Guppy Troup
Encyclopedia
John Douglas "Guppy" Troup (born in 1950) is a ten-pin bowler
who has competed professionally since the mid-1970s. During his career on the Professional Bowlers Association
(PBA) Tour
, he earned eight titles, along with another 41 in regional competitions. He remains an active bowler in senior events.
, Michigan. The victory in the Kessler Open gave Troup an $8,000 first-place prize, doubling his season earnings to that point.
In 1979, Troup set a PBA Tour record with six perfect 300 games. He was unhappy with his performance the following season and considered taking a break from the circuit, but continued playing and won a tournament in Waukegan
, Illinois and finished second in the Greater Buffalo Open in consecutive weeks. Early in 1981, Troup broke an ankle. Although the injury caused a significant reduction in his playing schedule, he managed to earn more than $23,000 that year. In 1982, Troup won the first event of the year in Anaheim, California. The win was the first of three for Troup that year. The second came in July at the Molson Bowling Challenge in Windsor
, Ontario, Cananda. Troup's first-place prize was $13,000, but he received almost $2,000 less than that because of a 15 percent tax on PBA Tour bowlers earning $5,000 or more in Canada; he said after the event that he was "ticked off". His third win in 1982 was in October's Northern Ohio Open, and his earnings for the season exceeded $80,000.
Early in 1983, Troup earned a win at February's Quaker State Open in Grand Prairie
, Texas, the sixth PBA Tour tournament he had won in his career. He then entered a down period, not qualifying for a televised final for more than a year. That streak came to an end at the 1984 U.S. Open
. Troup reached the championship match, against Mark Roth
, but lost by seven pins
as he was unable to roll a tenth-frame strike
, which would have given him a chance to win the title. Later in 1984, Troup had a four-tournament stretch that included three televised finals and a win in Columbus
, Ohio. He again earned more than $80,000 that season. Troup's eighth PBA Tour victory came in 1985 at the Austin Open. By 1990, he had curtailed his playing schedule following the birth of his son. Troup joined the PBA Senior Tour in 2000 and was voted the circuit's Rookie of the Year. He remains an active player on the Senior Tour, and competed in three events in 2010. As of 2008, Troup had 41 victories in PBA regional tournaments, in addition to his eight national tour wins.
Bob Kravitz called him the PBA Tour's "gaudiest dresser". He said of his style of dress that "People tuned in to see what kind of pants I'd be wearing. They didn't care how I bowled." Troup has supplemented his attire with accessories that have included gold jewelry and sunglasses. Other items he has worn have had fish images on them, including pants, shoes, and earrings. Troup also has a strike celebration, a forward hip movement that he named the "Gup Thrust." In 1988, sportswriter Frank Deford
called Troup "about the only pro bowler these days with a flamboyant public persona."
, Troup resides in Taylorsville
, North Carolina as of 2008. When not bowling, he has a custodial job at a school. He is married, and has a son, Kyle, who bowls on the PBA Regional Tour
's South circuit.
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
who has competed professionally since the mid-1970s. During his career on the Professional Bowlers Association
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
(PBA) Tour
PBA Tour
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
, he earned eight titles, along with another 41 in regional competitions. He remains an active bowler in senior events.
Career
Troup began bowling in his youth and chose his nickname at the age of 11 after becoming a member of The Guppies, a South Carolina team of youth bowlers that he captained. He later said, "We won a state title and we set a state record for juniors back then and it just stuck. I don't know why. I just started telling everybody to start calling me Guppy." In 1973, Troup turned professional, and joined the PBA Tour for the 1976 season. In his first two years on the tour, Troup had little success, and was unable to secure financial backing, forcing him to use personal savings to continue competing in 1978. That was his first full season on tour, and he won his first PBA tournament that year in Battle CreekBattle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, Michigan. The victory in the Kessler Open gave Troup an $8,000 first-place prize, doubling his season earnings to that point.
In 1979, Troup set a PBA Tour record with six perfect 300 games. He was unhappy with his performance the following season and considered taking a break from the circuit, but continued playing and won a tournament in Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
, Illinois and finished second in the Greater Buffalo Open in consecutive weeks. Early in 1981, Troup broke an ankle. Although the injury caused a significant reduction in his playing schedule, he managed to earn more than $23,000 that year. In 1982, Troup won the first event of the year in Anaheim, California. The win was the first of three for Troup that year. The second came in July at the Molson Bowling Challenge in Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario, Cananda. Troup's first-place prize was $13,000, but he received almost $2,000 less than that because of a 15 percent tax on PBA Tour bowlers earning $5,000 or more in Canada; he said after the event that he was "ticked off". His third win in 1982 was in October's Northern Ohio Open, and his earnings for the season exceeded $80,000.
Early in 1983, Troup earned a win at February's Quaker State Open in Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
, Texas, the sixth PBA Tour tournament he had won in his career. He then entered a down period, not qualifying for a televised final for more than a year. That streak came to an end at the 1984 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (bowling)
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. With four victories, Pete Weber holds the most modern-day U.S. Open trophies.The U.S...
. Troup reached the championship match, against Mark Roth
Mark Roth
Mark Roth is a former professional bowler. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners, Staten Island, New York City, New York.-Bowling career:...
, but lost by seven pins
Bowling pin
Bowling pins are the target of the bowling ball in various bowling games including tenpins, five-pins, duckpins, and candlepins. In the US, pin specifications for standard tenpins are set by the United States Bowling Congress. Pins are 4.75 inches wide at their widest point and tall...
as he was unable to roll a tenth-frame strike
Strike (bowling)
A strike is a term used in bowling to indicate that all of the pins have been knocked down with the first ball of a frame. On scoresheets, a strike is symbolized by an X.-Scoring:...
, which would have given him a chance to win the title. Later in 1984, Troup had a four-tournament stretch that included three televised finals and a win in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio. He again earned more than $80,000 that season. Troup's eighth PBA Tour victory came in 1985 at the Austin Open. By 1990, he had curtailed his playing schedule following the birth of his son. Troup joined the PBA Senior Tour in 2000 and was voted the circuit's Rookie of the Year. He remains an active player on the Senior Tour, and competed in three events in 2010. As of 2008, Troup had 41 victories in PBA regional tournaments, in addition to his eight national tour wins.
Style
Troup has been known for wearing flashy outfits while bowling; the Pittsburgh PressPittsburgh Press
The Pittsburgh Press is an online newspaper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, currently owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Historically, it was a major afternoon paper...
Bob Kravitz called him the PBA Tour's "gaudiest dresser". He said of his style of dress that "People tuned in to see what kind of pants I'd be wearing. They didn't care how I bowled." Troup has supplemented his attire with accessories that have included gold jewelry and sunglasses. Other items he has worn have had fish images on them, including pants, shoes, and earrings. Troup also has a strike celebration, a forward hip movement that he named the "Gup Thrust." In 1988, sportswriter Frank Deford
Frank Deford
Benjamin "Frank" Deford, III is a senior contributing writer for Sports Illustrated, author, and commentator for National Public Radio and correspondent for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO....
called Troup "about the only pro bowler these days with a flamboyant public persona."
Personal life
Born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Troup resides in Taylorsville
Taylorsville, North Carolina
Taylorsville is a town in Alexander County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,799 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alexander County.Taylorsville is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, North Carolina as of 2008. When not bowling, he has a custodial job at a school. He is married, and has a son, Kyle, who bowls on the PBA Regional Tour
PBA Regional Tour
The PBA Regional Tour is a series of "mini tours", run by the Professional Bowlers Association, spanning across seven regions within the United States. The Tour allows exempt and non-exempt members, and amateurs to compete in weekend events...
's South circuit.