Living in the Scoot Utopia

I bowled my first 200+ league game last night. I've been bowling in this league for 5 years -- 10 seasons -- and never managed to pull off a 200 game until now. I don't know why it has taken so long. I've seen numerous other bowlers stroll in and bowl 200+ games within weeks of starting to bowl. Yet for whatever reason I could not do it.

The sad part is, I have bowled several games over 200 in the past. My personal best is 243. Yet not a single one of those took place during league play... they were always while practicing over lunch or while bowling for fun.

In fact, there seems to be some kind of psychological curse on me. Any time I would become so reasonably close to scoring 200 that it was in fact likely to happen, as soon as I became aware of that possibility I'd blow it.

But last night it was different. I knew I had a good game going, but when I went into the 9th frame, I saw that the best I could possibly get would be 195 if my next 4 balls were all strikes. So, since I knew I couldn't do it, I just went up to roll to get out team as many pins as I could and not worry about the consequences. The result? My next 3 rolls were strikes and the final was a 7. I turned and walked away, believing I had just scored 192, but saw my teammates shouting and pointing at the scoreboard. So I looked back... and son of a bitch, my math was wrong! There is was, a 202.

The best part was that I had made a $20 bet with my best friend at the start of the season that this would be the season I'd finally have my 200 game. He graciously came over and paid up a few moments later. I love winning bets against him. It is quite rare.