by Randy Ooney      past articles

Tribune Classic

Bill Hengen, a sportswriter for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, and a member of the local association Hall of Fame for meritorious service, would frequently devote a column to local bowling heroics.  However nowadays, there is not much space in the sports section devoted to our sport.  Every once in awhile, the “Strib” will run a feature about an event at Bryant Lake lanes in Minneapolis.  This eight lane center has survived the test of time across the street from Woodcraft Hobby.  The folks who frequent Bryant Lake lanes now, are probably not readers of mnbowling . com.   They are the youth who recognize bowling as entertainment, a game to be played while dancing, listening to live bands, or Comedy Sportz.  They are the folks for whom two toned lime green and hot pink shoes were made.  Oh to be young again, and not worry about heavy oil carrying down to the back ends.

But when I was younger, Bryant Lake Lanes hosted one of the most popular tournaments in the Twin Cities.  Nearly every league member I knew would venture to West Lake Street to take a shot at the Star Tribune Classic – a four game scratch tournament across the eight great lanes of Bryant Lake.  Weekly results and standings would be posted in the newspaper, so whether you cashed or not, you were guaranteed to see your name in print.  The winner took home a check for $500.00 and a diamond ring.  I never won, so I’m not sure what the ring looked like.  Come to think of it, in those days I didn’t know what $500.00 looked like either, but it was fun to compete.  It was an annual stop for all higher average bowlers.  Later, they split the tournament into two divisions to accommodate the lower average bowlers, and finally split it into three divisions, and changed the name to the A-B-C tournament.  By then it had moved from Bryant Lake to other local venues, and gradually lost its charm. 

I guess the days of the independent tournament hosted by the bowling center are a memory now.  There are a few Sunday sweepers left, and the St. Albert’s trios at Memory Lanes is into its 40th year or so.  The Legend tourney at Midway has possibilities, but I wonder if we’ll ever again enjoy tournaments like the Ran-Ham, Hopkins Lanes New Car Tournament, or the Star Tribune Classic.