Almost everyone would argue that Jason Belmonte has been the most successful PBA player over the last 15 years since winning his first title in 2008. Belmo has now won 30 titles placing him equal 7th place on the PBA all-time titles list. He requires another 4 titles to equal the late great Mark Roth who sits in 6th place on 34 titles. Walter Ray Williams (all-time titles leader) with 47 titles is a very very long way away.
The interesting question is whether Belmonte will go down as the player of this generation when measured by career titles won. He has 30 titles which is an incredible achievement over the past 15 years (since 2008). He does appear to be the dominant player of his generation but is he?
When you look at this question in more depth it is a far more even contest. I am a proud Australian but I despise parochialism so we need to look at the numbers.
Belmonte (39 years of age) won his first title in 2008 and now has 30 titles.
EJ Tackett (30 years of age) won his first title in 2015 and now has 19 titles.
Now it is getting more interesting - firstly Tackett is almost exactly 9 years younger than Belmonte.
Tackett didn't win his first title until 2015 but has now won 19 titles.
Belmonte since 2015 has won 20 titles.
Therefore Belmonte had 10 titles before Tackett commenced winning in 2015. Since 2015 to the current day - 20 titles to 19 is certainly not dominating
At only 30 years of age I would assume Tackett has considerably more longevity left in him than Belmonte.
The big question is who will have won more titles when both their careers are over. Right now I don't believe anyone really knows. Belmonte has been a tremendous player who will rightfully be remembered as an all-time great but EJ Tackett could yet eclipse him as the ''winning-est'' bowler of this generation. I also believe that 30 year old EJ Tackett is still getting better. At 39 years of age it is more a question of how much longer can Belmonte still win titles to potentially move up higher on the all-time titles leader board and stay in front of an incredibly talented 30 year old from Indiana.
The interesting question is whether Belmonte will go down as the player of this generation when measured by career titles won. He has 30 titles which is an incredible achievement over the past 15 years (since 2008). He does appear to be the dominant player of his generation but is he?
When you look at this question in more depth it is a far more even contest. I am a proud Australian but I despise parochialism so we need to look at the numbers.
Belmonte (39 years of age) won his first title in 2008 and now has 30 titles.
EJ Tackett (30 years of age) won his first title in 2015 and now has 19 titles.
Now it is getting more interesting - firstly Tackett is almost exactly 9 years younger than Belmonte.
Tackett didn't win his first title until 2015 but has now won 19 titles.
Belmonte since 2015 has won 20 titles.
Therefore Belmonte had 10 titles before Tackett commenced winning in 2015. Since 2015 to the current day - 20 titles to 19 is certainly not dominating
At only 30 years of age I would assume Tackett has considerably more longevity left in him than Belmonte.
The big question is who will have won more titles when both their careers are over. Right now I don't believe anyone really knows. Belmonte has been a tremendous player who will rightfully be remembered as an all-time great but EJ Tackett could yet eclipse him as the ''winning-est'' bowler of this generation. I also believe that 30 year old EJ Tackett is still getting better. At 39 years of age it is more a question of how much longer can Belmonte still win titles to potentially move up higher on the all-time titles leader board and stay in front of an incredibly talented 30 year old from Indiana.