‘225’: It’s just how we roll

Time stands still when Luke “Ollie” Legendre is bowling. Towering over one of the dozens of ball returns at All Star Lanes, the retired plant worker flops a green towel absently in his hands before hefting one of his two bowling balls off the rack. He moves to the head of the lane, focused. Tall and slim but a little stooped at the shoulders, he steps smoothly into his approach—no wasted movement—and finishes by pulling his left hand high overhead in a follow-through that’s second-nature to this twice-a-week bowler. Thump, rumble. The ball starts out curving toward the left gutter, but then catches itself and hooks toward the pins—specifically, the pocket between the No. 1 and No. 2 pins. Clash-clang, clickety-clack, clack, clack. Strike. His head still stooped, the 91-year-old returns to his fellow bowlers, gently fiving all the low, extended hands of teammates and opponents alike in a universal ritual that acknowledges a good roll and tries to sop up a little mojo. Read the full feature by Tom Guarisco in the current issue of 225 here.