December 2, 1984 – The Tampa Tribune – This Day in Bowling History
It’s been 15 years since a team won back-to-back National Basketball Association championships (Boston, 1968-69). It’s been six years since a team won back-to-back World Series (New York Yankees, 1977-78). It’s been four years since a team won back-to-back National Football League championships (Pittsburgh, 1979-80). However, it’s only been a week since a bowler won back-to-back Super Hoinke Classics, and the feat will probably rank right up there with those of the Celtics, Yankees and Steelers, if only for the unique circumstances surrounding it.
By all rights, Tampa’s Larry Barwick, by way of Wauchula, should have never defended his title at Cincinnati’s Western Bowl last weekend and should have followed his doctor’s advice and stayed home. By all rights, Barwick should be $300 poorer, rather than $40,000 richer. By all rights, someone should have been saying rites over Barwick’s bruised and battered body days before he sailed through nine straight opponents, concluding with a 214-196 win over Louisville’s Alan Bishop for the grand prize.
Berwick’s successful march through one of bowling’s most prestigious tournaments was achieved despite a broken left collarbone sustained two weeks prior and despite the knowledge that no one, outside of perhaps the greatest bowler of all time. Earl Anthony, could participate in 18 consecutive one-game matches in two years and never lose. But, Barwick, who collected $30,000 for last year’s winning effort for a $70,000 haul In two years, did just that.
A few weeks ago, Barwick was participating in a Professional Bowlers Association tournament In Detroit, one of several on the PBA’s fall tour. Barwick and regular tour members Pete Weber and Brian Voss were leaving the lanes’ parking lot en route to supper when “I eased out In traffic too soon in the car and I got hit. I was thrown against the door, and I guess the pressure snapped my left collarbone.”
Barwick came home the next day, and his first question to the doctor was when could he return to the lanes. “The doctor said in two weeks if I could stand the pain,” said Barwick.
“I shouldn’t have been at the Hoinke,” said Barwick, “because I was still hurting from my accident, and the doctor told me the broken collarbone would take six weeks to properly heal. But, two weeks after the accident (the Monday before the Super Hoinke Classic), I went to Florida Lanes and bowled eight frames. I had to quit because I couldn’t stand the pain. On Tuesday. I bowled two games, and it felt a little better.
“1 called Tracy Hoinke (tournament manager) in Cincinnati, and he said he couldn’t refund my money. So, I decided to go up there anyway, just to see if I could bowl. I didn’t roll any more practice games between Tuesday and my first match on Friday in Cincinnati.
“When I arrived in Cincinnati, Hoinke told me he would refund my money. I couldn’t see traveling all the way up there and not trying to bowl, so I said no”.
“I won my first two matches on Friday, then drew a bye for Saturday’s action. On Sunday, because of the injury, I didn’t expect to win. I was relaxed and I believe the soreness actually caused me to slow down. I could concentrate better.”
As in all match plays, especially one-game affairs, luck must be on the side of the champion, and Barwick had two examples.
“I bowled a woman who rolled 201. All I needed was a mark to win. I decided to change my angle a little to the right, and I threw the first ball in the channel. Now, I have to strike for the spare in order to win. 1 did and barely won.
“Then, another opponent needed a strike and a spare to beat me by one pin. He got the first strike, then left the 3-6-10. He only got two pins on the fill ball, and we tied. In the roll-off, I spared, struck and spared for 40, and he struck and opened.” In the championship match, “I knew this guy (Bishop) was young and inexperienced and a little tight. He left five 7-pins.”
Now, Barwick is making plans for the 1985 PBA Winter Tour, in which he will room with good friend Tommy Crites as they travel from city to city. The $40,000 may make those long trips a mite cheerier.