Tommy Griggs practices his bowling one week after rolling a perfect 300 game at Red Carpet Lanes. (Sean P. MurphyThe Vicksburg Post)

[9/11/03]Bowling a 300 game is rare.

It takes perfection both mentally and physically. Some bowlers come close and break down near the finish line. Some never accomplish it all their lives.

Until Sept. 3, Tommy Griggs had only near misses.

“I’ve been close the last few times this summer 7, 8 or 9 strikes but got more nervous,” said Griggs, a 41-year-old regular bowler at Red Carpet Lanes in Vicksburg.

But after talking to teammates Todd Scallions and Jackie Strange, who each have bowled at least one 300 game, Griggs learned to calm down. It paid off with his first 300 game and the 13th perfect score at Red Carpet Lanes.

“I was nervous,” Griggs admitted. “If you get that close, you’re going to be nervous anytime. I got in the 10th frame and one of my teammates said, Ain’t nothing to it, just do it.’ That’s what I did.”

When it came to the 12th frame, Griggs said all he told himself was, “Throw a good ball. Give it a chance.”

“I threw a good ball, and they all fell,” he said. “I had a little luck, you’ve got to have a little luck.”

Griggs realizes 300s don’t come very often, but he hopes do it again one day.

“That’s always your ultimate goal to bowl a 300 game,” Griggs said. “People say they’re easy, but they’re not easy. That’s 12 balls and everything’s got to work right.

“I’ve been trying a long time for it, and it finally came through.”

Griggs had bowled 11 strikes several times before, but never 12. Before his perfect game, his highest score was a 279 which he had reached three times.

During the perfect game, the bowling alley had quieted down, and many in the Wednesday Night Couples league had gone home when it happened.

“It was real quiet in here,” he said. “Most people didn’t even know I was throwing a 300. I had a guy next to me didn’t even know I threw a 300 until it was over.”

Griggs grew up in Monroe, La., and took up bowling at a young age. He fell in love with the sport early.

Following military service, Griggs joined a team with his father and traveled around the South with his family to compete in tournaments.

“They all live in Louisiana and weren’t over here to see it,” he said. “It’s hard to have a regret when you bowl a 300, but I regret they weren’t here to see it.”

As soon as Griggs changed his shoes, he called his mother with his cell phone to tell her the good news.

He also phoned Strange, who teams with Griggs on Thursdays and wasn’t on hand for the occasion. Strange bowled his first 300 game a year ago.

Griggs’ next task is to order his diamond ring from the American Bowling Congress, given to sanctioned players who roll a perfect game.

“You bowl a 300, you’ve got to get that ring,” he said.

Each year, Griggs set a personal goal of reaching 300, but didn’t see it as realistic.

Now that he’s accomplished his goal, Griggs joked that he’s finished bowling for the year.

“Well, I’m going to quit now,” he said with a laugh. “I got what I wanted for the whole year. Only thing I can do now is go down.”

He also knows that he is fortunate.

“I’ve known people who have bowled 40 or 50 years real good bowlers that have never bowled a 300,” he said. “It takes a little break, a little luck, but you’ve got to give it a chance.”