Bowling For A Cause
Notable names gather to roll for charity

By Spencer Watson
Staff Writer - Maumelle Monitor

Outside, stylish rides like a luxurious Hummer and a sleek, black Lamborghini
draw gawkers. A lush, red carpet leads the way indoors. Celebrities arrive
one at a time and are stopped by appreciative fanslooking for an autograph,
a photo op, or just a chance to shake a famous hand. Camera crews and
other press converged on each in turn for a moment to chat.

But the famous faces on hand weren't trickling into a poshHollywood shindig
or the easily recognizable Grauman's Chinese Theater to pick up an Oscar.
Indeed, they were gearing up to go bowling at the Millennium Bowl on Counts
Massie Roadin Maumelle.

Among them were reigning middleweight boxing champion of the world and
North Little Rock resident Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor, Chicago
Bears safety Chris Harris, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Tony Williams,
professional bowlers Brian Himmler and Rachel Perez, and a slew of Arkansas
Razorbacks, including former Oak Grove High School standout Darren
McFadden, Marcus Monk, Sam Olajubutu and Anthony Lucas. Also on hand
were television sportscasters Steve Sullivan and Craig O’Neil, as well as
ahandful of recognizable radio names.

They were all gathered for a single purpose, and it really had nothing to do
with achieving a score of 300, the pinnacle of perfection in bowling. Instead,
they were there to contribute their time to charity, raising money for the
scholarship fund established by radio personality Travis "Tré Day" Rowan of
Power 92 Jams in the third annual Tré Day Celebrity Bowling Bash.

A Jacksonville resident and 2000 graduate of the University of Arkansas at
Little Rock, Rowan said he established the scholarship project to give
students in the school of mass communications program a leg up on
higher education.

"Honestly, I wouldn’t even have gone to college if I hadn't had a scholarship,
so I wanted to givestudents who may bein that similar situation the help they
need to continuetheir education.", said Rowan, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Every year the event is held as close as possible to July 23rd Rowan's birthday,
which he shares with his little brother, who was born on Rowan’s third birthday.
The reason for the bowling, he said, goes back to their childhood.

"When we were little, my mom always used to take us bowling or swimming,
something where she could get all the kids together, on our birthday," said
the radio talent who grew up in an Air Force family. Because bowling is an
egalitarian sport that cuts across gender, ethnic and socioeconomic lines,
as well as requiring little athleticism to play, it seemed like a great fit for
broad appeal, Rowan said.

And the celebs agreed. "Every year I come here and have a great time,
and proceeds all go to the kids. You can't ask for more than that." said
Taylor at the outset of second game.

So for the boxing champ the pressure was off when, in the sixth frame of
first game, Rowan put him in the spotlight with a seven pin leave, offering
free Firehouse subs for Taylor's whole team if he picked up the spare.
When someone hit the reset button, it made the challenge all the more
daunting with a full rack. Taylor, a self admitted not-so-great bowler,
answered the call by knocking down all 10 pins.

Harris couldn’t say the same, being put in the same situation of winning free
food for his team if he picked up a clutch one pin spare in the tenth frame of
the first game. He choked,much to the chagrin of onlookers. But the NFL
player, whosaid he's known the event’s host for several years and was
delighted to come for the first time when the invitation was extended this
year, said he wasn’t too shocked by the miss, being only a mid-130 to 160
average bowler. And it didn’t impact his fun, anyway. "I'm having a great time,"
he said.

Ditto, said Himmler, whose appearanceat the event was actually a
last minute arrangement. PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber was supposed to
be in attendance, but after he threw his back out last Thursday, his sponsor,
bowling equipment manufacturer Storm, went looking for a replacement
pro and tapped Himmler, winner of the 2006 Earl Anthony Medford Classic,
for the event.

"They called me at the last minute yesterday, so I made a day trip out of it."
said the Cincinnati resident who had never been to Arkansas before. "I’m glad
I came down; this is a fun time." Though hebowled an impressive 247 in his
first game, the pro reiterated that scores aren't that important in an event like
this one. The goal is making sure everyone, especially those who don’t bowl,
has a good time. ShaneGillmore, manager and part-owner of Millennium Bowl,
echoed those sentiments.

"This is what bowling is all about." said Gillmore, who noted that while
Rowanbrings in the Arkansas stars, his role, aside from playing host, is
to help arrange a pro appearance. "I'm just glad that I have partners that
allow us to do things like this. I think it's great for everyone...that he brings
in the players he does. "I'm proud to be a part of it."

Gillmore said in the future, he hopes to help bring in names like Mitch Beasley,
an up-and-coming pro from Jacksonville, and despite unfortunately coinciding
with golf's British Open every year, still holds out hope that one year John Daly
will make an appearance.

With the growth of the event, it's not out of the question, said Rowan, who added
Monday that the final numbers aren't in yet, but the count so far revealed $3,000
had been raised in just the charity bash's silent auction, which featured everything
from autographed footballs, basketballs, pictures and jerseys to a bowling pin
signed by Arkansas’ favorite son and rumored bowling fan, former President
Bill Clinton himself.

"That's the most we've ever had." said Rowan of the auctiontotal, explaining that
the event has gotten bigger and bigger every year in its short history. "I'm glad it
was such a huge success....It takes a lot of time, but it sure is worth it."