P E Z Z A N O
by Chuck Pezzano
Chuck Pezzano is the dean of bowling writers. His columns have appeared in newspapers and magazines nationally for over 50 years. He is a charter member of the Professional Bowlers Association, and is enshrined in both the PBA and American Bowling Congress Halls of Fame.
Evans was one of a kind
When Dick Evans passed away on July 4, I lost a pal, buddy, friend, mentor, debating colleague, sparring partner, and punching bag plus all the other intangibles that go into creating what brothers in life are all about.
Bowling lost part of its soul.
I well remember when I presented Dick with Hall of Fame and other high honors and his son and others commented to him that they thought Chuck was your friend.
Of course I was - to his dying day. But that didn’t mean that 1 ever missed an opportunity to needle, jab or jolt, no matter where we were or who was there.
We had an odd foursome of brothers, Dick the diehard Florida native, me, a Jersey-New York guy, Joe Lyou, the cream of California and John Jowdy, all that a Texan can be.
Lyou was the oriental sage, Jowdy the bowling equipment and professor of professors, I was the pro bowling and TV bowling specialist and Evans was the reporter’s reporter. Our group was known as the bowling brothers, the four musketeers, the four meddlers and even the four buzzing mosquitoes.
Together we piled up more than 200 years of almost every experience bowling could offer, the opinions, the arguments, the personalities, the history, and the love.
Evans is now in that forever niche so seldom achieved, his place in history for all he did, all he caused to be done, and all that he still wanted done.
I remember Dick as a fearsome fighter for the underdogs of bowling. I remember him as a reporter who respected facts, figures, quotes and quips and never used anything unless he cheeked it out or received the data from sources he trusted.
I remember that Dick and me served more than 100 years on major Hall of Fame committees, ABC, WIBC, PBA, PWBA and USBC, to name a few. We never agreed fully but respected the other guy’s opinion.
We froze covering bowling events in Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago and melted covering events in Miami, New Orleans and Las Vegas. Would you believe more than 100 events in Las Vegas? Believe it.
We endlessly discussed every portion of every bit of bowling controversy and were still doing it the week of his passing. No subject was too small or too large, nor was any person.
That took all the time Evans could give from his reporter chores at the Miami Herald. His awards from every organization for his writing and other contributions would not only make a great museum exhibit they would make a museum. His positions on bowling committees would fill a booklet; his list of friends would fill a book. His soft, inner charitable aide would reveal a man of depth and understanding, one who labored over the effects of his stories and ideas - some that have or could have changed the course of the game.
At every bowling event Dick always saved a seat for me - I hope he reserved the one next to him now - the one he has in heaven.
Walt Steinsiek Always A Big Draw
Walt Steinsiek, a native of Passaic before business opportunities took him to Maryland and later Florida, died on June 27 as he was preparing to attend Bowl Expo in Las Vegas.
He was 83 and widely recognized as the world's greatest bowling cartoonist. He created thousands of illustrations for bowling books, posters, program covers, unique all-occasion cards and published six bowling cartoon books, a favorite gift at bowling banquets.
Steinsiek always drew a laugh when he commented on his title as "the best."
"I know that was true for at least 30 years. I was the best because I also was the only bowling cartoonist."
Nobody came close to Steinsiek's output and he has some legendary company in the designation of Bowling Cartoonist of the Year, named by the Bowling Writers Association of America since 1995. Past winners include Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, Jim Davis, creator of Garfield the Cat; and Dean Young, the talent behind Blondie.
Steinsiek was a big man with a heart and smile to match. A veteran of World War II, he loved bowling, an association he formed when he lived at the Paterson YMCA. He spent most of his spare time at the five lanes there, bowling and watching the ways of bowlers. As the word of Steinsiek's death circulated, the first reaction was sadness, then a smile as people recalled a favorite chuckle by Steinsiek. He would have liked that. |
