Bowling Says Goodbye To One Of It’s Champions, Tony Reyes

Now I realize there are not very many folks, if any at all, that come here to read these blogs and care about bowling. But, knowing me and my love for the sport that I grew up around, you have to understand my reasoning for this article. The sport lost not only one of it's champions on the lanes, but one of it's champions out of the bowling center too. Tony Reyes was killed Friday in an accident on a California freeway.

The former Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour champion was struck by a car as he tried to exit his crash damaged vehicle early Friday in Redwood City, California. According to the California Highway Patrol, Reyes was on northbound Highway 101 in his Chevrolet Trail Blazer about 12:30 a.m. Friday when for an unknown reason he crashed into a sound wall past Marsh Road. After the crash, he stepped out of his vehicle and was hit by a passing Jeep Liberty, inflicting serious injuries.

There really are times when the old Billy Joel song seems true. Not that you wish this on anyone, but it seems "Only the Good Die Young." I remember one tournament where I had the honor of bowling next to Tony, and he was having a rough go of it. There were many players on the tour that would throw fits, pout in the corner, or just completely give up and become unapproachable. Not Tony. Sure, he was having a bad week, wasn't going to get a check to pay his bills that week, but he still had a smile on his face. Helped the guys that were in the hunt, and was kind to everyone.

PBA commissioner Tom Clark had this to say about Reyes...

You always hear about how someone is a great person. In Tony’s case, you almost can’t put it into words.

No one who ever met Tony Reyes didn’t like Tony Reyes. He was a great bowler, a unique talent with a gift of spreading the virtues of the game, a wonderful friend and the sadness we feel is indescribable. Our thoughts are with the Reyes family.

Reyes, who spent 14 seasons on the PBA tour became the 18th player ever to bowl a 300 during a nationally televised match and just the third in history to bowl a 300 en route to a title, the first and only of his career. Reyes finished his career with five PBA Regional Tour titles and earnings in excess of $567,000.

Here is the last half of Tony's televised 300 game in 2006...

R.I.P Tony