bowling

I have Crohn's disease, bi-polar disorder, asthma, essential tremor (uncontrollable shaking of
extremities) and maybe Lincoln's ataxia. These combined over time to ruin my career 3 times. I have
been an accountant, a manager, and a banker. However, I did have one more career dream. I do not
like being on disability. Professional Bowling will not only let me fend for myself, it will let me set an
example for others who may have lost hope due to their failing bodies.
Professional bowling was always a fantasy of mine, since I first picked up a ball at age 4. I used to
watch guys like Earl Anthony, Marshall Holman, Guppy Troup, etc. and be amazed at their skills.
Bowling was not a hobby for me, it was an obsession. I was averaging 199 before college, but the
illnesses made me too weak to bowl for 13 years. In 1997 I picked up a ball again, adapted my style to
match my poor health and set my goals; telling no one. There are some who would enjoy my failure
and mock my goal, but their opinions are nothing to me. Warrior has taught me that true power comes
from deep within.

When the pain is bad, or I am dizzy and weak, I tell myself, ONE MORE FRAME. I hope to show all of you
who may be ill or struggling with your own demons, that a sick body does not kill dreams, or personal
power.
Please read the following page, epiphany. This will explain exactly WHY I am doing all of this.

Be well,

Sponge

One More Frame
by Dwain “Sponge Daddy” Koch
11/14/2004

Lord, thank you for the time
The gift of one more year;
So many said, “Give up!”
I can’t believe I’m here.

The dream of a young boy
Has finally come true;
My pain, my path, my fight,
T’would floor them if they knew.

My heart, so full of joy,
Is pounding in my chest;
After all the struggles,
I’m here among the best.

The fans look at the score,
They say I’m getting creamed;
My wife, she understands,
It’s all about the dream.

The pow’r to throw each ball
Where it’s from I don’t know;
Come on legs hold me up!
That’s it! Another Throw!

Lord I do not ask you
To let me win this game
All I ask you now is
The strength for “One More Frame.”

BOWLING EQUIPMENT

I have been asked to list what bowling balls I currently use. Listed below are the balls in my arsenal, and
links to pages where you may view more about them.
Columbia300 Balls                                                    AMF Balls
Ricochet Rebound    (for a smother hook)          Titan (for medium oil when I need a late hook
Bully (for earlier hook)                                            Maximum Velocity (current go-to ball for oily lanes)
Alter Ego (for long oil patterns)
Throttle-R    (medium/dry lanes)
Jekyll   (for when front of the lanes are dry)
Blue Dot (for spares only)

For the record, I am not part of Team Columbia or AMF, nor have they compensated me for this
endorsement.

I love this game. When I was 4 years old I first picked up a ball and started league bowling. I saw the guys on TV and so
wanted to be like them, I dreamed of some day being a pro bowler. When I came out of my first surgery one of the first
questions I had was, "Will I ever bowl again?" It took me 13 years to get my strength back to pick up a ball. It took me from
1997 to 2004 to get the average I needed to qualify for the PBA Tour. But, I did it. Man, I love this game.

There is a big debate right now in the bowling community. Professional bowlers lament they don't get the respect they
deserve because league bowling is so easy. They are right. Any of you who sit and watch the PBA Tour and think you can
outscore those guys, I challenge you to bowl a PBA event. League bowling has oil conditions that we call a wall-the oil
layout is designed so that if you throw a hook, you don't have to be accurate. Throw it wide and the less oil on the edge will
bring it back. Tug the ball across and the domed oil in the middle will keep it in line. Pros also call this "adult bumpers."
The lane conditions pros bowl on force you to be accurate. I learned this the hard way at my first regional. But yes, I love
this game.

We could debate this and that, but in my opinion, bowling has numerous problems. League bowling is giving way to
casual bowling. Many pros hate Cosmic bowling. I embrace it. These kids are the future, and I want bowling to be more
popular. This is why I go and bowl the cosmic bowling, wearing my shirt. When these kids see the kind of scores I can
throw, I get the chance to tell them about the years of dedication and thousand of practice games it takes to get just that
good. Why? I love this game.

This summer I will be running a teen league to get these kids into league bowling. I hope to show them that bowling can
be competitive and fun. I hope to get other pros to come out and help me coach and encourage these kids. For this the
manager lets me have a break on my practice. Why? I love our game.

See, it is not the PBA management's job to save our game. It is OUR job (as pros) to save it. One house at a time, one
bowler at a time, one frame at a time. Oh yes, I love our game.

God-For everything, good and bad. The bad just made me stronger.
Raine-My wife, for encouraging my dreams and saving me from melancholy.
Nola M. Koch-My mother, for my life.
Warrior-As in former pro wrestler "Ultimate Warrior," for the fire in my heart, the intensity of my dreams, and the words of
wisdom.
The Professional Bowlers Association-For the chance to chase dreams & make a difference!
Bowlers Paradise-For allowing me to be an affiliate.
Rick Hansen-Canada's Man In Motion, for inspiration.
My Kids-Ian, Ally, & Alex, for reminding me to never give up.
Dr. Kevin Heine-For helping Me fight the Good Fight
My family-All of my siblings, aunts, and uncles, for taking care of me when I was down.
Eagle Heights Church-For support when Raine was in a coma, and for fellowship.
The Pioneer News-For their assistance in all of these endeavors.
Bowling Coaches-Leon Sheffield, Curtis Vincent, Wayne Sutton, John Williams, Eddie Green, Jim Hall
Bullitt Central High School-For letting me coach.
My friends-Without whom, life would be flavorless.
Ensure-For giving me an alternative to solid food when it hurts to eat.
Carol-First name only...for proofreading my posts for me!
Thad Bewley-For friendship, laughs and good times.
Graphic Research & Brian Bednarek-for designing my new logo and donating some items!! Great work!
Curtis Vincent-for his incredible knowledge of the technology of bowling balls.