A League of Ordinary Gentlemen

A League of Ordinary Gentlemen is a documentary film about ten-pin bowling that was released on DVD on March 21, 2006. It was written and directed by Christopher Browne and stars PBA Tour players Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, and Wayne Webb. The documentary is unique in its genre.^{[citation needed]}

It was first televised nationally on the PBS series Independent Lens on April 25, 2006.[2]

Plot

The documentary follows four professional ten-pin bowlers after the Professional Bowlers Association is purchased by a trio of Microsoft programmers who hire Steve Miller, a Nike marketing guru, to revitalize the sport.

Cast

• Steve Miller
• Wayne Webb, a 20-time champion and 1980 PBA Player of the Year who has fallen on hard times
• Pete Weber, son of legendary bowler Dick Weber and renowned "bad boy" of the PBA who was serving a disciplinary suspension when the PBA Tour was purchased
• Walter Ray Williams Jr., the dominant player on tour, with 36 PBA titles
• Chris Barnes, a comparatively young pro who has to support his wife and newborn twins

Soundtrack

The documentary features the hit track by comedian Stephen Lynch called "Bowling Song (Almighty Malachi, Professional Bowling God)." This track is featured on Lynch's second official album, Superhero, released in 2002.[3]

DVD features

• Deleted Scenes
• PBA TV Spots
• Skills Challenge Highlights
• PBA Event Clips
• Dexter Approach: Tips and Techniques (Hosted by 13-time PBA Tour titlist and current ESPN TV color-analyst Randy Pedersen.)
• Theatrical Trailer

Featured bowlers after the film

Wayne Webb never won another regular PBA Tour title after the completion of the film. He now runs Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl in Columbus, Ohio, and has a karaoke business on the side. He recently joined the PBA Senior Tour (for players age 50 and older), and made a splash by winning the 2008 Senior U.S. Open. In 2010, he was named PBA Senior Player of the Year.

Chris Barnes earned his first-ever PBA Player of the Year award in the 2007-08 season. He captured his 13th tour title in January, 2011 at the PBA World Championship. He twice won what was (at the time) the biggest prize check in the history of televised bowling ($200,000) by winning the Motel 6 Roll to Riches events in 2005 and 2006.

In September, 2006, Walter Ray Williams Jr. surpassed Earl Anthony on the PBA's All-Time titles list with his win over Pete Weber in the Dydo Japan Cup. Walter currently has 47 PBA Tour titles after winning the USBC Masters in February, 2010. He is is still on the regular PBA tour at age 52, and also participates in the PBA Senior Tour.

Pete Weber is currently fourth on the PBA's all-time list with 36 titles, following his U.S. Open victory on February 26, 2012.^[1]

External links

• Official Website
• Internet Movie Database entry
• Official PBS website of first national showing
• Rotten Tomatoes list of reviews of the documentary
• A League of Ordinary Gentlemen at the Internet Movie Database

References

1. ^ Vint, Bill. "Pete Weber Wins Record Fifth U.S. Open to Surpass Father Dick Weber and Don Carter." Article at www.pba.com on February 26, 2012. [1]