Why did Mike Fagan retire from the PBA Tour?

Why did Mike Fagan retire from the PBA Tour? | PBA Bowling 2023

Рет қаралды 59,975

6 ай бұрын

Mike Fagan AKA "The King of Swing" was known for his incredibly smooth delivery despite his high backswing. He was simply fantastic to watch and he could do so many things with a bowling ball. But Fagan no longer bowls on the PBA tour and many fans would love to see him return.
The questions we answer in this video are why did he retire in his prime, and could he make a return to the PBA?
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mike fagan bowling // mike fagan // mike fagan pba // pba bowling 2023 // mike fagan major // mike fagan retire // mike fagan swing // mike fagan approach // mike fagan bowling 2023 //

Пікірлер: 87

@williamford9564 5 ай бұрын

He retired because he could make a lot more money in business than in bowling without living out of suitcase and being away from his family.

@Livelifelove82 6 ай бұрын

I met Fagan in Minnesota and he's an awesome guy. He doing very well. He now owns several bowling alleys and recently had his second child.

@alexmerel9924 5 ай бұрын

Not several

@Gusturner1997 3 ай бұрын

@@alexmerel9924how do you know buddy

@James_St._James 6 ай бұрын

I never really noticed too much about his backswing because I only ever noticed how still he kept his head. His focus and concentration were amazing.

@TraumaER 6 ай бұрын

Fagan vs Tackett. Make it happen! 😊

@DarkonyxLeather 6 күн бұрын

Fagans ball in the air is practically a planet in space, love that swing!!

@elblanco756 6 ай бұрын

I loved watching Mike when he was part of the USA Weber Cup team. I also met him and bowled with him when he came to Madison Heights bowl at Maldon Essex, as one of Dom Barrett's guests at a special event, when Dom had the pro shop there in 2010. I was also lucky to meet and bowl with Bill O'Neill and Mika Koivuniemi at the event. Such really amiable fun guys, all of them. Alas, Bill is the only one of these three still competing seriously now. Would love to watch Mike back on tour again.

@nickscraft_minecraft 6 ай бұрын

I love how he keeps his head so stable in the same position while casually swinging his ball like 3 feet over his head. He must’ve been in incredible shape!

@mikelombard21 6 ай бұрын

Fagan was amazing. I miss him. Such a great bowler. So much to learn from him given his limited time on tour.

@scienceperson7149 6 ай бұрын

Mikes a smart guy. He knew what he wanted to do after he accomplished his bowling career 👍 I’d still like to see him bowl at times

@briguyinsi 6 ай бұрын

Good Vid. I ran in a similar circle of friends of his in the college days at St.Johns, but wasn’t friends with him directly. Never really crossed his path specifically, but the dude was amazing to watch. He was like a modern version of Weber, minimum effortless motion w maximum output of results, which is such a hard thing to do. He def could have won at least 10-15 and been in that Bill O’Neil range, but it’s such a grind and I hear he’s a bit of an academic, so I’m sure he made the right choice. Still, would be cool if he popped up at some point to bowl some events and I’m sure he’s still got it.

@mykalhenry 5 ай бұрын

Bowled with him in scratch singles at Van Wyck Lanes NYC (RIP Van Wyck).

@Topnikko 5 ай бұрын

@@mykalhenry recently?

@mykalhenry 5 ай бұрын

@@Topnikko 20 years ago LOL

@Topnikko 5 ай бұрын

@@mykalhenry Gotcha. I would think that if he bowled anywhere now someone would take a video of it.

@mykalhenry 5 ай бұрын

@@Topnikko Yeah he was a few years into his pro career and he was just house bowling because it was in Queens NY and all the area hitters were in that league.

@emerald3331 6 ай бұрын

The tour is tough and grueling even for the best players and it's not very affordable either. I think he could've been one of the best on tour if he had stayed with it, but it was nice to see that swing of his back in the day, so effortless and consistent.

@theinsaneshecklador6598 5 ай бұрын

Yep. The number 1 bowler in the world doesn't even win a million a year while bench warmers in other sports who never even touch the field do. Tough way to earn a living.

@colinmccann221 6 ай бұрын

The one thing about him I always admired was the fact he was able to hook the entire lane with effortless power, but also pipe it straight up the boards. That made him a winner.

@rebootnut 6 ай бұрын

Easily one of THE best physical games we'll ever see.

@TNSnellslaw 6 ай бұрын

Great video, I always wondered what he was up to. I'm sure the money from the MBA Career is much better then the average winnings as a bowler. That being said, I really admired his swing, very smooth like you said. Thanks for posting these often.

@cbstyle87 5 ай бұрын

He was and arguably still is my bowling-idol. Wish PBA can invite him in for an event competition of some sort. Bowling scene troumedously miss him.

@Jason_P 6 ай бұрын

I really do miss seeing Fagan on the tour. I hope he returns.

@cameronmorgan0203 6 ай бұрын

I miss him, Mika, Brian Himmler and a lot of other great guys who weren’t on there for too many years

@Riz2336 6 ай бұрын

I remember watching this guy on the telecast a long time ago, didn't know he quit the tour though

@nukiepoo 6 ай бұрын

Great video. Good analysis. What a great game he has. Always wished he would return. Maybe he'll kick butt on the senior tour. They guy had the makings of another Norm Duke.

@djsully8071 5 ай бұрын

This guy was special…do not take that lightly he was a special breed. He’s my favorite bowler of all time his timing, backswing and just pure effortless raw power w / max revs, dude did major damage in the PBA and his career was cut way short. Just like Barry Sanders why do the best have the shortest careers? Lol

@jonassky08 6 ай бұрын

1) Wished he stayed on tour, loved his bowling style. I even simulated his form because I love Pete Weber and his Fagan”s backswing 2) Even switched to sarge Easter grip like Fagan did, I still used it when this grip on some of my bowling balls

@deadpolymers3416 6 ай бұрын

It was my understanding that he left to get his degree, and then he eventually got back into bowling on the business side of things, now running a bunch of centers.

@pamelacass9642 3 ай бұрын

It hurts my shoulder to see him bowl. 🤔 Betcha he's chillin'.

@johnls39 6 ай бұрын

I miss seeing Mike Fagan on tour but personally I don't blame him for retiring at his prime and leave it at that. Also, there are other things more important and I'm sure he made the right choice and did not regret it.

@buddymcclure6170 6 ай бұрын

The King of Swing had a buttery swing! I believe he was one of the first to follow through across his face, which was taboo along with his high backswing!

@bradbalderson8172 6 ай бұрын

I think he would have won another four or five titles at least but I suspect that between getting his MBA and life itself he might be in a place he likes and bowling is secondary now to everything else.

@travishanson166 6 ай бұрын

I would point out his wife may have something to do with his withdrawal. Watch her face after he won the Masters then watch her face on every telecast he made after that. Made you wonder if he had eyes in the back of his head. I sure hope he returns.

@1USACitizen192 6 ай бұрын

She probably wanted to go clubbing and dancing every night, not PBA style bowling. That is for sure.

@scottweiss6750 21 күн бұрын

@@1USACitizen192 She is an extrememly accomplished bowler herself and worked in the bowling industry for years. She's not the reason by a long shot. When you have a family and travel 250+ days a year to make a living and there is an alternative path that allows you to make a similar income or more without leaving your family, that can really take the fun out of tour life.

@russellgilbert3453 6 ай бұрын

Michael Fagan, the "Kang of Swang"! 😂

@BassRacerx 6 ай бұрын

not everyone wants to travel 2/3 of the year. Seems like He has different priorities. Looks like he chose to have more of a "normal life" and focus on family. nothing wrong with that! Sometimes i wonder what kind of life some of these pro sports players have at home it has to be tough on a family being on the road all the time and focusing so much attention on work.

@mpup54 6 ай бұрын

i cant imagine what it must have been like to have seen this guy start week 1 of league with this back swing.

@TeamIFDVideos 6 ай бұрын

That zero head movement is legendary and almost creepy!

@moisessandoval8187 5 ай бұрын

He retired because he signed to play a support role (Alan Harper) in Two and a half Men...

@tonysanta3497 6 ай бұрын

Simple... There was no money in the PBA at the time. Would love to see the king of swing back!!!

@jakeschutz6342 6 ай бұрын

there still isn't money in the pba

@robertcuratolo5339 6 ай бұрын

Question you should be asking does his job make 6 figures.....plus raising a family and always traveling isn't the greatest homelife. He gave up fame for stability.

@BornIn1500 5 ай бұрын

@@robertcuratolo5339 Only a few people make 6 figures a year on the PBA tour. Most are making way less than that.

@alexmerel9924 5 ай бұрын

10-13 titles power game now gotta get the ball and hook it ala ej belmo etc

@Joker81075 6 ай бұрын

He was fun to watch for sure. Don't think he would come back to bowl with string pins.

@GoldenHereticYharim 6 ай бұрын

This is a great vid I was wondering where did mike fagan go

@shaunmcisaac782 5 ай бұрын

He made the right decision. If your heart isn't fully in it the tour life is just going to grind you down.

@jaydeeluistro7143 6 ай бұрын

I hope he returns for sure

@ricka.wetselphdbowler3526 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the vlog. I always wondered what happened to this remarkable bowler. Unfortunately, there is just not enough money in the Tour to keep a lot of top bowlers in the game. Unless you are Belmo or E.J. Tackett you will likely need some other revenue source to make a decent living. I doubt that we will ever see him the tour again--Sad.

@1USACitizen192 6 ай бұрын

Probably could have won 31 to 32 titles. He was just entering his prime.

@kevinyoung1194 6 ай бұрын

With the talent that was and is out there since the time he retired, l would say that he would have been hard pressed to win more than 3 or 4 more titles. He might have gotten 5 more wins, but that would be the most, l would think.

@CasualGamerPlays 6 ай бұрын

I always wondered this as well but i thought that Fagan was trying to open up his own law firm and that's why he retired. I know the money he won was used to go towards that business and education

@Doza418 6 ай бұрын

Like butter.

@billycrowden34 2 ай бұрын

Was he throwing the Hypercell skid in a lot of those?

@NathanMoist 6 ай бұрын

He won the World Championship in 2014. Gary Faulkner JR won in 2015.

@mmayojr 6 ай бұрын

Bowling has no money in it, that's the answer

@critterdude311 6 ай бұрын

Bingo

@ozneroll2132 5 ай бұрын

I can kind of see him bowling the PBA 50

@BornIn1500 6 ай бұрын

Mike Fagan quickly realized that it's nearly impossible to earn a decent living in the PBA. He can easily earn more in a normal job with his skills and education.

@BagelzNLockz 5 ай бұрын

I know Mike. Dude was unreal. But he did the smart thing. There is no money in bowling anymore. His talent was unbelievable. Always been good. But very smart to get out of a dead sport

@matthewneufeld8854 6 ай бұрын

His swing is awesome but I am always wondering where he's looking.

@patmccaffery1543 6 ай бұрын

It looks like he's looking down the lane at the breakpoint..!!

@SirJoelsuf1 6 ай бұрын

The downlane markers more than likely.

@Monk-Amani. 6 ай бұрын

I enjoyed his game. Bowling is a great sport. Love it, but don't quit your day job. 😂

@ThatDudeTonyB 5 ай бұрын

Aka professional bowling doesn’t pay well enough. It ain’t worth it .. most make more as an amateur than PBA

@willjames6437 6 ай бұрын

Why would he want to.. I am pretty sure the PBA isn’t in a better place than it was back then. I believe they used to have a much bigger schedule back then.

@steve99912 6 ай бұрын

pba sucked then and sucks now lol

@coopergates9680 6 ай бұрын

Doesn't he still own a lot of old balls that he might like? I'm sure he'd be bummed about going on the national tour next year and not being allowed to use any.

@781David 6 ай бұрын

I would guess that Mike Fagan wouldn't have any problems getting a contract with one of the bowling ball companies if he was to return.

@coopergates9680 6 ай бұрын

@@781David I can imagine he'd have nice discounts, but that doesn't take away from having something you like a lot that you can't use.

@stevenm6301 4 ай бұрын

3:54. 7- ???

@chuckgoldberg3656 6 ай бұрын

I didn't hear a definitive answer to the question. I learned he went to get an MBA, but left the door open to return. So, he never did "retire." The narrator only speculates that he won't return after all, and that's it. Beyond that, it's just a recap of his career/style. This was short on facts and long on conjecture--all in all a clickbait waste of time.