The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 29

Akron Beacon journal 69 For Durbin, it's 10 pins, 10 Commandments Sunday, April 10, 1977 ft Bowling "There always have been a lot of problems on tour," Durbin said. "But I have not and will not recruit people. They come to listen to the problems being discussed. Sometimes they join in, sometimes not. But it's available to everyone.

And attendance is improving." John Svaburn It has been nearly three years since Mike Durbin was telling people that he would never again bowl full-time on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. His reason was that he had been saved. The Chagrin Falls bowler said he had become a Christian and with that uppermost in his mind, following the tour didn't fit into his plans. But Durbin returned to the tour this year and, in fact, he has made jLh, Mike Durbln Hudson captures another bowling championship an indelible impression several times. It seemed appropriate then, with the richest PBA Winter Tour in history headed for its climax with the $125,000 Firestone Tournament of Champions at Riviera Lanes April 19-23, to ask the 1972 Firestone winner what prompted him to change his mind.

"BASICALLY, the reason I'm back is spiritual. Christianity has swept professional sports, particularly football. and others, believed there was a place for the same in professional bowling. "While attending a conference in Florida earlier this year, I realized that I could combine a desire to bowl professionally with the desire to help others on the tour through Christianity." Durbin's return to professional bowling is based on a unique sponsorship. His backers are members of a non-denominational church, The Chapel, which meets at Orange High School near Chagrin Falls.

Thirteen investors each contributed $1,000 to finance his return to bowling. "It was gratifying because of the first $9,000 invested, not one of those people had ever seen me feel the need to win, to show that the methods He used to win were good and right." OF 13 EVENTS on the PBA Win-, ter Tour, Durbin has bowled in He was 13th at Grand Prairie, and 16th at Oakland. He has made the 24-man finals four times and cashed in three other events. "It's nothing spectacular but I've been steady and I'm pleased with that," he said. "Before I quit, I had bowled 149 straight tournaments and, believe me, I was tired.

In more ways than one, perhaps, but I really was knocked out. Mentally, you become fuzzy and the desire to do really well goes away. But my attitude is good and I enjoy the game more now." The Firestone event, of course, is special. "The Firestone has always been good to me," said Durbin who, in addition to winning in 1972, was third in 1970, sixth in 1971, 11th in 1968, 13th in 1975 and 19th last year in his better showings. "It's the one tournament I point for.

I might not always be ready for other tournaments but I'm ready when the Firestone rolls around." bowl," said Durbin. "I had talked the idea over with Debbie (Mike's wife), the pastor of the church, then the board of elders. I don't think there was a moment's hesitation once the ball got rolling." DURBIN SAID he has met no negative reaction since returning to the tour and that is particularly true during the meetings of bowlers, some wives and relatives at various tour stops. At each tournament site, Durbin tries to schedule a meeting of players and usually has a guest speaker. Dave Rowe of the Oakland Raiders, for instance, spoke to the gathering at the U.

S. Open bowling championships at Greensboro, N.C., three weeks ago. When there is no speaker, the meeting revolves around give-and-take discussions based primarily on Christian beliefs. DURBIN believes his relationship with Christ has dramatically improved his life. He says his marriage is stronger, his family closer and he is more confident of himself.

"From the time I started bowling professionally, I did so for personal gratification and little else. It was a gut reaction to a challenge. I thought I had to be better than the other guy. I found myself growing angry with myself when I failed. Let's face it, I was a bitter agnostic.

"Now, however, I must learn to relate what I'm doing to God and "how He would do it. I've often asked myself what Christ's reaction to what I'm doing with my life would be. For that matter, what sort of bowler would He be? "I concluded that He would be considerate of others but would still Continued from page B-l and a metalic-like gold jump suit, then lost 192-167 to third-seeded Don Bell. IN THE next match, second-seeded Louie Moore appeared headed for an easy win as he started with seven straight strikes. But Moore opened in the tenth, and Bell finished with seven strikes in a row for a 259-247 victory.

"No, it didn't bother me that Bell and Moore were stringing strikes," Hudson said. ''Sooner or later Tknew they would run out of strikes. Once you start stringing strikes you're bound to get tapped and I was hoping that would happen in the next match." It happened. Bell struck only once on his first seven shots while Hudson began with six straight strikes to virtually guarantee his fifth career title in as many years on the tour. BELL RECEIVED $5,000 for finishing second, Moore $4,000 for third, Schlegel $3,500 for fourth and McNealy $3,000 for fifth.

"I tried to be aggressive in the championship game," Hudson said. "You have to try and put some fear into your opponent's heart." There is a lot of pressure bowling on national television and my game is no better than anyone else's who made the finals. I was just able to handle the pressure better. That comes with experience." If Bell, Schlegel or McNealy had won, it would have knocked Gary Mage out of the Firestone Tournament of Champions April 18-23 at Riveria Lanes. Mage will remain in the field unless a non-champion wins this week's $70,000 Toledo Open.

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