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  • DEAL OR NO DEAL: Online auction to benefit investors of the $47 million pickleball scam

DEAL OR NO DEAL: Online auction to benefit investors of the $47 million pickleball scam

PLUS: JOOLA releases another paddle during lawsuit + The 12 year old coaching pickleball

 

Good day, picklers.

We love our college sports.

So in accordance with that, we’ve made our way to the University of Indianapolis Tennis Center to play a little pickleball with some old, old tennis friends who have recently wanted to learn OUR sport ;)

Fun fact for ya: Did you know that Indianapolis is home to Wonder Bread?

You know it: the soft, pillowy bread that we used to squish into balls and stuff into our mouth as kids…🙂‍↔️

Anyway, enough bread talk.

Commencing…today’s pickle talk.

Here’s what’s on the docket today:

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s start off with a visually stunning banger, shall we? 😵‍💫

If you’ve ever wanted a look into the collegiate pickleball world…👀

@tylerstatted/IG

PICKLE TALK

1/ Online auction to benefit pickleball scam investors

How do you solve a problem like Rodney Grubbs? (aka, the pickleball scammer).

LOOKING IN: From 7/22 to 7/28, Christy's of Indiana will host an online auction for the entire inventory of the now-defunct & bankrupt Pickleball Rocks business. The auction includes 3,200 carbon fiber paddles, hats, shirts, balls, nets, and more, all spread over 7,000 square feet of storage space.

LOOKING OUT: The hope is that the proceeds will benefit victims of the $47 million pickleball investment scam orchestrated by Rodney Grubbs. Despite efforts to find hidden assets, the sale is projected to generate only about $2 million, potentially offering creditors just a 3-5% recovery of their losses.

2/ PPA & MLP going international in 2025

US professional pickleball is heading overseas and expanding the competitive fire.

LOOKING IN: The United Pickleball Association (UPA) has announced a new series of international events to expand the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball globally.

And starting in 2025, the UPA International Championship Series will bring top-tier competitions to Australia, India, Canada, Asia, and Europe, featuring over 150 elite pro players.

Event Schedule:

  • Australia Pickleball Open - Melbourne, Australia (Jan. 29-Feb. 2)

  • India Pickleball Open - Mumbai, India (Feb. 5-9)

  • Canada Pickleball Open - Toronto, Canada (September)

  • Asia Pickleball Open - TBA, Asia (October)

  • Europe Pickleball Open - TBA, Europe (October)

  • UPA World Championships - Dallas, TX, USA (November)

INVOLVED: This series will be hosted in partnership with local organizations, offering PPA Tour ranking points and featuring renowned players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters. Future plans include expanding Major League Pickleball’s co-ed team league globally.

3/ Picklemall closing after 1 year

It’s not always sunshine and rainbows in the pickleball world, and for one pickleball facility, the sun has officially set.

Sadly, the Picklemall in Tempe, Arizona, is closing its doors after its lease was terminated by Arizona Mills, with operations ending by July 22nd. With an initial aim of expanding to 50 locations nationwide, this location has remained its sole establishment since its inception. And despite efforts, a new home wasn't secured in time.

Source: AZCentral

LOOKING IN: Key financier Steve Kuhn backed Picklemall's ambitious plans that were announced in May 2023. The facility, which opened in August 2023, faced a setback when the lease renewal was denied for May 2024. As a result, The Dink Minor League Pickleball event initially scheduled at Picklemall will now take place at The Pickleball Guild.

MOVING FORWARD: GM Ben Worley announced that all programs and events will move to Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, featuring 41 outdoor courts, with plans for more facilities. The community is invited to join at the new location to continue growing the vibrant pickleball community.

4/ ANOTHER pickleball investment by Drew Brees

Sir, that NFL money is being put to great use.

LOOKING IN: Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees is venturing into the pickleball scene with a new venue, Pickle N Pins, in Metairie, Louisiana. This facility will feature public courts for not just pickleball, but also for the rising sport of padel.

THAT’S NOT ALL: There will also be duckpin bowling, axe-throwing, darts, cornhole, a full restaurant, and bar.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Pickle N Pins, co-owned by Brees and Darren Balsamo, aims to provide a family-friendly environment while catering to adults looking for a fun and social experience.

EVEN MORE: Brees' business interests in New Orleans also include Smalls Sliders, Walk-On's, and Stretch Zone, as well as part ownership of a pickleball team in Austin. His foundation will host the second annual NOLA Pickle Fest starting August 7.

HOT TOPICS on Reddit

We all know about the lawsuit going on between JOOLA and USAP. And if that assumption is incorrect, please read up on it here.

As it’s been pretty quite the last few weeks on that front, as a resolution is still being negotiated, it was kinda exciting to see the most recent JOOLA news.

This week on Reddit, one of the hottest topics of the week revolved around JOOLA’s all-of-a-sudden release of a pre-sale-only paddle called the JOOLA Persus 16MM MOD TA-15 Pro Player Edition paddle.

BUT HOW? Shouldn’t JOOLA be going back to the paddle drawing board after the JOOLA Gen 3 discontinuation AND tread lightly with their releases at this time?

Here’s the speculation via Reddit.

While USAP never specified the exact physical & performative reason as to why the Gen 3 paddle was delisted and no longer USAP approved, people believe that it has something to do with the propulsion core providing too much power during play.

Alright, makes sense. But according to the JOOLA website, this new presale only paddle also has a propulsion core.

Confusing? Yessir.

The top comment references the propulsion core concern…

…and the comment that kinda answers the question in a logical sense states that from a manufacturing perspective, JOOLA could have simply adjusted certain aspects of the face, core, or foam (depending on the specific physical reason the Gen 3 was deemed illegal) to reduce the either the CoR or the needed test results to pass the necessary tests.

Interesting. This has led people to draw the conclusion that these new paddles are simply the original prototypes that were approved by USAP back in September 2023 but rebranded.

Funny enough, if JOOLA’s claim that the Gen 3 and those tested back at the tail end of 2023 were exact structural and material replicas, then it looks like JOOLA found a loophole, therefor releasing the “Gen 3” again in a way and legally.

But the question for buyers is, for $280 bucks + tax, are you taking the risk or is JOOLA no longer a paddle contender for your pickleball game?

Your thoughts and personal conclusions are appreciated.

JOIN THE CONVO on Reddit:

BITE-SIZED PICKLES

1/ WELCOME TO PICKLEBALL HIGH: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland is expanding pickleball as a varsity sport to all 25 high schools for the fall 2024 season after pioneering it just last year. Thanks to a successful pilot program in fall 2023 at 11 schools, part of an initiative to increase sports access for students with disabilities.

Who’s involved? This expansion is supported by a partnership with the D.C. Pickleball Team and JOOLA, the world's largest pickleball equipment company. MCPS officials, citing the benefits of athletics on academic performance and student well-being, see pickleball as a valuable addition to their sports program.

2/ NEVER TOO YOUNG: Residents at The Ridge-Pinehurst Retirement Community in Lakewood, Colorado, recently enjoyed a pickleball lesson from 12-year-old Logan Russell, a nationally ranked player sponsored by Gearbox.

Among the students was 98-year-old Rita Price, a Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame inductee who recently started playing pickleball.

Logan and Rita teamed up during the event, highlighting the sport's ability to bring generations together. The Ridge-Pinehurst, featured in the documentary "World’s Most Luxurious Retirement Homes," offers pickleball as one of its many amenities, promoting active and joyful living among its residents.

 

3/ ARE YOU AN AMATEUR?: MLP by Margaritaville (MLP) and DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) have partnered to launch a schedule of amateur events branded as Minor League Pickleball (MiLP).

Starting with MLP Virginia Beach in September 2024, these events will run alongside professional MLP tournaments.

MLP CEO Bruce Popko expressed excitement about bringing the coed team format to amateur players, offering them a chance to play alongside pros. DUPR CEO Tito Machado highlighted the opportunity for amateur players to compete like pros and advance to a national championship with $50,000 in prize money, set to be held at the Missouri Pickleball Club in December.

4/ IN A PICKLE: San Francisco's pickleball and tennis communities have faced ongoing conflict, marked by vandalism and disputes over shared court use.

A possible solution? A new proposal suggests creating separate, side-by-side courts for each sport at Stern Grove courts, aiming to reduce tensions and avoid conflicts over court setups.

The idea, supported by pickleball advocates and discussed at a recent Recreation and Parks Commission meeting, proposes four permanent pickleball courts adjacent to a single tennis court.

Although Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg acknowledged the proposal’s creativity, he noted that changes might be challenging due to existing contracts but encouraged continued collaboration.

GOLDEN PICKLE, ANYONE?

🏆 Once a skeptic, Daniel Dae Kim, star of HawaiI Five-0, is now a pickleball KING.

🏆 This limited edition pickleball necklace by Kendra Scott hoping to raise money for alzheimer’s research.

🏆 Ex-pro-soccer player making a name for himself in the world of pro pickleball.

ICYMI…A Pickle Talk Rewind

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.