Fast Break
Bowling
Spokane bowler rolls amazing 898
Eddie Williams didn’t really feel like bowling.
The general manager of Lilac Lanes isn’t usually in that mood. He bowled professionally before moving to Spokane from Van Nuys, Calif., a year ago.
So coming two pins away from perfection Wednesday night was a bit of a surprise. Williams bowled 35 consecutive strikes, scoring two perfect games and carrying a third into the final frame. He finished with an 898 series.
“I can’t say that I ever thought there was something special going on,” Williams said. “I think, maybe, two or three times through the whole series I felt a little nervous, only because you could tell people were waiting to see what was going to happen. When I got to the 36th shot, and that feels funny to even say, I thought to myself, ‘I have a shot at that ring!’ “
Rolling one perfect game gets you noticed. Roll two back-to-back and you draw a crowd. Keep it up and the atmosphere turns electric.
“It was so huge – people were crying and screaming,” said Shari Cawley. “I’m his best friend and by the last frame I was bawling my eyes out.”
Not that Williams noticed.
“I didn’t even look back. I shot the second (300) and I saw there was a crowd gathering, but after the third shot of the third game, I didn’t bother looking back at all. You could tell everyone was sitting there, waiting,” he said, ever the general manager. “I said to one of my teammates, ‘If I just miss once, everyone can go back to buying drinks and having food.’ “
College basketball
Whits tackle DePauw tonight
Northwest Conference champions Whitworth (23-3) takes on DePauw (22-5) today in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament at Washington University in St. Louis. The game tips off at 4 p.m. PST.
The Pirates are led by swingman James Jones (16.1 points per game) and NWC player of the year Bryan Williams. DePauw earned an at-large bid to nationals.
Host Washington University (20-4) plays Fontbonne (16-11) after the Whitworth game in the site’s other first-round matchup. The winners of those two contests will meet at 5 p.m. PST Saturday.
College football
Erickson deal at $5.6 million
Details of Dennis Erickson’s new contract at Arizona State have been released. He’s going to make at least $5.6 million over the next five years.
ASU also agreed to pay Erickson’s $150,000 buyout to Idaho for leaving after 10 months. Erickson’s buyout at ASU is $750,000, lower than Robb Akey’s $1 million at Idaho.
His contract is scheduled for approval by the Arizona Board of Regents during a meeting Thursday and next Friday in Tucson.
Erickson, 59, is guaranteed only $500,000 for 2007, but the guarantee jumps to $1,275,000 annually through 2011. The contract, already reviewed in executive session by the regents, runs through Jan. 15, 2012.