GREETINGS FROM SPRINGFIELD, MO.
After a late lunch with two-time USBC Open Championships titlist Steve Brinkman on Monday, I decided it was time to get on the road. The snow was beginning to fall in Milwaukee, but I didn't know if it was going to be a quick shower or a race against the weather.
The trip began with a brief delay as I was forced to referee a disagreement between MapQuest and the GPS, but given the weather, I decided to choose the route that would get me the furthest south the fastest.
Driving across the country definitely leaves a lot of time for thinking....thinking about the friends I left behind, the friends I'm about to see after six months away and of course, the excitement of the upcoming Open Championships. During the next six months, thousands of bowlers will travel the same route with their sights on Open Championships glory.
Nine hours, two tanks of gas, six CDs, one bathroom break, periodic construction updates from Albuquerque, a few text messages from friends in Milwaukee and nearly 600 miles later, I am in Springfield, Mo., resting up for another long day of driving. Even the dog (Bella) is used to the routine and very well behaved. She's not real big into conversation though. Today's trip was made possible with much help from McDonalds and Mentos. Tomorrow, I'll look forward to stopping for lunch at what used to be the world's largest McDonalds, somewhere near Tulsa, Okla.
Anyway, the update from Albuquerque is that the construction is coming along very quickly. As of today, furniture was being arranged and computers were being set up in my office and the nearby Tournament Services area. It's hard to believe that in three weeks we will be hosting our end-of-construction open house for media, sponsors and dignitaries, and one month from today, Bowlfest will highlight a week of activities on the tournament lanes and help kick off the 2008 event.
The other big news of the week is that the USBC Masters will make its return to the Open Championships venue for the first time since 2001. The Masters will take place in Las Vegas the week before the start of the 2009 Open Championships.
Speaking of Las Vegas, good luck to everyone participating in the USBC Team USA Trials this week.
