Osku excited about this year's Weber Cup - 10/11/2010

WITH THE 2010 PartyCasino.com Weber Cup a little over three weeks away, Team Europe will head into the event as defending champions following their resounding 17-11 win over their American opponents last year.

That victory, in front of a 500-strong crowd at the Barnsley Metrodome in Yorkshire, England, put paid to a run of three straight victories in the event by the USA, and brought the overall Weber cup tally to 5-4 in favour of the Americans.

The triumphant European side was captained by Finland’s Osku Palermaa and the talented, two-handed Finn returns to the fray to lead his team when the 2010 event gets underway from 12-14 November at the Metrodome once again.

“The Weber Cup is one of the most memorable moments of the season. The format is so different and we get to show people what we can do in a little bit more relaxed show atmosphere and on top of that we get to spank the Yanks!” said Palermaa.

“Of course, being the captain is an honour and makes the whole thing that little bit more special. The Metrodome is what bowling should be and the crowd at Barnsley has been amazing every tournament I've bowled there. And I don't know anybody who wouldn't have enjoyed it.” He added.

The format for the 2010 PartyCasino.com Weber Cup has been altered slightly with the teams reduced from five to four players but essentially it is the same series of baker, singles and doubles matches to determine the destination of most prestigious trophy in team bowling.

One change is that in some of the singles games, including potentially, the final two games of the tournament, the players are selected by the opposition’s skipper!

“I suspect that there will be some funny situations especially now that the opposite side’s captain will get to pick some of the other team’s players for matches.

“Also, with only four players, folk are getting more lane time which should boost up the standard of the games even more with people having chance to get even more comfortable on the lanes then before.”

Palermaa is confident that following a win (his first in the competition) in 2009, back-to-back victories will be achievable.

“Having bowled the Weber Cup twice before and never won and especially the way we lost the year before, it was quite rewarding being able to turn the 1-3 deficit to commanding 17-11 win.

“Looking ahead to this year’s event, I actually feel like I'm throwing the ball really good at the moment. I had a little time off in the summer and after that I felt good and I’m still feeling good, so bring it on!

“Major Mika, the MOOSE, is probably the most accurate bowler ever to come from Europe; when he feels comfortable there's no way beating him. And over the last few months he's been pretty impressive.

“Dom Barrett has been a rising star for the last few seasons and he has now made it through as a proper star. He has been quite dominant in European circles and definitely somebody you want to have in your team.

“Rodge (Paul Moor) had a season or two with less success than what he's used to years before, but it looks like he's getting closer to the old Paul again. Fortunately for us, that lane has always been pretty good for him, and he did clinch the Weber Cup for us last year.

“When you add to that trio me, when I feel I'm bowling good, then the Yanks are really up for a match and definitely need to bring their A game!”

Team Europe will most likely start as betting favourites to retain their title but the America foursome of Mack, Barnes, Jones and Weber will certainly have something to say about that.

The fifth member of the European team though, may well be the crowd and it is something for Palermaa that makes the Weber Cup such a compelling event.

“The crowd being there on both sides of the lane cheering us is just something you don't get to feel anywhere else. This is the way a bowler such as me would want to bowl every time I bowl a tournament.

“As said before Weber Cup gives us a chance to loosen up and just enjoy our times on the lane and definitely it's really high up there where events come,” added Palermaa.