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The Lead

The Man Who Started A Bowling Revolution

The Lead

Wondery

Cfb, Uefa, Mls, Ncaa, Daily News, Olympics, The Athletic, Sports New, Sports, Sports News, Nfl, Nba, Tokyo2020, Wnba, Fifa, Nhl, Cbb, Mlb, News

3.92.2K Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you've ever been bowling at your local lanes, and seen the strange sight of someone flinging the ball toward the pins with two hands, there are two possible explanations: Either they have no clue what they're doing, or they're emulating one of the game's most dominant players. Ever since he burst onto the scene 15 years ago, Jason Belmonte has been one of the best, and most polarizing, bowlers in the world. Today, we look at how the man known as Belmo broke the game, and the backlash from his peers that threatened to break him.

Read the full story from Eric Wills in GQ here

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, prime members. You can listen to the lead ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the app today.

0:07.0

Imagine you're walking down the street and you see someone famous. Really famous. What do you do?

0:15.0

Play it cool or stop and stare? Play it cool.

0:18.0

But also, yes, stop and stare.

0:20.0

Now others have spotted this a-lister. They're staring too and some of them aren't playing it cool at all.

0:27.0

Now imagine you're not the one staring at the celebrity. You are the celebrity, staring back.

0:33.0

Oh, you've got pots of money, adoring fans and a big house. But look, you've also got all of us watching, judging.

0:41.0

Being really, really famous, it's not easy.

0:48.0

From Wondery, I'm Anneli Young-Griffy, and I'm Emily Lloyd-Sainey.

0:52.0

And this is Terribly Famous, our new podcast which shakes you right inside the lives of our most dazzling celebrities to find out what it's like to walk in their shoes.

1:04.0

Listen to Terribly Famous wherever you get your podcasts.

1:07.0

Who knows Emily? You may even gain a newfound appreciation for being an nobody.

1:12.0

I don't think that came out how you meant it. I know what I said.

1:23.0

If you've ever been bowling at your local lanes and seen the strange side of someone flinging the ball toward the pins with two hands, there are two possible explanations.

1:34.0

Either they have no idea what they're doing, or they're emulating one of the most dominant players in the game.

1:42.0

I'm Jason Belmonti. I'm from Orange, New South, Wales, Australia. I'm a purple one. I'm the best baller in the world right now.

1:51.0

And I bowl with two hands.

1:53.0

Ever since he burst onto the scene as a pro 15 years ago, Jason Belmonti has been one of the best and most polarizing players in the game.

2:02.0

Jason, count your take on T-Headed Buller. I think it's a travesty that it's in this sport. I'm old school. If you couldn't do it with one hand, you didn't try and do it with two. You just tried to make yourself better.

2:12.0

Today, writer Eric Willes tells us how the bowler known as Belmo broke the game, and how the backlash from his years threatened to break him.

2:22.0

He didn't want to be a villain. Like he wanted to be someone who came in, who changed the sport, where everyone loved.

2:29.0

I think he definitely did take a lot of it to heart, and I think it was difficult for him.

...

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