A League of Ordinary Gentlemen
Release Date:
May 27, 2005
Limited release
This documentary traces the history of the professional bowling tour. It takes views from the sport's heyday during the '50s and '60s up to its almost-extinction in 1997. When Steve Miller, the newly installed CEO of the PBA, sets about modernizing the association. Along with Miller, the story focuses on four central real-life characters. Pete Weber is a bad boy and son of bowling legend Dick Weber, who doesn't particularly appreciate the new direction of the PBA. Pete's arch-enemy is Walter Ray Williams Jr., a model citizen and six-time world horseshoe pitching champion. More importantly, with 36 titles to his name, he's the biggest player on the tour.
Other bowlers of focus are Chris Barnes, who has to leave his wife and newborn twins at home as he goes on the road to compete for money to support them. Finally, Wayne Webb is a 20-time PBA champion who has suffered due to falling on hard times. His hopes have him looking for a successful season so that he might avoid bankruptcy. (Kim Hollis/BOP)