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Mike Scroggins
I am going to try and do something different
this week and use the Featured Player to give some props to a
non-staffer. Mike Scroggins deserves the honor because of his
memorable week here in Milwaukee. For those of us who have known
Mike for a long period of time we all know the great person he
is. There are many out there that may not know Mike and I hope I
am able to give you an idea of the wonderful personality he is.
In an era of brash and many times cocky
attitudes Mike gives us something different. A polite soft
spoken individual that would give the shirt off his back to help
anybody he could. Not a man of many words, you can feel Mike's
sincerity when he does talk.
Mike is from Amarillo, Texas and his accent can
not be hidden. Mike has a twin brother Mark and is also an
accomplished bowler. I believe Mark holds the USBC single season
average record by averaging something like 263 for the entire
season. I will have to check on that one but it was either Mike
or Mark and I believe it was Mark who set the record.
A quiet guy but a fun loving person as well.
Mike takes some teasing about his balding state, being left
handed and never moving is feet off the big dot (that is how
many right handers refer to the lefties). But handles it better
than many others. Without getting into a discussion about the
sensitivity of the left/right issue I will tell you that Mike
understands and deals with the challenges better than most. He
can tease and be teased about the issue.
Mikes games is built on simplicity and angles.
Mike is very good at matching his ball choices with the angles
he is most comfortable. While other bowlers are moving all over
the place Mike will stay within his angles. He doesn't have to
just play five but no matter if he is playing 1...5...or inside
of 10 his angles will be very similar. He knows the type of ball
reaction he is looking for and will do his best to find a ball
in his arsenal that will give that to him.
Mike spent several years rooming with Mike Aulby
and gives Mike a lot of credit it teaching him how to deal with
the lefty issue. On the left you just have to be ready to get it
when it is there. If you spend too much time trying to create it
you may not be ready when it is there.
Mike certainly proved he was ready when it was
there this week. He started the week out by winning the pre
tournament sweeper they have every year and never looked back.
Mike led after the qualifying rounds and by the time we got to
the championship match on TV it was obvious the two best bowlers
of the week were bowling for the title.
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