Diandra Asbaty knows juggling as well as bowling.
On a rainy Friday afternoon as a young one napped, Asbaty talked about juggling roles in Beat the Champions. After a couple years of working on the broadcast side, this year she will come out front and bowl the target scores with Parker Bohn III for the 55th BTC.
“I love doing them both,’’ Asbaty said. `I feel like I am a bowler before I am a commentator. But I love the commentator side and I see more of that in my future.
“It is a honor to part of this whether behind the mike or behind the lanes. I hope to part of this for many years. It is an all-round prestigious event.’’
As hometown hero–Asbaty lives in the South Loop with her husband and two children–she understands what BTC, cosponsored by the Sun-Times and the Chicagoland Bowling Proprietors Association, is about.
“This is just for a great cause,’’ she said. “It is an opportunity to raise money for a great cause to get people excited about bowling.’’
As to the charity, more than 5.7 million entries have raised more than $2.7 million for charity in the first 54 years.
On the bowling side, Asbaty knows what it means to be teamed with the Hall-of-Famer Bohn.
“He has an amazing timeless game and he has an amazing family,’’ Asbaty said.
For league bowlers in BTC, contest week is Dec. 6-12. As usual, the top prize for league bowlers is a car, a Ford Focus from the Chicagoland Ford Dealers.
As to her focus at the target show–bowling or show?–Asbaty said, “I want to have a good show.’’
The target show returns to its usual Christmas broadcast at 11 a.m. on Comcast SportsNet.
In real life, Asbaty juggles, too. Beside handling family/mother duties, she bowled every event of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association; has been focused since 2012 on the charity Elite Youth Tour (eliteyouthtour.com), does one-on-one coaching and works her part of the International Art of Bowling (iabowling.com).
Juggling bowling life.
Diandra Asbaty
