Bowling for dollars

>> Playing with big balls for a living

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Danyck Brière

Official job title: Professional bowler

Age: 23

Salary: $25,000 on a good year.

Ambition: To become the top bowler in the world

Annual salary of the top bowler in the world: Approximately $400,000 (U.S.)

Bio: When not travelling the world kicking ass on the international bowling circuit, this glamourous Pierrefonds resident can be found at the Pont Mercier Bowling Centre in Lasalle, "a great, great bowling centre" where he both trains and is on the payroll to provide inspiration for a new generation of future kingpins. He is the man responsible for the wildly sucessful "Cosmic Bowling" nights at the Pont Mercier Centre--where kids bowl through fog machines and disco lights while tripping to nifty techno beats--and is currently a member of Team Canada, the Canadian national bowling squad. A natural athlete, at 12 years old he became aware of his remarkable gift and has been "living the bowling lifestyle" ever since.

Best part of job: Travelling the globe and meeting people. "In some parts of the world we pro bowlers are looked upon as gods. Bowling is the national sport of Malaysia, you know. It's even bigger than ping-pong."

Chances he will relocate to Asia to live out his life as a god: Slim. Danyck is too fond of Canada to move permanently.

Number of female bowling groupies who approach him offering sexual favours: Not many.

Worst part of the job: All the backstabbing, petty jealousy and general bitchiness that permeates the pro-bowling scene. "People like to make fun of you when you perform poorly in a tournament. It can really hurt sometimes."

Amount of illegal gambling going down at bowling tournaments: Plenty. "I've known people who have bet as much as $1,000 on my winning a game."

Has he ever been bribed to blow a game? No

Would he ever consider taking a bribe to blow a game? Absolutely not

Reflections on bowling's poor public image: "People have the image of bowlers as big, fat, low-class hot-dog eaters who drink beer and smoke cigarettes during competition. It's one of the main reasons why bowling doesn't get the big corporate sponsorships and continues to be denied a place in the Olympics. But bowling is a very technical sport. It's not simply a matter of taking a ball and throwing it down a lane. You need to be in good physical condition to bowl effectively."

His optimum bowling weight: 175 lbs

His current weight: 200 lbs

Height: 6'1''

Non-bowling interests: Professional wrestling

Favourite wrestler: The Rock. "He doesn't care about any bad things people have to say about him and I really admire him for that. I try to emulate his attitude when I hear people say bad things about my bowling."

Last book read: Have a Nice Day, the autobiography of professional wrestler Mankind.

Favourite TV shows: Will and Grace, Friends, The Game Show Network--especially Match Game.

Philosophy: Don't give up on your dreams. :