I had only met guppy troup recently. He made his way by our bowling center for the senior tour. I cant say that i didnt hear stories of him being on tour, but I never really hit me, until this past weekend.

While waiting on my girlfriend to get out of the bathroom I was flipping through channels. I saw bowling was on and being a bowler I paused to check it out. I noticed the lanes were dark, and the graphics on the screen looked very old. Next I hear the announcer say "Guppy Troup". An alarm went off and I called the owner of our bowling alley and I called my brother. They both confirmed it would be the same guppy I have met several times. There was one match in progress that would lead to the championship game, and guppy was the top seed.

When I first met Guppy what stood out was his personality. Like anyone who really knows him, he is an original. From the clothes to the jewelry to the way he carried himself around and about.

Guppy Troup is one of the most likable people I've met and cant wait to meet again. I thought it was pretty awesome to catch that espn classic match up and have him winning the 1985 Austin Open. Below is a little info into who Guppy Troup is. I have created a photo album dedicated to Guppy Troup at http://www.blogtext.org/andy/myimages/album433.html.

During his 26 years on tour, Troup has built a reputation as a character, outlandish, outspoken and dressed to kill. Troup was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1950. His family moved to the United States after Guppy's uncle got his father a job at the University of South Carolina.

Troup picked up the nickname as a youngster bowling in the state tournament in Columbia, S.C. "Every team was named after a fish, and we were the Guppies," Troup said. "I was their captain, and we won and set a state record."

Troup honed his game, joined the pro tour and introduced his off-the-wall character and dress.

Oh, yes, the dress. Troup's wardrobe on and off the lanes is best described as early paisley, which, incidentally, is a Scottish city near Glasgow.

There was the time in Erie, Pa., several years ago when Troup qualified for the TV finals.

"There were five guys in the audience without shirts and 'G.U.P.P.Y.' painted on their chests, the most awesome thing I ever saw," he said. "I won my first match and threw my resin bag to one of the guys. I lost my second match and threw my towel to another guy. The owner of the center suggested I throw my shirt to the kids ... and I did. I think I'm the only bowler to take off his clothes on national TV."

When the tour was in Kansas City several years ago, Troup bought 14 pairs of trousers, "wildest colors I could get." He split them down the middle and sewed different-colored legs together, one orange, the other green. His appearance on the lanes was sensational.

Years ago, when the PBA Southern Region visited Southland Lanes in Pinellas Park, Troup appeared in his usual outrageous dress, and this time his rococo rags got soaked.

To celebrate winning the tournament, Troup threw what he said was a $10,000 diamond ring into the retention pond behind the center. After second thoughts, he waded in to retrieve it, unsuccessfully. Several onlookers spent days underwater groping the mud, also unsuccessfully.

"That's okay," Troup said. "I'll collect the insurance."

Troup later admitted the ring was worth about $25.

Troup turned 50 after the second stop of last year's senior tour. He cashed in eight of the final nine events, made the match-play four times and earned $16,045. He was named senior rookie of the year.

He has won eight national titles and 26 regional crowns. He won his first national title in 1978 and hasn't won since 1985.

"I told the new PBA owners that if they wanted somebody with personality to come get me," Troup said. "It's been a great career, and I've loved every minute of it."

Troup said he has been tempted to wear his father's Scottish outfit on the lanes, but "it's a kilt, and you can't wear anything underneath."