Randy Pedersen
Encyclopedia
Randy Pedersen is a professional bowler
and color analyst for ESPN
's coverage of the PBA
Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator
Rob Stone
. 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.
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
history. He lost both his tour exemption and a PBA Tournament of Champions match due to leaving one pin standing in the last frame on each of those occasions. He was ranked #35 on the PBA's 2008 list of 50 Greatest Players of the last 50 years.
Pedersen was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in October, 2010, and was inducted with the 2011 class on January 22, 2011.
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.
(above two describing a perfectly-rolled strike, with all 10 pins going into the pit)
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."
Bowler (ten-pin)
A bowler is someone participating in the sport of bowling, either as an amateur or professional. In American ten-pin bowling, a bowler is most commonly a member of a team of three to six people...
and color analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's coverage of the PBA
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
Rob Stone
Rob Stone
Rob Stone is a sports commentator for ESPN. He has covered various sports including Major League Soccer, NCAA and NFL football, and is now the play-by-play announcer for PBA Tournament Bowling alongside color commentator and 13-time PBA titleist Randy Pedersen.-Early life and career:A native of...
. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida
Clermont, Florida
Clermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States, west of Orlando. The population was 13,100 in 2008. The city is essentially residential in character and its economy is centered in retail trade, lodging, and food and beverage establishments, which are tourism oriented. The historic...
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 PBAProfessional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
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
PBA World Championship
The PBA World Championship is one of the four major PBA bowling events. Prior to 2002, the tournament was called the PBA National Championship. The PBA National Championship was first contested in 1960, then called the First Annual National Championship...
crown in 1987.
At the same time, he is also known for two of the worst breaks in PBA
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
history. He lost both his tour exemption and a PBA Tournament of Champions match due to leaving one pin standing in the last frame on each of those occasions. He was ranked #35 on the PBA's 2008 list of 50 Greatest Players of the last 50 years.
Pedersen was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame in October, 2010, and was inducted with the 2011 class on January 22, 2011.
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
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Pro Bowlers Tour
Pro Bowlers Tour
The Professional Bowlers Tour, also known as Pro Bowlers Tour, is a broadcast of the Professional Bowlers Association that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1997...
. He also worked for Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
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
Kingpin (film)
Kingpin is a 1996 slapstick comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, and Bill Murray...
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)
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."