   - DOCUMENTARY (2004) Bob Purzycki was born in Paterson, NJ. By age 12 he was one of the best bowlers in the country. His professional bowling name changed to Bob Perry. He was set to compete at the World's Fair in 1964 held in Queens. Two days before the fair, a neighborhood kid hit Bob in the face with a croquet mallet and crushed the side of his head. Bob was taken to the hospital and lost permanent vision in his left eye. Everyone told Bob to give up his dream to be the best. For 5 years, Bob trained himself how to bowl with one eye. By his 18th birthday, his game had improved to a 220 average, an average that was unheard of in 1970. This is indicative of the up-and-down life that followed. After getting involved in drugs, getting mixed up with the Mafia, and doing jail time, he went on to play in the Super Bowl High Roller in Vegas, as Bob Purzycki. He won the grand prize of $100,000, beating the best bowlers in the world. He was champion once again, at age 47. The true story of Bowling Legend Bob Perry, who battled, drugs, alcohol, the Mafia, and federal prison to emerge as one of the greatest bowlers that ever lived. http://www.singahe.com/highroller.html Bob Perry Video
Bob Purzycki was born in Paterson, NJ and, by age 12, was one of the best bowlers in the country. His professional bowling name was changed to Bob Perry. He was set to compete at the World's Fair in 1964 in Queens. Two days before, a neighborhood kid hit Bob in the face with a croquet mallet and crushed the side of his head. Bob was taken to the hospital, and lost permanent vision in his left eye. Everyone told Bob to give up his dream to be the best. For 5 years, Bob trained himself how to bowl with one eye. By his 18th birthday, his game had improved to a 220 average, an average that was unheard of in 1970. He joined the PBA (professional bowlers association) at 19. He was the top player in the east coast, where most of the major bowlers reside. He won Regional Player of the Year in 1972 and 1973, then won Bowler of the Year in 1973 and 1974. It was at this time that Bob fell in with some shady characters from the Mob underworld. These mobsters bet on Bob's bowling and promised him everything. Then Bob started drinking and making promises, due to the money that he had expected to receive from the Mafioso. Bob kept writing bad checks, and for this reason, he was kicked out of the PBA in 1976. Bob continued to bowl the best bowlers in the world and beat them in big money games. Thanks to his tough-guy friends, he also began to feel strong for the first time in his life. When Bob was 25, bad luck struck again, as he was hit by a New York City cab doing 50 mph. Everyone told Bob, not only could he never bowl again, he probably wouldn't walk again. Bob proved them all wrong. He spent a long time on crutches. He spent the next years trying his best to bowl again. He kept falling down, but he would get right back up and try again. Soon he was back to being the best. Bob had more problems though. His car accident had him addicted to Percodan. At the same time, his father was dying. Bob stayed with his father 9pm-9am, then bowled all day. To keep up this hectic schedule, Bob began to take cocaine. After his father died in 1981, Bob describes this as the period where it all went "Downhill." He quit bowling, and was banned from tournaments. Then he began using crack. He was up to 40-50 vials a day. He would do 10 vials at a time. He once did almost 500 in a 36 hr. period. He then went into a coma for 16 hours and woke up at Wayne General. He lived homeless on the streets of New York City. He would sleep with the rats and the other homeless people under the subway. He would sleep in peep shows and walk the streets all night long. Then, he would walk into a bowling alley and challenge anyone. Bob was dressed in ratty clothes and had no teeth. They had slowly rotted away, one by one, and Bob had pulled them out. In March of 1992, he ran into one of his homeless buddies as he was walking the street, Louie. Louie said that he had finally gotten a place. Bob followed him to this place. It was a cardboard box underneath the subway. Bob and Louie did many vials of crack. Louie said, "Let me show you my pet." Louie showed Bob his 10 pound rat. That was all Bob could take. He decided to kill himself. He walked out of the subways and saw a garbage truck barreling down the road. This was it. He jumped in front of it. As he jumped, he slipped. The trucked veered off the road and crashed. The driver got out and began to chase Bob. Bob escaped, but he knew that he received a sign from God. Bob turned his life around and has been sober ever since (10 years). But, that's not the worst of it. Due to a series of incidents, Bob called some of his mobster friends to "extort" money from a man who owed his friend. Unfortunately, the FBI was making their biggest bust ever. The bust of John Gotti. Bob was arrested along with most of the Gambino crime family. Bob spent 7 months in the FBI federal prison. He was in there with men like George Jung (the subject of BLOW). He made friends with Peter McMullen, one of the heads of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). In a triumph of the human spirit, Bob was released and went on to play in the Super Bowl High Roller in Vegas, as Bob Purzycki. He won the grand prize of $100,000, beating the best bowlers in the world. He was champion once again, at age 47. Bob, along with his sister Patsy, have now opened "The Last Stop," a 12 Step Referral Center for alcoholics and drug users. Bob lives one day at a time and never takes anything for granted. He quotes from an article in Bowlers Journal International, "He who forgets what has happened is doomed to repeat."
High" Roller: The Bob Perry Story Video
A record number of new bowlers and a record percentage of senior players helped fill the lanes at Sam's Town for the 19th annual February High Roller! In fact, seniors won 2 of the 3 events! After taking 100 of the world's best amateurs and making them ineligible, High Roller officials were leery about how the turnout would be. But after the last ball was thrown and the check for $25,000 was awarded, we were proud, pleased and appreciative that this year's event reached last year's entry numbers! And with so many other events in town, we thank you for choosing us! The event started with an amazing 6 bowlers on a pair in the very first squad and that quickly 56 prizes of $1,000 were paid on the first day of qualifying, more than other tournaments paid at the end! A total of 266 prizes of $1,000 to $25,000 were paid and that doesn't even include the Sweepers, the A Game or the Red Hot! Most of the bowling world knows of Bob Purzycki and his drug and alcohol troubles throughout his life. Many know that fresh out of rehab, he won the 1997 Super Bowl High Roller. Now, here 11 years later, the 55-year old Paterson, New Jersey native showed the world that he still has the touch. That touch came into play in the 10th frame of the final round as finalists Dave Guindon, Don Tesh and Matt Gilman watched Purzycki, formerly Perry, convert the 2 - 10 "for the money"! There were some in the crowd who knew Purzycki from the old days and swore that he left the 2-10 on purpose and made it just to entertain the crowd. Whether that is true or not, what is true is that Purzycki is now the owner of High Roller title #2. 
You know I "RESPECT " the opinions of a everybody who's voiced there opinion . But only Lou Capasso even mentioned Bobby Perry ( I think). When Bobby walked in he put the fear of God in people . I only saw him lose once in 7 yrs of knowing him . That was to Steve Tripp in Wallington lanes . It was a Three game match . They split the first two and Bobby left a ringing ten for the money in the third match. I went to places where people wouldn't bowl him . If he wanted action they made him shoot for score . First 680 (winner easy , didn't make the 4th frame of the third game ) and then 700 (again never bowled the 7th frame of the 3rd game) . And say what you want , Bobby NEVER threw a bad shot when the money was on the line . Never . I saw him beat almost EVERYONE of the guys that are mentioned in these threads .EVERYONE of them . I remember meeting Earl Anthony ( He was in town visiting )in Paramus lanes one night (I was a teenager at the time at that time he bowled anchor for D'amato paperstock , Mark Roth bowled leadoff ) and Bobby introduced me to him . Bobby walked away and Earl said to me "You know , he's the best bowler in the world " nodding his head pointing to Bobby . Bobby was the best unequivacably, without a doubt . Anyone who truly knows bowling knows that on a given night even a blind squirrel could find a nut . But a Lion will always eat . Bobby was a Lion on the lanes . Again in his time period I saw him beat EVERYONE of the guys mentioned in these memos .
Hello joeyja,
Although he only won six stops,he made the pba hof because he is
one of the few ever to win two majors in one year. Second greatest action bowler
I ever saw next to the Horn.
You're overrating Bob Perry and I knew him well until he moved
to Texas. He was not around when Horn and Lemon were at their best and never
would have beaten them.
One, , You must be thinking of someone else . Two, If you say Bobby was overated obviously your bowling aptitude isn't that great . Three , with the advent of the so called "WALL" on a given night anybody with a little talent could beat anyone . A lucky shot here a tap there a cross shot over there . He may never be voted Man of the Year . But when it came to bowling everyone with bowling aptitude respected him .EVERYONE of the bowlers on this list did . WHY , cause they had a clue . The story I told about Earl Anthony is true . You didn't have to like Bobby BUT when it came to Bowling you had respect him . Anyone who didn't became the NEXT victim . The story I told about the match in Conn. went like this . I'm standing in the Lakeview Bowl O mat in Paterson and Bobby gets a call . He comes back and says Joey were going to Conn tonight . That was a guy named Bill Daley . Me and Hank Berhbom are going to bowl a Doubles match against Willie Willis and the top House bowler for $5000 a game . I had never met Hank or Daley until that night . We walk into the Alley and Willie Willis says " I told you to bring any righty you wanted , BUT I didn't know you were going to bring HIM " . It was late when we got there but it was packed and still $5000 agame turned to $300 . The lanes were SCREAMING that night , they had a hard time shooting 185 . Bobby ave 240 . When we left Willis walks up and says if you want action don't bring him anymore . Willis was on TV the week before shooting I think 138 setting an all time low for TV at the time . Again there isn't a guy on this list that didn't respect him if not fear him . That includes Kidder and Revs . FYI you know they made a movie about Bobby's life . It's called High Roller : The BoB Perry Story .I just bought the DVD . I haven't seen Bobby in Many years .It's good to see he's cleaned himself up . I hope he sees this post. If you do Bobby I'm proud of you buddy . Good Luck....................Joey A
Just a quick Add on . About Steve Tripp . To call him NOTHING
makes you lose all credibility . He may not be a legend . But on a given night
he could beat anyone , and he NEVER bowled bad . If you beat him , you had to
BEAT . It was never a gift . I knew all the guys you mentioned and of course
they were all good . Bobby beat EVERYONE of them at one time or another .
EVERYONE of them . Bobby had world records turned down by the ABC . In middltown
he ave 256 for 102 games in a summer league . That Summer he shot 13 300's and 7
800's . All turned down . He was ave 266 until 2 wks before the league ended .
And more I watched Bobby beat Schlegel like a red headed stepchild . I respect everyone of the bowlers you named . BUT not one of them could walk in and say I'm a lock . Bobby was as good as anyone Not just on a given day BUT consistently . I'm sure there were times when I wasn't around that Bpbby lost (I'd have to see it to believe it ) there BUT i've seen him beat everyone you named that was still around joeyja
Well, I was bowling fairly well around that time and I remember the name. Never bowl him although I might have in some qualifying rounds. Wished I could have meet him. I know Steve Tripp and he can be tough when conditions are right. Never meet someone who could not be beaten. Excuse me, maybe someone who would only bowl when conditions meet their game and there was some of these. We all want an edge!!! Lemon when I saw him killed me with his ability to throw on dry conditions with hardly hooking the ball. We set up the conditions testing the new Rhino balls and in a money match Mark knocked off all the Brunswick Pro staff players on stripped lanes *(no oil) throwing like he was shooting a ten pin hitting 289!!! But Bob Perry certainly looked good in the highrollers. What is he doing now.
Back in the early 80's I was with Bobby everyday . But I haven't seen him in many years . I live in Fl now and probably never will . BUT I'd love to . To congratulate him . I bought the DVD of the Movie they mad e about his life story . I'm proud of him . I'd love to go to the track with him to bet the grass horses the day after the rain . Looking for Bold Ruler's that were 6 furlong closers stretching out to a mile . BUT Back to the bowling I went with Bobby everywhere back then And I Don't care who it was Where it was , what words came out of their mouth When Bobby walked in EVERYONE shut up . They knew that if they talked shit that Bobby would make them back it up . Every single person mentioned on this website , if they were around in Bobby's day He beat em .
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