Inglese Maddaloni Enrico - Bowling Italia

Enrico Maddaloni's gold at the 6th European Bowling Championships in Frankfurt.

It all started in Milan at 11.00 on Thursday 18 June 1981 with the delivery of the blue shirts to the fourteen players called up.

The gathering was, as usual, festive, also cheered by the presence of President Piero Longoni's family and fans who came to greet and encourage the Azzurri.

From Via Marco d'Agrate, fast taxis take us to Malpensa.

I was saying of Maddaloni. The Roman II evokes, with his victory, ancient memories. Caparbio, tough, fortissimonean throws, perfect in approach, unsurpassed in grit, generous with avvesari, with powerful musculature, built his victory piece by piece, with the same tenacity with which a bricklayer raises the muromaster of a building. Maddaloni steamroller, which shattered the opponents' resistance.

If a true champion was wanted on the top podium in Frankfurt, the hopes of the "staff" were not dashed.

I think it was helpful to ask Maddaloni a few questions because, in my opinion, I consider him one of the few players who best expresses his essential qualities so that he can achieve some serious goals. The mini-interview, consisting of 15 questions with as many as 5 answers, I hope will give the exact dimension of some of the bowling problems, such as "learning" and the "method" to adopt. I thank my friend Maddaloni, European Singles Champion, for the interest and enthusiasm with which he made himself available.

Question: "Hi Enrico. Is it possible to ask you some questions?"

Maddaloni: "Tell me."

Question: "So, let's start with the first one. What about first-time bowlers?"

Maddaloni: "Well! The thing that comes to mind is to tell him that to become a good player requires a lot of humility and listening to the advice of those with more experience. Also don't let the easy enthusiasm overwhelm you and...practice and more practice."

Question: "When did you realize you were among the top eight players in Italy?"

Maddaloni: "It was after winning the European Championships in Frankfurt. I realized I could keep up with the first ones."

Question: "What did you feel"

Maddaloni: "There were many feelings. I remember the happiness of my teammates, the President and the Technical Commission. But the greatest was when I heard Mameli's anthem and saw our colors above the others. These are things that stick with you."

Question: "Can you tell me what your training consists of? and how do you plan it?"

Maddaloni: "I play about 30 games a week."

Question: "As you know, everyone trains according to their own criteria. What is yours?"

Maddaloni: "Let's start by saying that I never score" (....)

Question: "Why!"

Maddaloni: "(...) scoring your own score can influence the player as it is in my case. During training there are many things I try to improve, including precisone. It is, in fact, important for my type of game and I believe it is equally important for players of a certain level. Then I take great care of the approach and especially the arrival point and the release. Apparently these last two phases seem easy to assimilate, but only with continuous training do you get the right position."