Maricopa - - - As a resident of his home town of Macomb County for 30 plus years, Bob Schreiber of Maricopa, witnessed a lot of sports history made in his home state of Michigan. Among those sports treasures he witnessed were the Detroit Tigers winning the World Series in 1968 and 1984 And the Detroit Pistons winning the NBA Championship in 1989 and 1990. But, Mr. Schreiber even had his own 15 minutes of fame, in these wide, wide world of sports. It was the opening squad of the 1999 old American Bowling Congress (ABC) national championships in Syracuse, New York. As he was preparing to march out to the lanes to begin bowling in the event, a representative came up to him, and gave him the biggest surprise of his bowling career thus far.
"Actually my name (position) was drawn out of a drum with about 300 bowlers. The capsule was given to then Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis. He walked back and forth eliminating sections of lanes, and narrowed it down to our pair of lanes. He then informed me I was 'Joe Bowler'," recalled Bob, of his time in the spotlight."It was a great feeling, and it also made me very nervous. I knew I had to throw the opening ceremonial ball, and the pressure was intense. "There were about 500 people in the audience, along with the beauty queens standing at the foul line, and photographers taking pictures. I also had to wear a crown, cape, and scepter and throw the ball down the lane," he continued. "I came through like a champ and got a strike, and I got a standing ovation from the crowd. I also bowled a three frame match against Bettis, which he won 44 to 43." Bob could understand why Bettis was called the 'Bus'. He was over six-feet tall, and weighed over 240 pounds during his playing career. Bettis was also from Detroit. He retired from the Steelers, after they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLV. The game was also played in 'Motown'. He was elected to the pro football Hall of Fame this summer in Canton, OH.
"It was bad enough to have to do the ceremonial hoopla, but a three frame match was cool and intimidating at the same time. Bettis is an avid bowler, and carried a 200 plus average," he said, of his 15 minutes of fame. "I got an autographed shirt from him, which is something I will always remember, and still have. It was also kind of cool seeing some of your friends being in the limelight. I don't think it made any difference (on his team being called the 'Motown Five'). The old ABC was pretty strict about the drawings." Mr. Schreiber was the third member of his team to be selected 'Joe Bowler'. Art Wilson from Tallahassee, Fl., bowled at the Tulsa, OK., event. And Bill Henson from Sterling Heights, MI., at the Mobile, AL., tournament. Mr. Schreiber moved to Maricopa in 2007, after retiring from the automotive industry. His highest average thus far, came during the 2008-09 season where he averaged 204 for 93 games in the Corvette Classic League at Brunswick Kyrene. He also averaged 202 for 99 games in the Tri-City Men's League during the 2013-14 campaign also at Kyrene as well.
His high game in Arizona thus far, is in fact, a perfect game which he rolled in the Province bowling league in September 2007. But, unfortunately, it was an unsanctioned league. He added a 700 series in the Tri-City Men's League on September 29, 2013. Since being out west, he has become a coach and works with kids on Saturday mornings. "We have a lot of bowling centers in the Detroit Metro area, and it covers three counties: (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb). The biggest difference I noticed since being here, is the oil patterns from house to house," said Bob, on his adjustment of bowling centers in Arizona. "There are a lot of centers in Detroit which have 40 lanes or more. The last one I bowled at before leaving was Imperial Lanes, which had 80 lanes. We bowled on Friday nights, and the lanes were filled. I never shot a sanctioned 300 in Detroit. My highest average there was a 203, and highest series a 747."
During the 2015-16 season, he will bowl in two leagues at Kyrene. Tuesday mornings with Province from Maricopa, and Thursday night in the Tri-City Men's.He also says it was a chance encounter on how he became a youth coach. "I was at the bowling center practicing one Saturday, and the kids league was bowling. It was just a large group of kids on teams," he remembers. "Some had knowledge of the game, and some had no idea what they were doing. So, I asked if I could help and have been for the last four years. I also attended a coaching school hosted by Josh Blanchard, and got my certificate to coach."
All told, Mr. Schreiber has bowled in 32 ABC/USBC Nationals since 1982. Being crowned 'Joe Bowler' in 1999, has been his biggest moment in the game thus far. Another proud moment for him, was when he rolled his perfect game in September 2007."Its hard to top the 'Joe Bowler' honors, but I guess shooting a 300 game in the nationals could be a topper," he said, of his bowling accomplishments. "We usually practice a lot before the nationals. And look for a bowling center at home, or in the area that will use the same oil pattern as the tournament. Syracuse will always be special because I was picked 'Joe Bowler', and met Jerome Bettis. A Detroit guy from the Steelers." By being picked 'Joe Bowler' he and his wife, Bernice, were also awarded two round trip tickets from the old ABC, to travel to the event the following year in Billings, Montana.
Bob is also currently a youth director on the Mesa Metropolitan Association Board of Directors.