Bowling icon who became viral sensation shouted legendary taunt at 12-year-old kid
Bowling legend Pete Weber dominated his sport in an incredible career – but will still be best remembered for his legendary taunt at a young heckler.
The American maverick is one of the greatest ten-pin bowlers in history and captured a new audience with his eccentric style on the lanes.
Weber, 60, claimed 10 major championships and became one of the faces of the sport in an epic career spanning four decades.
However, the Missouri man’s iconic rant after nailing a clutch shot to win the U.S Open Championship in 2012 is perhaps what will define him.
Weber transcended his niche sport with an outburst that went viral after he defeated Mike Fagan in a clash that was live on TV.
“Who do you think you are? I am!” Weber screamed as he punched the air in an extraordinary celebration over a decade ago.
The viral clip continues to resurface to this day and internet sensation Weber’s antics are replicated by sports fans who would perhaps otherwise not engage with bowling.
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And Weber has now explained that his rant was targeted directly at a child around the age of 12 who had been hounding him throughout the contest.
“I was sitting there and I was thinking about what I was going to say to the kid who was giving me trouble during the match,” Weber told Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast.
“I wanted to say, ‘Who do you think you are with me in my house?’ It just came out ‘Who do you think you are? I am!’
“[He was] 12, 13, 14. He rooted out loud a couple of times against me; the second frame when I left the 10-pin, he said ‘Yes!’ just loud enough.”
And Weber had no interest in letting the youngster off lightly as he unloaded with his now famous jibe.
“I don’t care if you root, but don’t root loud enough for me to hear, because that just takes away from everything,” he added.
“It p***es me off, so when I get mad, I let people know about it and I’ve never held back.”
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