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Personal Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140]
 Robert April 11, 2005 Canandaigua NY Hi my son Robert has been bowling sense he was 4 and hi is know 11 he bowles every sat and sun on leages and also he bowles every other day of the week he has the high average in both leages and he would like to become a pro he would like to know if there is a kids pro tour that he can get on or what step for him to take and also how he could get a sponser also he wanted me to say he bowel you when you came to roseland bowl and that hes going bowl in the pro am in newark ney york aprial 29 and would like to know if you are going to bee there and also he has alot of wins in bowling touranments he has 5 balls know and would like to get better balls thats why he would like to get a sponser and also i think you will like this he got recommended to represent theUnited States in the international competition as a people to people sports ambassador in a major overseas tournamenthe will bowl kids from 50 states the tournament is in Australia and also he would like to know if he can were a pro bowles storm shirt with his name on the back at the pro am thanks robert sr Hi Robert, There are tournaments in which junior bowlers can participate. You might want to ask your local USBC youth director about what is in your area. He has a long way to go before becoming a professional, but it sounds like he is going in the right direction. I hope he had fun at the regional tournament in Newark, NY. As far as getting a sponsor, that is very tough. Give my congratulations to Robert Jr on being recommended to represent the US in international competition. The amateurs don't really have rules about the types of shirts that they can wear within reason. Connie April 9, 2005 San Jose CA Hi Walter, I was so shocked not to see you on TV last week and just read the updated standings for this week. Did you get the cookies in Taylor? We're they edible? Well, maybe there is a delayed reaction and you will be on TV for the next scheduled tournament! I've definitely decided to get a new ball as my Zone finally has some pretty hefty chunks out of it. What do you suggest? I still throw straight as an arrow - just like I did in fast-pitch softball. Do you think Columbia would be a good brand? I hope you and Paige have a wonderful summer. TC - Connie Hi Connie, Thanks for the cookies. They were good. I was disappointed in making the TV finals in Taylor also, but that is the way it is sometimes. I don't have any suggestions for bowling balls, but I don't use Columbia or Brunswick. Zach March 31, 2005 Fort Wayne IN Dear Walter Ray, This probably is a weird question, but when people address you (your friends and family) do you go by Walter Ray, or do they shorten it up to Walter or Walt. Somehow this came up in a conversation my friends and I were having. Also, I have noticed that you have been wearing a lot of "Track" shirts this year, but you are not listed under their "staffers", so we were curious if you somebody realized that you are Walter Ray, (the bowling god as referred to at our bowling center) and you deserve a good contract, or are you just wearing the shirt. thanks for taking the time to answer. good luck the rest of this season -zach Hi Zach, My grandfather's name was Walter Whitman Williams and my grandmother's name was Hazel Rae. They named their second son, my father, Walter Ray. My grandfather went by Walter and my father went by Ray. I was the oldest son of my parents and they named me Walter Ray Jr. My parents have always called me Walter Ray. Most of my family and friends use my full name when referring to me, but some don't. I appreciate it when people refer to me using my first and middle name as if I was from the south even though both my parents and me were born in San Jose, California. I like my full name. When I sign my autograph, I sign it using my full name. I don't have a full ball contract with any company at this time which is a bit frustrating. Peggie March 13, 2005 Ponte Vedra Beach FL I grew up in Ocala, FL. My son was home for his spring break from Stetson University this week. He enjoys watching pro bowling and mentioned that Walter Ray was from Ocala. He is a few years younger than me, so we would not have been in school at the same time. I graduated in 1974 from Forest High. My son and I were wondering what High School Walter Ray went to? Sincerely, Peggie Hi Peggie, I went to Placer Union High School in Auburn, California. I moved to Ocala in 1999. Ron March 10, 2005 State College PA Walter Ray - I just read in Bowlers' Journal about the new movie "A League of Ordinary Gentlemen" that you, Pete Weber, Chris Barnes, and Wayne Webb are featured in. I believe it is supposed to open this month. I was wondering if you have seen the final cut, and, if so, what you thought of it. I am especially interested in whether you thought it realistically represented the tour. Also, how do you think it compares to "Pin Gods," another bowling documentary movie that featured you? I greatly enjoyed "Pin Gods," even though I recall you said it wasn't totally realistic. I am hoping the new movie is successful, so the public can hopefully see pro bowling in a positive light, and get at least some appreciation for the demands of the tour. Thanks, Ron Hi Ron, I thought they producers did a very good job with "A League of Ordinary Gentlemen". They followed the tour for almost the whole season 2 years ago. There is definitely more to the tour than what they showed, but it does a good job with only a bit of embellishment at the end of the movie. It would be nice if everyone got to see this film and bowling got a bit more respect, but I would imagine that only bowlers will go out and see a bowling documentary movie even though I understand that most everybody who has seen it really liked it. Scott February 16, 2005 Cincinnati OH Hey Walter Ray, Do you prefer to bowl in semi-final #1 and then have a break before coming back for the Championship match? Or would you prefer to bowl in semi-final #2 and then go right into the next match for the title? Good luck in the US Open! Thanks, Scott Hi Scott, I would prefer being in the semi-final #2, but the main thing is to win that first match so that you can bowl for the title which hasn't happened the last 3 times on the elimination format. I bowled well at the US Open, but didn't get much luck on TV. Cameron January 29, 2005 Bennettsville SC I would like to ask you about things containing to making a future in bowling. I wanted to know if you thought that it would be a wise choice to follow your dreams and become apart of the pba? I am only 16 but i would love to make bowling my career. I wanted to also ask how do you become a pro bowler? I just wanted to say goodluck to you and hope that you are doing well on and off the lanes. thank you for your time Hi Cameron, Making professional bowling a career is not an easy thing. There are about 2 million bowlers in the US and 4,000 PBA members. However only about 60 of the PBA members actually make a living throwing a bowling ball. Most of the members have other jobs and bowl in regional tournaments. I would recommend getting a good education in case bowling doesn't work out for you. But bowling is something that you can do your entire life. Mike November 29, 2004 Pittston PA Walter Ray, I hope you will break Earl Anthonys record. But what will be in the near future for you and Paige. Will there be any ventures to explore besides bowling? Hi Mike, I am not planning on retiring if I do get to 42 titles. I will probably retire from tour when I am no longer exempt. As of right now I am exempt until the end of the 05-6 season, but who knows for how much longer. I still play horseshoes and I also like to play golf. I will probably bowl in senior tournaments when I get to that age which is only 5 years away. Greg January 10, 2005 NY Hello, I am a big fan of yours and I was having a conversation with some guys at work and was hoping you could clear up a small bet for us. In your best year, with endorsements, how much did you make. I know you won 419,700 in your best year but what was your endorsements for that year. I understand if you do not want to tell me specifics but it would help me win some money myself if you could put me in the ballpark. Thanks in advance. Sincerely Greg Hurley Hi Greg, It used to be that endorsements were more than the prize money, but that hasn't been the case for the last few years. Hope that helps and that you understand why I may not want to go into details! Ronnie December 21, 2004 Greensboro NC No. 41 is on the way, and at this point i pretty sure that you just want to have it. But if you could paint the victory who would it be against and how would you like it to end? Hi Ronnie, It would be great to get the 41st win period, but winning against any of the name players with 3 strikes in the 10th or a 300 would be perfect. Kevin December 12, 2004 South Boston VA Will you every be in this area to bowl i watch u on tv? Hi Kevin, There are regional tournaments in Virginia, but I normally don't travel that far to regionals. We don't have any National tournaments planned in your area this season. The closest tournament to your area that we are bowling in this season would be either Atlanta, GA, Akron, OH, or New Brunswick, NJ. ERDMAN December 3, 2004 WAIPAHU HI HI MR WILLAMS MY NAME IS ERDMAN KAWELO AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU COULD HELP ME GET STARTED TO BECOM A PRO BOWLER LIKE YOU PLEAS WRITE BACK PS I THROW HORSESHOES TO WON THE STATE TURNY IN 1988 IN KAILUA KONA WON 8 & 0 Hi Erdman, To become a pro bowler you need to average 200. You can contact the PBA at www.pba.com. If you don't average 200 yet, then it takes a fair amount of practice and work to achieve that. Congratulations on your state horseshoe title. Chris November 17, 2004 Gorham ME I was wondering at what age did you shoot your first sanctioned 300 game, and what your highest sanctioned series is? Great job this past weekend!! Congrats on #40, keep 'em going!!! Hi Chris, I bowled my first 300 when I was 20. I started bowling later than many of today's professionals. My high 3 game series was a PBA regional in 1982 when I had 857. Thanks. Kim September 26, 2004 London KY Hello, I have been a fan of Walter Ray for many years. If I had my way, he would win every tournament. But my question is of a personal nature. How did Walter Ray and Paige meet? How long did you date? Tell us a story about it Paige and Walter Ray. Thanks alot. Kim Hi Kim, I met Paige at a horseshoe tournament in San Jose, California on July 4th, 1985. We both happen to be born in San Jose, but I was living in southern California at the time. A couple of months later we met again at the state tournament in Stockton over the Labor day weekend. Our first 'date' was her, myself, my three brothers and my mother at a pizza place. About a month later I got an apartment in Stockton where she was going to school. We got married in 1996 (at a bowling tournament in Las Vegas) and we are still together! Jim July 14, 2004 Westminster CO I work in the computer field and have some degrees. Many years ago I had applied to the PBA, but leg injuries halted that. I was curious. Did you ever consider a career in the physics/science field instead of bowling/horseshoes, and if so, what changed your mind? My wife and I are on vacation and will be in Pocatello while the horseshoe championship is going on in. Good luck! I used to be a good bowler, but I could not hit the ocean with a horseshoe if I was standing on the beach. Hi Jim, I have always loved to compete since I was young. When I started bowling and then found out that I could actually make a little money doing that I went in that direction. I probably would have needed to go back to school to use physics in a job related field. Fortunately for me, I was successful at bowling and didn't need to get a job using my physics. I hope you had a chance to watch the competition in Pocatello. I am not quite as good as I used to be, but I did still manage to finish 7th this year. Steven June 26, 2004 Eugene OR hello walter ray. i have a few questions i want to ask.first how many reginals titles do you have.and is your nick name ment to mean like that you are really accurate at your bowling shots Hi Steven, I believe that I have 23 regional titles, but that could be off by one or two. I got my nickname when I was 10 years old after I qualified for the Jr. Boys division of the world tournament. I threw 45 ringers out of 50 shoes and one of the statisticians put Deadeye on a piece of paper and pinned it to my shirt and it kind of stuck. I would like to think that I am fairly accurate when I bowl, but sometimes I don't throw the ball as well as I would like. Unfortunately I am not as good at pitching horseshoes as I used to be, so I sometimes wonder about my nickname. Brett June 14, 2004 Grafton WV Hello, my name is Brett Phillips. I'm from Grafton, West Virginia. I am thirteen years old. We have just gotten word that our bowling alley will shut down unless someone buys it. My family and I love to bowl. Their are people in my town that the only thing they have to do is bowl. Without bowling I dont know what I'll do. I've been trying to convince my dad to buy the bowling alley but that costs alot of money, and it needs some work done to it. No one knows that I'm writing this letter. Your my favorite bowler in the world. I would really really appriciate it if you donated money to help convince my father to buy it. I really hope you recieve my message. Sincerely, Brett L. Phillips Hi Brett, It is sad that your only bowling center is closing down. If I donated all of my money to all of the bowling centers that were going out of business I would have no place to live. Hopefully somebody will see that your local bowling center is a good business to have and bring it back to life. Bowling is definitely a fun activity and it would be a shame if that was taken away. Best wishes. Harrison April 30, 2004 Hi. Thanks for taking my question. What is the best bowling town in America? I wish you continued success in your next efforts and a prosperous new beginning in the new tour ahead, but watch out for those rookies Hi Harrison, It depends on what your definition of best bowling town is. Milwaukee and Detroit have been considered to be some of the best bowling areas due to the ABC and the large memberships in those areas. But maybe a town like Wichita, Kansas should be considered since that area has quite a few top PBA players. I got most of my experience bowling in southern California where at the time there were many tournaments to bowl and lots of good bowlers to bowl against. I would say that any town that has bowling in it has to a good bowling town. Scott April 22, 2004 Oceanside CA First off let me start by saying that it is a real pleasure watching you bowl. It is simply amazing watching how easy you make the sport of bowling look. I just wanted to take the time and get your professional opinion. I am 25 years old and I am currently in the US Coast Guard stationed in San Diego California, I have been bowling for a long time since about the age of 8. I am currently bowling in 3 leagues and maintaining averages of 224, 219, 217. I have taken on a USA Bowling certified coach to help me with some of my flaws and since getting my coach I have raised my average from a low 200 to where it is now in just 4 months time. I don't get the time to compete in many tournaments because of my job but I do when I get the chance. I did however have the privalige of competing in the US Open this year in Fountain Valley and had a great time. I think I ended up in about 200th place averaging a 185 (which was kinda disapointing) but my coach thinks that I did very! well for my first big competition. I just wanted to see how you think I would do in some regional competitions being the great that you are. I thank you very much for you time and would like to wish you and you family all the best in the future. Again thank you very much keep throwing them strikes and I hope to compete against you some day. Hi Scott, Most people don't realize how difficult the lane conditions normally are at the US Open. It is hard to say how well you would do in regional tournaments. But it sounds like you are good enough to try. Success may not come right away, but you should find that as you bowl more tournaments, the experience you gain should help you in bowling other events. Give it try and good luck. Roylene April 26, 2004 Vidalia GA I was wondering how many more regional bowling tournments are you going to do. The first year that my husband bowled he bowled against you and we would like to meet you again at another regional this summer. Are you planning to bowl anymore regoinal this year and if so which one are you bowling at. Hi Roylene, I am planning on bowling in about 1 regional a month. I am scheduled to bowl Rocky Mount, NC in May, in Alabama in June and in Spring Hill, FL in July. But some of those might change depending on what else is happening. Personal Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] [121-140] | ||