"Where's Ryan?"

Note: Today's recap is being brought to you by Llama Chaser Tom. As a disclaimer don't expect music video tie in's, a poem, or a thesis comparing Kelly McGillis to a certain Llama Chaser. 

Over the years there have been many things said at the bowling table when people didn't show up, "Has anyone talked to Kevin?", "Is Tom on vacation again?", "Brandon's at what class for Church?", "Is Nate back from Kent yet?" Never, ever "Where's Ryan?" That was until at appoimentalty 6:42pm on 2/28/11, Nate uttered that simple phrase, un-sure of where the Lenny to his Squiggy was. In order to escape the country unscathed Ryan "forgot" to tell Nate about his vacation plans. 


Now those of you who follow the bowling team know that I'm known for scheduling all my vacations during the bowling season. So I won't have much to say about Ryan taking vacation during the season, because I do it all the time. It would be case of the pot calling the kettle black.




The problem I do have is Ryan giving up so easily, with 6 weeks left, on one of the most coveted awards in Llama Chaser history . The "Perfect Attendance" award.

Ryan's wrist soon after the injury

There's one thing that always amazes me, when there's an award to be won, money on the line, Ryan always delivers. This is the same guy who painfully fought through an unknown wrist injury 15 weeks ago to achieve the first ever Llama Chaser triplicate in 10 years. He fought so hard that none of us knew how injured he was until his last ball was in the gutter and roared in agony. According to various doctors afterwards, "no man should of been bowling with a wrist that damaged." However, Ryan saw a chance for an award and come hell or high water he was going to get it. You can see how un-Ryan like it was to see him give up so easily in his quest for perfect attendance.


That's a little bit of why it disappoints me so much that Ryan willingly threw away his shot at the "Perfect Attendance Award" by choosing a vacation over bowling. That's something I expect out of myself, not Ryan. Mind you this was an award that he created for the sole purpose to rub it in our faces that he was able to achieve perfection in bowling attendance. 

Ryan's Shadow

There's also one more thing.....WE ARE BOWLING, WITH A SHOT AT FIRST PLACE FOR THE SECOND HALF!!! IT WOULD BE GREAT IF EVERYONE COULD MAKE IT TO BOWLING!


As many of our fans know from following us over the years, that Llama Chaser Ryan casts a large shadow over the team, and I'm sure most of you are thinking "they don't have a shot without Ryan."


Turns out it wasn't that bad. Someone came to visit us the first game. First half Brick decided to show up.


The Llama Chasers came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. Tom bowled a one pin below average 184, but the rest of the team picked up the slack and then some. Brandon shot a 202, followed by Andy (filling in for Ryan) with a 212, and First half Brick with a stellar 266 that included 10 total strikes. The first 5, followed by 2 spares and then the last 5 strikes to finish the game. This is the type of bowling that usually results in a win, which it was. 


Game 2, Tom picked up his line, and shot a good 224 game, followed by Brandon with a 221, Andy with a 188, and with First half Brick on sabbatical after one game, Second Half Brick filled in with a 186. Some of the highlights included a "Field Goal-Four Baller" on Brick. It's not so much that this happened, but it happened on the Baby Split (3-10). To put it in between those two pins with out hitting anything is quite a challenge and Brick was up to it. Game 2 the other team decided to bowl, with all of their guys above 198 and a high of 278, we lost by close to 45 pins. 


Game 3, Tom and Brandon had a nice "friends stay together" 237 that included a llama for Brandon. Andy shot a 181, but finished with a Turkey. Second Half Brick shot a stellar 158 which is exactly what he needed to avoid the skirt for the first game this week. Some how we ended up winning the last game, but losing total.....by 6.


So on a somewhat somber note we finished the night up 4-3. It easily could of been 5-2 or 2-5. A missed spare here and a missed spare there, really killed us. Fortunately, we are still in the hunt, and didn't drop our place in the standings. Currently we are 7 behind first and only 3 out of second. Come out and cheer on your Llama Chasers, there's only 7 weeks left for us to make our move.

Some of you may be wondering where Kevin was? He wasn't mentioned in the recap, is he on the team anymore? Yes, Kevin is still a member of the Llama Chasers, but he decided to stay at work instead of coming to bowling. Once again made a choice with his heart over his head, or is it vise-versa? At this point I'm not sure. Usually when Kevin misses a week he comes back and bowls lights out, so I expect a 600 or close to it this week.


So many questions for the coming week...Ryan makes his return, how will he bowl after a week off? Can we maintain or gain ground in the standings? Is it still the year of the Llama?


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