Rod Barden
 

I started bowling when I was 12 years old; it was a sport that I had never considered doing or knew much about. My parents had joined a league the year before and enjoyed it so much they asked my brother, my sister and me if we wanted to join a league.  There was no doubt about it, I had to try it, but my brother and sister weren’t to keen on the idea. Since 1967, my parents and I have been bowling every year. 

Bowling has become my life from the first time I picked up a ball. On Saturdays when Junior Leagues were over, I would run home to watch the Pro Tour on TV. On occasion I would stay and keep score for Gil Romero, Chet March, Bob Sanderson, Ron Kindsfather or anyone else that Gil would invite to bowl.  

During my Junior Bowling years I was involved in DeMolays, which is a Masonic organization. In 1971, we also started a Singles Tournament and invited other chapters from nearby cities to bowl. The Singles Tournament was held for 3 years and I won all three tournaments. The highest game I bowled as a junior bowler, in 1969, was a 244. In 1971, I had my first 600 series on our travel league at Fort Lupton Lanes.

 In 1973, after graduating from High School I joined a Greeley League for Men. I made a few friends on the league, but when I think back most of the league was probably hoping I would eventually quit. They weren’t thinking this because I was bowling well and winning, it was my poor attitude when I threw a bad ball or bowled a terrible game. In fact, my attitude became so poor that my Dad came up to me during league and told me if I didn’t “COOL IT” he was going to stop bowling with me. Some years later I remember riding to the bowling center with Gene Foos, owner of Columbine Bowl, and he said “You know you are like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” He said “You are one of the nicest people anyone could ever meet, but when you put on a pair of bowling shoes you totally change!”  During bowling when I would get angry I was never mad at my team mates or anyone else that was bowling, I was upset with myself because I knew I could bowl better and felt I was holding down the team by not bowling every game to my highest potential.

 In 1974, I bowled in the Pro Am at Celebrity Lanes in Denver. I was paired with three professionals and finished better than the first and second pros, but not the third. The third professional was Earl Anthony. About the 3^rd frame I started missing shots and started getting upset. By the end of the game I was in the 150’s and Earl finished with 268. I can only imagine what Earl was thinking about my attitude by the time we finished. 

With each new bowling season I worked as hard to control my attitude as bowling a high game and it paid off. My averages started climbing and I finally bowled my first 300 game on March 10^th, 1990 in the Greely Masters. I also won Bowler of the Year in 1990. Since then I have had nine other 300 games, seven 299 games, one 298 game and finally an 800 series. I won the Greeley Masters twice, once in 1996 and again in 2005, along with my second Bowler of the Year award in 2005. I wasn’t able to attend the USBC Masters in 2005 because of personal reasons. I did attend the ABC Masters held in Salt Lake in 1996 and finished in the money. There was a field of 554 Pros and Amateurs and I finished 123^rd. As I was leaving, Norm Duke walked out and I asked him how he finished. He ended up 132^nd. I was able to get a picture with Norm Duke a once in a lifetime thing.

 I will always wonder how different things could have been if I wouldn’t have let my attitude be controlled by a strong competitive will to win and constant need for perfection. 

Through the years I have tried to control my attitude and today at the age of 51 I would say it is 95% better. I still have a moment here and there. Unfortunately, it took too long to control my attitude and I lost my dream and chance of bowling on the Pro Tour.  

Most of all I would like to thank my parents, Larry and Marilyn Barden for getting me started in bowling.

Article by Rod Barden