In the latest blow in a cruel year for bowling, Randy Pedersen died Wednesday at 64, bringing an outpouring of tributes from a stunned bowling world.

Pedersen took his own life, multiple sources told 11thFrame.com.

As a journalist, one of the ethical rules I follow is not to be friends with those I cover. Friendly is fine, but friends is not.

However, there are cases where I became friends with people before I was in position to cover them — in many cases long before 11thFrame.com was even a possibility

Randy Pedersen is one of those people.

Randy became one of my favorite people from the time I met him as an unknown PBA Tour rookie in 1987 and he treated me great. I’ve always believed how a big-time person — Randy won his first PBA Tour title in 1986 and was a rising star in 1987 — treats the “little people” is always a solid measure of what kind of person they are.

Randy had a powerful personality that filled rooms when he entered, usually cracking jokes and entertaining whoever was in that room. If you couldn’t laugh hanging with Randy, you had no sense of humor. (For the record, I liked the humor he brought to PBA Tour shows.)

If you want some unvarnished Pedersen humor, watch his speech at his USBC Hall of Fame induction when he was inducted in the Class of 2025. I’ve seen dozens and dozens of Hall of Fame speeches and Pedersen and Brian Waliczek are the two that made me laugh the most.

When wrist surgeries and mediocre performance ended my PBA Tour career after 1988, I didn’t have much contact with Pedersen for many years.

That changed with the advent of the internet, 11thFrame.com, and our paths crossing again on the PBA50 Tour. It was a shame that knee problems cut short his PBA50 Tour career not long after he won the 2013 PBA50 Dayton Classic in his PBA50 Tour debut.

The 13-time PBA Tour champion was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2011.

I tried to never take advantage of our friendship by asking more of Randy as a story source than I would if we were not friends. I also made sure not to take advantage of our friendship when he’d send me a late night text or call me after a few cocktails with jokes or comments that I knew were not meant for publication.

Among the most difficult stories I’ve had to write was Randy being replaced on PBA Tour broadcasts this year, which actually was a series of stories as the topic developed.

One of the main interviews I did with him for that coverage came over the phone after a day on the golf course for Randy that I’m pretty sure included a few cocktails.

Long-time sideline reporter Kimberly Pressler had just announced she was out, and Pedersen still was uncertain of his fate — he believed he was out for The CW but still in for CBS Sports, while it eventually turned out that he out for both.

Not surprisingly, he was filled with all sorts of emotions.  

Here is the main segment with Pedersen in my story:

Pedersen said he “absolutely” thinks that The CW wants to establish its own brand for PBA Tour coverage with new announcers and he has no problem with that “because when I first got the job in 2001 with ESPN, they wanted a new crew, and that's why I got Marshall (Holman)'s job.”
“It's kind of the circle of life,” he said. “I feel that all good things have to eventually come to an end, and things change. And I get that and I understand that.”
Pedersen’s legacy is likely to be his longevity, which enabled him to call so many historic tournaments, as well as the humor he brought to PBA Tour broadcasts that typically has been much more reserved.
“I've been doing TV for 25 years for our sport, the longest tenure (for a color analyst) in the history of our sport,” he said. “I've called more shows than any other person in the history of the PBA. More than Bo (Burton). More than anyone.
“I don't know what kind of legacy I'm leaving. The only thing I can say is that I've had the call on some of the greatest matches in the history of our sport. Mika missing the 10-pin for Norm to win the U.S. Open. Pete Weber, who do you think you are, I am. Kelly Kulick winning the TOC. I've called some of the most iconic, most memorable, most historic matches in the history of the PBA Tour.”
Of course, his legacy is not complete with his CBS Sports work continuing on the expanded CBS schedule that includes the World Series of Bowling.
Pedersen, who is 63, did say there was a chance he “might not do television ever again and just retire and fade away.”
I don’t believe that for a second — I think that was the emotions of a tough day when he lost a long-time colleague who was a friend.
“I called her,” Pedersen said of Pressler, “and we had a nice half-hour conversation of tears. You know how much I appreciated her and everything that she's done for the shows and the Tour and the PBA.”

He said some spicier things that I know he didn’t want on the record — he agreed to the interview while asking me to “be good to him,” which I agreed to. 

After the story posted, he texted me: “Thank you for not taking me behind the shed. You’ve always been a good dude.”

Those are the kinds of things you run into when you are friends with sources. If hardliners want to criticize me for being soft on a friend, so be it. I think he (and the story) captured the essence of what happened: “the circle of life,” as he put it.

While he understood why Kyle Sherman replaced him as PBA Tour color analyst just as he had replaced Marshall Holman, I also know losing that job really hurt.

I am not a close enough friend to know whether it was behind his suicide.

At this point, it doesn’t matter.

What matters is remembering Randy for the immense amount of good he did in and for bowling.

He was a good dude. He competed with honor as a sportsman. He entertained millions for years. He leaves a legacy to be proud of. It won’t be forgotten for as long as there is bowling.

That was clear in the outpouring on social media from friends and former colleagues.

“Randy was supremely talented in everything he did,” PBA Commissioner Tom Clark said in this PBA news release. “Bowling, golf, comedy, broadcasting, anything. He was a force, a giant in sports and on TV. He was our friend, our partner. Randy was our voice. He was my brother. I spoke with so many people today who loved him. There will never be another Randy Pedersen. Please hug the people you love.”

Jason Belmonte posted a pair of reels.

In the first, he wrote:
Just woke up. Just heard the news. Heart broke again. Randy. The voice of bowling. Hall of famer. My mate. Has passed away.
I’ll miss his random calls asking funny questions. It always made me laugh because the first thing I’ll hear would be something like (in a terrible attempted Australian accent mind you)
“Maaate…. Is it true kangaroos can’t bounce backwards? It’s Randy by the way”
The funniest part though was he always made sure to tell me it was him… as if his accent was that good I wouldn’t be able to tell.
“Randy. I know it’s you. It’s only ever you with that accent, plus your name is on my screen”
Sad to think his name won’t ever be on my screen again calling again.

In the second, his caption said:
Randyisms:
“Are you kidding me!”
“Look outtttt!”
“Dirtier than a truck stop restroom”
“It’s a vortex sucked the 10 pin right off the deck”
“He is a BAD MAMMAL”
“Filthy”
“Cooler than a polar bears feet”
“That ball went out for burger and fries, came back with steak and potatoes!”
“I used to throw messengers like that…said me never”
“Nothing left but shrapnel out there”

Long-time broadcaster Dave LaMont posted this on Facebook:
In looking through my phone this morning I realized I had almost as many pictures of Randy Pedersen as my family.
When we first met and began to work together we clicked immediately, which doesn’t always happen in broadcasting or life. We got to see the rise of EJ Tackett, Jason Belmonte and his dominant run, Norm Duke winning on the kids tour back to back weeks in his 50’s.
The emphasis on Randy’s career might even be understated. His more than 25 year reign after replacing an icon in Bo Burton is a testament to Randy’s ability to entertain and instruct. It’s one of the greatest careers in sports broadcasting history and he deserves to be mentioned among the best and most successful of all time.
He spread the gospel of Bowling around the world, arranged untold numbers of clinics to benefit the military and always had a moment to talk to a struggling bowler who needed advice or a fan who wanted a selfie.
He escorted me all over the PBA, opened doors and helped me build relationships I enjoy to this day. I guess people thought “if he’s with Randy, he is okay.”
I know the last year of his life was difficult, we talked about it. I choose to remember our friendship in much happier ways. I’m eternally grateful for the friendship and support. We laughed a lot. We also always had each other’s backs.
In the last few years anytime we went our separate ways following a tournament the last thing we would say was “I love you.”
I will miss that more than anything.
I love you Randy

John Fanta posted this on Facebook:
Back in the spring of 2023, my bosses at Fox reached out and asked if I’d ever consider doing play-by-play for bowling. Admittedly, I had never thought about it, but I was always told by my parents to “say yes” to an opportunity! Additionally, my Grandpa Frank had done Bowling for Dollars at Buckeye Lanes back in the day. Without that “yes,” I wouldn’t have met Randy Pedersen and learned about what a special sport bowling is and the people in it. Randy is as much a part of the soul of bowling as anybody. The man won 13 times on the PBA Tour, was in the movie Kingpin and commentated the PBA on television for over 25 years. When I got my first assignment for the PBA on Fox in May of 2023, I was beyond nervous. Then, Randy walked into the lanes. He said “we’re here to have fun and here to tell people about the best sport in the world.” He put me at ease. He taught me SO MUCH about the sport. He would talk to any fan and he treated every bowler on tour with respect and dignity. Ten minutes before our first show, Randy turned to me and said, “I’m heading out for a heater (cigarette). Be right back.” He came back in, sat down, and we talked about the sport that he loved for two hours on television. He didn’t take himself too seriously and we could rip each other in good fun. We traveled the country the next two years calling the PBA Tour for Fox. From lobster dinners in Maine to a Texas Roadhouse in Indiana to the casino with Mrs. Fanta in Washington, Randy treated my family & friends like his own. He gave me advice and helped lighten the mood after my dad passed away. All while doing a Hall of Fame job and making us smile. Randy, my friend, thank you for helping me understand more what bowling and broadcasting are all about. Thank you for helping me and millions others learn about bowling. And thank you for making us laugh every step of the way. You were truly an extraordinary partner in the booth & a great friend.
Safe home, Randy.

Mike Flanagan of InsideBowling.com., who worked with Randy on BowlTV broadcasts this year, posted this on Facebook:
Today, my thoughts are filled with remembrance, sadness, anger, and gratitude. Days like today also make you think about the decisions we make in life and how important it is to remember the people who love us and whose lives we touch along the way.
Randy Pedersen was a true hero of mine from the time I fell in love with bowling. In 2013, I had the opportunity to bring Randy to the IB Open to help with our broadcast. He treated me—and everyone around him—with nothing but respect and class. From there came a friendship built around something we both loved to do: laugh. We laughed constantly, made fun of everything, and created memories I’ll carry with me forever.
Over the years, Randy also became a mentor to me. He set the bar for how bowling should be delivered to an audience. He prepared for every broadcast, every week, like the professional he was. He understood the sport, but more importantly, he understood how to make people care about it. There are countless people who fell in love with bowling because Randy Pedersen made it exciting, entertaining and fun to watch.
This past season, I had the privilege of working alongside him on BowlTV calling the Professional Bowlers Tour. Sitting next to someone I once looked up to as a kid—who had become a mentor, colleague, friend and ultimately someone who felt like a brother—was something I’ll cherish forever. We had an absolute blast together.
But what people saw on television was only part of Randy.
He had a heart of gold. He gave his time to military events year after year and genuinely cared about people. He was the kind of person who would give someone the shirt off his back without thinking twice. Randy was simply one of a kind.
He battled things that ultimately became too much for him, and I just wish he could have truly understood how deeply he was loved and how many lives he impacted.
Bowling has changed tremendously over the last 25 years, but one of its constants was Randy Pedersen. A PBA and USBC Hall of Famer, and in my eyes, a Hall of Fame broadcaster.
Randy wasn't just someone who covered bowling. Randy was bowling. His voice, his humor, his preparation, his passion and his personality are irreplaceable.
I'm heartbroken that he's gone, but incredibly grateful that my childhood hero eventually became my friend.
I'm going to miss you more than words can say, RP. Thank you for the laughs, the lessons, the memories and everything you gave to this sport and to all of us who loved you.
Rest easy, my friend.

Pedersen was on staff with Storm Products for years and the company posted this on Facebook:
The Storm family is deeply saddened by the passing of our longtime teammate and friend, Randy Pedersen.
Randy’s impact on bowling reached far beyond his accomplishments as a Hall of Fame competitor. Through his unmistakable personality, passion, humor, and years as one of the sport’s most recognizable voices, Randy helped bring bowling to life for generations of fans.
For us, though, Randy was much more than a champion or broadcaster. He was a teammate, a friend, and part of the Storm family.
We are incredibly grateful for the years, memories, laughs, and moments we were fortunate enough to share with him.
Our thoughts are with Randy’s family, friends, and the entire bowling community.
We will miss you, Randy.

There were so many more — far more than I could find the time to publish. Search and read as I did over the last day, and you will understand fully the impact Randy made.