Randy Pedersen

Randy Pedersen (born 1962) is a professional bowler and color analyst for ESPN's coverage of the PBA Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator Rob Stone. Randy 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, Randy 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 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. Randy is not currently exempt for the 2008-09 season, though he still attempts to qualify for tournaments.

Off the lanes, Randy 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. Randy also had a small part in the 1996 comedy movie Kingpin along with several other professional bowlers.

Randy-isms

• "Dead flush perfect!":
  (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 hot streak a bowler is on, or to describe serious pin carry in a particular frame that takes out all ten pins even though the shot is not in the strike pocket)

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

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." ^[1]

References

1. ^ Article: "Sizing up the lanes: Randy Pedersen has brought color to the PBA as an analyst", Lyle Zikes, Bowling Digest, June, 2002.