Page 10 - nov2012

10 www.bowlingworld.com– NOVEMBER 2012
was an athlete who had the great hand-eye coordination and when she wanted something she went
after it.
Robin wasn't very happy to hear her parents had made a concrete decision to move California
and she felt upset and a little abandoned because she perceived the family was breaking up and the
kids weren't included in that decision. She lived in NY for a Year and then finally gave in and
heeded her mother’s words, ―You can be a big fish in a big pond or remain a little fish in a little
pond,‖ and she, Debbie and grandma moved to California. It was time to be together again. The
Romeo girls were admired by many and proving the point, when Robin and her sister Tori com-
plained bitterly about having to do dishes, an admiring New York boyfriend sent her a dishwasher!
Like many athletes she was superstitious about some things and for years wouldn’t bowl without
her Jet socks on. Her father was a big factor in her life and was always with her when she bowled
tournaments. Never one to blow her own horn, Robin was always a lady and was gifted with gener-
osity. At the time of the Oklahoma disaster she had won a $10,000 first place prize in a PWBA tour-
nament and little known was that she donated half of her winnings to the disaster victims.
During her years of bowling she has learned valuable things, not only about form and approach,
delivery of the ball and arm swing, but keeping your head in the game. According to author and
Coach Mark Baker, who says, ―I have had the pleasure of being involved with Robin Romeo three
different ways through the sport of bowling. First as her doubles partner, second as her bowling
coach, and thirdly, she is now one of the coaches of my bowling camp, "Camp Bakes". What can I
say about her? Simple, she is a class act!! It doesn't matter if she is competing or coaching, she
always gives 100%. People like Robin Romeo are what make bowling such a great game. I'm
proud to call her my friend.‖ She has become an expert at teaching those things to bowlers. She is
a believer in helping people to bowl better and currently goes to Mission Hills Bowl in Southern Cali-
fornia weekly and for a small fee will coach bowlers.
Robin and her younger sister Tori bowled their share of tournaments together and Tori tells the
story that one of Robin’s favorite singers is Meatloafwho sings a song called Paradise by the Dash
Board Light. In most of the centers they bowled in there was Karaoke in the bar and one particular
night after bowling Robin asked Tori if she wanted to sing the song – an 11 minute rendition yet.
They knew the song verbatim but Tori said she needed to shore up the courage with a drink or two
and then they launched into it – a male and female part. Tori sang the very animated female part
which suited her well and Robin sang the male part. The amazing thing about this spontaneous
performance is that Robin has always been a more conservative in control person so it overwhelmed
everyone. Who would have believed Robin Romeo was a closet Karaoke buff! It went over so well
that the cheering crowd gave them a standing ovation! When the word got out about their perform-
ance it became a request at every stop. Tori said when they went back to Oklahoma the next year
people didn’t come to watch them bowl they came to hear them sing! When Robin retired from her
professional career they surprised her with a party after a doubles tournament and of course – the
two gave their rendition of Meatloaf’s Paradise by the Dash Board Light.
Robin’s incredible record of accomplishments include: 18 National Titles (including three majors);
12 Regional Titles (WWPB); six Women’s All Star Association titles; four WIBC Titles; seven Califor-
nia State Titles and two state titles in New York. She has 23 sanctioned 300 games and eight 800
series’.
1989 was a bumper year and she was named Bowler of the Year by seven different organizations
and publications. She was named to the Southern California All Star team 16 times, WIBC All
American Team six times and Bowler’s Journal All American Team four times and honored in seven
Hall’s of Fame the most recent being the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
Over the years she has been a committed supporter of women’s pro tournaments and has an
unprecedented record 77 finals – consecutive years from 1985 to 1989 and a record 80 cashes –
consecutive from 1985 to 1989. Closest to this record is Mark Roth who is in the 50’s. She has
been honored for Image – Professionalism and Sportsmanship and was a recipient of the Merle
Matthew’s Achievement Award for Outstanding Performance in 1990.
Her most recent win in 2012 was the inaugural Senior Women’s Triple Crown Shootout, presented
by the Orleans Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV where she defeated Dana Miller-Mackie, Albuquer-
que, New Mexico, 249-204 in her first match and Lucy Sandelin, Tampa, Fla., 243-208 in the final
match. She had recently bested 60 women in the Senior U.S. Women’s Open making her the only
woman to win both the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open and the Triple Crown gave her the Trifecta.
Like the Energizer Bunny, she keeps going and she gets better. She says she always does better
in the tournaments where you have to grind it out because she was a good spare shooter and got
very few splits. She says she tries not to pay attention to what her opponent is doing and just con-
centrates on her game and it has paid off.
Among her special memories was her Doubles win with Jeanne Naccarato. She met another
outstanding performer Jeanne (Maiden) Naccarato early in her professional career. They became
roommates and traveling companions for 20 years and just prior to 2000 both had lost their fathers.
When the Sam’s Town Doubles came around in 2000 they decided they would win it for their fathers.
Robin said it was the first time she and Jeanne could bowl together as doubles partners and it was
her most memorable win. Her dad was her mentor and she said was having a real hard time bowl-
ing after he passed away. Her timing was bad and she had trouble focusing and so on. ―The week
before we had bowled in San Diego and didn't bowl well so I came home before she went to Vegas
for the doubles tournament. I practiced a lot and my ex-husband Bill said, ―Why don't you just get up
there and throw the ball, don't even get set just pick the ball up and go.‖ That’s what she did and she
threw a lot of strikes, couldn't miss. When she got to Vegas she told Jeanne what the plan was and
Jeanne said, ―Whatever works.‖ The rest is history... dedicating the win to their fathers was a great
motivator, the most emotional win ever and they knew their Dads were watching.
The two drove to all the tournaments to save on money and said it was much easier to be able to
( Continued from page 7)
Inside A Champion
(Continued on page 14)
Idle Bowling Thoughts
By Chuck Pezzano
One of the greatest feats in bowling history unfolded more than 50 years ago.
It was the TV winning streak piled up by the late Lou Campi of Dumont, N.J., a member of the
ABC Hall of Fame and half a dozen other Halls. Campi rolled with the top teams, won the national
doubles with Andy Varipapa, and again with Lindy Faragalli, and more than 100 assorted titles. He
gained special attention as ―Wrongfoot Lou‖ because he finishes on his right foot even though he
was a righty, and according to the books, that’s the wrong foot.
A mason by trade, Campi was strong physically, but even stronger mentally, and early acquired
the reputation as one of the best clutch bowlers in the game. That, and his pride and confidence in
his ability, made him an almost perfect performer for TV. Prior to the streak he had established him-
self as an outstanding TV performer, winning a couple of cars, pretty fair cash for the times, and all
kinds of merchandise. He made constant TV appearance across the country.
No score or record bothered him, and he never worried about how high scores might be. He often
said, ―If a man bowled it, a man can beat it.‖
The TV shows were aired live from New York City when Campi was 52. Two years later Campi
made history when he won the first official tourney conducted by the PBA.
The show was called, ―East Vs. West‖ and was scheduled for 13 weeks. The format was simple.
A list of bowlers from the East and another of bowlers from the West was compiled, and when a
bowler lost he would be replaced the following week by the next man on the list. The winner would
return.
Campi didn’t give his fellow Easterners a chance to bowl. He won all 13 scheduled matches. Tom
Hennessey, Ed Lubanski, Ned Day, Dick Weber, Don Carter, Steve Nagy, Ed Kawolics, Buzz Fazio,
Dick Hoover and Joe Wilman.
That completed the 13 week run. But the producer and announcer, Lou Marks, the owner of the
host center, Nick Gianos of Bowlmor Recreation, and the main sponsor, Kitchens of Sara Lee, all
knew they had a big hit, and extended the show. Campi beat Buddy Bomar, and an additional week
was added, the 15th, when Campi lost to Lillard, 665, to 662.
The Bowlmor Lanes were known as the most difficult around, and the best in the East struggled
to average close to 200. Campi averaged 232 plus for his 45 games, and only four were under 200.
He made a number of last game comebacks in the three game tests, and thrice threatened 300
game, for which a bonis prize of $100,000 had been posted.
If the names of the bowlers seem familiar, they should. All were elected to the ABC Hall except
King. Kitchens of Sara Lee, no a giant firm involved with dozens of products, featured just cheese
cake and coffee cake.
Pat McDonough, then the statistical genius and bowling writer on the sports staff of the New York
World Telegram, figured the odds against Campi winning 14 straight matches were 16,383 to 1.
Sadly, no film or tape of any portion of the shows were preserved, because in those days the tape
was erased, and used over again. Some recordings and home movies do pop up now and then.
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