BOWLERS' GAME PLAN: HAVE FUN.Byline: Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
``We're just happy to be here and having fun. The scores mean nothing.'' - Ida ``Swivel Hips'' Campenella. The bowling alley is nearly empty Thursday morning when the Red Hots show up to roll a few lines on alleys 30 through 34, their old stomping grounds stomp·ing ground n. A customary territory or favorite gathering place. Also called stamping ground. . It has been almost 18 years now since this lively group first started coming to Woodlake Bowl in Woodland Hills every Thursday morning - parking their walkers and red-tipped canes against the wall and picking up their bowling balls. A unique team - the Red Hots. The only way you can join it is to be legally blind and a student over at the Visually Handicapped Adults of the Valley center in Van Nuys. Oh, and one other thing. You have to want to have some fun. The Red Hots don't allow any grouches Grouches are a race of contrary, argumentative, garbage-loving individuals, many of whom are found on Sesame Street. The most famous Grouch is Oscar the Grouch, but many other grouches have surfaced over the years. or complainers on their team. Life's too short Life's Too Short is an episode of the HBO series Six Feet Under. Plot Claire and Gabe reunite under tragic circumstances when Gabriel's little brother dies ffrom accidentally shooting himself while playing with a gun, and later ends up beaten up by his step-father during for that. From behind the front desk, counterman coun·ter·man n. A man who tends a counter, as in a diner. Noun 1. counterman - someone who attends a counter (as in a diner) counterperson, counterwoman Tom Conyers, who has seen it all in this bowling alley, smiles. ``Anytime I see people whining about their scores and not having fun bowling, I tell 'em to stop by some Thursday morning and watch the Red Hots because they'll learn something,'' Conyers said. ``How'd you like to try to bowl with a blindfold blindfold worn by personification of justice. [Art: Hall, 183] See : Justice over your eyes?'' he asked. Minor inconvenience, says Ida Campenella, who is legally blind and has a 179 game under her belt. The Red Hots may not be able to see the pins fall down, but they can hear them. And, on this Thursday, Ida has been hearing plenty. She has just bowled a few spares in her first game back with the team after an eight-week hiatus from bowling because of hip replacement surgery - which has earned her the nickname ``swivel hips'' from her teammates. Nothing is sacred on the Red Hots team - least of all your last surgery. ``Bowling just does something for us, makes us feel alive,'' said Ida, taking the arm of new team member, Shazia Noor, and giving her some tips. In the next lane, John Hanley - the team's driver and coach - is helping the team's inspiration, Javier Garcia, line up a shot at the foul line foul line n. 1. Baseball Either of two straight lines extending from the rear of home plate to the outer edge of the playing field and indicating the area in which a fair ball can be hit. 2. . At 37, Garcia is Garcia I might refer to:
Nobody in the Red Hots can remember ever hearing Javier complain or feel sorry for himself. ``He was studying to be a nurse four years ago when diabetes took his sight,'' said Doris Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
``Then, he lost a leg, and now has an artificial one. Three times a week, he has to undergo dialysis. On Thursdays, he starts at 5:30 a.m. so he can make it here on time to bowl. ``And not once has he ever arrived without a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. Javier's our inspiration,'' Doris says. The whole team, formed by volunteer Dave Rubinstein David Rubinstein was born 1964. He formed "Reagan Youth" with guitarist Paul Bakija when both were in Forest Hills high school in Forest Hills, Queens. While they were still in high school, the band played the punk clubs of Manhattan. 18 years ago, should be an inspiration for all sighted people, says Hanley, the team's bus driver and coach who had open heart surgery 12 years ago. ``I guess I was kind of feeling sorry for myself after the surgery. Then I met these people,'' he said, looking over at Javier. ``They've taught me a lot about life and how you deal with things when they don't go your way. You don't wallow wallow mud bath frequented by pigs, elephants, red deer, hippopotami as a cooling aid. in pity and feel sorry for yourself. ``You grab hold of your pride, quell quell tr.v. quelled, quell·ing, quells 1. To put down forcibly; suppress: Police quelled the riot. 2. your fears, and get on with life as best you can,'' Hanley said. Two lanes down, Sid Carter is busy getting on with life - raising his arms to the sky after hitting the first strike of the day. Sitting at a table 20 feet away, Arnold Abrahamson smiles at the sounds. He can't see the Red Hots with his eyes, but he can hear their laughter and applause for Sid. ``Beautiful, isn't it?'' Arnold asked, looking out into the darkness of a bowling alley and seeing so much. Yeah, it is. Real beautiful. MEMO: Dennis McCarthy's column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) Ida Campenella, left, helps blind bowler Shazi a Noor line up a shot while Javier Garcia, right, gets tips from coach John Hanley. (2) Sid Carter, who is visually impaired, celebrates bowling a strike. Terri Thuente/Daily News |
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