简介：ThoughneverasportofKings,atonepointintimebowlingoccupiedaperfectlyrespectableplaceinthepantheonofAmericansports.IthaslongbeenoneofthemostpopularparticipatorysportsinAmerica.WhenEddieEliasconvincedthecountry'stop33bowlerstokickfiftybucksintoa...ThoughneverasportofKings,atonepointintimebowlingoccupiedaperfectlyrespectableplaceinthepantheonofAmericansports.IthaslongbeenoneofthemostpopularparticipatorysportsinAmerica.WhenEddieEliasconvincedthecountry'stop33bowlerstokickfiftybucksintoacommunalpotinabanquethallinSyracuse,NY,in1958,theProfessionalBowlersAssociationwasborn.ABCbegantelevisingPBAtournamentsin1962,andastheleadinWideWorldofSports,ChrisSchenkel'sSaturdayafternoonbowlingtelecastwasformanyyearsoneofthehighestratedsportsprogramsontelevision.Thensomethinghappened:Americaceasedtoembracetheportly,middle-browimagethePBAwasselling,andbowlinggotkickedtothecurb.Thesportanditsplayers,manyofwhomgrewupidolizingthesepia-tonedgodsofbowling'sgoldenera,foundthemselveswallowinginthebackwatersofthepopularimagination,alongsiderodeosandtractorpulls.In2000,threeformerMicrosoftexecutivesscoopeduptheentireapparatusofprofessionalbowling--itsplayers,tournaments,trademarksandtrophies,allforaboutfivemilliondollarsandassumptionoftheleague'sdebt.Theirstatedgoalwastosavebowlingfromthebrinkofextinctionandraiseittonewheights,oratleastputitonparwiththeBassMasterstour,which,atcurrentmarketvalues,wouldrepresentatidyreturnonequity.TheheavyliftingforthismissionfallsontothebroadshouldersofamannamedSteveMiller,aformertopNikeexecutivewhohadplayedfortheDetroitLionsandrescuedKansasStatefootballfromtheNCAAcellar.ThefilmfocusesonMillerandfourofhischarges,professionalbowlersatverydifferentplacesintheircareers,andtheirsometimesfunny,sometimessadadventuresontourasprofessionalathletes-albeittheRodneyDangerfieldsofprofessionalsports.--©MagnoliaPictures…