Hardcover Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) superstar Earl Anthony, who died in 2001 at age 63, was perhaps the greatest athlete without a biography. That's no longer the case, however, as Luby Publishing recently published EARL: The Greatest Bowler of All Time by Barry Sparks. Anthony, a southpaw from Tacoma, Wash., forged a dominating career on the PBA Tour from 1970 to 1983, winning 43 titles. In 2008, he was named The Greatest Player in the PBA's 50-year history by a panel of bowlers and media members. "It's mystifying how any athlete who is considered the greatest in his sport could go this long without a biography," said Sparks, a writer from York, Pa. "Imagine if there were no biographies of Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Peyton Manning, Arnold Palmer or Jimmy Connors." Sparks thought it was an injustice, and he set out to rectify it. He spent two years interviewing people, researching and writing the biography. Keith Hamilton, president of Luby Publishing, the world's leading publisher of bowling periodicals, said, "As the years march on, the heroes of our game who were cherished by bowling fans will fade from memories and become less revered. But bowlers like Anthony, Dick Weber, Carmen Salvino, Don Carter, Don Johnson and Billy Hardwick and others from the past should continue to be cherished and celebrated, much as Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Aaron and Mays are still revered by baseball fans. It's my hope that Earl's biography can help make that happen." Sparks says Earl Anthony was bowling's unlikeliest superstar. He didn't pick up a bowling ball until he was 21. He didn't go on the PBA Tour full-time until he was 31, an age when many athletes' careers are ending. After winning three Player of the Year awards, he suffered a major heart attack in 1978. With a fierce determination, he returned to the lanes to win Player of the Year three more times. PBA founder Eddie Elias called Anthony's feat "one of the greatest comebacks in sports history." Sparks takes a season-by-season look at Earl's impressive career. He shares the challenges Anthony faced, the reasons he was able to enjoy unparalleled success, his greatest achievements and his frustrations. The author interviewed more than 100 people, including 23 PBA Hall of Famers, to get a greater insight into the superstar, who defined greatness. Earl's peers shared stories about his work ethic, competitiveness, adaptability, temper and humor.

This new book includes 13 Chapters starting with introduction of how the book was created to believing in yourself on the lanes. Throughout the book there is real scientific research on bowlers brains while competing.  Charts of the brain maps are used to help convey the subject matter of the book to the reader.  Each chapter will hit home to different players and personality types. Through the book, a player will find a few chapters that really sink in and say, ’That is me”. “When you ask someone what part of bowling is mental and what part is physical, almost always you hear it is upwards of 80% mental. Yet when you ask someone how many hours have they practiced or worked on their mental game, they will say none. So how can you play at your highest level unless you practice the part of your game that is over 80%?” – Josh Blanchard “Josh Blanchard and Dr. Crews Ketterling have created something truly rare in the field of applied sports psychology. They have integrated brain science research, and cutting-edge sport and exercise technology. And they have sprinkled in real world examples that are part of the path for anyone who is on a champion’s journey. Perhaps best of all, Blanchard and Crews Ketterling have created a primer that will give anyone who is serious about their bowling practical tools for significantly upping their game. This is a fresh look at how we can get better at bowling, as well as most any other activity we want to improve!” -  Dean R. Hinitz, Ph.D., Author, Bowling Psychology