May-June 2008

photo by SAS

Ever the social butterfly, Jean enjoys nothing better than meeting new oncomers. He has joined the Rose Bowl's summer league and, despite the discomfort of his leg brace, pushes ahead with success, keeping his official average above the 216 mark. Above: Jean kibbitzes with young fellow-Frenchmen Arthur and Rafael, who hail from Toulouse and are wrapping up one year in Canada as exchange students. You can catch their lively antics on a new YouTube video,
RoboJean Goes Toulouse.

April 2008

Despite recent health problems, Le Robo continues to rack up week after week of stunning 220+ games and league records. He particularly relishes receiving the prize for highest number of turkeys.

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March 1st 2008

Rock it, RoboJean! When they wrapped the playoffs on March 1st, Le Robo and Claudia found themselves in the unusual position of having placed twice and will thus have to bowl another 4 playoff games to determine their status for the mid-March finals.

March 1st 2008

RoboJean and teammate Claudia Desormeaux have made it to the Quilles G plus Rose Bowl Pairs-Impairs 400 Tournament Second Stage finals, in which half of the teams entered will qualify for the provincial final, will take place Friday February 29th at 7pm and Saturday March 1st, 3pm at Montreal's Rose Bowl Lanes.Meanwhile, night owl bowler Howard, one of Jean's favourite young bowlers, appeared out of the blue. Click here for a taste of their pin-shaking rapport.

February 2008

Jean decided to enter the Rose Bowl's Spring Tournament, teaming up with fellow league member Claudia T. Click here to catch RoboJean making a strike during one show down match, February 1st 2008!

Young fan Charlotte took the RoboJean Challenge by donning his leg brace to bowl. "How can anybody bowl wearing something like this?" she marveled. Jean readily responded—by bowling yet another 279 game! Click here to see what unfolded...

January 2008

Celebrate the new year by checking out Jean on Webshots.

December 2007

Now that "RoboJean" has updated his artillary—new steel knee brace, arm band and steel glove—he is finally prepared to conquer that elusive 32nd perfect game.

November 2007

Jean received the sad news that his beloved brother, Marc Georges Charles, passed away following a brief but lethal illness, this month. Marc's courage will forever be a prime contributing factor to Jean's own superhuman perseverance.

Obsessive-inventive Jean could not resist trying a solution to peripheral interference: "Now I am ready to bowl my next 300."

October 2007

Geof Isherwood, George Hollis and Jean wrap up another 200+ bowling session.

Now that his leg is becoming stronger, Jean is contemplating the challenge of becoming the Guiness champ for most number of continuously bowled games.September 2007On Friday, September 14th, during a series of twelve (non-league) games at Montreal's fabled Rose Bowl lanes, Jean bowled his 31st perfect 300 game—while wearing his leg brace! Nothing can stop him now!

August 2007

Jean continues to bowl up a storm—every day of the week. By the end of the month, he signed up with three different leagues and has his mind set on breaking a few unusual records.July 2007Jean's leg brace is back due to a permanently-stretched tendon—but only for bowling. After his first three days' practice, Jean achieved 250+ scores.

While participating in the Rose Bowl Tuesday Night Summer League (Tuesday July 10th, 2007), he attained a 297. Local Rose Bowlers have taken to calling him "Robo-Jean" because he insists on wearing the brace over his clothing. "It's more comfortable yet firm," he explains, "so there's less of a chance the brace will slide and interfere with my game."

May 2007

The leg brace is off — as of May 15th. Almost immediately, Jean's already impressive 220 average began to climb. On May 20th and May 21st, he bowled 297 at the tricky Rose Bowl Lanes. He has joined the Rose Bowl Tuesday Night Summer League and is having the time of his life re-acquainting himself with his old 'brace-free' form.

April 2007On April 14th, as of 2:24pm, at Centre de Quilles 440, Laval, Quebec, Jean couped a six-game total of 1405. Here are his final scores, in order played: 234, 243, 242, 244, 201 & 241. Imagine his scores when the heavy and cumbersome hip/leg brace is removed: only one week to go!

Jean with friends Sonja Skarstedt & Geof Isherwood (top row) share smiles with Rachel Kadoch (third from left, bottom row) and pals at Rose Bowl lanes, Saturday, March 24, 2007.

March 2007

Despite having to contend with his cumbersome leg brace, Jean has continued bowling at a regular pace. Each week, his average continues to climb and he is currently maintaining a 210. Within the last week, he has bowled games in the high 230s, a number in the mid 250s, and two 279 blitzes.

January-February 2007

Monday, February 12th, 2007, Jean rolled a 200-plus average in 4 consecutive games. During the third game he rolled a 'double turkey'—six strikes in a row—& topped off the evening with a 243. The next evening, maintaining a 200+ average, Jean topped 253.

Jean with Ann Diamond, author of the spellbinding new novel Static Control, & Sonja Skarstedt at Première Moisson, Atwater Market, January 24, 2007.

You would never guess that it has been over two months since Jean picked up a ball: his form is steady, his accuracy intact and his spirit unstoppable. Tuesday, January 23, 2007: Jean rolled six games, topping at 232. As of January 25th, his average is 200.

December 2006

"Patience!"

December 8, 2006.

No wonder Jean is smiling! Although he will continue to wear his special hip support brace until the end of February, he was given the green light by his doctor: on Wednesday, January 17th, 2007, Jean headed for the Rose Bowl Lanes, dusted off his new high reactive particle ball and proceeded to bowl a game that included no less than eight strikes. Despite this taste of future glory, he insisted that this and the first six games were to be considered "practice only."

November 2006

Rose Bowl, November 13, 2006, 20hrs. Jean underwent successful hip-replacement surgery on November 1st. True to his nature, he discarded his walker two days later and proceeded to use the stairs within less than one week following surgery.

October 2006

Jean shows off his favourite jacket, on which artist Roger Hill painted a portrait of famed goalie Patrick Roy,
who also signed the jacket.

Summer 2006

Jean with Geof Isherwood, Corinne & Colleen Skarstedt, at the Rose Bowl Lanes, Montréal, June 2006.