1980 Long Island Open (Pete Weber's first TV appearance)

[@CarsonClaws]

A legend is born

[@cuber-ws3nt]

ayo

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

Pete Weber bowled against pros who were at their peak in the 1950s and bowled against people who will be pros in the 2030s and beyond. 40 plus years as a top bowler.

[@electrolytics]

He was what I think I are.

[@ap70621]

He am.

[@bobby_c7671]

But who did he think he was back then?

[@garysimms6412]

Pete Weber, 41 years ago a young Kidd on the rise. It just goes to show you anything is possible what he has accomplished to this day. 🎳

[@ronaldshank7589]

Seemed to be very serious about Bowling, even back then. Mostly very dour, but managed to smile at least once. What a legend he would become, later on!

[@frenchfrey65]

just found out today that he's retiring from the PBA, he'll still be bowling PBA Regionals and PBA50, but the main league he's retiring from. Happy Trails Legend!

[@craigseitz3453]

How time flies. His interview after the match, he says "I can't throw as hard as these young guys anymore."

[@terminat1]

I was eleven months old. I wonder if my parents had this on the television.

[@clammer23]

I saw him win his 1st title live. My father brought me to watch him at Windsor Locks, CT.

[@dalemassicotte6198]

Bradley Bowl now branded as Spare Time

[@kylebittner5100]

Get some Papa Gino's after? Haha

[@Treachery93]

I remember watching this on TV (ABC Sports), Saturday afternoon when i was 10. My dad and i never missed a show. Pete was calm, cool and collected in the early days. The PBA then said that they needed a "bad boy"... Everyone started to trash talk soon after.

[@thedrowseproject]

Drugs and alcohol created the "bad boy" image. by the mid 80s he was winning enough money to live comfortably numb. I've hung out with Pete a few times. good dude. solid.

[@TheRustedShackleford]

@@thedrowseproject Pete always struck me as a dude who liked the nose candy back in the day.

[@LowEnd31st]

@@TheRustedShacklefordwell he did say he was spending huge amounts of money on cocaine and booze back then

[@birdman7135]

Afterward, a mysterious man hidden in the shadows handed Pete a pair of green sunglasses...

[@gsdubz9931]

And whispered 'who do you think you are? I am'.

[@jimgardner1306]

Arnie Goldman to Pete: “Who do you think you are? I am!”

[@unclebillmusic]

And GOD said to Moses (Charlton Heston)> " I AM, THAT I AM" (from "The Ten Commandments"

[@tyecht07]

his style is so different

[@jaxes88]

Back before he was who you think you are.

[@josephliptak]

He definitely looks nervous out there but who wouldn't be on their first TV appearance.

[@bengrimm1222]

What was with the tape on his left shoulder blade?

[@gwencrawford737]

David Diles is in the booth with Bo Burton at this tournament.

[@vaporfreedom]

Who else just watched Pete’s last PBE game?

[@mreid08]

4:10 If Freddy Mercury had a brother......

[@fryingmachine571]

Lmfao

[@pizzasubs]

just curious, what was the black strip of tape that he had on the back of his shirt?????

[@robertparmele161]

+Andrew Silva His father pranked him before the telecast.

[@xforce300]

It was for a memorial to Dick Battista

[@Daveyo747]

That tape was his initiation, to everybody, being a teeny bopper, and the tape was to get people to notice Pete the Beat.

[@adventuresfloridatothailan5217]

@@xforce300 Dick Battista drilled all my balls. Had 1 drilled for the 1st time last week by Palmer Fallgren

[@adventuresfloridatothailan5217]

1st time in 40+ years

[@DarkTiger2017]

Young PDW. Dang. And his dad sounds exactly like Pete sound like now. This is so weird...

[@bski824]

Garden city lanes.still there I think.

[@hens13]

In your description it says “Garden City, NJ”, do you mean Garden City NY? That’s in Long Island.

[@bobby_c7671]

Theres a Garden city in both NJ and NY,so im not really sure where it was held.

[@chocolateflat-nosedfreaksh5263]

Why is there a piece of tape on his back?

[@joeambrose3260]

In memory of Dick Batista. Google it

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

I suspect a sponsorship conflict with ABC.

[@ronaldshank7589]

There could be a Mic up under the tape. That's my thought

[@kxp.1496]

Their hair cuts still look like 70’s bowl cuts

[@cupchamp5]

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, I AM!!!!

[@railfanmedia7286]

LOL

[@pianistanimeher394]

He attitude has change alot.... I won't change

[@Kgio-2112]

My Uncle Louie used to bowl with Dick Weber in the pro am .

[@abidababida7096]

Anyone know what bowling alley this was held at on long Island? It looks exactly like the place I grew up bowling in, Franklin Bowl in Franklin Square

[@b-chill3493]

+ Abida Babida It was at Garden City Bowl in Garden City, NY

[@bxndzroxey4833]

Nice.

[@jjglick5777]

Yes, Garden City. I bowled there in the '80's. They always had the bleachers set up for the audience when the pros came to town. Also bowled at Franklin Bowl, Elmont Bowlaire and Argo lanes.

[@lukeheaton5336]

If you’re a Long Islander, Garden City Bowl still is on Stewart Ave. near Roosevelt Field Mall, Nassau Community College and the Nassau Coliseum. Last time I was out that way September 2019), the alley was still there.

[@KevinMphotography]

Looks like a regular league bowler lol.

[@Mario-cv5el]

What's with the black tape on the back of his shirt??

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

They were all wearing the black tape to mark the passing of PBA star Bill Battista. (He once served as the color commentator on the syndicated TV series "Championship Bowling.")

[@alexnorman4919]

In response I would simply say...... I think I'm me, and YES you are!!.

[@golfnutt8]

He likes throwing that very tight outside line and never moved to the left when his ball kept hitting high or even Brooklynn. He may have won if he moved to the left.

[@MeMe-td1ye]

OK expert

[@MMPAspergerian]

Oh yeah, I def had the haircut too!!!

[@Lat41]

Even at his age, surprised he didn’t move inside. Ball was breaking at 25 feet.

[@bigmike1114]

That’s where every bowler bowled at lol

[@Lat41]

@@bigmike1114 So they were all wrong I guess. Look at the ball transition. Does that seem optimal to you?

[@bigmike1114]

@@Lat41 curving the ball was still revitivily new to the game like barley any of them played pass the middle arrow

[@glenandbrandy]

Curving the ball was by no means “new” in 1980! They just did not have the advanced cores and cover stocks todays “hook in a box” offers. Back then, it’s like everyone was using a house ball compared to today’s equipment.

[@bigmike1114]

@@glenandbrandy that’s what I meant sorry

[@ENTERTAINMENT35]

Garden City NJ? It's The Long Island Open I thought so how can this be NJ?

[@joeambrose3260]

Garden City NY. Nassau County

[@MDEGlorious]

A legend fr

[@robpgh159]

Dr Strange at 4:13 😂

[@bxndzroxey4833]

Yep, that's the PeeWee I remember. Never thought much of his bowling or him for that matter. Sure turned into a talent, given the nonstop influence of his dad and all dad's admirers. Your sure right 20alphabet!

[@WO2411]

GOAT 👑

[@lancelottheknight7126]

Pete Weber looks like a young Tony Stark.

[@BaseFury]

Pete has had his demons in his personal life, no question. But every time I have interviewed him, encountered him, he has been a SUPER dude. Much like Holman, he just wore his heart on his sleeve when he competed....the coke didnt help when he was young.

[@Renville80]

nodonny8 projecting much?

[@pablolacruz2652]

Yeah, soda is not good for you.

[@treeman2660]

2nd shot 😂 😂 😂. I remember him talking some smack to Belmo. Exact words I believe. Im gonna lose to a guy bowling Brooklyn. 😂 Looks like he invented it.

[@thedude6478]

Golden

[@davidjr300]

Looks like he wants to be a lefty

[@ronaldshank7589]

He learned, though...bowl with what you're "Armed" with. (I'll show myself out)...😆🤣😆🤣😆

[@robertohlrich369]

Used to come in our donut shop!

[@michaelpowell5266]

P.D.W., enough said!!!

[@mikestupplebeen9257]

I dont know who you are, I am!

[@austinpurdy8387]

Looking like Eric foreman

[@HereBeRabbit]

He was such a cute kid... What happened?....

[@deweyschmidt824]

Same haircut 44 years later.

[@alexfischer90730]

why did weber have so much tape on his index finger

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

alexfischer90730 Pete was actually wearing a plastic device called the Super Touch. During the 1980 and 1981 seasons quite a few of the pros seemed to wear this device on the telecasts. They would get paid incentive money if they wore the device on television. I don’t remember anybody using this device after 1981, so presumably the incentive money went away. In 1982 and 1983 a popular device was the Kinetic Controller, which was a glove like device that fit over the back of the hand.

[@Benderthegr865]

@@veggieoilerfan2940 wow! That's strange thank you for the insight!

[@joeambrose3260]

They said he wore band-aids in honor of the Iranian hostages and when they were released he was afraid to pull them off. So he just waited until they disintegrated

[@craigevans967]

Nice haircut,

[@jayceredmer6265]

I think Pete liked to hoop it up a little bit to much!

[@stevenm6301]

How about some oil on those lanes?

[@michaelabercrombie7698]

He didn't age well.

[@bigmike1114]

He’s in his 60s lol

[@MrDorbel]

@@bigmike1114 58

[@bigmike1114]

@@MrDorbel yea he also drinks a lot and used to do drugs to

[@MrDorbel]

@@bigmike1114 So? I drink a lot and used to use drugs too! What's your point?

[@bigmike1114]

@@MrDorbel that’s why he didn’t age well

[@thomasfroberg1294]

Haha

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Take a look at Weber here and see the cesspool that bowling has fallen into today.

[@davidd.6004]

That large piece of black tape on the back of his shirt threw of his shot ...... clearly. Must have been some kind of rookie initiation.

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

or sponsor who was not allowed to be advertised on TV.

[@kingwillie206]

Pete bowled like he had just choked on a bong before the game.

[@MaizeANDBlue1957]

These were the days before Pete fell into the depths of alcoholism. Which eventually turned him into an angry drunk who was suspended for verbally abusing the fans. Now that he's decided not to bowl anymore? BOWLING IS BETTER!!

[@fredhoss1662]

No it's not

[@MaizeANDBlue1957]

@@fredhoss1662 Yeah.... It is. _When you grow up, you'll understand why._

[@fredhoss1662]

PDW saved the PBA in the early 2000's if you didn't know so a lot of people disagree with your opinion. You really showed your maturity with the insult.

[@MaizeANDBlue1957]

@@fredhoss1662 OH MY! I *REALLY* hurt your _WIDDLE FEEWING_ didn't I? I'll bet you're one of those thin skinned liberals. A guy who hangs out in public bathrooms with his pants around his ankles wearing a sign that says _'free poke'_ 🤣