2024 PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic Stepladder Finals | Full PBA on FOX Telecast

welcome to Springfield Missouri where today on the PBA tour we are celebrating one of the greatest of all time the ceremonial first ball of the 2024 Pete Weber classic belongs to PBA Hall of Famer Pete [Applause] Weber [Applause] the PBA Pete Weber Missouri classic starts right now on [Applause] [Music] fsy we continue to go bowling Across America today from Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield Missouri for the Pete Weber Missouri classic honoring the goat the 37 time PBA tour champion and what a field we have to honor him three of the sports best Bill O'Neal nobody hotter than him right now the reigning Player of the Year EJ tacket and we'll get started today with Simonson as we welcome you to Springfield everybody I'm John Phantom my partner is the Hall of Famer Randy Peterson they're ready to go here in Missouri but we begin by talking about a man who now this classic is named after Pete Weber what does he mean to this sport one of the greatest ever uh Pete Weber the bad boy of bowling whether you love him or you hate him you always watched him and uh what a a phenomenal career 37 career titles I'm the winnest player in the history of the US Open uh Pete Weber's pretty much done everything you can do in the sport you know it's interesting that Pete started his career a year before I did I've known Pete that long but I mean he was just always so entertaining uh sometimes controversial but there was one controversy that never came up and that was his talent he is the goat and his dad dick a founding member of the PBA the Weber family absolutely impactful in aable to the history of the PBA tour let's get to today what a field we have here in Missouri featuring some of the best talent that the sport has to offer absolutely and starting with Simonson in our Opening match and then EJ tacket making three telecasts in a row but our tournament leader Bill O'Neal is the hottest player on tour right now leading the tour on in the point list but Bill O'Neal is a dinosaur at 42 years of age he's old school and I think that's why so many people love watching Bill an' he's a tech ICI this guy is a master manipulator and when it comes to deciphering oil patterns I don't think there's anybody better than Bill O'Neal especially here in 2024 Bill O'Neal's red hot one game away from winning uh his 15th title a combined 50 50 PBA tour titles are in this fivan step ladder let's talk more about it we welcome in Kimberly presler thank you John so Bill you just heard them talk about your accolades and and you know what you won the first event of the season the PLAYERS Championship you're top five US Open number one seed today he might have called you a dinosaur which you kind of laughed about but you have been absolutely RedHot so what has been the key to your success so far this season yeah just everything's clicking right now just I'm seeing the lane really well uh you know Mike Wolf and and and Jason wer really helping me out you know making great ball choices and it just it's all coming together at the right time and you know who else has had a lot of success over the years is Pete Weber and the legend himself is here what would it mean to you to win this event with him here you know it's the inaugural Pete Weber Missouri classic yeah I mean it would be a true honor to win you know the first annual Pete Weber open I'm sure there'll be many more of these uh if I'm fortunate enough to be able to hold the trophy at the end I just I hope I don't drop it we'll see you in the final good luck today bill that is awesome so here's a look at the step letter we'll begin with Anthony Simonson who rallied to get into this Five Spot taking on AJ Johnson he's been riding momentum as well in the finals last week in the Illinois Classic a 13 time PBA Champion with five Majors Anthony Simonson Randy when you think of personalities in the sport when you think of talent this man is so compelling there's many out on this tour that think Anthony Simonson is the most talented player out here 27 years of age AB absolutely dominated the US Open falling short in the title match to Kyle troo and pretty good opening shot just to leave the solid nine there by Simo cleans that up he earned his first PBA tour title at the 2023 storm lucky Larson Masters Aj Johnson so Aj Johnson at the age of 31 second at the PBA Illinois Classic last week defeated Jake Peters then sha lavy spar lost the title match to Marshall of Kent it said it's all about coming off that having short memory on tour getting rolling again that's a great [Music] start Simonson leaves a solid nine and EJ or excuse me Aj Johnson trips the 28 his Arsenal he's using the Jackal ghost you gotta love some of these names right yes Jackal ghost creepy I think it's pretty cool his girlfriend Ally about three weeks away from being due with a baby boy it's a great time for AJ and his family Ally and her family watching back at home they got to be smiling right now and what better time to start bowling really well on the tour back toback shows when you have a little one on the way [Applause] yes so a dynamite start for AJ Johnson what makes this guy's game so special he can do anything with a bowling ball oh [Applause] boy oh boy it's right Simonson going with a gem to start and oh boy was because it was left to Target and he pays the priz now looking to slide the three over into the seven he said throughout the week of qualifying he didn't really have an understanding of what the lane was asking for whoa he's got a pretty good understanding of how to make that huh you said he can do anything he can tilt it he can roll it he can throw it a 100 he can throw it slow he can hook it side to side he can go straight he can throw a backup ball and win tournaments there's nothing this man can't do and I think what's interesting about what you just said he had trouble figuring out this oil pattern this week and still made The Telecast Z on the spirit of Pete Weber today who joined the PBA tour at the age of 17 you got a guy in Anthony Simonson who was the youngest player to win a major at 19 years 39 days in 2016 at the Masters young youngest to win one major and and then two majors and then three three four and five look at our format this is different from the Illinois Classic where we saw match play qualifying games throughout the week Aj Johnson that's a situation and I I think it's uh a testament to the players that continue to make multiple telecasts they're doing it on different oil patterns and different formats O'Neal tacket Simonson AJ with an average of 227.000 this week 62% on strikes and this is the first time he's left this all week it's the first time he's left that all week and get all of our great stats just like that one from our great friends at Lane talk you want to be a better bowler head on over to Lan talk.com and isn't it ironic that last week AJ Johnson's issues were on the right lane yes he said it's all about finding a way to get to the advancers round putting games together he said look no one wins every time they're they're on TV he learned a lesson last week but it says a lot about him that he's here again on another show back to back and that is much better for AJ Johnson three [Applause] strikes Pete Weber with the commissioner Tom Clark next to Pete his wife Renee and happy belated birthday to Renee her birthday was yesterday happy birthday Renee now Simo can extend the lead to 26 with two more here in the fourth and fifth frame ah 10 come on good shot coming off of the second frame where he went through the nose but he still converted which keeps him ahead here in game one coming off one of the best years in tour history first bowler ever to finish in the top 10 in every tournament second in points second in money second in titles second in everything I mean what a season he had and isn't it interesting when you ask him what his goals are for this year he said I I don't make a goal list no he has no goals his his mindset is the same week in and week out but he's been winning some really big money tournaments and so right now I think a lot of his focus goes to the six figure tournaments as he calls it Simo is finding momentum here in Springfield he's the number five trying to run the [Music] ladder back to AJ Johnson six-time runner up on tour before he won his first career title Last Summer the storm lucky Larson Masters in Sweden but now it's about winning in the states looking for that breakthrough unforgiving with the eight well and on this 45 ft Dragon oil pattern remember the Lane's only 60 fet in length and ball speed is Paramount you get a little too fast and the ball doesn't have enough time or enough room to pick up and get to the pocket AJ finishes it off we' got a good one Brewing here early in Missouri again also on today's show you got Matt Russo the lone Southpaw you've got EJ tacket the reigning Player of the Year and you have the hottest player on the Tour the players champion Bill O'Neal this is a stacked Pete Weber Missouri classic would you expect anything different for Pete no last year the winner of Springfield classic Sam defeating Kevin Williams AJ is cooking so he's finding a bit of a rhythm here as our first matchup rolls along with Pete Weber who do you think you are he is [Music] oh yeah [Music] [Applause] [Music] always oh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yeah that is right I did it who Do You Think You Are I Am February 26th 2012 the 69 Us open poo North Brunswick in New Jersey Pete Weber defeated Mike Fagen 215 to 214 for his fifth career United States open title the most US Open titles of any bowler in history I was there called it he climbed the ladder every match came down to the 10th Frame and and he needed that hit against Mike Fagen it was incredible back to the two-hander and Simon s and Anthony has a lead yeah now it's 16 and a nice break after leaving that ring 10 on that right lane terrific feature on Anthony Simonson in Rolling Stone from the writer Zack Harris in it feature says like John mackenro Tiger Woods Serena Williams and pro bowling's most famous face Pete Weber Anthony's temper and the intensity that it takes to win are two sides of the same coin I mean look you get written up in Rolling Stone that's a pretty big deal yeah and there it is if you have not seen this yet folks give it a read when we're done here because it really takes a deep dive on this kid who he talked with us earlier today about at the age of 15 entering bowling tournaments driving without a license just to make money he said bowling was survival now bowling is not only that it's his greatest joy because he was able to survive by Bowman oh my God yeah it's a really incredible story about where Simonson was and where he is today it's it's a a great read and unfortunately for AJ Johnson he's faced with the 4710 remember the last shot on the right lane he went light shot before that he went high so again right lane backto back weeks has got AJ Johnson's number the right again so where he stands right now as we head to the eighth Simonson in control as Johnson asked for a rack need a strike two opens in the last five frames for Johnson and Simonson strings three in a row so there's your big swing 38 pin Advantage for Simonson heading into the eighth frame we know that the left has been Kinder and he needs it in the biggest of ways right now he struck every ball in this Lane thus [Applause] far the 10 would not give soft 10 running out of time so hard one game matches the these these matches fly by and and it's seems like it's just a matter of seconds and there's just there's no time he bowled the best block in this entire tournament this week just no time weird you make the wrong move you make the wrong guess wrong ball choice and one or two bad shots and it's over and you combine the fact that you're facing there's a deadwood on the left lane this gentleman where's Vinnie okay deadwood's got to be cleared out because Simonson doesn't like looking at it I don't blame him I'd have it removed as well and Vinnie is not part of any kind of mob he's part of our television crew all right Vinnie you'd have it removed too Vinnie's actually from the St Louis area all right come on a homecoming for him not bad right down the road and he got on national TV pretty good week he's he's very sneaky that's Vinny boom well I'm going to channel the inner cernus in me and say this match is over by the math I'd rather now mathematically no but for all intent and purposes yeah 199 Max score for AJ Johnson and you can see Simonson's Max score 257 another Nine Pit on the left lane for Simo that's happened just a pinch inside John but he is on his way towards moving on here with Matt Russo the Southpaw the three awaiting him that's an interesting Dimension to this Sunday it it really is the only Southpaw we have off The Telecast I mean if he developed something on that side of the lane you never know and Anthony Simonson has never met Matt Russo on TV Russo will get to him in a little bit for Johnson backto back weeks of getting here last week getting to the final against Marshall Kent but this afternoon not as kind an early exit for AJ Johnson well that was pretty something to smile about for AJ Johnson that's pretty cool with the goat Pete Weber was one of the best ever at converting the 36 710 in any combination 3 34 67 I mean hey was the absolute best at it M up the right lane on you guys yeah what the heck Pete it's joking with Tom Clark the commissioner of the [Music] [Applause] PBA what went wrong for AJ not very good shots he hasn't really made an adjustment on the right Lan kept going high this one was thrown out the window still for him back to back show he's got his game in the right place thank you Springfield you're an absolute Legend thank you so much for participating in my tournament you're an absolute Legend thank you so much absolutely appreciate that's awesome that's the beauty of this sport on display well how's the rest of the ladder feel about this guy moving on uh [Music] uncomfortable one thing you don't want is for that man right there to get comfortable and um he's going to follow the transition he's going to look at hooking it a little bit more as the oil transition as the lanes break down and dry up in front of him he'll start migrating left start getting a little softer with his ball speed and start opening up his angles Anthony sign son is the type of guy he said there's an anxiousness when I start a show but once I figure some things out yikes nice everything can come into place looking for his first title of the 2024 season but next he's got to go up against the Southpaw who lives in Missouri and has a big following here Matt Russo is ahead [Music] let's go back to April 25th 1987 Tournament of Champions at fairon Ohio Pete Weber defeated Jim meshaw 222 to 190 for his first to title he won his second in 2013 think about that Randy Peterson 26 years later he called this his greatest Victory the first Tournament of Champions his family ever won and the infamous parot Riviera 27 and 28 been some great great memories over the years some great [Applause] history and this week our bull TV highlights Pete Weber bow his last game on Thursday the PBA tour here at Enterprise Park Lanes very emotional as the 37 time tour champ 10 major championships capped it off thank you everybody I really [Applause] app it's it's for me to watch um so so many years competing with Pete and competing against him and thank you so much and just seeing it all you know ending it's tough it's tough to watch honestly but what a what a what a phenomenal career one of the best ever all right here's where we stand Anthony Simonson the five will now take on the Southpaw Matt Russell the lone Lefty ring Player of the Year EJ tacket is awaiting with Bill O'Neal as the one he won his first PBA tour title in 2021 and it's the 2021 PBA Rookie of the Year Matt Russo what do you like about him you know what I like about Matt Russo I I like I like his head I think he's got a great head on his shoulders a great attitude he's a very engaging young man and uh we're going to talk about some of the big changes that he's made over the last couple of weeks coming into this that's a great start whoa that thing went sideways down the lane he does have one of the best jerseys on tour that's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action right there yeah that is high level and this is really cool Matt lives in Ballwin Missouri 2 and a half hours away he league with Pete Weber on Wednesdays yes he does Wednesday nights with Pete hello 10 pin for [Music] Simon Simonson scary good I mean he's a savant and bowling's beautiful mind he sees shapes and and then he just steps up and figures out how to create whatever motion he wants as a kid he clocked more hours on the lanes than he did at school or home he jokes Randy that he was fired from his first job restocking rental shoes at the age of five get fired at five because he got in trouble with his kindergarten teacher why am I not surprised he probably knew more than her oh I'm sure he did just has a genius about him that's what Tom Clark the PBA commissioner calls him he's done things that that you'd be doing messing around to win titles like when he used a backup ball yep Arsenal for Matt Russo theorem 3D off set is what Matt's going with back to back Jacks that's a ball change on that right lane for Matt let's send it over to Kimberly well guys Matt's wife's Lauren unfortunately wasn't able to make today's telecast as she's the head coach for the women's collegate bowling team at marville University and they actually have a tournament today but ironically it's being held at the high jins Bowl in Jonesboro Arkansas where Matt won his very first PBA tour title all right let's get back to his Arsenal real quick that's a great story by the way but he's using theorem on the left lane 3D offset Pearl on the right theum left theem works three straight for Russo and this is the element of having a lefty as one of the four left standing well I think I I thought it was real interesting when we spoke with him a couple hours prior to coming on the air you know he talked about well if I if I set the lanes up the right way and I asked him I said well how are you going to do that he said well I'm going to throw some urethane push some oil down the lane I'm going to use that as hold because there's plenty of friction out and he's taking his thumb out of the ball something that we'll get to simonon answers we've got a good duel yeah we'll talk about re Matt Russo and his th the next time he's up but that's a big change also that that he made about 3 weeks ago you know we we referred to to this guy as that genius but I want you to take me a step further what what about him just mentally makes him another step above the great ones don't really analyze how to do it they just do it you know if you were to ask him hey well when you're trying to do this or when you're trying to do that how do you go about it I don't know I just do it I'll give you an example of that here in a second nice hit nice break there for Simo to cut the deficit to 10 so a while back I'm asking a buddy of mine who's he on he's on the PGA tour I said hey you know when you're trying to hit this little shot here you know that real spinner or whatever how do you do it he goes I don't know I just do it and that's not what I was hoping for I was hoping for like a detailed explanation so that I could possibly do it oh no I don't know I just do it that's Simonson the recipe just takes care of itself it's not always laid out on a list another great example of that is Pete Weber Pete Weber was never an analytical [Applause] guy the PBA LBC national championships have a new location Bolero Mount Prospect Illinois competition will be taking place you can compete in singles as well as optional doubles and team events even combine your scores with the pros enter today at pba.com LBC tournament PBA LBC national championships open to Bowlers of all skill levels and from all centers oh no oh no after four straights I think it's the worst break in our sport because you hit the pocket and good 99% of the time you come away with an open frame it's only been converted four times in the history of professional bowling on television the last being by a southpaw in Anthony ner can a Ninja Turtle to [Music] it open getting back to Simonson and sorry sorry in the way he sees things you know Pete Weber was that way when when a ball rep or tour a tour rep got involved with Pete it wasn't to tell him how to throw it if he needed to make some kind of change the ball rip would just grab a bowling ball and say here throw this one and Pete would go okay and then he would make the adjustment and it usually turned out pretty good simos on a he and keeps it rolling ready leg and now he takes the lead right after that hit there courtesy of the pocket 710 by Matt Russo six pin second to the right goes to the side Wall Kicks the 10 out on Bol TV after his comeback Friday night to make this show Anthony simenson said the lane conditions were different due to the Rain yeah yeah he said that no I'm not surprised got a hook oh did it did boy that came around the corner nicely look who's got a 14 pin lead that man Simonson he's a bad dude you bet he is and he's working his way up the ladder in Springfield on a Sunday [Music] welcome back to the PBA Pete Weber Missouri classic yes he is the goat stop number four on our bowling Across America Tour and Pete Weber after officially retiring from the PBA tour earlier this week is here in the front row seat as we take a look at today's runswick oil pattern Dragon 45 45 ft in length remember the lane is only 60 ft long so that leaves 15 ft in the back part of the lane to create some friction but this is actually a high friction oil pattern even though it's that long the key again ball speed and we're looking at some numbers that are extremely low based on what we normally see Simonson is in the low 17s Rell something's buzzing over here well at least it wasn't you or I John that it's back did that that time Simonson within 3/10 of a mile per hour with every shot he's thrown this game wow cell phone buzzing of some sort and now of course Pete's going to get on him so Matt took his thumb out of the ball three weeks ago yep you can see it right there why well he wasn't doing very well with a thumb in so he said we got to try something uhoh oh oh man look at how far left that shot is right there taking his thumb out he said well more power more hook more revs and he liked the way it felt and he stayed with it get the ball to the right side of the headpin cut it into the 47 or this way and Ricochet off of the headpin into the 47 one for two this week oh boy that changes everything you know it's interesting is that the lane talk stat numbers for Russo coming off of an open frame throughout the 36 games of qualifying this week with was that after an open he struck 69% of the time not that time big open frame and another big opening for Simonson strikes here it was great catching up with him earlier today because he said when you bowl with Pete we ever in League he said I I see a side of Pete that maybe not everybody sees when you know him personally he's a different guy you obviously know him personally how is he different well you know Pete is a good guy he's got a kind heart and he's a good dude stand by great shot great shot by now on the lanes Pete was not a very nice person but in his mind that's his stage that's his workplace don't mess with him when he's working and we've seen it so many times U you know the mount vvus eruption uh of Pete Weber and you you certainly never want to antagonize him but off the lanes as you you see him sitting there with commissioner Tom Clark off the lanes Pete is a genuine guy and and he's been a friend of mine for over 40 years oh five straight strikes for Simo make get six yeah and that's what great Champions do right they take advantage of openings given to them by their opponents Simonson with a four pin in the second everything else strikes Simonson looking to book a date with EJ tacket who he has beaten three times in their TV showdowns three and0 record all time 10 well unfortunately Matt Rus is not going to win this game but he's got a lot of really good stuff to build on and again you you hit it you said hey he started he took his thumb out of it like three weeks ago and so you can all already see the hard work paying off for Matt and he's just going to use this as another building block this is going to be an incredible final three that we have left here at the Missouri classic best three on tour yep best three players some scheduling news due to the weather in Florida the 2024 Daytona 500 has been pushed to tomorrow Monday with the green flag waving at 4 East on Fox you're right Matt Russo Kimberly told that great story earlier of his wife Lauren being down in Arkansas with her team mville University which is in St Louis Lauren the head bowling coach Matt called Lauren is Rock she is the ultimate motivator to him grew up in New Jersey M Maria dad Tom they're here he certainly has a lot to be happy about going forward we'll see how the momentum builds one title in his six years on tour just 27 years of age come on good sh US amateur champ in 2017 heard the buzz just the buzz Simonson that runner up finish at the US Open now looking for his first win this week and he is on his way to being one of the three left standing I mean could you have imagined it for Pete Weber attention star for Pete Weber a better right final Trio yeah I got 20 pins and Simon tack it and O'Neal he's looking at the scoreboard he's not even going to shoot to the spare he's going to throw a strike ball with a different bowling ball he's been slowly migrating towards the center part of the lane but he's looking for another shape right here strategic that's what makes Simo Simo I mean he is always one step ahead of the game always kind of calculating the next [Music] move his next move is EJ tacket well I'll tell you what you want to be the best you beat the best it's going to be fun grab your popcorn there won't be a Sunday Showdown better than this one one next EJ tacket the reigning PBA Player of the Year faces Anthony Simonson two of the sports best [Music] next welcome back to the Pete Weber PBA Missouri classic we flash back to March of 2013 in Indianapolis when Pete defeated Jason Bonte and 50 it made him the oldest player to win the Tournament of Champions his 37th and last career PBA tour win a 10th career Major title yeah pretty impressive there considering who he took down right and at age 50 wow incredible and you think of the alltime majors list what do you see here uh I see nothing but greatness with fmo at 15 how about where we stand right now with Anthony Simonson and EJ tacket about to square off Bill O'Neal the one seed in this event three of the the best Bowlers on tour in 2024 and have been for quite a few years Anthony Simonson right now is RedHot on both lanes striking nine out of 12 on the left and8 out of 12 on the right it doesn't matter what Lane he starts or finishes on he's going to he's going to get there the question now remains does EJ tacket get comfortable fast enough in order to press Anthony Simonson that's the question let's go to the PBA Elite league for now with an update on that as play continues in the elite league and in this league right now earlier this week in Enterprise Park Lanes the PBA held rounds five and six the New Jersey kingpins extended their winning streak to five matches they defeated Lucky Strike lack 2 and then in a battle of 4-1 teams they defeated the Las Vegas high rollers 21 the the kingpins with Marshall Kent py hamham BJ Moore Chris Barnes Kyle Sherman and Richie T this was the LA x match and the high rollers with sha rash leading them and Richie T dealing the strike it's great to see the elite league and and everything happening within that yeah it's a real League now it's a traveling league and the eight teams remember only six make it all the way to Portland Maine here's a look at the standings of the high rollers and the akan Adam Splitters tied up at 4-2 behind the king pits what was the uh the winning team last last season was it wasn't it the wakeo Wonders It was what's going on yeah maybe time for a team meeting of some sort for now the reigning Player of the Year in the PBA EJ tacket who many argue is one or two on that list Anthony Simonson Superstars [Music] next welcome back to the Pete Weber Missouri classic we're in Springfield at Enterprise Park Lanes and we have [Music] arguably the three best players in the sport right now left in this field EJ tacket five titles last year a pair of Majors won the 2023 United States opener the number one seed defeating Kyle troop 221 to 208 ninth player of PBA history to capture the Triple Crown end of the world championship presented by P Blue Ribbon Valero wossa needed two strikes to win in the 10th Frame he got both he defeated Jason Balon fourth career Major title fifth win of the season and now he meets Anthony Simonson with two matches left for our Missouri classic Champion to be Crown Kimberly presler is with the reigning player of the year thanks John so EJ this is your third consecutive show Even though you're coming off an injury to your bicep and in your own words you said you struggled this whole week you had lots of ups and down and yet you're here in you know the number two seed today on another show so how is it that you keep just making it happen to find yourself on these shows um it's all about you know keeping up with ball reaction as we go throughout the tournament and uh just paying attention to what's happened on the lane try to stay ahead of the moves um try to stay as patient as possible make all your spares which kids that's very important you got to make all your spares you can't get here without those so um you know doing all those things and having it all come together uh is part of the the consistency that I'm able to put together and uh hopefully I can go out there today uh Simon seems to be pretty locked in and he's a great great bowler and great competitor so I'm going to have to go out there and hopefully get off to a good start early and see what we can do it's going to be a good match for sure good luck to you thank you here's a comparison between the goat Pete Weber and where EJ tacket stands 30 years later winning that 20th tour title yeah he EJ was just like 14 days shy of of breaking Pete's record believable you have a combined 34 PBA tour titles in this matchup nine majors and Anthony three and0 all time against T and combined they're not as old as Pete are you making 27 and 31 I mean what an insult by you a 21 time PVA tour champ Champion with four majors the reigning PBA Player of the Year EJ tet third consecutive Championship round appearance for EJ an average of 228.50 this week 65% on strikes that's how you start commer Tom Clark called this man the modern day Pete Weber in terms of talent a different personality Polar Opposites yeah he talked about there being a will as Kimberly just brought up a little bit that let's take a look at the Arsenal first yeah Primal shock go ahead John and and you talked with him about this as well this morning that when his season started with a biceps injury as well he wasn't at top four but he's finding it now well he he you're right he said no I'm not tip top as brand new baby boy you know life gets in the way sometimes but he said he's there now nice break to start there for EJ tacket remember the first couple of frames the hardest for players coming on just trying to get their feet underneath them 234 game one 247 game two Simonson on cruise control 10 using a really strong ball with surface and there's going to be a point where he's going to have to change bowling balls if he continues to leave a flat T especially on that right lane we talked with you about using a ball with a little more surface today start on the fresher oil pattern a lot of surface remember it's 40 the oil pattern's 45 ft in length and it's extremely long and the players need to have some snow chains on on that surface to make that ball dig in he also said third or fourth game he would take a step to the left and throw it really slow are you seeing that well he hasn't done that he hasn't had to he's just been slowly migrating slowly migrating throughout each of the last two and a half games how does this guy approach it well you know EJ is high octane High rev right speed and power he's going to be playing the lines pretty close to where Simonson is playing I think an early exit on our show in Illinois last week messenger oh man table for one so EJ Tac at about four boards right of where Simonson's playing but he's using a Shiner piece of equipment he's also a mile and a half faster with his ball speed so right now Simonson slower and shaping it more right stronger bowling ball earlier rolling bowling ball attack it little bit right of that little more speed a little bit less surface what do you like more whatever they like what were you here's well here's the thing though Simonson if he continues to leave flat t with that bowling ball he's going to have to get out of it because that much surface when you start to increase your angle ball burns up doesn't have enough hit when it gets to the pocket little bit more speed from tet to a strike he's really good I mean Simonson's really good EJ tacket's really good and then the tournament leader O'Neal yeah that's exactly right you have to go through one or the other whoever advances here to to meet the PBA points leader thus far this season and the Players Champion you win this tournament the way it's shaped up to this point you've earned it you've beat the best in the world it's a major level fitting for Pete Weber there's the ball change right there uhoh never came around the corner 24810 so the adjustment occurred an adjustment immediately causes as big of a dilemma as he's had [Applause] today not good tomorrow it's a special day of women's college hoops on Fox first at noon Eastern Paige Beckers leads 15th ranked Yukon against kadon and at two 14th ranked Indiana battles Illinois it all tips off tomorrow President's Day on Fox right Randy what's your thought process here he's staying with the ball he started with on the left [Music] lane ringing 10 but that still has enough shape right ring and 10's better than a flat 10 when the ball when you're a right-hander you're leaving flat 10 for a lefty it'd be a flat seven the ball doesn't have enough energy going through the pins and that's why he made the ball change on that right lane right after a flat 10 so tack it with a 23 pin lead at the moment three strikes and a spare you take a look last week he struggled he was on our show it was really never dramatic at all Jake Peters cruised just didn't have it no like you said in the interview can't beat a bad ball reaction [Music] [Applause] ever okay another pocket 710 This Time by a right-hander last game it was Matt Russo the Lefty Matt Russo left it in the fifth frame of game two EJ tacket leaves it in the fifth frame of game three well it's fun to watch the world's best take on this challenge only four times made in the history of bowling on television on the PBA tour three of those by lefties what do you make of that you know who made the first one ever the great Mark Roth and and you've done it too yeah but it was like a made for TV event in Milwaukee or not I think it was in Madison Wisconsin years and years and years ago you might be able to find it on the internet somewhere I can't find it it was in black and white whoa It's kind a split too of course it has to split why wouldn't it so now tacket has a dilemma of his own with the 410 well if he gets one here we're going to be all even going into the break how about this yeah I mean pocket 710 unlucky and that's not real lucky as well first time he's left that all week we are even yeah a couple backto back lousy breaks for EJ tacket on a day where we're paying tribute to the great Pete Weber the Pete Weber Missouri classic is delivering [Music] drama the on Lane Graphics you see including the oil patterns which are projected on today's lanes are courtesy of clutch bowling as we welcome you back to the Pete Weber Missouri classic our fourth stop on the PBA tour and the PBA is proud to have Bowlers to Veterans link as the official charity of the PBA tour in today's BBL salute to Veterans we welcome US Army Chief Warrant Officer Mike Freeman who served for more than 38 years thank you for your service Mike to donate go to BD l.org yeah thank thanks Mike and thanks so much for being here John Fanta Randy Peterson Kimberly Pressler with you so here is where we stand at the moment evened up as Simonson hits the six Simonson actually took a rck during the break going back to the gem on the right lane the ball he started with remember he did change balls and ran into the 24810 split in the fourth there's the flat 10 again with with that ball so now what he's got to get out of it I think he knows that he tried to get a little softer with his speed on that shot and it still wasn't enough to get up the hill and kick the T out that one talked about Deadwood just now down the frame there it is again second time that he's called that out yo Vinnie yeah Vinnie's getting a lot of TV time here there he is good work Vinnie still moves pretty good for a man his age don't tell him I said that all right Simonson first bowler ever win five Majors before the age of 30 incredible career he's had 13 wins five major he's 27 so he'll make another move on that lane you can see that one just creeping up a pinch High leaving the four pin but the big question I have is what ball is he going to go to on the right lane that is the million dooll question he cleans that up so just a maybe a two and one move of his feet on that left lane two boards on the approach one with his Target but the right lane I think he's got to get out of that ball and get into something else back to tacket the four-time major Champion already with those 21 career titles at the age of 31 that's 13th most all time but EJ's got a dilemma here EJ you can see the break point and the positioning at the arrows that was left and leaves the 3610 which you must pay respect to cover all three pins with the bowling ball and he gets away with it there and forunate very fortunate a fraction away from having three opens in a row a look at our alltimers for the Triple Crown of course Pete weers among those and you see EJ Johnny petraglia Barr how about Dom Barrett yeah storm Duke gotta show Dom some love EJ said he got emotional watching Pete earlier this week his last look out yeah that was big left again and looked like it was grabbed at the bottom of the Swing so scared now bro you heard him say it like like he's scared to let go of it the spare here will be tied up again so bad EJ needs to execute better Simonson needs to make the right ball choice on the right lane Simonson will finish the match on the right lane well we've got serious drama between arguably the two best in the sport evened up as Simonson hits the eighth and here comes that question you were talking about staying with it you like it he's just going to do it with his hand his ability now he's just going to try to shape it different he's left that 10 twice in a row not just any 10 Soft 10 what happens here three times fool me once fool me twice and again remember he has to finish the match on this very Lane back to back to back week 10 you wouldn't you can't do a fourth can you I think a lot of it's going to have to do with what EJ does he knows he can hit the pocket and if it comes down to just staying out of trouble he'll stay with it I guess that's my question is is he thinking my alternative options still aren't as good as this one I I think again I think EJ dictates that based on what he does in the ninth and 10th it's a star down I would lose to you in that the last is treating him well well you see the numbers there as uh John's going to read something about J bear aren't you I am the just St strike is brought to you by J bear the mindful choice for highquality protein with no antibiotics ever just right just bear and just right strike right there for Anthony Simons setting up the 10th Frame but both players if they take it to the sheet if they sheet it strike out EJ tacket will win by one both players looking for their first title this season hey look at that John another flat 10 on the right lane all right so spare here and if he strikes out it's 193 he would force Simonson to double on the right lane oo boy that's some theater with Bill O'Neal awaiting the winner of this one bill O'Neal's watching every shot in this match I promise you yes he gets choic of starting Lane and where to finish right I promise you he is not finishing on that right lane no finishing on the left there's no question about that that's the advantage of being the number one so we hit the 10th I mean if EJ Strikes Out does he Force Simonson's hand does he force him to make some kind of change I would imagine yes after back to back to back it's off tense goodness oh my goodness what a break that is that's will he will it this is a huge break it keeps him in this match just nudging the four forward EJ moved a good three boards left on that shot got it inside just a little bit in a huge break trip in the four this is theater this is what he talked about with us this morning that that when you're one of the best you figure it out you find a way and right now it's a it is that stown between these two will he Force Simo hand on that right lane EJ tack it big time EJ tack it EJ smack it what a shot coming off of that trip four he kicks a 10 out guess what he's going to force the hand of Anthony Simonson but this next shot still very important with the strike on the Phil he forces Simonson to get at least two in the tent come on [Applause] a trip for trip just blew my hair back John what a finish by EJ tacket the huge break trip in the four and then he flushes the next two Simonson on the lane that he's left back to back to back flat t has not struck on this Lane this entire game two strikes and one pin to win and gets one oh can you feel it in Springfield with Pete Weber looking on the goat and we're getting an incredible finish between these two Simonson's going to take it his second rerack of the game must on this next shot or it's over and EJ tacket will advance to the title match against Bill O'Neal a strike and one to win oh my goodness oh Anthony Simon that's right that's right come on incredibly clutch well you talked about EJ tacket willing it down when he tripped that four Simonson stays with that ball he left three consecutive flat 10 with and then went light with back-to-back shots that carried for the win in a battle between two of the world's best Simo is moving on to the [Applause] final just goes to show you how hard it is to win on this tour he was tricked up he was going through a cold spell on that right lane he found a way to warm up in Missouri and now Simo will meet the hottest player in the tour Bill O'Neal for the Missouri classic [Music] Crow [Music] welcome back to the PBA Pete Weber Missouri classic let's go back to October 2001 PBA Great Lakes classic in Michigan Pete Weber in his semi-final match facing Steve Well Wilson rolled 11 consecutive strikes 11 left the eight pin on his final ball for 299 you remember this he would defeat bone in the championship match that day for the title yeah that was a pretty electrifying evening man those shades are epic yeah there's the four pin for 299 but and then I had to go down to the floor and interview Pete right after that I'd never done an interview before I was terrified it's one of your first shows right uh it was my fourth show ever unbelievable yeah and now there he is Pete Weber announcing his retirement earlier this week so here we are at the Pete Weber class classic and could you have asked for a better final to set the stage Anthony Simonson versus Bill O'Neal how about a better semi-final you know Simonson was in 10th going into the last round of this tournament the last game he starts with the front nine shoots 279 just to get into the step ladder finals last game he threw the last four to get to the title match against O'Neal so we're in the presence of greatness here between Pete Weber and the remaining two players we have the field that we had here this week in Missouri so it's a perfect time to give advice to you young upand cominging B and that is the topic of our pressing questions today with Kimberly presler it's presented by go bowling Tom what's the best tip or advice that you could give to someone who's just starting off bowling practice practice practice practice spares practice spares you can make up so many pins just becoming a great spare shooter it's one thing to practice but you've got to have the competitive reps in you also to get better B every tournament just get all that experience there's nothing can replace experience there's no amount of practice that you can have that can replicate throwing a shot to cash or to make a cut or win a tournament there's a lot of events nowadays for kids of Bowl youth events Junior Gold Team Junior Team USA PBA junor not necessarily a bowling tip I think it applies to life control what you can control I think that's been very important something I didn't really follow this week I missed a cash by 10 and a cut by 80 the first thing that you need to do is go to the pro shop and get a ball that fits your hand having a proper fit can keep you from creating bad habits your dad Chris Barnes has has had had to have given you some good advice or some little nuggets throughout the years follow your dreams follow your passions now tell us what he really said to you really said I mean there's so many things I could really say but you can't you can't really say them you know have fun just have fun I am all about having fun when you're bowling if you enjoy it have a good time I can promise you you'll Bowl better [Music] we're having fun here after match number three in which Anthony Simonson defeated EJ Tac at 203 to 193 with that three bagger to finish it off now it sets up our final Simonson versus the hottest player on the PBA tour Bill O'Neal for the Missouri classic title [Music] next the PBA on FS1 is sponsored by go bowling for friends and family fun log on to go bowling.com to find a center near you it all comes down to this at the Pete Weber Missouri classic Anthony Simonson versus Bill O'Neal Kimberly is with our tournament host Pete what does it mean to you to round out your illustrious career this week in your home state you know with a tournament with with your name on it you know Tom Clark called me a couple months ago and said we're going to name a tournament after you we came up with seven names Dick Weber Don Carter Earl Anthony Marshall and Mark Holman you know it's just unbelievable the people I get to be associated with it's really amazing astounding it it really is it's very overwhelming outstanding and outstanding is going to be this next final match so let's get to it are you ready I am absolutely ready for this and I can't wait to hold give that person the title can't wait well great Pete Weber and what a final this is Bill O'Neal the hottest player on tour he has been on a rooll he is the Players Champion already this season won our first event those 14 titles to Simonson 13 titles and five Majors between the two of them eight Majors ball change for Simonson on the left lane guess what John Simonson's going to finish on the right lane and Bill O'Neal is going to finish this match on the left lane and Samos starts right where he left off he goes to an attention star you can see just how much shinier that surface is so that's going to help the ball get through the front part of the lane and help it store energy as it goes down the lane a 14 time PBA tour Champion with three Majors The Real Deal Bill O'Neal Bill O'Neal has been on an incredible run to start this season now he has to go through Simonson this is their third meeting on TV all time that series even at one a Piece call this the rubber match first in four years oh little bit of Fortune leaves a six yeah nice break tripping the four and the Seven out 10 goes down just the six pin shot looked pretty good to me and I think Bill was a little surprised at how much it over hooked down Lane Randy what a run this guy's been on nine consecutive top 20 finishes dating back to last season's cheetah Championship six straight top 10 finishes take a look at Bill's Arsenal he's going with the uh theorum won the PLAYERS Championship out in which it's how to start our year fifth at the US Open a couple of weeks ago and that's why with shots like that from Bill O'Neal well two good shots under his belt to start this championship match just old school Bill O'Neal at age 42 still getting it done at the highest of levels out here on the PBA tour just an amazing amazing athlete battle the back feels like he's playing his best Simonson on this right lane boom you know and that's the change I thought he would have made he did he left the two for a 10 and I think he just moved too far to the left when he did make the ball change he's itched it back just a hair to the right but that was the right change and you can see how much different that shape is both players are playing these two lanes identical see at 19 years of age winning the Masters youngest player to achieve that accomplishment works out 20 minutes off the Vegas Strip at the compound Mansion feeling good right now he's big time so it's it's only fitting that he does his work in Vegas working at a mansion owned by professional poker player Chris hunichen back to o' three-time Major Champion here we go now ball speed and location just a board different from the last two shots for Bill O'Neal on that right lane ball speed identical got him yeah that one got him oh you got to be kidding wow what happened wow ball never picked up it looked a little bit fast maybe a half mile an hour fast but you the ball speed today has been unlike anything I've seen in a while it's really been soft and slow and you have to again on the longer pattern he told you this morning my misses those shots that go too much to the right I'm trying to be too perfect yeah he said sometimes the tendency is to be or try to get too perfect and then the swing kind of gets behind him a little bit and so on the down swing his angle too sharp to the right but I don't really think that was the case on that shot no I think the only thing that I can based on the strike track numbers is that he was a hair fast with that shot but not sure it was fast enough to leave the 2410 now Simonson working on three in a row trying to climb the ladder 10 again on the right good shot there by Simo pretty good numbers there for what is is worth go ahead he is trying to become the first since Jason Balman in last year's Tournament of Champions to climb the ladder from the Five Spot bti do from the six spot over two [Applause] shows can't remember the last time I saw ball speed this soft and it just goes to show you what it takes to be a top level professional right I mean we're looking at speeds of 16.2 17 16.8 that's soft normally we see guys that are approaching 20 mph can you explain to the viewers at home why we're seeing that because you have to be softer on the longer patterns to get the ball to come to turn over you have to give the ball time to respond right remember 60 ft in length is the length well the oil pattern's 45 ft long you only have 15 ft left and then especially when you get in and you start to try try to create shape mhm got to give the ball time to hook now if there's a lot of friction it's shorter pattern they start to really smoke that's when you up your ball speed right you try to delay hook now can O'Neal respond that ball a chance to respond that's a resounding one for Bill O'Neal one he needed when you look at that board our uninterrupted championship match that one playing in down 24 Looking to cut it to 14 with a double through five frames championship match he averaged five pins more than anybody else this week in the qualifying he's just been on a points leader on tour thus far this year TI CL on this Lane one gets further right remember the last time we saw Bill at the US Open when he went back to back 51s on the left lane of the championship pair here he goes back to back 2 410s on the left lane oh no and now Anthony Simonson is firmly in that driver seat towards his first win of 2024 and when you consider what he had to do to get here in beating tacket through the last four to be tacket through the last or the front nine the last game of qualifying to shoot 279 to get in and now he's working on a 38 pit pin lead can increase it to 48 back to that right lane he's figured it out the genius that is Anthony Simonson can I have a rck please there's the difference in the ball change this time he kicks the 10 out last game against DJ tacket was leaving that soft 10 he's just got an amazing story his parents the Rolling Stone feature on him and said they work too much and never made enough money Benjamin sold Diesel Parts his dad his mom Teresa worked at a grocery store Anthony wasn't in school the bowling center played babysitter now he's on top of this [Applause] sport 10 Again look at the ball speed there're 162 milph he's making really good shots he's very confident with the ball Choice he learned a little bit from his last match against DJ tacket and he's in complete control through seven frames I loved what you said earlier when I asked you how does he do it what's the method behind it and you just said sometimes the great ones they just do it and that's that confidence playing out in real time so now O'Neal needs one and does get it you have some players that are real analytical uh you know David oio back in the day was like that Chris Barnes uh myself even and then you have players like Pete Weber and Anthony Simonson where they just okay I'm going to go with that ball I'm going to stand here I'm going to throw it there I'm going to make it do this they really don't think about mechanics Bill O'Neal constantly working on mechanics one of his his biggies is making sure he doesn't tip early can not get the ball around the corner on that Lane and he can't believe it I thought this was the good Lane and neither can I and yeah you're right Bill if that doesn't sum up the gauntlet of a TV show when you think something it's the other you know he even told us in our interview this morning with him you know I I'm going to get enough practice I'm going to get enough practice on the TV pair so I should have a pretty good understanding I'm going to watch all the bowling he knew the left lane was better and yet oh what the hell he's open three few times in a row on that lane is there such a thing as you're waiting around for 90 minutes and you're sitting there sitting there there's tension as the one can it never backfire no I I mean I don't think I look again one game match it's it's brutally tough to win but for whatever reason O'Neal got fooled on the left lane this he's locked in he knows exactly what both lanes are giving him and then that freezes your swing up Anthony Simonson blown out by Kyle troop in the US Open a questionable strategic decision there just two weeks ago conversely this week he chased down the leaders through that rousing 277 in his final game to sneak into the fifth spot amazing to think that snuck in here and now is tasting it Anthony just Anthony Simonson is your Pete Weber Missouri classic champion and how fitting is it that the most polarizing figure in the sport with another polarizing figure and Legend watching him the legend of Simo continues to grow his 14th a tour title chiping a chair that's all we need right the satisfying moment of the match is sponsored by Snickers nothing satisfies like a Snickers well as it turned out whoever got through the tacket Simonson match was going to win this and Simonson caught a couple of really nice hits with those light mixers in the 10th Frame to squeeze past EJ tacket makes the big ball change for the match and just executes the first since Jason balanti to start a final show as the five and climb up that step ladder Anthony Simonson has done [Applause] it his first win of the 2024 season two weeks remov from that heartbreak at the US Open he gets on the board and when we said what would this mean he said look it's the next tournament I want to be a Hall of Famer I'll start focusing on Indiana tomorrow but for now RP he'll enjoy this one and what a win over tacket to get here this guy is as compelling a face in this sport right now as any [Applause] we did it you did do it and that is awesome I love you thank you absolutely no thank you that's emotion that's one of the sports legends greeting a guy who's forming his own Legend let's toss Kimber oh my goodness it was really wonderful watching you guys hug that out I can see the friendship right here but uh Pete please do the honor Trophy presentation Anthony Simonson thank you so much for winning the first inaugural Pete Weber Missouri classic I it is an honor and a privilege to hand you this trophy pleasure pleasure absolute pleasure Anthony what does it mean for you to win here today in front of Pete you know obviously we lost uh the owner of storm Bill Chrisman a few months back Pete's been with storm for a long long time uh probably the greatest win uh I've been fortunate enough to be with SPI uh all nine years of my career this is special Bill uh this one's for you buddy we missed you uh we're going to keep doing our things out here obviously my sponsor Rog grip classic um 3G Turner janitorial service bowler x uh what a weak man and uh this one's special to have that guy's name attached to this one I'll uh I'll remember this one for a long time special indeed but let's talk about the match and let's talk about the week because in our pre-show interviews you said that you started off strong but then you struggled you said you you know you just couldn't figure out what the lanes were trying to tell you you did not seem to have that issue today what was different um you know when I uh stepped up and made the double on the right lane um obviously it was it was time a few frames before that to get out of that ball um it's kind of one of those spots where it's it's the ball I'm comfortable with the situation I'm comfortable with uh get up make a couple good shots and I kind of knew today what the game plan was going to be I was going to use that gym as long as possible from that we were going to go to the attention star uh and the attention Stars got me a lot of strikes the last couple days so uh it's a special win I bolt to 79 or 77 whatever it was to make it so uh just kind of riding uh I been riding the emotional high from that of uh getting an opportunity to make the show and uh if I get an opportunity I want to try to take the most of it well you absolutely made the most of it congratulations on your win today thanks 27 years young and now 14 PDA tour titles Anthony Simonson his greatness is epic and he takes it home as he Embraces the PBA commissioner Tom Clark what he did to be tacket in the semi finals War guy won my tournament absolutely and that scene with Pete Weber is everything that this sport stands for two Larger than Life personalities love Pete much love one for Pete what' you see from him greatness I mean you talked about uh Hall of Fame uh somewhere down the he's got all the Hall of Fame credentials he just has to live long enough I mean this kid is so good you know when Jason Bel Monte says that Anthony Simonson will day carry the torch I mean that's pretty high praise and uh he showed everybody today everyone today why he is a 14 time winner five-time Major Champion win winner and he's only 27 years old I mean let's go he continues this trend I mean he could go down as the greatest of all time he really could yes you may coverage of the 2024 PBA season continues Saturday Night February 24th on FS1 at 7:30 Eastern with the just bear PBA Indiana classic from David Smalls Championship Lanes in Anderson Indiana coming up next Big 10 conference college basketball as Northwestern faces Indiana for Randy Peterson Kimberly Pressler and our entire crew I'm John Fanta you've been watching the PBA on FS1 and you've been watching the Pete Weber classic Anthony Simonson the [Music] champion [Music] [Applause] h

Channel: PBABowling

Views: 217,642

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

Id: Rl0s6h-ZXQ0

Length: 93min 30sec (5610 seconds)

Published: Sun Feb 25 2024