When you think of the extra-curricular activities of the average basketball star, you probably think of the club and Cristal, not the sweaty enclave of a bowling alley. Rented shoes do not equal street cred, no matter how tempted you might be to steal those green/orange two-tones.

Yet bowling seems to have taken hold among the varied ballers of the United States, ushering in a new age of two-sport athletes. First we had New Orleans Hornets’ point guard Chris Paul serving as an official spokesman for the United States Bowling Congress. Now we have a team building exercise among this year’s UNLV Runnin’ Rebels squad, featuring a little candlepin action.

“I didn’t do very well,” said 6-foot-10, 255-pound freshman center Brice Massamba. “Those lanes are too slippery. But I came in fourth out of nine. I think that’s not that bad.”

Massamba was glad that Carlos Lopez, his teammate last season at Findlay College Prep, went along with half a dozen other UNLV commits and prospects.

Apparently, the 6-10, 220-pound Lopez, who will sign his letter of intent next month, isn’t much of a bowler.

“He was terrible,” said Massamba, smiling.

We thought we knew what went on during big time NCAA recruiting trips, but apparently we were wrong. Not only did the Rebels take a top recruit, Lopez, out bowling, they dogged his game in the newspaper afterwards. Whatever happened to booze, loose women and the promise of a free car if you sign on the dotted line? Did Blue Chips lie to us? We’ve come a long way from Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon, we think.

UNLV hoops notebook: Bowling is right down their alley [Las Vegas Sun]
Image [United States Bowling Congress]