CHICAGO — "Mr. 899" still believes he'll be "Mr. 900" one day.
Six years ago Monday, Chicago native Bill Fong came one pin away from bowling perfection with an 899 series. He rolled 35 consecutive strikes on Jan. 18, 2010, at the Plano (Texas) Super Bowl bowling facility. On his 36th roll, he struck the pins solid, but the 10-pin was left standing.
At the time, he would have become just the 22nd person ever to roll a 900 since the United States Bowling Congress started certifying the feat in 1895.
Still, Fong, who grew up in Chinatown and attended — but never graduated from — Whitney Young and Curie high schools, became a celebrity of sorts. A story of his accomplishment was included in a "Best American Sports Writing" book, and he was featured in a documentary film by The New York Times.
Fong also holds the Texas state record for a series.
"To have the state record, it's pretty good," Fong, 52, said Saturday. "And maybe I'll be the one who breaks the record; maybe I'll shoot the 900."
Fong honed his bowling skills as a kid at the now-closed Marzano's Miami Bowl in Archer Heights. He hated high school and said he transferred from Whitney Young — where he was classmates with Michelle Obama — to Curie so he could focus on bowling. Miami Bowl was across the street from Curie.
"I was basically a dropout, and I would hustle people at games," Fong said. "And growing up playing on those tough lane conditions helped me become a more accurate bowler. Bowling was always good to me."
Fong has 50 300 games to his credit and 17 800 series. Last year, he rolled an 858 series.
But Fong, who plays in three leagues, said nothing could have prepared him for the 899.
"You don't predict that stuff," he said. "You never know. The goal is to do it, but you never know when it's going to happen. You just never know."
Fong still has family members living in Chicago. He's returning to his hometown in July. Besides a 900 series, his other major goal is to be honored by the Chicago Metropolitan Association Hall of Fame.
"I still receive a few Facebook messages from famous bowlers in Chicago about the 899," Fong said. "It's helped me stay in touch with the bowling community there."
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