Randy Pedersen

Randy Pedersen (born 1962) is a professional bowler and color analyst for ESPN's coverage of the PBA Tour. During the present season, he has worked alongside play-by-play announcers Dave Ryan and Mike Jakubowski. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida in the early 1990s, where he has resided ever since. He and his wife Becky have two children: a son, Chad and a daughter, Savannah.

Bowling career

As a bowler, Pedersen has won 13 PBA titles, with his last coming at age 40 in the 2002 Pepsi Open. That title pushed him over the $1 million career earnings mark, making him the 24th millionaire in PBA history at the time. Most dominant from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, Pedersen captured the prestigious PBA National Championship crown in 1987.

At the same time, he is also known for two of the worst breaks in PBA Tour history. He lost the 1995 Touring Players Championship to veteran Ernie Schlegel when, needing a strike on the first ball of the tenth frame to win, he left a single 8-pin standing on what appeared to be a perfect shot.^[1] (The match is well remembered for Schlegel's extremely unprofessional reaction to his win.)

He also lost the 2003 Tournament of Champions (and the PBA Tour exemption that would have come with it) by leaving a single 10-pin standing in the last frame.

Randy was ranked #35 on the PBA's 2008 list of 50 Greatest Players of the last 50 years. He was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in October, 2010, and was inducted with the 2011 class on January 22, 2011.^[2]

Randy joined the PBA50 Tour (formerly PBA Senior Tour) in 2013, and on May 16 of that year he won the very first tournament he entered: the PBA50 Dayton Classic.^[3]

Television and Film

Off the lanes, Pedersen has had great success behind the microphone as a TV analyst since joining ESPN in 2001; Pedersen earned the position after getting his start in broadcasting as a lane-level reporter on ABC's Pro Bowlers Tour. He also worked for Fox Sports Net for a brief time in 2000.

Pedersen has been lauded for his extensive knowledge of the game, associated bowling lingo and catch phrases (see below) as well as his sense of humor. He also had a small part in the 1996 comedy movie Kingpin along with several other professional bowlers.

Randy-isms

• "Dead flush perfect!":
• "He absolutely pured it."

(above two describing a perfectly-rolled strike, with all 10 pins going into the pit)

• "Bartender, make it a double!!"
  (sometimes shouted when a player throws back-to-back strikes)

• "Bad mammal!"
  (Pedersen uses this term either to describe a bowler on a hot streak, or serious pin carry when a less-than-perfect shot takes out all ten pins)

• "Nothin' left but pin shrapnel!"
• "Shreds the rack!"
  (above two sometimes used to describe a powerful strike)

• "Winner winner, Chicken dinner!"
  (referring to the winner of a match)

• "Give me some coffee to go with that sweet roll"
  (referring to a nicely rolled strike shot)

Pedersen once commented on his role as PBA Analyst on ESPN telecasts. He said, "I want to convey to the viewing public that they are watching the best bowlers in the world. It's my job to explain what makes them that good, as well as provide other information that 'Johnny 150 average' doesn't already know. One thing I learned is if you can bring enthusiasm to the table, sometimes it doesn't really matter what is coming out of your mouth. The viewing audience senses the enthusiasm." ^[4]

References

1. ↑ The worst break in PBA history! - 1995 TPC - Randy Pedersen www.youtube.com, retrieved 23 October 2014.
2. ↑ Schneider, Jerry. "Randy Pedersen, Dale Eagle and Len Nicholson Elected to PBA Hall of Fame." Article at www.pba.com on October 20, 2010.
3. ↑ Randy Pedersen is Unlikely Winner in PBA50 Dayton Classic Schneider, Jerry at pba.com, May 16, 2013.
4. ↑ Zikes, Lyle. "Sizing up the lanes: Randy Pedersen has brought color to the PBA as an analyst." Article in Bowling Digest, June, 2002.