Original subtitles

You may be asking yourself, what is the history of the bowling ball?

Okay, maybe you weren't.

But we're going to tell you anyway.

Throughout history, bowling balls have taken many forms.

The first balls were made of wood. Then, in the early 1900s, came rubber. And by

the 1970s, plastic balls were adopted by the PPA.

Because plastic balls didn't have enough friction, they often went skidding down

the lane.

In the 1980s, urethane bowling balls emerged.

drastically changing the game, allowing more friction, which translated to more

control.

But it wasn't until the early 90s that resin helped revolutionize the, well,

revolution of the bowl.

Like Earth, every bowling ball has a core.

Those cores vary, with different weights and shapes, all affecting the hook and

speed of a roll.

The outer core is for texture and looking cool.

So yeah.

Professional bowlers need lots of balls, which they put in ball sacks.

That's what they call them.

The day has come.

It's the U .S. Open Championship Finals.

For Simo, this is a chance to win $100 ,000

etch his name in bowling history, and start living his best life.

If you win, will there be any celebration at all?

Maybe. I don't know. Maybe I'll run to, like, Cheesecake Factory and grab a

slice of cheesecake before I hit the road.

But to get that cheesecake, he'll have to beat four other bowlers, including E

.J. Tackett, the reigning player of the year.

This building's obviously been very historic to me.

I weren't in here after my mom passed away. I wasn't here after my dad passed

away.

Two, one.

It's title time here in India as we get set to crown the champion of the 83rd U

.S. Open.

Simonson, he opens up with back -to -back strikes.

Hey, three in a row for Simo.

How's that?

Feeling pretty good.

I knew there was a commercial break coming up.

And I'm slowly trying to decompress, bring the heart rate back down.

I like turn to set my rag down and I look back over and then they were giving

the we're going symbol. And I'm like, oh, fuck.

Because for most TV shows, there's a commercial break slotted for five and a

half frames.

Just completely caught me off guard and kind of just set into panic mode.

I'm not thinking about bowling at all. I've got to try to get myself prepared

make a shot in 25 seconds.

Or I might forfeit the frame.

Simonson, it plays out to six.

Not the 7 -10!

And all of a sudden, just like that, things have fallen off for Simonson.

I was still a little fucked up from not having the commercial break previously.

So I ultimately finished fifth.

That was kind of rough.

I've been on TV a decade, and that's the first time that's ever happened. So I'm

sure I could complain, but then people would just say I'm bitching for no

reason, right?

God damn it, Anthony.

Simo's dream of victory cheesecake may have gone sour.

But one of his rivals is still chasing the sweetness of victory.

E .J. Tackett has won the PBA Bowler of the Year award the last two years.

And there's no place he'd rather kick off his campaign for a third straight

right here.

A short hundred miles from the U .S. Open, you'll find E .J.'s hometown of

Bluffton, Indiana, where he owns two trucks and lives on three acres of land

with his wife and his one -year -old.

Oh, and they recently purchased a bowling center his parents had owned

since he was a kid.

In 98, my parents took over a bowling center in Huntington, where I grew up.

The five -year -old E .J. Tackett, who's been bowling for three years and

already carries a 115 average.

His high game is a whopping 179.

I'm just, like, trying, want to go about really, really hard as I can.

Yeah, that's what I do all the time.

Since I was five, I've basically lived inside of a bowling center.

Also since age five, he's been strictly following doctor's orders.

I drink a lot of Dr. Pepper.

That's where I get my caffeine from.

Dr. Pepper, Dr.

Pepper.

Yes,

there is Dr. Pepper available.

Among EJ's biggest bowling goals, there'd be no greater honor than being

sponsored by the doctor.

When I'm not bowling on tour, I'm in here.

Typically 8, 10, 12 hours a day. Watch out.

Coming for you. When I'm not fixing a toilet, I can just go bowl.

Dollar.

This is EJ's dad, who is also his coach.

I have worked with my dad and only my dad my entire career, and I've never

sought help from anyone else.

You know, he just chased me, did what I did.

They got a little better at it.

We bought Easy Bowl from my in -laws July of 2021.

We painted about every wall in this building ourselves.

We got a quote for it, for the interior and the exterior, and we thought, we'll

handle the inside, but we'll hire somebody for the outside.

Yeah.

I would say it takes not a super sane person to get into a bowling business.

We're fresh into it.

And right now, we don't pay ourselves anything out of it.

But you have to keep looking ahead and believe that things will just work out.

Bowling and the Tackett name, they're one and the same.

I'm married to a bowler.

My brother actually bowls on tour as well.

Bowling is the story of my family.

This sport created everything in our life.

And it's taken us to heights that I don't know if any of us dreamed of.

Not even Dad.

The one I'm proudest of is going to be U .S. Open, for sure.

In 2022, I had led the U .S. Open by 500 pins at Woodland Bowl in the state

of Indiana, just close to home.

And I had a bunch of friends and family there.

It's one of those things in my career I always wanted to win in the state of

Indiana.

And I eventually lost to Anthony Simonson in the title match.

That was one of the hardest moments of my career.

It was devastating.

And to be able to come back in 2023, lead the field at the U .S. Open once

at Woodland Bowl, have another opportunity to win a U .S. Open.

The wings are big.

And this one, like, I'm never going to clean it because it was so emotional,

right? So I'm holding it. I'm all crying, you know, stuff. There's

tear still on, like it dripped from my face onto the trophy.

So that one's going to stay there forever.

Uh -oh. There goes the foot.

There goes the foot.

Rawr.

Rawr.

Let's leave the foot on the trophy, buddy.

There are now just two matches left in the U .S. Open.

DJ, baby.

How long have you guys been waiting out here?

About two minutes.

Okay.

And some of the wildest fans in bowling have come out in full court.

to see if EJ, the local favorite, can become just the eighth bowler ever to

multiple U .S. Open championships.

This building has so much history in it, which is why I love bowling here so

much. It just so happens to be in a great state I live in, in Indiana, and

fans here are the best.

EJ's four -day pin -knocking success might have gotten him to the finals, but

his climb into the second position is that much more impressive.

if you knew just how bad he was doing days before.

EJ Tackett was in 78th place, and I mean way off the cut line.

EJ Tackett, perfect.

Hambo Tackett needs another jacket.

I pulled a great game, and I didn't really have to do much but get ready for

that dogfight in the title match.

Welcome to the championship round here at the U .S. Open.

Back -to -back solid nine.

This is interesting.

Oh, God.

Oh, buddy.

That wasn't great.

I'm sitting here thinking, I have an opportunity.

My opponent made a mistake. I have to capitalize on that mistake.

Tackett steps up.

foot on throat, ready to come in for the kill.

of emotion came out in that moment because I was so buried in the standings

it looked like I was going to be watching this tournament from my couch.

And we spend a whole week putting ourselves and our bodies through all

torment for those moments is why we do what we do.

The PBA Tour isn't just made up of major tournaments with big paydays.

It also includes smaller events with humbler payouts.

There are a lot of these events.

And a tour favorite is the tournament named after one of bowling's most

controversial legends, the Pete Webber Classic in Springfield, Missouri.

Are you excited about today, Pete?

I never get excited until it's time to get excited, you know.

Pete Webber is an icon.

Pete Webber is a legend.

Five -time winner of the U .S. Open. No one's ever won that tournament more than

twice.

Pete Webber is the bad boy of bowling.

The most polarizing figure in the history of bowling.

If you wanted it, you'd die.

Pete loves to be the bad guy.

Come on!

Pete Weber changed the game because of the shot heard around the world.

Strike to claim it. Strike to claim it. And he did it!

That's right!

Who do you think you are? I am!

One of the most iconic and confusing statements in sports history.

Who do you think you are?

It's iconic.

Pete had some, we call them antics.

I think he was trying to find something to piss him off.

Because he bowled way better mad than he did when he was happy.

God, do not flash the camera in my approach.

I'm telling you, don't do it. Jesus Christ!

They loved him for it.

Crutch. chopping and

he did most of that under the influence of drugs and alcohol he's been

suspended from the tour several times for conduct on becoming a professional

it's no secret you've had some encounters with rehab of some sorts over

years or trips are you an alcoholic do you have a problem with drinking

Well, I guess, yeah, I am an alcoholic, but I'm not going to quit drinking

because somebody else is telling me I have to.

I've had a few experiences with Pete Webber. My father, they tore up the bars

and the lanes in the 80s while they were on tour.

There was a pretty good amount of guys at parties back in that day.

Now, if you want to go to the acid or the mescaline, I'm the expert on that.

Sometimes we talk about it. Do we think Pete would have more or less titles if

it was over?

We don't know. He was so great.

I did, but it took the win.

That was showing my emotions, so be it. I wouldn't change

it for the world.

How about that for winning?

You love me, you hate me, you're going to watch.

It's all you can do.

It was kind of exciting for me to have the tournament named after me.

Actually, it was a big surprise. When you have a tournament named after you,

you've hit the very top of your career. You can't go anywhere.

By the second day of the Pete Webber Classic, Cam and Simo are both out,

struggled in earlier rounds and missed the cut.

Also absent, Belmo.

Following his disappointing loss in the U .S. Open, Thelmo decided he needed a

break. So he flew back home to Australia to recharge for the next major.

Aussie style.

Meanwhile, with those guys MIA, that leaves Kyle and EJ in striking distance

making the show.

When I missed the cut at the U .S. Open by two, it was tough.

The PBA tour can definitely be a grind.

Mentally, you get a win or you get a show.

And then the next week, you miss the cut.

It's a mental roller coaster.

But I was able to spend a little time at home.

I was able to actually relax.

And this was a family photo. I would almost bet that's Crown and Water.

And there we are, set.

1998. My mom and dad, they met through bowling.

They got married in a bowling alley, actually.

I know this was Guppy's third wife and mom's third husband.

Worked out perfect. Third time's the charm, I guess.

That's about the last time I think I've had a tie -on.

Three, five years ago.

My mom was pregnant with me. I was already in a bowling alley before I was

born. Sign from God, sign from my parents, that you're going to grow up

Bullard kid.

Yeah, this was definitely a little bit later in life.

This was when my mom was actually wearing a wig, you know, because she

hair due to her breast cancer and stuff.

I do recall, you know, my father, with all his gold, you know, he loved it, but

he did have to sell all his gold. You know, when my mother got cancer, I lost

her job.

You know, financially, times were a lot tougher then. My father wasn't making as

much money bowling.

But, you know, he did whatever he needed to for the family.

My mom and dad were married 29 years until my mom passed away.

29 years married to a bowler.

That's a lot, you know.

Miss her dearly.

But I remember bowling on Saturday mornings, and, you know, if I beat Mom,

$5.

The Pete Weber Classic isn't a major, but its payouts are still a big step up

from Kyle's $5 weekends.

And as he's closing in on making the show, he can almost taste that $30 ,000

first -place prize.

It's down to the 10 frame and leave a 510 split Wow gotta make it

Unbelievable. Yep.

He's double -checking the turn to Timmy's. Yeah, you got to make it he

goodness I Don't think I've ever seen that in that moment from anybody

How the fuck do I ever shoot that? Yes. I know that I'm trying to figure out how

I'm gonna shoot it

I got to tell you, Kyle has to flare for the dramatic.

I think he's picking.

This crowd just went dead silent. Oh, they're going to go crazy when he picks

this. Still trying to visualize how to make it.

I bet he hasn't shot a 510, but maybe once or twice in his lifetime.

For the TV show.

Nope.

Wow. Timmy Tan makes his show.

I lost my one pin.

Missed my single digits again in a different way, but this time to miss the

show.

Our number one seed, he was the number one seed through qualifying and remains

that way into the show. He's a 24 -time champion on the TVA Tour. From Bluffton,

Indiana, please welcome E .J.

Tackett.

I don't even know how that happened, Phil.

Luckily, I'm leading the tournament, so that guarantees me on the show.

I'm not really superstitious, but I guess maybe I am a little bit, but I

wear red on TV anymore.

Every time I wore red, I lost, so I quit wearing that and started wearing blue

and started winning.

This one here is one that I always wear on TV.

in Springfield, Missouri.

And legendary PGA Hall famer Pete Weber is set to throw off the ceremonial first

ball in the event named for him, PDW.

37 times.

Back on TV. Left lane. Pete goes for a strike.

Brooklyn. But it counts all the same.

Bowling is such a unique sport.

It's just a game of imperfections.

You're chasing to be perfect but it's never achievable or attainable.

It's just not possible to happen.

But it is really fun.

chasing it. Pete actually just said to Dave and Randy a little bit ago that he

is in awe of you and all the things that you have done. To have someone that's

an icon of the sport say those words to you, it doesn't get any better.

That never -ending battle of trying to conquer the game is

what makes all of us come back and

go home and practice.

Show up to the next event.

Nine pins for number 25.

He has

done

it again.

25 career titles.

Thank you, buddy.

Love you, pal. Love you, too, man.

I was very happy for EJ.

He's putting on a hell of a year at this point.

I was looking to give him Player of the Year, and he crushed us.

There are still three majors left in the season.

But tonight, EJ's quest for this year's Player of the Year award is momentarily

interrupted so that he can accept last year's Player of the Year award.

It all begs a question, though.

How do they get all these pro bowlers to show up for an awards ceremony honoring

one of their rivals?

Free all -you -can -eat buffet.

Works every time.

The winner of the 2024 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award, E

.J. Tackett.

It takes a whole career to figure out if you're going to be good or not.

How about great or not?

Well, that's for everyone else to decide, not me.

All I can do is go bowl.

First off, I want to say thank you to all of my fellow competitors that voted

for me for this award.

The last couple years have been a crazy ride, and I want to thank you guys for

appreciating this.

That was a tough moment.

There may be a certain level of jealousy.

I wanted to win, obviously.

But yeah, it definitely sucked.

But, you know, all those thoughts and feelings, I'm trying to just keep that

the back of my mind.

Because at the end of the day, it's about confidence.

If I feel like I'm at the top of my game, then I don't believe anybody can

me.

EJ kind of came along in the last couple of tournaments and has overtaken

everyone else.

You know, now that target is definitely on his back.

EJ winning every tournament just gets on my nerves a little too much sometimes.

I need to beat him on TV, off TV.

Probably want to beat him too much.

Ultimately, my goal is to make money.

So I have to beat EJ to make money.

He's the guy I'm trying to beat.

What he does is insane.

I love that shit. I eat it up. That's what makes me go harder.

I'm about to eat, and y 'all are going to be in trouble.

Hearing a lot of people say, someone else is the best in the world, I like

I also started thinking bigger than the best in the world.

And being number one is an incredible honour and achievement.

But there have been a lot of number ones in the world, but there's only one

greatest of all time.

And so now that's my goal.