Bowler rolls special 300

You could hear a pin drop at Crown Lanes on Saturday afternoon when Denver resident Mike Provo lined up for his final attempt at completing bowling perfection.

The 12th throw by Provo was every bit as true as his first 11 -- a strike -- giving him a 300 game. The house was stunned. "This was the first time I had been a witness of seeing (a 300 game) happen," said Robert "Doc" Wright, whose team was competing against Provo's team in league competition.

Wright is totally blind. He is secretary of the Mile High Blind Bowlers league, which was formed in 1976. The American Blind Bowling Association is researching whether Provo has recorded the first 300 game by blind bowler.

Provo, 47, who joined the Mile High Blind Bowlers league four years ago, already had rolled four perfect games prior to losing his vision, which started six years ago. "Cholesterol clogged the macro part of my left eye," he said. "I can see the pins a little bit. I have real trouble telling what pins I left."

There are no bumpers used during league competition. For those who are totally blind, there is a 42-inch high rail that measures from the left gutter to the approach which "gives you an idea of what straight is," Wright said. "After that, you're on your own."

Wright is hopeful that Provo's feat is recognized as a first for a blind bowler. "I called the editor of our national newsletter," Wright said. "The closest that has been turned in so far is a 299. What she didn't say if whether that person was blind or sighted.

"All the leagues are mixed. We have totally blind, partially-sighted and sighted. Our goal each year is to get at least one sighted person per team, so that we can have a sighted bowler also work as a spotter for the team.

"But this year it's been a real struggle. We have eight teams and only two sighted bowlers."

Knocking down every pin in every frame took care of Provo's problems with telling what pins remained. In the seventh frame, he got a bit lucky as the No. 7 pin was the last to drop -- just before the gate came down. He said he wasn't too nervous, even though many of the bowlers stopped to watch -- and hear -- him go for 300.

"I really wasn't nervous at all -- it was really kind of strange," Provo said. "The whole league stopped bowling when I got to the 10th frame. I got the first strike, and then I got the second strike. Then I went for the third, and I thought I should be nervous and I really wasn't . . . I just rolled it and hit my target -- at least I think I hit my target, I can't really see it. But I felt like I rolled it pretty good. Everybody started clapping, so I knew I had a strike."

Wright was happy with Provo's personal achievement. But it came at a cost -- keeping Wright's team mired in last place in league competition.

“When he got his third strike I teased him about this not being a day for him to get a 300 because he was bowling against us -- and we were trying to get out of last place," Wright said.
“But he continued on. When it got to nine (strikes), the lane next to us stopped bowling. When we got to the 10th frame and Nos. 10 and 11 came, I had to sit down.”

Provo is looking forward to returning to the lanes on Saturday. He knows everyone in the league will be watching -- and listening -- for more strikes. "I am curious about how good I'll bowl," he said.

NOTEWORTHY

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What an awesome feat. Congratulations to Mr. Provo. I also have bowled 300, (combined score-3 games) However, I feel bad for the pro bowlers. I can hear their wives now, "the blind guy can roll a 300, and you can't?!"

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