Word: wilman
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Andy Varipapa, at 53 the oldest man in the tournament, liked to puff out his gorilla chest and announce that he is the world's greatest bowler (TIME, May 5). A good many of the experts disagreed. They would rather bet their money on glum, gum-chewing Joe Wilman, 41, who was bowling man of the year in 1946 and went about his trade in very businesslike fashion. In Chicago's drafty Madison Street Armory last week, Andy and Joe staged a seesaw duel that made the bowling experts forget anything they had seen before...
...Only the strongest survived the 100-game grind. Halfway through, thumbs and middle fingers began to swell. In the "bowlers' paddock" in the armory's basement, liniment was rubbed-on sore left legs and left hips. When the 16 finalists dug in for the final 32 games, Wilman pushed into the lead by a fraction of a point. The crowd roared when the pins went down. A local boy, he was the crowd's choice...
...Wilman worked calmly. He is what the trade calls a "spot bowler." Starting from the right of the alley, he takes four precise steps and fires for the one-three pocket. He once had one three-game score of 811. But this time he could not shake off Andy. The lead changed hands 14 times...
...lucky, Andy." The crowd wasn't really against Andy: it was just that he was fun to badger. Twice, trying to knock down a lone pin, he committed the amazing error of guttering the ball, like any Thursday-night office league dub. The crowd jeered. Not until Wilman's last ball was bowled was the championship decided. Joe needed a strike to win, and left the tenpin standing...