Randy Pedersen is an American sportscaster and former professional bowler. He is currently a color analyst for Fox Sports' coverage of the PBA Tour, formerly filling that same role on ESPN and CBS Sports Network telecasts of the PBA Tour in previous seasons. During the present season, he works alongside play-by-play announcerRob Stone, having previously worked with Dave Lamont, Lon McEachern, Mike Jakubowski, and Dave Ryan. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida in the early 1990s, where he has resided ever since. He and his ex-wife Becky have two children: a son, Chad and a daughter, Savannah.
Bowling career
As a bowler, Pedersen has won 13 PBA Tour titles, with his last coming at age 40 in the 2002 PBA 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 having suffered from 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 Bayer-Brunswick Touring Players Championship to the veteran Ernie Schlegel by a 237–236 score. Needing a strike and six pins in the tenth frame to win, Pedersen left the 8 pin on what looked like a high-flush pocket strike shot at first. That match is also remembered for Schlegel's joyful and spirited - but largely unprofessional and unsportsmanlike- reaction while Pedersen fell down onto the approach, covering his face in disappointment in a thrill-of-victory/agony-of-defeat moment. He 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. Pedersen joined the PBA50 Tour in 2013, and on May 16 of that year he won the very first tournament he entered: the PBA50 Dayton Classic.
Off the lanes, Pedersen joined ESPN in 2001 as a TV analyst has had great success behind the microphone. He earned the commentator 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 renowned and praised for his extensive knowledge of the game, associated bowling terminology and catch phrases, 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.
Famous phrases
Pedersen is notable for using various phrases used to describe different occurrences during PBA events. They include:
"Dead flush perfect!"
"He absolutely pured it."'
"Bartender, make it a double!!"
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"Bad mammal!"
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"Nothin' left but pin shrapnel!""Shreds the rack!""That was filthier than a truck stop restroom!"'
"Winner winner, Chicken dinner!"
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"Give me some coffee to go with that sweet roll!"'
"That one went out for a burger and fries, and came back with steak and a baked potato."
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."
