Mika Koivuniemi
Encyclopedia
Mika Juhani Koivuniemi is a Finnish
ten-pin bowler
, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association
(PBA) tour in the United States
, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career.
Growing up, Koivuniemi was an exceptional athlete, starring in three sports in high school: basketball
, hockey
, and soccer. Koivuniemi eventually became interested in bowling and made Team Finland in 1988 at age 21. He was an exceptional bowler for Team Finland, winning the 1991 FIQ
World Championship, the 1995 European Individual Cup Championship, and the 1996 World Team Cup Championship.
Koivuniemi joined the PBA in 1999. He had some initial success, but his first big season did not come until the 2001-02 season when he entered 27 events, cashed in 20, made match play 15 times, made the TV finals three times, and won one title. So far, Koivuniemi's biggest season was the 2003-04 season, when he was awarded PBA Player of the Year honors (joining Venezuela
's Amleto Monacelli
as the only international players so honored) and also won the PBA's George Young High Average Award. During that season he entered 20 events, cashed in 16, made match play 13 times, made TV seven times, and won two titles. It was during this season that Koivuniemi bowled the 16th-ever televised 300 game in PBA Tour history, in a match against Jason Couch
. He has 26 career 300 games in PBA events.
Koivuniemi's nickname on tour is "Major Mika," because his first two PBA titles came in major championships: the 2000 ABC Masters
and 2001-02 U.S. Open
. With the latter victory, he became the first foreign-born player to win the U.S. Open. He has also been dubbed "The Big Finn" by ESPN
commentator Randy Pedersen
.
Koivuniemi has won nine PBA titles. He passed the $1 million mark (U.S.) in total PBA earnings during the 2007-08 season, and now stands at over $1.47 million in PBA Tour earnings (through the end of 2010-11 season). With his victory in the 2010 Istanbul Open in Turkey, he has won a bowling title in 12 different countries. An extremely versatile bowler, he was the first player to win a title on all five of the PBA's primary oil patterns (Shark, Chameleon, Cheetah, Scorpion and Viper) - a feat matched only by Tommy Jones so far.
On January 22, 2011, Koivuniemi won the PBA Tournament of Champions to capture his third PBA major title and the first prize of $250,000, the richest first-place prize in PBA tour history. In the semifinal match of this tournament, Mika narrowly missed becoming the first player in PBA history to roll two televised 300 games in a PBA Tour event, when he left a 10-pin on the final shot for a 299 score. He now needs only a PBA World Championship
title to complete a career "Triple Crown."
Koivuniemi also finished as the runner-up at the 2011 U.S. Open, which was arguably the most painful moment in his bowling career, as he failed to convert the crucial spare at his 10th frame, eventually losing to Norm Duke
in the very end by the score of 225-216, which made Duke shocked as well, as Koivuniemi was known as one of the best spare converters on tour. He stated himself that he will never see that "shot" again. Nonetheless, Koivuniemi became the only PBA player to make the TV finals in all four majors during a single season. These 2010-11 accomplishments earned him his second PBA Player of the Year Award.
Although he had been on tour for only nine seasons, Koivuniemi was still ranked #49 on the PBA's 2008 Golden Anniversary list of "50 greatest PBA players of the last 50 years."
He resides in Hartland, Michigan
, USA with his wife, Leena, and two children.
His aunt, Paula Koivuniemi
, is one of the most popular schlager
singers in Finland.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
ten-pin bowler
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
(PBA) tour in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career.
Growing up, Koivuniemi was an exceptional athlete, starring in three sports in high school: basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, and soccer. Koivuniemi eventually became interested in bowling and made Team Finland in 1988 at age 21. He was an exceptional bowler for Team Finland, winning the 1991 FIQ
Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs
The Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs is the world governing body of nine-pin and ten-pin bowling...
World Championship, the 1995 European Individual Cup Championship, and the 1996 World Team Cup Championship.
Koivuniemi joined the PBA in 1999. He had some initial success, but his first big season did not come until the 2001-02 season when he entered 27 events, cashed in 20, made match play 15 times, made the TV finals three times, and won one title. So far, Koivuniemi's biggest season was the 2003-04 season, when he was awarded PBA Player of the Year honors (joining Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
's Amleto Monacelli
Amleto Monacelli
Amleto Monacelli of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, is a renowned ten-pin bowler and winner of 19 titles on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour.-PBA career:...
as the only international players so honored) and also won the PBA's George Young High Average Award. During that season he entered 20 events, cashed in 16, made match play 13 times, made TV seven times, and won two titles. It was during this season that Koivuniemi bowled the 16th-ever televised 300 game in PBA Tour history, in a match against Jason Couch
Jason Couch
Jason Couch is one of the top bowlers on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. A left-handed cranker, he currently resides in Clermont, Florida.-PBA career:...
. He has 26 career 300 games in PBA events.
Koivuniemi's nickname on tour is "Major Mika," because his first two PBA titles came in major championships: the 2000 ABC Masters
USBC Masters
The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000....
and 2001-02 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (bowling)
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. With four victories, Pete Weber holds the most modern-day U.S. Open trophies.The U.S...
. With the latter victory, he became the first foreign-born player to win the U.S. Open. He has also been dubbed "The Big Finn" by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
commentator Randy Pedersen
Randy Pedersen
Randy Pedersen is a professional bowler and color analyst for ESPN's coverage of the PBA Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator Rob Stone. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida in the early 1990s, where he has resided ever since...
.
Koivuniemi has won nine PBA titles. He passed the $1 million mark (U.S.) in total PBA earnings during the 2007-08 season, and now stands at over $1.47 million in PBA Tour earnings (through the end of 2010-11 season). With his victory in the 2010 Istanbul Open in Turkey, he has won a bowling title in 12 different countries. An extremely versatile bowler, he was the first player to win a title on all five of the PBA's primary oil patterns (Shark, Chameleon, Cheetah, Scorpion and Viper) - a feat matched only by Tommy Jones so far.
On January 22, 2011, Koivuniemi won the PBA Tournament of Champions to capture his third PBA major title and the first prize of $250,000, the richest first-place prize in PBA tour history. In the semifinal match of this tournament, Mika narrowly missed becoming the first player in PBA history to roll two televised 300 games in a PBA Tour event, when he left a 10-pin on the final shot for a 299 score. He now needs only a PBA World Championship
PBA World Championship
The PBA World Championship is one of the four major PBA bowling events. Prior to 2002, the tournament was called the PBA National Championship. The PBA National Championship was first contested in 1960, then called the First Annual National Championship...
title to complete a career "Triple Crown."
Koivuniemi also finished as the runner-up at the 2011 U.S. Open, which was arguably the most painful moment in his bowling career, as he failed to convert the crucial spare at his 10th frame, eventually losing to Norm Duke
Norm Duke
Norm Duke is an American professional bowler currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003....
in the very end by the score of 225-216, which made Duke shocked as well, as Koivuniemi was known as one of the best spare converters on tour. He stated himself that he will never see that "shot" again. Nonetheless, Koivuniemi became the only PBA player to make the TV finals in all four majors during a single season. These 2010-11 accomplishments earned him his second PBA Player of the Year Award.
Although he had been on tour for only nine seasons, Koivuniemi was still ranked #49 on the PBA's 2008 Golden Anniversary list of "50 greatest PBA players of the last 50 years."
He resides in Hartland, Michigan
Hartland Township, Michigan
Hartland Township is a civil township of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
, USA with his wife, Leena, and two children.
His aunt, Paula Koivuniemi
Paula Koivuniemi
Paula Koivuniemi is a Finnish singer who started her singing career in 1960's. Koivuniemi released her first hit single "Perhonen" in 1966. In the 1970s her career was in decline, but during the 1980s she had many hit singles in Finland - she received nine gold albums and one diamond album...
, is one of the most popular schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
singers in Finland.
Sources
- Official Mika Koivuniemi fan site
- PBA.com, official site of the Professional Bowlers Association and the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour