Randy Pedersen is known for 2 things. Being an excellent commentator and “that” 8 pin. But there was so much more to his career.
So what exactly happened to Randy towards the end of his career on the PBA tour and what did he do afterwards?
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PBA Bowling // randy // randy 8 pin
26 Comments
I got one for you: George Pappas. How did he earn so much money with so few revs?
Big question: Will Randy Pedersen return as commentator next year?
Randy is still a great commentator. Perhaps still the best today, but I think I would like see the torch passed to a younger person to excite a younger crowd of viewers. Not sure what current pro could do it. The House crew seem to want to like commentating but they are in the prime of their careers and might not want the distraction.
Knee.
Randall is a really good announcer. Smart, knows the game, knows what's important.
I've heard Bo Burton (many, many times) and Earl Anthony announcing and saying things that make absolutely no sense and are just wrong. Not from Randy.
Can never imagine him with a mustache
I do hope that the CW does keep Randy around for commentary, he found his calling in the booth I'd say.
Knees got him
The infamous solid 8
I have been watching the PBA since 1979 so I know Mr. Pedersen is one of the top ten famous bowlers of all time. No, he wasn't one of the top ten bowlers, but he was better than your average PBA pro. Over the last 46 years there has really been only one other pro in the announcing booth that lasted – Nelson Burton Jr. Even Marshall Holman's stint in the booth was short. During Mr. Pedersen's tenure the announcer's job has been filled by non-bowler incompetents, with the unknowledgeable Mr. Fanta being the worst of all. So Mr. Pedersen had to handle both the pro and announcer's jobs, unlike when the professional Mr. Schenkel did the announcing. Sure, he offers a lot of Pedersenisms, but that is what you have to do when the announcer can't fill those shoes.
When Randy first came out on tour, he was a petulant punk who couldn't hit the broad side of the ocean. He was once placed on probation for the remainder of a season (I want to say 1982 or 1983) for conduct unbecoming of a PBA member, and that forced him to grow up. It then took him a couple of years to figure out things both on and off the lanes. Then he had a breakout year in 1987 when he won the former PBA Championship. Even Randy himself has admitted that he grew up on the PBA tour.
Losing to Ernie Schlegel had some impact on his career. But Randy's personal life wasn't the most stable despite his desire to balance that and competing on tour. (Let's just say there's was a very high divorce rate among guys who were out on tour pre-2000.)
Met Randy after a Doubles Tourney he announced in Milwaukee four or five or years ago He was very generous with his time. I reminded him about when he made the 7 – 10 split on T V in an ehibition. He had called his shot beforehand. He remembered it and that it was in Wisconsin which I did not know.. Very freindly dude.
Everyone has their own perspective and I appreciate that. From mine, as for his approach, his follow-through, his all-around game, Randy's was one of the best. His style was truly classic; not unlike Dick Weber's in his prime. It was like watching a great golf swing. All of us know that sticking at the foul line can make anyone look and feel like a beginner. Mr. Weber bowled a full instructional game for me once and, to any student of the game, watching that classic DW style right there in front of you was an incredible experience. As for attitude, displays of arrogance, disrespecting fans, other players – I never saw or heard RP say or do anything any worse than I've seen by many other top-level, high-ranking, highly-competitive players during competition. In the booth, Randy's always been my fave commentator. Everyone has their detractors, even you and I, but nobody can say Randy doesn't have a great game nor that he hasn't been a great ambassador for the game and the PBA brand.
bigger CRY BABY than Pete Weber…even as an announcer, he thinks ANY hit ANYWHERE near the head pin deserves a strike
My suggestions for "What happened to?" are as follows:
Tim Criss (The Turtle)
Steve Jaros
Jim Stefanich (Norm Duke's coach)
Paul Fleming
Robert Smith (Maximum Bob)
Bryon Smith
Bob Learn Jr. (mentioned here, but would like to know what he has accomplished as a Sr.)
Johnny Petraglia (the legend)
Brian Himmler "The Chief"
Patrick Healey Jr. (I think you did cover him)
Eric Forkel
Jack Jurek (The Ripper)
Dennis Horan
Danny Wiseman
Jess Stayrook (famous for the 7-10 conversion in 1991)
and there are some other model players from back in the 90s and early 2000s as well that I'm curious to learn about.
One side note, and a personal one: I really miss watching Steve Jaros and Tim Criss and loved their style. The down and in players may be gone, but their legacy will be alive.
They are the ones who have inspired me to bowl many years ago.
Actually all of these are exceptional and have been an inspiration in their own right.
I like Randy Pedersen and his attitude towards bowling and the changes that have happen and will continue to happen with bowling. Randy is a great commentator and seems like he'll be a good coach as well. He was one of the first commentators i remember watching and hearing really embrace Belmonte and the two handed style.
I enjoy Pedersen as a commentator, he is a great commentor but he never talks about the bowling balls.
Probably not his fault, more on the direction of the broadcast whether it was ESPN or Fox or CBS.
Viewers want to know who is throwing what ball and what that ball does on the lanes based on oil patterns, transition, etc ..
In 1980 he was my teammate in the Greater LA Junior All Stars with Rick Elliott, a trios league. Maybe 81, not exactly sure. He went pro not long after. He was one of the top bowlers in that league, already more experienced than most. Very cocky, kind of an asshole. But he was good.
Chris Schenkel and Nelson Burton Jr. were the best.
Randy Pedersen had a moustache at one point?
I crossed with Randy and Amleto Monacelli in the 1986 Buffalo Open (which was my first National Tournament try after having bowled in Eastern Regionals for a year). Amleto was the nicest guy you could ever hope to meet. Randy was a complete d**k.
Randy is a fabulous bowler. Hes a handful of strikes away from 20 titles and a couple of majors. Excellent bowler. Got a lot of bad breaks.
He absolutely had the right to chew out the fan who interfered with his shot, fans are supposed to be silent, I'd be mad too….
Isn’t he a commentator?
I was kind of wondering what happened to an entire class of bowlers who had a slow, "muscle-the-ball" style. There seem to have been a few of them in the 1980s, but not anymore. I'm thinking of bowlers such as Mark Baker, Ted Hannahs, Paul Gibson, Bob Hanley. They seem to have given way to players with more fluid swings (and to two-handers of course).
Here's one: Joe Berardi. He was quite good for a few years in the 70's and 80's, then he just kind of disappeared.