Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

Bowling Hall of Fame pins Bettis selection on celebrity

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Just a little more than two months after announcing his retirement from football, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis is already headed for the Hall of Fame -- the Bowling Hall of Fame.

The International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame sits near Busch Stadium in St. Louis. For the first time, the hall is honoring celebrity bowlers. Bettis, 34, will be the first inductee into the Celebrities Bowling Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday.

"I have bowled my entire life and gained great pleasure and enjoyment from the sport," Bettis said in a statement. "This is a tremendous honor."

Bettis has bowled since growing up in Detroit and, according to the Bowling Hall of Fame, maintains an average of more than 200. He has rolled a perfect 300 game.

Bettis is scheduled to be enshrined June 28 during the Bowling Proprietor's Association of America's International Bowl Expo in Las Vegas, which worked with the museum in establishing the new wing.

John Bergland, executive director of the association, said Bettis was an easy choice for the first celebrity inductee.

"Two things. One, he's an outstanding bowler," Bergland said. "Number two, he has great passion for the sport and he regularly promotes it."

Bettis hosted a bowling charity event in Detroit during Super Bowl week. The gregarious Bettis has been known to call up fan club members and invite them to go bowling. In interviews and on talk shows, he has often said how much he enjoys the sport.

The museum honors bowling's long history, as well as pro bowing legends such as Earl Anthony, **** Weber, Don Johnson and Don Carter.

It may not be the last Hall of Fame for Bettis, who called it quits after the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl 40. He began his career with the Los Angeles Rams and came with the team to St. Louis for one season before being traded to Pittsburgh prior to the 1996 season.

Known as the Bus for his wide body and hard-running, straight-ahead style, Bettis gained 13,662 yards and scored 91 touchdowns in 13 NFL seasons. He is fifth on the league's all-time rushing list, behind only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Curtis Martin. - espn

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2405188

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

Salute JB!!

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

XXXXXXXXX XXX 300

possibly the 1st athelete in 2 sports h.o.f's?

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

The only other athlete that I'm aware of is Jim Thorpe if you count the Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

Bowling must be hard up ? lol that is great for Bettis no doubt !!

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

Ride The Bus To The Bowling Hall.

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

Now this is just silly....:wtf: :jerkit:

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

Thorpe is in the College Football HOF as well.


Jerome will have a Bowling HOF Ring before he gets one from Canton.:hmmph:

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

lol. do they give out rings or those those blue/red and white little plastic bowling pin banks?

Re: Bettis Heading to the Bowling Hall of Fame
 

You should tell the Bus that....lol.

Eitherway, it's all in good fun and it's an accomplishment by one the most beloved players to ever sport a Steeler jersey.