Denise Roth enjoys being out on tour with husband

She praised the Generations Tour for getting these seniors back in action.
By PAUL TRGOVAC
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- During the entire week of the Generations Bowling Tour Boardman Challenge at Camelot Lanes, it has been fun to watch as the fans follow their favorite pros from lane to lane.
One of the fans who has been following Mark Roth has a special reason for rooting for him. It is his wife, Denise.
Mark and Denise will celebrate their fourth anniversary at Christmas time. During their first three years Mark was not bowling a lot on the tour except for some PBA senior events.
"I met Mark years ago when I was the program director at a center in Syracuse [NY] when we hosted the pro tour there. We didn't really keep in touch except for a few tournaments, then years later I got a phone call from him. He was divorced, and I was divorced, and it just [getting together] kind of happened." Stated Mrs. Roth.
When asked about sitting in the back and how it is for her, Denise said, "The funny thing is even though he is doing all the physical part he has to rub my muscles because I am there every shot with him. I come from a bowling family, and to be able to watch Mark and these other talented bowlers is just wonderful."
One thing that has been apparent all week is the closeness that these bowlers have for one another.
"There hasn't been as many spouses out here yet as I would have thought, but I am sure that as we go on there will be more. The ones who have been here have been just great," said Denise.
"We are all just one big family out here and it has been fun."
Brought players back
Denise has also seen something that the tour has brought to the players.
"It is so great to see guys like Mark back out here," she said. "These guys are bowling, and this tour has brought these guys alive. I hope more people come out and see them, and I am sure that as we go on that they will. I can't thank Steve Sanders enough for putting this tour together."
Even while he was not on the road for three years Denise knew that Mark wanted to bowl. "If Steve had started this tour earlier he would have been here," she said.
Denise also knows Mark's game.
"It is always easier to watch someone else than it is yourself. I can pick things out and I will say something to him. He will say, I already am making an adjustment for that, or sometimes he will tell me I made a good catch on something," she said.
Denise was also quick to praise the GBT staff.
"These guys that Steve has out here are the best," she said. "I am just so happy they are here. I can't tell you the feeling I have when I get up in the morning and know that Mark and these other guys get to come and do what they do best. They all just come alive."
East Coast is next
Next week the tour moves to the East Coast, closer to home for the Roths.
"We are going to stop for a couple of days in upstate New York where I come from before moving on [to N. Brunswick N.J]," she said.
"We will see a lot of friends this next week."
Denise also had praise for Richie Sposato and Lane No. 1, Mark's new bowling ball manufacturer. Mark won his 37th career title at the GBT Bay City Open using Lane No. 1 equipment.
When asked if she'd like to see women on the tour, she said, "I hope so. I think about that a lot. They deserve a place, just as much as these guys do and if anyone can pull it off it would be Steve Sanders. My sister held the highest average where I lived, and I know how much I enjoy just practicing with Mark, so imagine how it would be to bowl with these guys."