This the fifth in a 10-part series by PBA Commissioner Tom Clark.

As PBA Commissioner, my greatest privilege has been having a front row seat to PBA history.

I've worked more than 250 PBA finals since 2008. One thing has been guaranteed: Our events and our players always deliver compelling drama. Every time.

But as last decade came to a close, I singled out my 10 most memorable shows from 2010-19, with some personal notes:

No. 6: 2017 CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, LA Live Lucky Strike Lanes, Los Angeles

Chris Paul and Chris Barnes teamed up to win the annual pro/celeb doubles event, but it was the lead up to the show that makes it stand out.

You've seen the CP3 PBA show and it seems like a lot of fun, but believe me, it is highly competitive. Everyone wants to win the coolest trophy in bowling. And Chris Paul is the most competitive person I have ever known. Well, maybe tied with Chris Barnes. That's why I asked Barnes to be CP's partner in 2017, because after a few straight years of Paul losing, I wanted to give our host and partner the best chance to earn that trophy back, and there is no one I'd trust more to give it everything he has than Barnes.

But the night before the show, we went to Paul's Clippers game at Staples Center, and during the game CP broke his left thumb. Incredibly bad luck and that night he got the news he would have to miss several weeks of the NBA season. Again, you have to understand that with his desire to compete, this ripped a hole in his heart. 

So our PBA production crew planned for a CP bowling event without Chris Paul, which meant a lot of scrambling. Paul couldn't possibly bowl with this injury and the big news, especially in LA, that he would be out for weeks, could he? He might even have to cancel the whole thing and it would be understandable.

But the next night, Chris Paul showed up for our event and said, "I can bowl." I might have been the only person not surprised, because after getting to know CP, it's the kind of thing I expect.

So the event was on and it came down to the most formidable team in the event's history of Mookie Betts and Tommy Jones vs. Paul and Barnes. Paul bowled with his left hand bandaged up, and Barnes bowling anchor needed a double in the 10th frame to win, and Barnes came through by striking out. A thrilled CP raced to the foul line to chest bump in victory with the eventual PBA Hall of Famer. 

Just one night after one of the biggest disappointments in his NBA career, CP had a big smile on his face, and after all he's done for bowling, he deserved it. 

The CP3 event through the years, with stars like Kevin Hart, Lil Wayne, Nelly, Ludacris, Ciara, Michael Strahan, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Chris Hardwick, Hope Solo, Allyson Felix, James Harden, Blake Griffin, Reggie Bush, Terrell Owens and Mookie joining the PBA's superstars for CP3's Family Foundation has brought the most smiles and attention from outside the sport as anything we've done over the decade. Everybody loves to bowl!

Watch the show here:

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Tom Clark’s Top 10 Countdown

1. To be released June 6
2. To be released May 30
3. To be released May 23
4. To be released May 16
5. To be released May 9
6. 2017 CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational
7. 2019 PBA Playoffs Semifinals and Final
8. 2019 PBA Indianapolis Open
9. 2018 USBC Masters
10. 2012 PBA WSOB Scorpion Championship