Team Spotlight: Money Balls

It's tradition here at the Beer Frame Bowling League to publish a little piece that allows all the league members to get past the menacing veneers that come with amateur bowlers and get to know the people and teams behind the competition.  With that our first expansion team spotlight falls on Money Balls.

Originally, Money Balls considered the name Ritchie, Marshall & Flynn to account for all the team members last names.  Without the same ring of Crosby, Stills and Nash, the name was quickly replaced.  Version 2 was Ritchie Marshal (feat. Flynn).  Although this had a more hip hop vibe, the team quickly realized that just because every hip hop artist uses it, doesn't mean its not stupid.  On the third try, the team simply took a vote on their favorite things.  I'm told the ballots came back with 5 votes for "balls" and 1 for "money".

Usually the team spotlight focuses on how the team was assembled and the personalities and locales of each member.  In the Money Balls case however, they came as a package deal.  Oddly, forming a bowling team wasn't their original intention.  Team captain Lance only ever wanted to make money (making his vote for balls as his favorite thing a little curious).  So, all of his interactions, relationships and jobs have been pursued with that singular goal.  Over the years, Lance has connected with the other 5 members of Money Balls because they also shared his passion.

They've been together so long now that nobody can remember how it all began.  However they can all recite their previous failed ventures together.  Kaitlyn talked about the time they attempted to sell advertising space on kids diapers to liquor and beer companies.  Somehow seeing a picture of a bottle of Black Velvet on a toddler's bottom didn't drive much in sales.  Blake's favorite was the time they opened a shop to customize senior citizens Rascals.  Turns out not many seniors wanted a wicked cool spoiler on their motorized carts.  Chad and Sarah Marshall both agree that their personal favorite was the shoes they developed that had a smart phone storage compartment built right into the heel.  Gorilla glass or not it turns out there is no stopping the destruction our nations obesity epidemic can inflict.  Finally, Erin Flynn counts the failed Mail retrieval service the group offered.  Not only did this one end up being against the law, people in this country haven't yet gotten lazy enough to start paying strangers to walk your mail from your mailbox to your front door.

Despite their previous failures everybody is dead certain that the Beer Frame Bowling League will be their path to riches.

Welcome to the league Money Balls. 

It might be time to mention that the league champion is awarded no money.

Match of the Week: The Gutter Sluts vs. Gutt-er Done

Wow, we are already at the final week of the regular season.  We have a lot of to cover, so there should be several more posts today and tomorrow.  Let's start with the Match of the Week.

Tomorrow night the 2nd place and defending champion Gutter Sluts vs. Gutt-er Done.  Both teams are trying to move into position to bowl for the league championship during next week's Night of Champions. 

In the pre-handicap era, this would look like a one sided match.  With one exception, Gutt-er Done carries higher handicaps than all of the Sluts.  As it stands though, the age of BFBL parity has granted both teams a somewhat equal chance of winning. 

To leapfrog the Gutter Sluts and make the championship match Gutt-er done is going to need all three points tomorrow night.  A visit to the Gutt-er Done practice facility has revealed no change to the Gutt-er Done practice week routine.  Also, it appears that Gutt-er Done captain Donny is suffering no ill effects from his attempted David Lee Roth celebration kick injury last week.

Week 4 Results

Beer Frame Bowling: Halloween Night

Well the BFBL once again did their parents proud on Halloween night.  Before we get into the team pictures, I think we can all agree that this is the scariest costume of the evening. 

 

 

On the other hand, this is the lamest costume of the night:

To be fair, I think the CHiPs outfits are top notch.  The issue is that these are the only two representatives of I Can't Believe It's Not Gutter to dress up.  For shame Gutters....

Now one with the team pics.  In the battle of the TV Shows:
It's Duck Dynasty

Vs. Duck Dynasty

Vs. Mad Men

Somewhat related and very created were the insurance company spokesmen/women/animals

I have to say this one scored high in the fictional originality category, but in the end it came up just a little short to this:

Lambda, Lamda, Lamda & Omega Mu's.  I realize that we may have some bowlers who have never seen Revenge of the Nerds and may not be able to appreciate this costume.  If that is the case, all I can say is, "What the hell is wrong with you".  Bypass the urge to watch the entire TMZ video catalogue and use the amazing ability to watch movies on demand anytime and anywhere to view this classic story of Jocks vs. Nerds the next time you go to see a man about a horse.

While you're at it, start streaming the Goonies as well (Probably not in the same sitting though.  You're legs will fall asleep)

Moving on, the winner of the Honey Badger award that capitalized on the latest internet craze involving animals; What Does the Fox Say?

If you haven't seen this video, google it.  I've seen it and though I can't speak for the fox, I remember that my first words were; "shoot me".

Now, I think we have now extended the streak of a team dressing as Mormons.

I'll admit to getting a laugh out of this one every year.  I have always wondered if anybody at Westy's got offended by this outfit.  After talking with the staff, they informed that most Mormons view bowling as a form of gambling and aren't usually found in bowling alleys.  They did caution that that rule doesn't apply to places like Big Al's because it's located in a strip mall with plenty of parking.  Apparently deep in the book of Mormon is a passage that states as long of you don't have to pay for parking, parallel park or enter a building built before 1985, anything goes.


Rounding out our final teams in the Thinker Category are:

The Cat and the Hats &

White Trash and Super Hero

Finally, in case you have somehow been able to put that first picture out of your mind, Miley and Teddy Bears.

Happy Halloween everybody

 

Handicaps Explained :) ..... Sort of

Hey did you know that the Beer Frame Bowling League uses bowling handicaps?  It's true.  They are designed to help level the playing field and provide enjoyment for Bowlers of all skill levels.  Although I've never gotten a question about the handicap, I thought it would be interesting to provide a simple example on how they are calculated.

Our league calculates each individual handicap using 100% of 170

Then means, that it takes 170 and subtracts your average score and the difference becomes your handicap.  So, if you have a 140 average, your handicap would be 30. At the end of the game, 30 would be added to you pin total. 

Since your bowling average changes from game to game, your handicap is not static.  Also if you were to carry an average above 170, your handicap would be zero.  Of course you would also be run out of the league as a ringer.

Finally if you're a sub without an established average, your handicap is not figured out until the after the game, which leads to some surprises when the official results are published on Friday.

I hope everybody enjoyed this look at the fascinating world that only operates in dodgy bowling lanes across this great country.

Week 3 Results

Weeek 2 Standings - Updated