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Ben Stiller bringing pickleball comedy gold to the big screen

PLUS: Major Change...USPTA is no longer just about tennis + Confusing pickleball rules, explained

 

Good day, picklers.

THE DINK, coming to a theatre near you.

Hate it or love it, Ben Stiller is ready to make comedic gold once again. Only this time, featuring the only game in the world that’s worth making fun of:

Pickleball.

More on that later…

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

  • Pickle Talk: Ben Stiller bringing pickleball comedy gold to the big screen (plus social media reactions)

  • Hot Topic: Major Change: USPTA is no longer just about tennis

  • Bite-sized: Feature…Confusing pickleball rules, explained

  • Golden Pickle: Join the convo…“Pickleball has shown me that many people never learned how to share”

PICKLE TALK

BEN STILLER BRINGING PICKLEBALL COMEDY GOLD TO THE BIG SCREEN
(PLUS SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS)

Alright, let’s give this pickleball movie scoop the lively flair it deserves.

You know it’s gonna be a good time when one of comedy’s heavyweights is leading the charge on a pickleball movie hitting your local theater screens. Yep, you heard me right.

Ben Stiller, the star of classic comedies like Dodgeball and Zoolander is producing The Dink. Dance for me Ben. DANCE FOR ME!

Here’s the lowdown…👇🏾

Jake Johnson is stepping into the lead role as a washed-up tennis pro who dives into the world of pickleball to save a struggling club—and, let’s be real, earn his father’s approval along the way. Typical father-son relationship spun into a pickleball movie.

Joining him are the fabulous Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris, with none other than Ben Stiller and former tennis champ Andy Roddick in supporting roles. Talk about a dream team, am I right? 💭

Getty Images/Victoria Stevens/Getty

Filming is set to kick off in LA this November, and we’ve got Josh Greenbaum, the mastermind behind Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, directing the flick.

After stepping away from the limelight seven years ago to focus on roles that resonated with him, he’s back and ready to bring the laughs and speaking for the pickleball community…

What a freakin’ honor it is.

With such a stellar cast and crew, we’re left to wonder: will this become the Dodgeball of pickleball for a new generation?

Now, let’s talk about the buzz surrounding this project. The response?

Surprisingly positive 😃. After scouring the movie Reddit pages, it looks like people are genuinely excited about the film and ready to embrace pickleball, at least in a comedic sense. Here are some standout comments:

u/newsreadhjw: “This is the best concept for a comedy I have heard of in a long time.”

u/Lustache: “Why do I feel like Jake Johnson was born for a pickleball movie?”

u/threeayem: “Sean Clements with the screenplay is why I’m watching this on day one.”

So, buckle up guys. This will be a good one. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

No pressure, but please Ben…just don’t ruin this for us.

SOCIAL HOT TOPIC

MAJOR CHANGE: USPTA IS NO LONGER
JUST ABOUT TENNIS

That’s right Serena. Let’s dive into the racquet revolution and a major change that was…unexpected.

First off, the USPTA or United States Professional Tennis Association has officially ditched its old name, rebranding itself as the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA).

Why? 🤔

Well, the short answer: it’s marketing bro. (Buzz knows whats up.)

The long answer: to keep up with the exploding racquet sports scene.

Now, they’re certifying pros in not just tennis, but also pickleball, padel, squash, and platform tennis. That’s right…five sports under one umbrella. Talk about a power move.

👨🏼‍💼 According to CEO Brian Dillman, this shift isn’t just a trend; it’s a response to the booming demand from clubs adding more racquet facilities.

Gone are the days of “us vs. them” between tennis and its up-and-coming counterparts. It’s now all about the “We.” It’s all about collaboration to grow the industry and expand opportunities for instructors.

And speaking of opportunities, pickleball is serving as the entry-level sport that draws new players into the racquet world. We’ll see how that changes over time, won’t we… 👈🏻

While tennis still reigns supreme under their watch, it’s clear that the RSPA is aiming for inclusivity across the board. Dillman put it this way: we’re witnessing a promising future. 55 million racquet-sport players compared to just 20 million tennis players.

Meanwhile, squash is gearing up for its Olympic debut, and padel is expanding its reach as facilities pop up everywhere.

The racquet sports landscape is evolving, and the RSPA is making moves to capture it all.

BITE-SIZED PICKLE

1/ Over the weekend, the familiar sound of pickleball filled the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the “National Mall of Pickleball” event, held at the JFK Hockey Fields near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Organized by the Trust for the National Mall and Humana to promote health and wellness, the event welcomed participants of all ages and skill levels, including pickleball professionals and casual players. With about 800 people signing up to play, the event highlighted pickleball’s growing popularity as a fun, accessible sport for everyone.

Side note: Trump..this was your chance to appeal to the pickleball community after your terrible debate

2/ If you’ve ever been confused about the ever changing pickleball rules that seem to change almost every single week, the Pickleball Playbook’s most recent video explains the most confusing of the rules in the current 2024 Rule Book.

From serve rules like the 10 second rule to score keeping rules such as calling the entire score before the ball is served, you won’t want to miss this short but very informative video. It might just win you your next play.

3/ Bring me back to highschool, NOW! Pickleball’s rising popularity has reached lucky Western Massachusetts, where a pilot program has launched the first-ever Western Mass. High School Pickleball League.

Lia O’Brien, a freshman, became the league’s first player to serve. With four schools participating—Westfield Technical Academy, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, South Hadley High School, and Springfield International Charter—the league is gaining momentum and hopefully the message across the US of A. Athletic coordinators and coaches hope to make pickleball a varsity sport across the state, with matches running through October and aspirations for future expansion.

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

1/ Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are embracing family fun by turning their driveway into a pickleball court, where they enjoy friendly competition without the intensity. As Bell juggles parenting and her new Netflix series Nobody Wants This, she emphasizes the importance of balance and joy in both play and work.

2/ Join the convo, won’t you? This week’s hottest conversation headlined “Pickleball has shown me that many people never learned how to share” takes a deep dive into pickleball etiquette and why some people are just plain rude on the court. What we once thought as the happiest game in the world is slowly turning into drama, drama, drama everywhere we look.

3/ Who knew it costs an arm and a leg to play pro pickleball? Back in 2021, pro baller Rob Nunnery graced the world with his breakdown and analysis of how much it costs to play pickleball as a pro. In short…let’s just say he’s in favor of a bit of financial support to break down barriers and eliminate friction for the future of the game. You can read the full post here.

4/ Miss the last Pickle Talk? Read up on how Steve Kuhn, the founder of MLP, believes the near-future GOATS of pickleball will not be from the USA, but from Asia. Also, a fistfight on a retiree community pickleball court sparks questions regarding censorship and free speech.

No pickle left unturned…

AND BOOM!

Just like that, another edition of The Pickle Talk has concluded.

Thanks for sticking around for another edition and hey, if you’ve enjoyed this Pickle Talk…

Go ahead and share it with a friend or 3. There’s really no reason to gatekeep great content 😉

Thanks for reading!

Until next time, picklers.