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00:13Patrick is still forcing people to mark in the 10th frame here, if he can find a way.
00:18Oh my goodness!
00:24Oil is slippery, but also essential in bowling.
00:30Consider that every bowling shot starts with the approach.
00:33The steps and slide to the line are crucial to getting the ball and or your body to go where
00:40you want.
00:41And whether you're an amateur or a professional, navigating that step and slide can be tricky.
00:51All wide bowling shoes are always required.
00:55In the old days, pros would put ash on their shoes to help them slide more or spit on them
01:01to make them stick better.
01:03And while bowling alleys now look pretty different than they did in the days of smoking and spitting, bowling shoes
01:09pretty much still look the same.
01:11Though Jason Belmonte, or Belmo as the kids call him, wants to change that.
01:17Over the last few years, I've kind of fallen down the wells of sneakers.
01:24Research.
01:25Because I wanted to bring sneaker culture into bowling.
01:30Belmo capitalized on his superstar status and produced his own shoe, unmistakably reminiscent of a legend.
01:38Which might make you wonder if footwear could be tied to on-lane success, as very famously postulated by the
01:46esteemed Mars Blackman.
01:47Money's got to be the-
01:49Shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo!
01:53Shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo!
02:05Here in Australia, I was born, heave away, fall away.
02:10Old Australia, round Cape Horn, going to Australia.
02:14Now, if you couldn't tell from his accent, Belmo is from Australia, where they call bowling ten-pin bowling.
02:22And here he is showing off the bowling alley his parents bought when he was just a baby.
02:28Australia.
02:29Yup, just like E.J. Tackett.
02:33Now, because of Belmo's endorsement deals and the fact that he's won more majors than any other bowler in history
02:38by a lot,
02:39it means he can afford something other bowlers can't.
02:43Beyond a nice house and 200 pairs of Nikes, he can take time off.
02:48Which is why he didn't think twice to skip this year's Pete Webber Classic and return home to New South
02:54Wales, Australia,
02:55where he's been a bit of a celebrity dating back to when he was a kid.
02:59Meet Jason Belmonte. His highest score is 259 and his results are consistent, and all from such humble beginnings.
03:07Dad said when he was just born, like 18 months, I started bowling my first ball.
03:17When my parents built a bowling centre, neither of them were bowlers.
03:21It was purely this crazy idea for a business.
03:25Bowling in my hometown was new. No one knew how to do it.
03:31And I'm this 18-month-old kid, and I want to bowl.
03:38And so I would just do my best to carry it and kind of, you know, throw it down the
03:43lane with two hands.
03:48But it was really soon thereafter that I was able to do something that no one else in town was
03:54doing,
03:54and that was create this hook.
03:57Everybody that bowled traditionally would bowl really, really straight.
04:02I was just curving the whole lane as like a four-, five-, six-year-old,
04:07and that made me different, but it was cool.
04:12Jason Belmonte is a rarity in ten-pin bowling, as is his bowling style.
04:19It's been one of the wildest things to see how many people are bowling two-handed.
04:27A double-hander.
04:28When I was a rookie, almost no one does it.
04:32To today, where half the people on tour are bowling this way.
04:37And I remember having conversations, you know, in my early 20s or late teens,
04:43when I'd have this success, and then people would start to be like,
04:47hey, I don't think you can do this.
04:49No story has gained as much national traction as Jason Belmonte.
04:53His two-handed style has caught the attention of everyone.
04:57There was this underlining feeling of he's cheating.
05:01Two hands is a lot easier to do. I don't agree with it.
05:04I don't think that it's a part of the game that should be in play.
05:06He's revving the ball so much, and he strikes so much, and we can't do this,
05:11and so we gotta ban that style altogether.
05:14You know, everybody just wants a fair shake.
05:16You could make rules that prohibit the two-handed style, and I would be for that.
05:21Thankfully, those that write the rule book said it's totally okay.
05:25And if anything, that just gives you more confidence.
05:28Like, you walk in going, everyone here that has said something about my style
05:34is threatened by me.
05:37I really don't think about my own bowling when I'm here.
05:41I'm really engaged in what the family's doing.
05:45What do you want, some mango?
05:47I'm gone for six, seven months of the year,
05:49and so the months that I have here at home, I want to be really present.
05:57I have to cut it, otherwise how are we gonna get into it?
06:00So, my life when Jase is gone, I guess it can become a little bit lonely at times,
06:05but I definitely think it's harder for him.
06:09You're really hacking into that.
06:11The best way that I can describe leaving is,
06:15I absolutely hate it.
06:20But, before leaving, I'm very excited about going and competing.
06:27Of the last ten player of the years, I've won seven.
06:31And the three that I hadn't won, I was filthy with myself.
06:37People say, like, you've won so much, like, you just enjoy what you have,
06:41and that's just, again, not acceptable.
06:44Strike for the win.
06:45A strike, does it!
06:48Legendary!
06:49Jason can do anything with a bowling ball.
06:52And that's his third major win over EJ Tackett.
06:57EJ and I have been battling for the best part of this decade,
07:00and I'm not ready to give up my crown.
07:03I want to be the greatest that's ever laced up a pair of shoes
07:06and rolled a ball down a lane.
07:08And in order to do that, what I want to achieve is, in a single word,
07:14dominate again.
07:14That's two words.
07:17Dominate.
07:21Belmo's next chance to dominate a major
07:23will come back on the other side of the world,
07:26in the Paris of Western Nevada.
07:32You could call the World Series of Bowling the mecca of bowling events.
07:38It's a month-long challenge set this year in the heart of Reno, Nevada.
07:44Where 200-plus bowlers from over 18 countries will fight until there's only one man left standing on the lanes.
07:56Now, if those lanes look familiar, they should, if you've seen the movie Kingpin.
08:01Welcome to my church.
08:03Which, by the way, some say is the greatest bowling movie ever.
08:06Anyway, the World Series of Bowling isn't just a single big event that gets its name from baseball.
08:13It's actually five tournaments, including the PBA World Championship, rolled into one.
08:18Now, the series' first four events each use a distinctly challenging oil pattern to affect the speed and spin of
08:25the ball.
08:25Each inspired by a different animal.
08:28Why animal patterns?
08:30Well, in the words of Sir David Attenborough...
08:32It's a mystery.
08:34Nobody knows.
08:41See if we can fit a couple guys in here.
08:45Reno's a little different, because in that little downtown area, there's really not a whole lot to do.
08:58At least the mountains are nice.
09:00We're all just stuck in the same place doing the same thing.
09:03And we stayed at the Silver Legacy of Fine Establishment.
09:08Next question.
09:15My roommate, my best friend, Jesper Svensson.
09:19We're gonna spend almost a month in Reno.
09:22He's tall, Swede, with a bunch of tattoos.
09:26He's very quiet.
09:30But he's a killer on the lanes. He's the Iceman.
09:36He's been there with me through the last several years.
09:41Once I got engaged to Brianna, I knew my best man was gonna be Jesper.
09:45I'm a long way from home, so to have people here that treat you like family, that's pretty special.
09:54Our kitchen is in the bathroom.
09:56And our microwave and griddle and stuff stay in the closet, so, you know.
10:02I think anywhere for 20 days is gonna, you know, wear us down a little bit.
10:07So, there's not really a lot to do around here.
10:11Just bowl.
10:35The seventh frame for a 41-point lead. You bet!
10:42DJ Takei got some hits!
10:45One to win!
10:49And he got it, he got it!
10:50Just bowling beautifully.
10:53No moment.
10:55He said, don't forget about me.
10:58I'm 21 years old, still the top of his game.
11:01The four animal pattern tournaments always separate the predator from the prey.
11:05Is this a good one?
11:07Not everyone survives.
11:10Symo has a terrible showing.
11:12He didn't like it at all.
11:14Man, that's loose.
11:15You fucking dumb fuck.
11:17And then packs it in.
11:18Damn it, man.
11:20Meanwhile, EJ reaches the final round of every animal pattern, but loses over, and over, and over again.
11:31That was as well-navigated a show as I've ever seen, buddy.
11:37And...
11:39I know.
11:43I...
11:46It's important to remember that the greatest bowlers in the world don't get there on their own.
11:51Their skills only take them so far.
11:54Watch his balls.
11:56No, he's got me. I just want him to watch.
11:58Their bowl reps do the rest.
12:01Bowlers will tell you they're like caddies, but really a bowl rep's more like a cut man.
12:05Come here, Vic.
12:06I don't want to do it.
12:07Come here.
12:08Keeping their guy fighting.
12:10Or a psychologist without a license.
12:12You want a fresh one?
12:13Ultimately, more than anything, a bowl reps a friend who's there for you.
12:17What if I throw it like that, dick face?
12:19No matter how poorly you treat them.
12:21Oh, that's so nice.
12:26Someone who's looking out for your future.
12:28Don't think I'd be broken on an empty stomach, ever.
12:31To guide you.
12:32Don't you think? You want to know?
12:33Yeah, yeah.
12:34Sweet talking.
12:35A bunch of wet drying.
12:36He just did the creep, creep, flat tanned and missed a spare.
12:40And be the friend who will always take care of your balls.
12:45Oh, it's so nice to be with you.
12:48I love all the things you say.
12:53The category for Final Jeopardy is games people play.
12:56Here's the clue.
12:58Unable to lift the ball as a toddler, Jason Belmonte devised a two-handed throw.
13:04Oh, someone better get it.
13:05The best champ in this sport.
13:08What is basketball?
13:09No.
13:10I mean, that's not it.
13:12What is the shot put?
13:14Shot put?
13:15What sport did you think of, Roy?
13:18Bowling.
13:18That is correct.
13:20Gets it right.
13:21He is a professional two-handed bowler.
13:24I mean, I think that's good.
13:25One out of the three knew I was.
13:27So I'm famous enough to be a question on Jeopardy!
13:30But not famous enough that all the people know.
13:33I think that's a perfect blend of fame.
13:38I hate to ask this question, but people think because you're not winning as much as you were, that you
13:46are not at the caliber.
13:48How do you deal with that?
13:51In terms of rivalry, EJ's been my biggest rival even before I was washed up, as Kimberly calls it.
13:58I didn't.
13:58No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
14:01Oh, you didn't do the quotes.
14:03That's not me.
14:03No, I said people said, I did not say that.
14:05I did not say that.
14:07When it comes to my career, it is very much what have you done for me lately.
14:13From fans, from myself.
14:16Oh, my.
14:18No one else seems to be scrutinized the same way.
14:23You know, if EJ has a bad week or if Anthony has a bad season, no one really cares about
14:28it.
14:29You know, I have a bad week or two or three.
14:31It's time to retire.
14:33What's wrong with this guy?
14:34He's passed his prime, you know, and EJ is proving to be quite the adversary.
14:40You know, you can only sit atop the mountain for so long before father time knocks you off.
14:46In 2023, World Series, World Championship, I remember bowling up against EJ in the title.
14:56I had a lot of fun for him.
14:57Oh, my God.
14:58Touch it.
14:59He's got it.
15:01Yeah.
15:03Why, fucking God.
15:05Why, yeah.
15:06Yeah, it was a pretty, it was a pretty amazing moment.
15:08Oh my God.
15:09Move.
15:10Yeah.
15:11You know, he was able to beat me, which at that point I had a really strong record against
15:17him in major championships. That's why I think it's a little more special for him
15:22than it was for me, but I still appreciated it.
15:28Now that I'm not number one, I kind of want it back.
15:34But with the opportunity to win the world championship, it's a make or break for me.
15:44Another sunny day.
15:49You want us to lock arms?
15:56We've got a heavyweight fight between two of the greatest in the game right now. Jesper and Kyle
16:00are not only their best friends, but their roommates. When they get out in the lane,
16:04it's going to be a battle royale, man.
16:11Jesper is my brother, but then when we compete against each other, they don't matter to me.
16:16At the end of the day, it's about rolling a ball down the lane and knocking down 10 pence.
16:27The second fucking time.
16:35These fucking things I'm about to tell Donna, don't ever send me another one. It's
16:39fucking three in one year. I'm trying to figure out how to hold the ball with the gash in it
16:44again.
16:47Fuck, man. Fuck you, motherfucker.
17:00He's going to fucking bowl 770 and I'm going the fuck home. He ain't going to miss the ball, mate.
17:06All right. Next time, just ball change instead of fucking thinking about it. God damn it.
17:13Fucking pussy.
17:16You know, I was definitely pretty hard on myself.
17:21Feeling really low at that moment.
17:23My emotions were just not in check again.
17:28And that ultimately cost me.
17:31So, Jesper, I know obviously that's a tough match.
17:33You never want to bowl Kyle unless it's on TV.
17:36Walk us through how you got it done.
17:39I mean, it's a crazy match.
17:40You know, we've got the five games.
17:42It's piling up to continue losing.
17:45Like, it's definitely a struggle mentally.
17:54Welcome to Bowl TV's continuing coverage of World Series of Bowling.
17:57We talked about somebody that we both kind of like.
17:59And it's going to be Cam Crowe, who seems to have the right attitude.
18:02Cam's always got the right attitude. He's Mr. Positive all the time, no matter what.
18:05It's refreshing. It's great to see that.
18:07Right, this is done. They were getting ready to start.
18:10So, I can't remember who told me. He said,
18:12Hey, you talked to Cam? So, I called him.
18:16My alarms are usually set all the time.
18:19This is the one day we shut the blinds completely.
18:22So, it was just all dark.
18:24I called him again.
18:25What? What's going on? I go, where are you at?
18:28I looked at my phone. I said, Oh my God, it's 855.
18:31Bro, they're getting ready to start.
18:33Oh, shit.
18:35Hung up the phone, put my clothes on.
18:37We'll be back. Good morning.
18:42I grab my backpack.
18:44I'm running. I'm like, Oh my God.
18:46I have to be there by 9 o'clock. That's when the first frame starts.
18:49Thank God, I used to roll track.
18:50How are you doing?
18:51I get there in frame two, and I was like, Oh my God.
18:54I only missed two frames. I could have got a lot worse.
18:57You got here in two frames, which is pretty fast.
19:00I'm very mad at myself.
19:02F, F, F, F, F, F, F, F, F, F.
19:04What the?
19:07So, Cameron Crowe showed up late and got zeros for his first two frames.
19:14Obviously, just pissed off at myself. Very frustrated.
19:16Smack me. Hit me. Do something.
19:18Because what the fuck is going on?
19:20Ah, yes. Thank you. Let's go.
19:22This is a big, big warning for Cam Crowe right now.
19:25He wants to make TV.
19:31Crowe really needs a strike here to keep the pressure on.
19:36Oh, no.
19:38He needed to make a shot.
19:39You made a shot.
19:39The eight pin just didn't cooperate.
19:42You can just feel it.
19:43He just feels sick right now.
19:48Every fucking time, I need a fucking hit.
19:52That can't happen right there. That can't happen.
19:55That can't happen.
19:57Oh, fucking damn it.
20:03That was mine. That was mine.
20:14Hats off to Jason Belmonte. Looks like he is definitely going to be the number one seed.
20:18EJ Tackett. Looks like he's going to be second.
20:21It's time to pack up and check out, because today is the finals here in Reno.
20:31I travel with a fridge and a microwave because I can't eat casino food for a month, right?
20:41My concern when I'm leaving a hotel or a casino with my fridge
20:46is that somebody's going to think I'm making off with their, you know, their appliance.
20:52Looks like you're giving me some help, buddy.
20:54Yeah, buddy.
20:55How about when you lift up it this way?
20:57My man.
20:58And we'll carry it this way.
20:59Lifesaver.
21:01The things we do for one another.
21:03That's it.
21:04Oh, shit.
21:05I forgot the truck was here.
21:13We survived.
21:20Welcome to Reno's National Bowling Stadium
21:23for the PBA World Championship.
21:25As two of the greatest bowlers of this generation, Jason Belmonte and EJ Tackett,
21:32are your one and two seeds as we wrap up the World Series of Bowling.
21:37I put myself into the best possible position I could to win the championship.
21:42Number one seed.
21:43But when you're the number one guy for the TV show, you have a lot to lose.
21:53Now it's championship time.
21:57Have a good one.
21:59It's the ninth time these two have met in a title match, and Belmonte holds the advantage five to three.
22:11In the third frame, I left a 10 pin on a shot that I thought was pretty much perfect.
22:16So your mind is racing.
22:17Do you slow down?
22:18Do you speed up?
22:19Do you change ball?
22:19Do you change your target?
22:20There's so many different possibilities.
22:23But whatever you do, you get one crack at it.
22:26And in a 10 frame game, that's 10% of your game.
22:30You make two wrong decisions.
22:32That's a fifth of your title match that is bad.
22:38Oh, Jason.
22:42Almost got away with it.
22:43I started off with four consecutive strikes.
22:45And in the fifth, I threw one not so great.
22:51This basically ties our match back up.
22:54Chance for Belmo to take the lead.
22:57And gives Jason the opportunity to throw some punches.
23:01I looked at all my equipment.
23:03I looked at all my possible answers.
23:05And I was thinking, do you make that change and really, really risk it?
23:1295% of my career, I have had 100% confidence.
23:17And in the last couple of years, a doubt creeps in.
23:21You're holding the ball in your hand and you're thinking, is this the right ball?
23:32As the ball was going down, I think this is going to be a pretty good shot.
23:37Oh boy, he had the opportunity right there and he lost it.
23:40How does that go that straight?
23:43He throws his own split and he opened the door for me.
23:47And I was able to throw some punches back.
23:50Man, did he give back the business.
23:56Has to have this one.
24:00Okay.
24:03How does that strike?
24:06If there is a God and he is a bowling fan and he likes me, he'll let EJ miss and
24:15give me the moment.
24:16Couldn't ask for more.
24:18Coming down to the 10th frame.
24:20Needs two.
24:21I had to throw a double in the 10th frame.
24:24But throwing two strikes, when it's strike or you lose, it's very, very difficult.
24:40One more for the win.
24:46In high pressure situations, I have a tendency to get kind of quick.
24:51So, reminding myself to stay slow and I try to hyper focus on this one thing.
24:57It seems simple, but it's extremely difficult.
25:03One more.
25:37I guess God is not a bowling fan.
25:43One more.
25:45One more.
25:46One more.
25:47One more.
25:48One more.
25:49Either there is no God or there is, and he doesn't like me very much because he just made
25:53EJ bowl two of the greatest shots EJ's ever thrown.
25:56What a match.
25:57Jason is...
26:00He's not old by any means, but he's still unbelievable.
26:05And he showed it again this week, how great he is.
26:09This match is awesome.
26:13He's still a good time to never go to the line.
26:24That was a tough one.
26:26Yeah.
26:31Fuck.
26:35Good news is I get to get on a plane now, go to Detroit.
26:43After bowling 80 games and spending a month in the same hotel room,
26:48the change in scenery might improve Belmo's mood as much as a new pair of high tops.
26:54As for EJ, fresh off his second major win in a row,
26:58he's about to drive 30 straight hours to the Motor City, Detroit.
27:02Hoping a third straight victory awaits.
27:05He'll bring the $100,000 check with him, which could buy a lot of Dr. Peppers for the road.
27:11Nice.
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