Pete Weber
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Pete David Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, [1] (born July 8, 1962 in St. Ann, Missouri), is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well-known for his maverick, rebellious personality. Weber also starred in the ten-pin bowling sports documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.
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[edit] Growing up
Pete Weber grew up in Florissant, Missouri and, as the son of bowling legend Dick Weber, was introduced to the sport at the age of 2. At the age of 15, Weber was already winning tournaments in local bowling leagues against adult players and, with the help of his father, was able to join the PBA tour at the age of 17 (the former policy required a minimum age of 18). In 1979, Weber started his first year on the professional circuit and participated in 21 tour events, including one TV appearance. Weber won Rookie of the Year honors in 1980. By 1982, he had won his first PBA title, winning a total of two that season.
[edit] Controversy
Despite Weber's talent, he was not popular with his bowling peers and was even denied Player of the Year honors in 1987 despite winning the Tournament of Champions and leading the tour in winnings; the award was instead given to Marshall Holman. By 1989, Weber had won 13 PBA Tour titles and had reached over $1 million (USD) in earnings, but was plagued with problems in his personal life. By the mid-1990s, Weber had been through two divorces and suffered from alcoholism, which was amplified by the overall decline of the PBA tour itself during that time.
In 2000, the PBA Tour was sold to three former-Microsoft executives; Weber was not even on the tour during this transitional phase, as he was still serving a six-month suspension given by the former PBA leadership in 1999 due to behavior related to his drinking problem. The new tour ownership saw Weber as a potential tool for marketing the PBA to a new audience rather than as a burden. By the 2001-2002 season, Weber's career was back on track, winning 3 titles in all. On December 4, 2005 Pete Weber overcame a year of trying times both personally and professionally by clinching what was, perhaps, the most emotional title of his career at the 2005 Bowlersparadise.com Classic at Stardust Bowl I in Hammond, Indiana. This marked the first television appearance for Pete Weber in 666 days, and was his first title after the death of his father on February 13, 2005.
[edit] Achievements
Overall, Weber has won 34 PBA Tour events, including 8 major titles. His 34 tour wins put him in a tie for 3rd place on the all-time PBA wins list with Mark Roth. He ranks 2nd on the all-time career earnings and has a 219.38 career average in television appearances. Pete Weber is a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002); Pete joined his father in the PBA Hall of Fame in 1998. As of November 12, 2006, Pete has become only the second pro bowler in the PBA's history to exceed three million dollars in lifetime earnings on the PBA Tour, second behind Walter Ray Williams Jr.. He has won four U.S. Open titles, the most in the history of the tournament.
[edit] Defeats
Walter Ray Williams Jr. defeated Weber 236-213 on March 26, 2006 in the title match of the PBA World Championship to tie Earl Anthony's all time tour titles record of 41.
Walter Ray Williams Jr. defeated Weber 289-236 on September 24, 2006 in the title match of the Dydo Japan Cup to break Earl Anthony's all time tour titles record, the title is the 42nd of Williams Jr.'s career.
[edit] Trivia
- Weber has many superstitions when bowling, including: sitting in the same spot the same way when bowling well, not having his wife Tracy wear red on TV, and folding his towel the same way.
- Likes to follow all the St. Louis professional sports teams: Cardinals, Rams, and Blues
- Is a huge World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fan
- Favorite type of music is 1960's and 1970's hard rock
- Favorite movie is Tombstone.
- After winning his first title of the year in 2002, he addressed the home audience directly: "I am P-D-W! And I am back!" after performing his infamous WWF/WWE style "V crotch chop" signature move.
- Wears sunglasses while bowling on television.
- His style is a power stroker, which combines the high backswing of a cranker, with the smooth timing of a stroker.
