CLASSIC ARCHIVE: MC2 IN NYC

In April 2003, Lintinin, Sterling and McCracken found themselves in Manhattan on the production of "Knots," which featured daily hilarity and nightly visits to Chelsea Papaya for a few hot dogs and frozen lime treats. Somewhere in the middle of the shoot, the "Knots" faithful heard tales of the first McCracken Classic and they were inspired. With two weeks to go before wrap, the MC2 was planned.

With such a large crew, it was clear that MC2 would not be an individual competition, but a team vs. team bowling bonanza. The tournament was scheduled at Bowlmor Lanes, a hip joint in Union Square with different colored fluorescent pins (just the type of thing Condiment would hate).

Under complete Rock N Bowl conditions, the tournament began at 10pm with the most excitement ever generated for a Classic; there were team uniforms, chants and drunken trash talking. There was constant banter about East Coast bowlers vs. West Coast bowlers. And it was also the unveiling of new bowling balls for Lintinin, Sterling and McCracken (who were on the same team and were 3 of only 4 entrants who had bowled in the first Classic. Themule was the other). It was no coincidence that each of them kept a reserved tone throughout, for they knew that the Classic was a marathon, not a sprint.

After nearly four and half hours of intensity, the stage was set for a spectacular finals featuring Lintinin, Sterling and McCracken vs. Dan Abrams, Michael Campbell and Eric Zuckerman. If there was any debate over the dominant coast, it was quieted by this stat: five of the six finalists were West Coast bowlers (Zuckerman was from NYC).

In true Classic fashion, those who had been eliminated stayed until the wee hours to see the exciting conclusion. After nine frames, L, S and Mc had a combined 371, and A, C and Z were about to start their ninth frame at 361. With every roll critical, it looked to be a fantastic finish. However, just as Dan Abrams was about to start his frame, the lights dimmed and the lanes all closed with a unified THUD. It was 3am and the Bowlmor lanes had an automated shut-down that could not be over-ridden. MC2 remains the only Classic won not by the human participants but by the machines beneath the lanes.