1977 Midas Open - Don Johnson vs. Earl Anthony, pt 1

The date was Feb. 12, 1977 at the Expressway Lanes in Gretna, LA for the $100,000 Midas Open. Two PBA Hall of Famers going at it for the title, Don Johnson vs. Earl Anthony. It happened to be Don's son, Jimmy's (PBA titlest himself) birthday. Don qualified 5th, and plowed through the field of Mark Roth, Cliff McNealy, Marshall Holman to meet #1 qualifier Earl Anthony. The winner would get $14,000 with the loser $8,000. "Three or four times each game I kept reminding myself that I had to win for Jimmy, who was celebrating his eighth birthday," Johnson said. "I've never wanted to win a tournament so badly." If Johnson or Anthony had rolled a 300 in the title match, they would have received a $250,000 bonus from sponsor Midas International. Eight perfect games were recorded during the tournament. I'm sure Earl Anthony was disapointed in losing this tournament. As the #1 qualifier, he led the field by nearly 400 pins. But in a one game match, anyone can win. Let's join Chris Schenkel and Nelson Burton, Jr. with the call.

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Category:

Sports

Tags:

• mrbowling300
• pba
• bowling
• earl
• anthony
• don
• johnson

[Tata996]

Anyone else feel that the AMF setup was cheap compared to Brunswick?

[MikeHL78]

Averaging 240 for the tournament! Sick, Earl, sick! :)

[Turtle3000GT]

@Tata996 They didnt know what the think in this center, Brunswick returns and AMF machines

[Turtle3000GT]

250,000 for 300 14,000 for the tourney?? damn!!

[fanmanmathias]

I miss this place so much Katrina destroyed it and it's been closed since. I worked there and bowled there for years.

[yOuGoTiPoDeD]

Hi Mike. Yes 240 average is unheard of, especially back then. There were no reactive resin's or Urethane balls back in 77 to the best of my knowledge. So 240 is incredible!

[parkit56]

@rstp354 Not only was the span too long, he was using 3/4" reverse. I drilled this

Columbia Sur-D-Pro while he visiting San Antonio, TX. We talked about a grip change and came up with 1/8", no lateral in the thumb, 1/2" reverse in the fingers w/ dropped ring finger, and a weight hole to bring ball to 1/2 side. He was the nicest pro I will probably ever meet. Miss you, Don!!

[bgmnzz]

Let me get this straight. By the 1974 Midas Open, Earl had 8 titles. By this tournament in 77 he had 27 titles. In 3 years he won 19 titles? Those other pros must have hated him. 'Why's the square guy winning every other week?' He stared in '70(27 titles in 7 years!). Man those were good times.

[hommyg40]

why is it that, the number one ceed rarely wins...........

[2nd2nun1]

Man, I love these videos. I especially love the HUGE galleries that are situated throughout the bowling center , unlike today's "fake setups" on today's telecasts which has audience seating right down the bowling lane. It's kinda fascinating to be able to see the whole bowling center right down the lines, and seeing the ABC logo banner at the far end of the bowling center. Totally classic.

[deesyphrr]

BTW...That was at Chippewa Bowl in SB. Still open!