Mike Durbin
Encyclopedia
Mike Durbin is a former American
professional bowler
. He became a member of the PBA
in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles (1972, 1982 and 1984) and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over $800,000 in career earnings. (The three Tournament of Champions titles total has since been matched by Jason Couch
in 1999, 2000 and 2002.)
Durbin was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1984. He was ranked #22 on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."
During the 1983-84 season, Durbin served as the president of the PBA.
From the early 1980s to 1995, Durbin worked as a color analyst for ESPN
alongside play-by-play man Dennis Schreiner. The two called tournaments in the summer and fall, along with senior tour events, while ABC Sports would cover the winter-spring events on the Pro Bowlers Tour
, occasionally with Durbin alongside Chris Schenkel
. Durbin would occasionally call the action himself with another analyst, such as Earl Anthony
, if Schreiner was out on assignment. Durbin also worked as a commentator for USA Network
's occasional bowling telecasts in the 1980s. In 1996, Marshall Holman
became the new color analyst for ESPN's coverage, while Durbin took over play-by-play duties. He retired from broadcasting in 1997.
Durbin co-authored with Dan Herbst a self-help bowling book called From Gutterballs to Strikes published in 1998. A long-time resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio
, Durbin now lives in Henderson, NV. Durbin is a Christian.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional bowler
Bowler (ten-pin)
A bowler is someone participating in the sport of bowling, either as an amateur or professional. In American ten-pin bowling, a bowler is most commonly a member of a team of three to six people...
. He became a member of the PBA
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
in 1967, a year in which he won two tournaments and was named PBA Rookie of the Year by Sporting News. He would go on to win a record three Tournament of Champions titles (1972, 1982 and 1984) and 14 total PBA titles, amassing over $800,000 in career earnings. (The three Tournament of Champions titles total has since been matched by Jason Couch
Jason Couch
Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:...
in 1999, 2000 and 2002.)
Durbin was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1984. He was ranked #22 on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."
During the 1983-84 season, Durbin served as the president of the PBA.
From the early 1980s to 1995, Durbin worked as a color analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
alongside play-by-play man Dennis Schreiner. The two called tournaments in the summer and fall, along with senior tour events, while ABC Sports would cover the winter-spring events on the Pro Bowlers Tour
Pro Bowlers Tour
The Professional Bowlers Tour, also known as Pro Bowlers Tour, is a broadcast of the Professional Bowlers Association that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1997...
, occasionally with Durbin alongside Chris Schenkel
Chris Schenkel
Christopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
. Durbin would occasionally call the action himself with another analyst, such as Earl Anthony
Earl Anthony
Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member...
, if Schreiner was out on assignment. Durbin also worked as a commentator for USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's occasional bowling telecasts in the 1980s. In 1996, Marshall Holman
Marshall Holman
Marshall Holman is an American professional bowler primarily known for his success on the PBA Tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a color analyst alongside Mike Durbin on several ESPN and ESPN2 bowling telecasts from 1996–2001...
became the new color analyst for ESPN's coverage, while Durbin took over play-by-play duties. He retired from broadcasting in 1997.
Durbin co-authored with Dan Herbst a self-help bowling book called From Gutterballs to Strikes published in 1998. A long-time resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Durbin now lives in Henderson, NV. Durbin is a Christian.
Sources
- www.pba.com, official site of the Professional Bowlers Association and the Denny's PBA Tour