Bowling, Backroads, and Bad Decisions.
- The rookies are after the WSOB now.
- Senior professional bowling returns to television.
- Booger says AI knows too much.
- Rico’s Roadside Thoughts
The rookies are after the WSOB now.
The 2026 PBA World Series of Bowling has quickly turned into the year the rookies said it’s our time. At this year’s WSOB, young players and first-time winners are battling bowling legends like E.J. Tackett, Jason Belmonte, and Bill O’Neill on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The Professional Bowlers Association’s World Series of Bowling once again proves why it remains one of the most demanding and prestigious events in professional bowling. The annual multi-tournament showcase brings together many of the best players in the world to battle through a series of animal-pattern championships — Cheetah, Chameleon, Scorpion, and Shark — before culminating in the PBA World Championship, one of the sport’s major titles.
But this year, the spotlight isn’t shining only on the established legends. A wave of rookies and non-winners has crashed into the finals picture, continuing what has quietly become the season’s biggest storyline. Names like Cam Crowe, Zac Tackett, and Spencer Robarge have pushed their way into televised finals against some of the toughest competition professional bowling has to offer.
The veterans are still standing tall as well. Columbus, Ohio’s own Chris Via has qualified for the finals of the Scorpion Championship, Shark Championship, and the prestigious PBA World Championship as he looks to capture the third PBA Tour title of his career. Via also etched his name into bowling history this season by becoming the first player ever to roll two televised 300 games in the same year, recording the 30th and 32nd nationally televised perfect games in PBA history.
It doesn’t stop there. One-time winner Brandon Bonta and rising star Zach Wilkins have also earned spots in the finals, setting up matchups against giants of the sport — reigning superstar E.J. Tackett, Hall of Famer Bill O’Neill, and Australia’s two-handed phenomenon Jason Belmonte. The question hanging over the lanes this week is simple: can the “Year of the Rookie and Non-Winner” continue on one of bowling’s biggest stages?
Action begins Saturday, May 9 at 4 p.m. on the CBS Sports network, with the semifinals of the PBA Cheetah Championship, where rookie Cam Crowe leads the field heading into the televised rounds. Another rookie sits right behind him, adding even more fuel to one of the most unexpected and entertaining storylines of the 2026 season. You can find the full schedule here.
Senior professional bowling returns to television.
Senior professional bowling is back on television in a big way. After nearly 17 years away from the spotlight, the PBA50+ World Series of Bowling is finally returning to TV, sharing the stage alongside the younger stars of the PBA Tour. For longtime bowling fans, it’s a chance to once again watch some of the sport’s most recognizable personalities compete under the lights.
Names like Hall of Famer and PBA “bad boy” Pete Weber, Jason Couch, and the always entertaining Tom Daugherty will remind viewers that experience still matters on the lanes. These aren’t just former stars making appearances for nostalgia’s sake — they are still out there battling, striking, and proving the “old timers” can still put on a show.
Leading the way entering the PBA50+ World Championship is “The Tall Finn” Mika Koivuniemi, who sits atop the standings heading into match play. Right behind him is Michael Machuga, making his PBA50 debut. While fans may remember the infamous “Machuga Flop” from years ago, it’s probably safe to say we won’t be seeing that celebration this time around. Sitting in third place is Tom Daugherty, whose history with Koivuniemi gave fans one of the most unforgettable moments in bowling television history.
Of course, bowling fans still remember the legendary 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions match when Mika fired 299 — just one pin shy of perfection — while Daugherty struggled to a televised 100 game. In true Tom fashion, he celebrated hitting the 100 mark, turning what could have been an embarrassing moment into one of the funniest and most memorable televised matches the sport has ever seen.
The PBA50+ World Series of Bowling runs concurrently with the regular PBA WSOB, giving bowling fans wall-to-wall action throughout the week. The first televised PBA50+ event airs Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m. on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.
Booger says AI knows too much.
I was texting back and forth with my wife the other day while she was at work. Naturally, I decided to remind her about the important things in life… like paying the bills while I professionally supervise the couch.
So I grabbed my phone and told Siri to send her this message:
“You need to get back to work now; you have a husband to support.”
A few seconds later my wife replied:
“Wow. Even Siri knows you’re washed up.”
Confused, I looked down at my phone and nearly dropped it into my sweet tea.
Siri had changed my message to:
“You need to get back to work now; you have a has-been to support.”
Even artificial intelligence looked at my life and said,
“Yeah… I’m correcting that.”
Rico’s Roadside Thoughts
You know… places like the Hocking Hills Market in Rockbridge, Ohio, remind you that America is still best experienced a little off the highway.
Starting the first weekend in April, the open-air vendors roll in for the season, turning the market into a little roadside world of its own every weekend. You’ll find people selling everything from antiques and tools to handmade crafts, fresh food, collectibles, and things you didn’t even know you needed until you walked past the table.
Around the market, you’ll also find little pieces of roadside Americana that make places like this special — putt-putt golf, a diner with the smell of burgers and coffee drifting through the air, and permanent shops like The Boot Shop Outlet and Holliday’s Country Oak Amish Furniture standing like local landmarks beside the highway.
It’s not polished. It’s not flashy. And honestly… that’s the beauty of it.
Places like this aren’t built around algorithms or trends. They’re built around people wandering around on a Saturday afternoon, talking to strangers, finding treasures, and enjoying the journey a little slower than the rest of the world.
Not every journey needs a destination.
Stay curious, my friends.
