2011 Dick Weber PBA Playoffs: Belmonte/Angelo Bottle Controversy

[GreatTony24]

These pro bowlers piss me off bout that lil shit, i cant wait to jus find the time to jump in one of these tournaments and get on tv cuz imma have the crowd get loud for me wen i bowl complete silence is stupid u gotta learn to play wit noise at all times. Fuck these so called pro bowlers grow up and be a fuckin man and jus bowl!!!

[MrJordanHollon]

i can't say i ever really been in this kind of pressure for during my years bowling in the kansas state flower game's and gotten to the top 5 many time's. I have never once letting something as small as bottle sound stop me. Hell the pin machine make's more then that. But also might been due to the fact i was 11-16.

[RCROX5000]

Angelo acted saint-like compared to Rash. You can tell that Jason did try to apologize. I like what Belmo said in response to the accusations. "If I wanted to cheat to win the game, I wouldn't crinkle the bottle during your approach, I would throw it at your head."

[gardjess154]

I know Brad and he wasn't being a douche. He just loves bowling, and Belmo was clearly being a bitch. He doesn't even take a drink, he puts down the bottle and then as soon as brad steps up and waits to crinkle it. Classless move by Belmo, if you can't win without being a bitch then you don't deserve to.

[Redsox3600]

He said it nicely compared to Rash haha

[katanakeith]

you morons that are defending belmo, watch the damn video and see when he puts the bottle down and when he picks it back up.

[cicatriz3]

I have been bowling for over 10 years and seriously if you can't just block everything out and focus on what you have to do then you shouldn't be bowling. In high school there was a shit ton of noise at meets but you still had to power through.

[johnathonmmilton]

@cicatriz3 There's a huge difference in bowling at a tourny with tons of noise and lots of people bowling, then when you are the only one standing up there with cameras on you. Should he block it out? Yes. But that doesn't make Belmonte any less of classless prick.

[katanakeith]

@cicatriz3 I've been bowling for over 40 years and it doesn't matter how good you are, anything can interupt your concentration. I hope that one day that you are on the operation table undergoing brain surgery,(it sounds like you might need some in the future) the assistanting nurse doesn't want to suddenly tell a funny joke that she heard that morning and the surgeons hand slips. You might have to go into politics.

[K1kk31992]

i didin´t even hear anything and i have pretty good hearing :DD

[emandude]

I like Brad Angelo. Something tells me that Jason Belmonte needs to keep his hands off annoying things during matches.

[Purepwns3234]

@emandude its a fucking bottle if u get thrown off by that you shouldnt be bowling. thats a pussy way out of having a bad break

[emandude]

@Purepwns3234 I realize that. But, maybe we don't appreciate the pressure that they have. Either way, Belmo seems like a repeat offender.

[Purepwns3234]

@emandude I've bowled under pressure and i understand certain things are annoying but a bottle crackling isnt anything...if you pick up a bottle it makes noise...he doesnt need to cheat to win.. lol plus i think Brad did it more because he messed up. If he had a problem with it he would have actually said something the first or even second time but the time he messes up he says something

[fivewordsthatiwrote]

if pba bowlers cant bowl with the sound that you normally hear in a bowling alley like in usbc state compatitons i hear people screaming and yelling can you tune that out? if not than he should not be on tour if he has to have that much of an advantage on every day bowlers than thts wrong.

[WonderDrugEchinacea]

Second, he continues to do this and get complaints. If he really didn't want to do this anymore, he'd wait until his opponent's ball is down lane before messing with the bottle. He's doing it on purpose. It's unsportsmanlike conduct and if the PBA ever wants to be widely recognized as a sport, it has to pretend to care about stuff like this.

Belmo is the only one I know of that uses these kinds of tactics on people and they should say something to him.

[WonderDrugEchinacea]

Sorry, but Belmo does this on purpose. Two reasons: One, how is it that Angelo can hear it on the approach and the fans behind Belmo can hear it, but he plays dumb when he's called on it? Watch him. He picks up the bottle, holds it by the lid while watching Angelo, then squeezes the bottle when Angelo is about to release. He wasn't even trying to open it.

[frothyshoes]

Jason was a dickhead for doing that.

[tombeh]

Jesus! There are water bottles out there that DON'T crinkle! Why not use those PBA?  This isn't the 1970's!

[waz800]

There is no possible way anyone can defend Belmo.. Plain and simple he has done this many times and there is no reason for it. Just bowl and if you win you win. If you want to play mind games stare him down after a strike but dont make noises intentionally as he throws the ball.

[charger04driver]

glad these guys aren't football players....70k ppl screaming would drive them to suicide

[njs300800]

Im happy that angelo stuck up for himself... he may have came off as a douche bag to people who haven't seen him bowl much but I've bowled with brad angelo in a couple of pro ams and he's actually a very nice guy.. very approachable and helpful.

[dettigs]

belmonte is a punk. definitely intentional. talk shit or play mind games if you want, but not as someone is delivering the ball. if i was brad, i would've had a cough attack on belmonte's next shot. fuckin' punk

[OzStick]

If this is such a big problem and Jason has indeed been "outed" for his lack of sportsmanship, why has the PBA not take any action against his behaviour?

[Deathkidd9]

Good way to blame some someone for pulling a shot. A bottle isn't that big of a deal. What if it was someone in the crowd? Would he have said something also? Pros need to learn how to bowl with sounds around them and it seems most pros from Brunswick's team are assholes.

[xMikeyG]

@Deathkidd9 Well 1. Most pros in general are assholes. 2. Walter Ray went off on a camera man because he heard the shutter go off mid swing. Really what it comes down to is that its poor sportsmanship and the quality of pro bowler has gone down dramatically over the past few years. Guys act like little girls at times.

[supermonkeyballboy]

Everyone always sees this in their way or in Angelo's way against Belmo. Yes, I heard the bottle crack too. Do I think Jason did it on purpose? No! Every time I pick up a water bottle it cracks! I agree with anyone who says that Angelo used the bottle cracking as an excuse for a bad shot. Yes, I see it as a reason why he stepped down from his approach the first time around, but the actual throw?

This might be able to straighten some things out:

jasonbelmonte(dot)com/blog/my-­thoughts/

[shado3mane]

I like how people make it out as if belmonte was the first and only person to ever do this in bowling. While I don't think it was right for him to pick up the bottle in the middle of Angelo's approach, I'm positive that he didn't mean to do it on purpose. He also went out of his way to deflate the situation and apologize, which he didn't have to do. Besides, it's not like belmonte needs any help beating Brad Angelo. Angelo is just mad because his ball reaction is some of the worst that I see in

[Xssam11]

@shado3mane

no one has proof on each side if he did do it to win (crushing the bottle)

[Lancespinner]

Belmonte SUCKS go back to humping kangaroos!

[TenpinBowlingShow]

Ambient noise too quiet for this telecast. Part of our youth training is to have people clapping alongside the lane while making shots. Classic case of perfect focus was our filming of George Frilingos not only winning the 2009 Melbourne Cup in Australia but also scoring a PERFECT 300 at the same time. To show his great professionalism, he requested the crowd cheer and clap loudly for this last ball. You can see the full match on our Youtube channel at TenpinBowlingShow

[vrty21]

Hahahahaha! brad angelo distracted by smallest thing! This is too funny!

[haji406]

someone who has not been in a similar contest would have any idea what was happening. Belmonte was wrong pure and simple

[heyscuba]

jeezus, "oh no someone crinkled a bottles while I tried to roll a ball at some stationary pins" hey don't get me wrong I'm a golfer and those guys too bitch and moan about the smallest noise while trying to putt a ball 3 feet, what I'm saying is

watch the Gymnast's in competition, doing a running back flip with a twist and landing it on a 4 inch wide wooden beam? all while someone next to them is doing a floor exercise and someone's vaulting about 30 feet way, the crowd erupts at any given time

[dettigs]

@heyscuba big difference in your 2 examples.......total silence compared to a noisy gymnasium. belmonte is a dickhead. he already made brad back off the approach 1 time, and still picked up the bottle 10 seconds later to do it again. all the bowlers could stoop to this level if they wanted; start coughing , drop something etc. i would've grabbed his fuckin bottle and thrown it in the crowd.

[bstnrdsxfrk]

At 0:13 to 0:14 you can easily hear the bottle crunch. At 0:39 you can see his hands squeezing the bottle, and you can hear it again at 0:41

Angelo said that's the 3rd time he'd tried that crap, and it happened to sean rash twice in two frames in the team shootout. If they were bowling in a loud bowling alley, then it wouldn't bother anyone. But to have complete silence, then to hear a loud "crunch" about 2 feet behind you as you're focusing on an important shot, I can understand their anger.

[stevedee32]

Jason Belmonte is bush-league. He should go home. As long as its Ok Belmonte make noises during the match, then Brad can say whatever he wants to him about that or outright heckle him during the match. Is there where the sport wants to go?

[Polarcupcheck]

Focus is a funny thing. I had one guy throw his equipment across my approach while I was set to throw a strike to beat him for cash. I got the strike and didn't complain. Some people were shocked I didn't complain. I was like, I won anyway. They were like, yeah, but...It was pretty funny. Good memories though. I was a young kid and he didn't want to lose to me. I appreciate the competition we had.

I'm a known lane condition complainer, though. I hated easy lanes. Carry contests are dull.

[paponin]

In Sweden we sometimes play with drums in the background, so this is just ridiculous

[TChatham529]

Angelo and Rash both disgrace Brunswick for how they are reacting to this Bottlegate scandal. Both of them are the biggest crybabies because they get distracted by a tiny noise instead of focusing on the shot. Thats their own fault, not Belmonte's.

[willscoaster]

a bowler shouldnt get distracted by sound but when something happens with the lights, the pinsetter, or a camera flash or whatever in the middle of his/her approach, it will distract them so angel was getting pissed off for no reason

[essary123]

ok peopel i just want to say yall are the jackass for putting shit like his on here i dont understand how u can say this stuff if you have never been in his spot i have bowled in high stacks matchs before and i know how it is and brad is not hothead i know him personally and he's a really good guy and bowler so plz have some sence and grow up and get a life when you are in his place and do what he does than you can say something about it. until then just keep you stupid crap to yourself thanks

[BrianCRX90]

All I can say is Brad Angelo your a jackass. You could have said something nicely at least. I know the pros need ultra concentration during bowling because it's so quiet which is the rules the PBA has placed upon the audience but seriously you just turned off a bunch of people with your dumbars attitude. Jason was trying to apologize but you just wanted to act like a jerk.

[matrixphijr]

@BrianCRX90 That was a million times nicer than Rash's reaction, and I think Rash was justified.

It happens once, and Angelo steps off without saying a word. In bowling silent language, that's, "Someone/thing is distracting me right now, so please stop."

At 0:30, Belmonte reaches over and grabs the bottle, but doesn't take a drink. He just sets it on his leg and waits for Angelo. At 0:39, he puts his other hand on the bottle, and you hear it crackle right before Angelo releases the ball.

[matrixphijr]

(cont.)

That alone proves it's intentional. I don't feel sorry for the classless individual who would resort to cheap tricks to try to win a match. Belmo's a good bowler, but he obviously doesn't trust that his talent is enough to win, so he has to distract his opponent. It's just a shame he's never been disciplined for it.

[pdarksage]

Brad Angelo has always been known as a hothead. He will always find something or someone to blame for his failure to win.

[corozin99]

These sorts of mind games are part of many pro sports and have been part of bowling for over 40 years. Marshall Holman's book talks about some of the tricks the pros use.

Brad Angelo has been on tour for 9 years. If he hasn't learned to bowl under the pressure of another pro's antics then he doesn't deserve to be there. I think Angelo's whining was actually his own "mind game" attempt on Belmonte; one which clearly failed.

[EricSmyth14]

@corozin99 Double post's don't get thumbs up too often : )

[Marbery20011]

@corozin99 100% true.

[corozin99]

These sorts of mind games are part of many pro sports and have been part of bowling for over 40 years. Marshall Holman's book talks about some of the tricks the pros use.

Bead Angelo has been on tour for 9 years. If he hasn't learned to bowl under the pressure of another pro's antics then he doesn't deserve to be there. I think Angelo's whining was actually his own "mind game" attempt on Belmonte; one which clearly failed.

[LIRRfan500]

brad angelo is a jackass, belmonte has all the class in the world and angelo needed a coverup for his bad shot and even after the match he didnt congradulate belmonte for winning and then when belmonte went to apoligize during the commericials angelo shunned him off by saying yea i understand and didnt even look him in the eye which kind of meant he wanted belmonte to shut up and leave him alone i have no respect for brad angelo anymore

[dettigs]

@LIRRfan500 are you kidding??? you think this was a cover-up for a bad shot after brad already backed off the approach because dickhead belmonte was intentionally making noise? and then he picks up the bottle again. belmonte is a jerk-off and all pro's could stoop to these levels if they wanted to, but there's always been a gentlemens agreement so to speak to be courteous while the other guy is up.

[xpswebstar420]

It's clear in the video that Belmonte is intentionally distracting Angelo. If you watch the video you can see that Belmonte takes a drink then sits the bottle down. He then waits for Angelo to get back on the approach, takes the bottle again and makes noise with it as Angelo is in the middle of his delivery. As soon as Angelo says, "Come on Jas", Belmonte knows what he's done and starts with the "all right, all right, all right." Belmonte should be fined for unsportsmanlike behavior.

[stewartngo300]

In my opinion, Brad was such a BABY.... Just because it takes him (BRAD A.) forever to set on the approach and still not get a good shot, dosen't give him the right to take it out on BELMO on National TV. I mean, BELMO's style, attitude and finesse on/off the lanes are perhaps one of the most well-loved and admired by bowlers and people around the world. I admire BELMO for just keeping quiet and "LETTING HIS BOWLING BALL DO THE TALKING".... Maybe Brad should do the same too...

[brshern]

even if Belmo was dead quiet angelo still woulda got beat, angelo, u EPIC FAIL

[wildetaube]

Although I normally root against Belmonte, I have new respect for him. I don't think he did this on purpose --- after the match he seemed convincing while explaining that fact to Brad. Belmonte felt terrible. But I've been wrong before...

[Mr2010kerry]

Jason Thomas and the PBA wanted to use this "controversy" as a publicity stunt, to create buzz. Well, they did that. Thomas is quite happy about it. I think it's stupid. This isn't professional wrestling. Is that where the PBA wants to go with this? Are they going to stage fake fights between the bowlers every week now? Are the bowlers going to start wearing tights with a padded crotch and muscle shirts? They can bring back the ladies and have hair pulling stunts too. What stupidity...

[Mr2010kerry]

Having now watched the entire match, it's pretty clear that Angelo wasn't focused on his game and was bowling poorly. So like some of the other perpetual whiners, he wants to blame his poor performance on someone else. Of the 3 matches that aired last Sunday, this one was the least enjoyable, because of his whining. Cowboy up Brad, learn to focus and bowl under pressure and quit whining. It ain't easy, but you're supposed to be a pro. Deal with it.

[godfathercash420]

Belmo is a Douche.

[strongsock]

@IveGotYourChange dude how was belmo the professional? He did that on purpose because he knew it would get inside angelos head. Angelo was the professional for only saying what he said. I dont understand how anybody could say this was an accident and angelo was the dick......

[strongsock]

Why the fuck are people ragging on Angelo when clearly belmo is the douche in this scenario. He crinks the bottle once during Angelos pre-shot routine making him start over. Then he picks the bottle up AGAIN and you can clearly see him crink it RIGHT before Angelo releases the ball in the other version which has a WAY better camera angle. He doesn't even drink from it the 2nd time. He picked it up to crink it. He knows it, angelo knew it, and get angelo is getting shit for saying something?

[turtlepower222]

ANGELO is a DOUCHE!

[codeman9010]

this makes me respect jason even more by the professional way he handled brad's petty call-out on t.v..

[wolfboy0723]

Get over it, brad!

[0007123451]

Lol proffesional bowlers whine more than little girls do. Someone needs to whipe Brad's bum and change his diaper.

[mistermatsuda]

Lol... good stragedy!!

[ts13a141]

Brad, sorry but you are being a prima donna. See a shrink!

[TheMcornelius]

This isn't really about a little noise. It is about Brad thinking that Belmo was messing with him. I actually don't think he was doing it on purpose to start with. I'm sure it didn't help when Brad acted up on the second time. You could clearly see that is why he backed off. I think Belmo thought okay Brad, you want to be like that, then I'll make sure it happens in your backswing on the next time. Maybe next time, he should use an air horn for a more exciting effect.

[jim90046]

I am a 200 Avg. Bowler and I once had a guy drop his ball on the rack when I was in the 10th frame with 9 in a row ! I hit my leg and ended up with 275 . I was pretty mad so its like this some people can Bowl with whatever is making noise and some can not ! If you are one who can then good for you but as a pro jason should know better in my humble opinion ..

[MrSkippiejohn]

@jim90046 Well Jim maybe you should start bowling where there is a little noise I bowl in once a year tournament against all the other centres in the state the noise is deffning but you learn to switch off... only makes you a better bowler under pressure!!

[WSMDSA]

Love it! Belmonte is a right two handed bell-end Angelo should have taken him out in the car park and battered him.

[jim90046]

@WSMDSA Perhaps I should clarify ! I agree with you and the noise factor ! Never really effects my bowling . What I was talking about was a league night when you see a person has 9 in a row the league steps back to watch and cheer you on . I'm sure you are aware of this if you're a bowler . What this guy did was everyone was back and quiet and I was in my approach and he is right next to me and walks up and drops the ball on the rack just as I am in my fourth step . you know the rest . not nice

[BigAlf4116]

It is really annoying to see these "Pros" whine, "someone made a noise and caused me to throw a bad shot". All it is doing is giving the sport a black eye. Have these "Pros" gotten so far removed from the average bowler that they need to be treated as prima donna's? I dont know what is worse, listening to them whine or to the color commentator telling all of us lowly league bowlers that we dont know anything and are not worth any respect.

[BigAlf4116]

I have seen league bowlers throw 300 games with babies crying, people talking and laughing. If that was one of the "Pros" they would have been bitching like five year olds without throwing a shot until it was dead silent. So all I have to say is quit the bitching and bowl like the Professionals you are supposed to be. If your that good then nothing should bother you.

[jwilson811]

@BigAlf4116 if it is completely quiet and you hear a noise it will distract you, if there is white noise in the back ground people talking etc it all blends in together, you don't notice, I remember one year they even tried that on the pro tour, they let the fans cheer the whole time, they should have kept it like that

[Mrabove180]

Brad joined us to talk about his thoughts after watching the video. Check out above180.com for the podcast.

[fugueoflife]

Jason Belmonte said on facebook that he and Brad made up after this match, and also said he was sorry if he caused Brad any problems. He said that Brad apologized for being mad.

[mrtvmankiller01]

thats just poor sportsmanship, if it had really bothered him that much why didn't he stop mid swing, everyone else can do it on tv.

[SixtyFeet2]

@mrtvmankiller01 it would have been a shot clock violation if he stopped mid-swing, $100 for the first violation and $500 for each one thereafter

[mrtvmankiller01]

@SixtyFeet2 true, but most bowlers won't remember every time they are on tv

[Relbac3]

He is a professional the best of the best I see poor sportsmanship and a terrible representitive of the USA and the PBA a small noise like that shouldn't have disturbed him enough to show his signs of lack of professionalism on what is to be aired on national television. Black eye on his record if you ask me cry baby angelo now I hope Belmo smoked him so bad that the water bottle is out of the equation as to why he lost. please and you bleeding hearts remember he's not a weekend warrior hes apro

[letmein218]

just wear ear plugs dumasss

[vitalogy66]

Agree with Brad Angelo.....:)

[brshern]

@vitalogy66 WHY ?

[vitalogy66]

@brshern well, you need to say what things annoy but for Angelo annoys the bottle noise to concentrate, if say this at bad way ....i don't know

[MrKevinDBerry]

Brad Angelo needs to stop crying. That was the most ridiculous excuse ever.

[JusDesireable]

I gotta agree with some other people I think Brad was looking for an excuse. If you bowl league, or any tournament you know noise can come out of anywhere. And the sound of a bottle opening isn't a sonic BOOM okay? These pro bowlers are starting a trend of whining that is irritating me now (Eg. Shafer and his brooklyn comment about Mika, but 80 percent of his shots in tourney are brooklyn). Play the game guys and stop looking for excuses to pin errors on then yourselves.

[paradigmata]

What the hell. Jason even waited until Brad threw the shot before he opened the bottle.

[clarestreet31]

Bowling is at an all-time low point already...but the fact that a pro bowler becomes unfocused because someone is messing with a plastic bottle is the dumbest thing ever. All week long the center is as loud as a train station, then all of a sudden this guy can't focus because of that....give me a break. Next year these guys will all be looking for real jobs anyways. Hate to say it but pro bowling will not last much longer.

[smallpkgdynomite125]

@clarestreet31 What would make you think that a sport with 250,000 $ purse would come to an end so abruptly

[Mr2010kerry]

Hard to believe that Belmonte would purposefully do something to Angelo, or anyone, for that matter. But, this clip doesn't tell the whole story. It's obvious that Angelo was already upset and looking for an outlet. If he didn't bowl well during the match and then tried to blame Belmonte for his poor performance, he's a real clown. If indeed, it was the 3rd time it happened, why did he wait to talk to Belmonte about it? If it were me, I'd have said something to him the first time.

[Stabiliziran]

Is that it?

I thought this was going to be worse.

Lol what an idiot.

[Turtle3000GT]

Good, Angelo sucks anyways

[Storm900Global]

most brunswick bowlers act like d-bags,especially rash and angelo.

[DeeviousWoW]

if he would've struck he wouldnt have said anything...brad is a dick

[JoshuahGenesis]

This was the controversy...Wow...I thought it would have been bigger than that...and Yes Mr. Belmonte did it on purpose...clearly

[b0wnguyen316]

Maybe there's more to this than we know. From what i just saw in this scene, i can't believe that Jason was "purposely" messing with Brad. They are both professional players. They know how to deal with pressure. Just not this time.

[fireyoshi007]

The funny thing is, if Angelo throws a good shot, nothing is said.

[tisho91]

This is STUPID! C'mon Brad!? WTH!?

[solidtenpin]

I don't disagree that professionals should have no problems bowling with noises around them, but when it's forced silence on a telecast like this and an non-ambient noise comes out of nowhere in the middle of your shot, it's going to affect you to some degree. It wouldn't be any different than someone waving their hand at you wildly from your peripheral vision. Your eyes may be used to seeing pin sweepers and balls moving down lane, but something out of the ordinary would have an ill effect.

[Relbac3]

@solidtenpin have you ever bowled before?

[solidtenpin]

@Relbac3 20 games a week or so since 2005. That would be a little over 6,000 games.

[Relbac3]

@solidtenpin and by the way I seen the video response to this video that you posted very bad taste indeed. How old are you? Why didn't you mention hearing Mike J laneside voice in the background and just because there is a shield in front of the comentators do you think that a muffeled noise louder than a crinkle of a bottle is sometimes heard you just needed a reason to put put a bad taste video up and comment like you really had something worth while reading.

[steelydanbowler]

@Relbac3 I had to watch this again, and I heard Mike J.'s voice in the background. However I don't know if the players can hear it too.

[Relbac3]

@steelydanbowler I too agree Lane and approach courtisy is always a rule and belmo should have known better that to crack open that bottle but we are still talking about the best of the best and it would seem to me like a fan moving, a loud cough, or a child screaming on delivery all are big distractions and sometimes the smallest noise is the biggest im just saying angelo should have been more professional sportsman and certainly more of a rep for the USA when up against an AUS rep +1reply

[iwasadeum]

@solidtenpin but it wont. 99% of the time when these "noises" are made, it less a few milliseconds before the release. There's no noise that can mess you up milliseconds before a release lol. Funny thing is i bowl the 220's averages in my leagues, where it isnt forced silence. Stupid fags look for any excuse to why they sucked up a shot. I really have lost respect for the pros who cry like a baby when they miss the pins because a mouse dropped a crumb on the ground.

[TheNolanHD]

Who cares if it was on purpose, Bowling in complete silence doesn't really make your shots better and how can you expect for it too be quit when there are hundreds of people in the same room. If a water bottle throws of your game that much, you shouldn't be bowling. A bowling alley is LOUUDDD!

[Danthemanwoloszyn]

Come one! It is a bottle and you're supposed to be a professional. If the sound of a bottle throws your game off that bad, then yous should probably quit the game. I'll gurantee that with all of those people in there, that there was at some point louder noises being made throughout the day. Don't blame your bad shot on the only thing you can think of to blame it on. Man up Angelo!

[GEOMIMI89]

Sorry mate! LOL

[dmperreau88]

You could see it clearly at 0:32 that he was waiting for Brad to get on the approach and start before he opened the bottle... Isn't there fines for things like these happening in the PBA?

[dmperreau88]

That was purely on purpose..