that's why you have to run them down it's also the breaks you earn when you're the greatest the sport has ever seen [Applause] clutch [Music] all right EJ needs to settle down and strike out [Music] [Applause] messenger missed that was good good shot yes it was and that's typically what happens after a couple of mistakes and you know prior to this game EJ Tackett was perfect on the 3610 throughout the week 10 for 10. I missed two of them in this title match we talk about belmo and his intimidation and it's not that he does anything that intimidates you just you know with one mistake and you feel like you're done because he doesn't make many well I think the first one you know you you get a little quick you press uh and then and then the second one happens and you know you're in trouble there's your spare the game sponsored by Guaranteed Rate lower your initial mortgage rate by three percent with rate reduced from Guaranteed Rate bringing your mortgage rate down hard tack it down 36. we begin the eighth [Music] e j Tackett he's still in the game coming up next the Nascar Cup Series heads to the high banks in Atlanta Full Throttle pack racing Norm you now know what I know what it is no I do sure I do yeah you who are going to be able to survive every turn who will win it at the end the engines fire up next right here on clock so what is pack racing that's when uh the banks are are more uh uh tilted and they can go full speed all out all the time [Applause] [Music] he's in cyborg mode now and he'll let you know when it's over here in Akron belmo just dropped the LeBron six in a row yeah this is a belated six-pack alert we're alerting you that a six-pack has been cracked open belmo wins a thousand dollars sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon in Milwaukee Wisconsin please remember to drink responsibly six straight strikes for belmo the lead has swelled to 46. these strikes in this shot right here this is over [Applause] [Music] [Applause] well I ain't buying that Randy I'll drop the price there you go can I get it can I get a discount both arms raised right immature celebration it left his hand and yeah drifted Just A Pinch high but commanding lead for Belmonte and to think that he was in the 50s after two rounds of this tournament almost almost insurmountable to get even to the cut remember he had to win twice last night just to get to Today's Show oh that was my best one well 234 is the biggest tag it can get and even with an open velma's and the two what two thirties High 230s so tack it now trying to just strike out to say you know any kind of big Miss and I'm still in it yeah man Jason Belmonte is going to win his 15th major fourth Tournament of Champions thousand to one players there out of the gate 31st tour title the numbers are staggering belmo wins it sitting down this is not the EJ tacket we have seen through the course of the season this is not the EJ Tackett you are going to continue to see through this PBA campaign he is still your front runner for player of the year but guess who just entered the race yeah when you put a major title on your resume this year that puts you in the race ah DJ's got a major he also has what two other two other wins three wins yeah but Jason Belmonte just joined the party yes he did party's a lot more fun when Mr Belmont is around I even moved all right not your day EJ just trying to finish this one up and move on bounce now he simply made four in the last six TV shows guys are awesome crowd thank you okay thank you see you next week foreign [Applause] [Applause] to all of my family that have woke up at three in the morning to watch today I love you guys so very much all right are you kidding me the legend with one more shot Barbara Chrisman Dave Sims from Storm thank you so much but the resume continues to grow thank you so much storm 31 tour titles 15 majors unfathomable his first win of the season in commanding fashion Jason Belmonte is your full-time Toc Channel come on man they're incredible you are incredible he pushed me so hard man yep [Applause] it's incredible stain right here [Applause] tonight we will hear it from the winner we will present him with the trophy when our live coverage of the PBA Tournament of Champions thank you device thank you to coolwick uh thank you to 3G again to all my family back home got up early thank you so much waking up I'm glad I gave you something to watch that was exciting [Applause] another title for the world's greatest bowler Jason Belmonte let's make it 15 majors of his 31 overall tour titles had to win twice last night on FS1 just to make it's a Today's Show and then he runs the step ladder and look at this career Major resume now a four-time winner of the TOC to go with his four Masters and his three PBA players three World Champs just one U.S open Real slacker over there at the U.S open isn't he Jason Belmonte he wanted to get his hands on that trophy we made him sit through a commercial now it's trophy time [Applause] uh bellamo on behalf of the PBA congratulations once again adding to your legacy you become the first player to ever win four PBA Tournament of Champions titles congratulations [Applause] [Music] he waited a while to hold up this trophy so let's talk about the fact that you have now won this four times in a row no one's ever done it 15 Majors you once again made history adding to your legacy tell us about this moment I I look back at the at the moment I was 58th after the first round and I think I climbed a few stops after that uh in the second round and so when I look back I realized I can I can just always always get there and this is another one of those times where just when you think you can't you've got to find it in yourself to believe you can and and this is going to be one to remember forever well a comfortable is a very scary demo and I think in the second match everybody saw you get comfortable so what is it about the majors that bring out the absolute best in you they just have that little extra meaning and you just not that you ever not want to focus in the other events but for some reason you just narrow your focus even more in the big ones not to mention that there's a billion games to play and so you you have plenty of time and you can stay patient and you know you can get on a bit of a run and make uh make some pins up so you know that's where I think I I do my best work in the majors and uh I can't believe that I have another one of these beautiful Toc trophies what does it mean to you to win the fourth Toc here in this historic Riviera Lanes in front of this crowd yeah look this was a rematch with EJ from uh from a few years ago and the way that he's been bowling if I can just take a minute to say EJ Tackett is incredible absolutely incredible foreign to walk out onto this pair of lanes see him in the title match um that's what I wanted that's that's the person that I want to beat the most uh these are the pair of lanes that have the most meaning in our game this Bowling Center does too so it was amazing congratulations on your win [Music] his DNA is all over the Tournament of Champions coming into the day Mike Durbin Jason couch Jason Belmonte all had the distinction of winning three Toc titles now belmo stands alone in yet another category in professional bowling as the first to win four Toc titles and Randy I think it's fair to say belmo is back oh God I mean he never left I it just took him a little time you know keep in mind that this guy Kim comes over the States from halfway around the world and when he does he has to spend four plus months here doing what he does but to count this guy out well just plain ludicrous I mean you just can't remember last night we were talking about the 17-man step ladder and the fields average it was under 200 on television on television yes Jason Belmont good day and did what he does never count this guy out is a mistake what is going on [Applause] I mean thank you again watching him can't be able to play on the same Lanes as him uh people are going to ask me what was Jason like 27 again I'm gonna say to them did the job for me today I don't fully think I know he's something special it is that special yes right back in the player of the year race the defending PBA player of the year maybe it'll be back to back efforts for him EJ Tackett though loved his words I'll see you next week Tackett is not gonna roll over and die but Jason Belmonte once again making history with his fourth Toc title and his 15th major more PBA action coming your way Saturday on FS1 is the PBA Junior National Championship 7 30 Eastern coming up next year on Fox it is NASCAR race day from Atlanta for Randy Peterson Norm do Kimberly presser our entire crew in this standing room only crowd I'm Rob Stone you've been watching the PBA on Fox and bellmo is another winner [Music] foreign [Music] [Music]

Channel: PBABowling

Views: 121,175

Keywords: bowling, professional bowlers association, ten-pin bowling, pba tour

Id: i3Jahywx40U

Length: 91min 34sec (5494 seconds)

Published: Fri Mar 31 2023