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 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. When the man walked into a bowling center, people gravitated to him and chanted his name. 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 a casino with Mrs. Fanta in Washington state, 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 more 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. Thinking of your family, countless friends and the entire @PBATour community tonight.