Randy Pedersen

As a bowler, Pedersen has won 13 PBA Tour 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 for his first and only major title. He won three titles in the 1989 season, but was beaten out for PBA Player of the Year honors by Amleto Monacelli, who won four titles that year.

Pedersen is also known for two of the worst breaks in PBA Tour history. Both came in major tournaments, and both times he lost by one pin. He lost the 1995 Touring Players Championship to veteran Ernie Schlegel by a 237–236 score. Needing a strike on the first ball of the tenth frame to win, Pedersen left a single 8-pin standing on what appeared to be a perfect shot.[1] That match is also remembered for Schlegel's joyful, spirited but unprofessional reaction while Pedersen fell down onto the approach, covering his face in pain in a thrill-of-victory-agony-of-defeat moment. Pedersen was also knocked out of the 2005 Tournament of Champions after he left the 7-pin on the tenth frame fill shot during the semifinal against Norm Duke, losing 256–255.

Pedersen 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]

Pedersen 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]

Off the lanes, Pedersen joined ESPN in 2001 as a TV analyst has had great success behind the microphone; Pedersen earned the position after getting his start in broadcasting as a lane-level reporter on ABC's Pro Bowlers Tour, in addition to working on Fox Sports Net for a brief time in 2000. Pedersen remained as the bowling analyst on ESPN through the termination of their PBA contract in 2018. He began working for Fox Sports in 2019 when the PBA Tour moved its TV broadcasts to Fox Sports networks.

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 had a small part in the 1996 comedy movie Kingpin along with several other professional bowlers, and has a cameo appearance in the 2006 bowling documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.

Pedersen is notable for using various phrases used to describe different occurrences during PBA events. They include:

• "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!"
• "That was filthier than a truck stop restroom!"
  (above three have been 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)
• "That one went out for a burger and fries, and came back with steak and a baked potato"
  (referring to a shot that rolls out close to the gutter and hooks back for a pocket 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." [4]