Salute!

A Caribbean vacation package, tickets to the 2008 Super Bowl, a Professional Bowlers Association tour event exemption and a Mort Luby painting featuring bowling legend Andy Varipapa were among the intriguing auction items that helped generate approximately $100,000 for the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame at the 2007 Salute to Bowling. The annual fundraiser, held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in conjunction with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America International Bowl Expo, also saw the induction of former major league baseball pitcher Tom Candiotti into the Celebrity wing of the Bowling Hall of Fame. "We're thrilled with the money generated from this year's event," Salute chairperson Keith Hamilton said, "and we appreciate the generosity of the more than 400 bowling enthusiasts who attended. "We also recognized that all was not perfect at the 2007 Salute," Hamilton continued. "We were especially disappointed with the food presentation and the auction checkout procedures, and the committee already is working to significantly improve these areas for Salute 2008." Candiotti, whose nearly impossible-to-hit knuckleball carried him through 16 seasons in the major leagues, was recognized for his continued promotion of bowling through mainstream media. Candiotti, a radio analyst for the Arizona Diamondbacks, also is an accomplished bowler, carrying a 200+ average and boasting a certified 300 game in March of this year. The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide. For more information about the Museum or its Salute fundraiser, call (800) 966-2695.