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Mark London - Just Paying AttentionThese columns appear monthly in the Joliet, Illinois-based bowling newspaper, the Will County Sportsman. If bowling were a major sport, this is how one writer would cover it. That's pretty much it. The writer, Mark London, is a PBA Midwest Regional bowler, St. Cloud (MN) State radio/TV graduate, and currently is the Pro Shop Manager at Brunswick Zone Deer Park in Chicago's northwest suburb of Lake Zurich. Joliet broadcast legend and Sportsman publisher Don Ladas suggested he write a column for the paper back in the summer of '97 when ABC Television announced the end of the 35-year 'Pro Bowlers Tour' series. There were ideas London brought up that had never before appeared in print, like show and announcer critiques, marketing of the pro tours, a link to its virtually ignored television past, the occasional interview, and of course, just a few personal observations. Ladas offered him space for a monthly column and the first 'JPA' appeared in February 1998. Since then, London and his "eight regular readers," as he refers to the small but loyal legion of readers, have taken on the task of enjoying professional and experienced coverage to a sport relegated to the compost heap in the mid 90's. The first notice was the now-infamous 'Top 25 TV Bowling Moments' column, appearing in the April '98 Sportsman and later the following winter in the former 'Bowling' magazine, sparking unexpected heated nationwide debate among longtime experts and participants alike. The list is updated annually, keeping it as fresh and current as possible. The next moment was a Jim Stefanich interview on the 25th anniversary of his TV 300 game and a slightly coy reference to another President being impeached at the time. The night following the interview, London threw a perfect game of his own. Another twist occurred in the spring of 2003 when the April '02 column placed seventh in the American Bowler magazine editorial competition, quite a feat among a list usually comprised of industry heavyweights. All this for a slightly offbeat column with more than a few pop culture references, but a passion for a sport in need of some attention. The Sportsman version and the Internet version may vary slightly. Each is fine tuned to a different audience. Don't worry; all Pittsburgh references will be included in both, especially if it involves waving a Terrible Towel or explaining the big deal about the 'Seat of Honor' in his home. Who else can say the character Roy Munson in 'Kingpin' lost his right hand in the center where London bowled junior leagues back in the 70's? More of the past JPA's will be posted as time and space allow, so enjoy the reading, so you can choose for yourself how much sleep was really lost in the last writing of the Top 25 TV Moments list. |
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