Phelps factor helps fuel fundraiser
By STEVE PENN
The Kansas City Star
Bowling may not be an Olympic sport. And it will never supplant golf as the fundraiser of choice.
But get a bunch of people together at a bowling alley for a good cause, make sure it’s right after they see Michael Phelps capture his eighth gold medal, and you’ve got yourself a pretty competitive atmosphere.
That was the case at Bowling With the Stars, held Sunday at AMF West Lanes in Overland Park. The tournament, held the day after Phelps’ historic swimming accomplishment, was a fundraiser for Renaissance West, a substance abuse treatment center. And while some participants bowled just for fun, others admitted that their competitive juices were flowing, the result of watching so many Olympic events.
Ted McKnight, a former Chiefs running back and a board member of Renaissance West, didn’t have his game face on.
“I’m bowling for fun,” McKnight said. “But the people on my team are bowling seriously. They want to win.”
Kimble Anders, a former Kansas City Chiefs fullback, didn’t even try to mask his intentions. Unlike McKnight, Anders wanted to annihilate the competition.
“Anytime you’re doing something, you always compete,” Anders said. “You always like to win, even though it’s for fun. It’s a great cause and all, but I want to walk away with the trophy. When I get old, I want to have a collection of them.”
Ricky Siglar, a former Chiefs tackle, had been at the Chiefs game against Arizona the night before. A little fatigued on Sunday, Siglar downplayed his true competitive desire.
“I’m not really on my A game today,” Siglar said. “I’m in my charity mode. I’m giving my charitable effort.”
Sure, Ricky. By the way, Siglar’s team placed third.
Other celebrities opted to just stop by to lend their support. Instead of bowling, Ed Budde, a former Chiefs offensive lineman, preferred to watch and talk about the Olympics.
Budde’s Achilles tendon kept him out of the action.
“Anyway, this is a good cause,” Budde said. “I’m just watching. I’m delegating.”
Stanford Glazer, former comedy club owner and a former Kansas City mayoral candidate, also dropped by.
“I just came out to help a good cause and to watch my son bowl a couple of gutter balls,” Glazer said of his son Craig Glazer.
A team sponsored by Woodside Health and Tennis Club, anchored by former Green Bay Packers player Bill Whitaker, took home second place.
One resourceful team brought along a ringer.
Tom Young, 44, a left-handed bowler who from 1990 to 1993 was on the Professional Bowlers Association tour, was the talk of the event. Young, who 22 times had bowled a 300 game, teamed up with his brother, Pete Young, 50, a local chiropractor. Tom ended up bowling a 258.
“I’m having fun, but competition is always good,” Tom Young said. “Competition brings out the competitiveness. It comes out no matter what you do.”
In the end, Young’s team, which included Glazer, took home first place.
“I know how Darryl Motley felt when the Royals won the World Series,” Glazer said. “I’m just happy to be on the team.”
Yet it was Jeff Holeman, a bowler from the Northland, who eclipsed Young’s high mark for the best individual (276).
“I’m happy with the score,” Holeman said. “Everybody is here to give to a good cause, not to bowl good. But I tried the best I could.”
A celebrity bowling tournament for charity is definitely a twist from the more traditional celebrity golf tournament. But as Sunday revealed, the lanes can be just as dog-eat-dog as the links, minus all the walking.
To reach Steve Penn, call 816-234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.
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