The Pickle Talk
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Goodbye, F.R.I.E.N.D. We'll miss you.

Goodbye, F.R.I.E.N.D. We'll miss you.

PLUS: Roll-out pickleball courts transform ex-walmarts & the BEST pickleballs for winter play

Welcome back, picklers.

Read time: 4 min

Beware.

The zombies of pickleball neverland were out last night, stealing the candy from all those who despise us.

Let’s hope they get the message and do not mess with us anymore…or else 😉

Now, on to some sad news… (p.s. we’ll miss you F.R.I.E.N.D)

TODAY’S MENU

Daily Scoop: How pickleball saved Matthew Perry
News Stash: Form Walmarts to pickleball courts. Picklecon is here. Dink, the pickleball drink.
Sizzling Skills: 80% play. 20% drill. (according to the #1 player)
Kitchen Talk: The BEST pickleballs (that don’t break) for winter play

DAILY SCOOP

How pickleball saved Matthew Perry

A couple days ago, the pickleball world had to say goodbye to a fellow F.R.I.E.N.D:

Matthew Perry.

Here are the details of his death, in case you are not up to date:

Mere hours before his death, Matthew Perry was reportedly "doing really well" playing pickleball at an exclusive LA country club.

Perry's personal coach, Matt Manasse, said the 54-year-old played that Saturday morning with another coach at the Riviera Country Club.
Just hours later, around 4 p.m., Perry was tragically found dead in his home hot tub. The cause of death is unknown.

That’s all we know so far.

As for pickleball, Perry wasn't just a casual pickleball player…

He was an avid enthusiast who regularly played up to 5 times a week.

He used the sport to help his decades-long recovery from alcohol and opioid addiction. Perry would even bring fellow recovering addicts to teach them pickleball as an outlet.

His coach, Manasse, said Perry found joy in pickleball and would excitedly recount great shots for days after. In the darkness, it gave him a sense of community and purpose, something that many of us can attest to.

Perry spent some of his last moments playing pickleball, which underscores how meaningful the game was in helping him find light amid a lifelong battle with substance abuse.

Rest In Peace, Matthew.

NEWS STASH

From Walmarts to pop-up courts

Happenings: We love you, Walmart. But we love pickleball more.

In a recent genius business venture to fill up empty ex-Walmarts, two entrepreneurs converted a former Walmart in Connecticut into a temporary indoor pickleball club with 12 modular courts to meet growing demand for dedicated pickleball facilities.

Their names? Jim Burda and Quin Howe.

Their low-investment "pop-up" model allows them to transform vacant retail spaces into pickleball clubs on a short-term basis.

Genius idea: Using portable roll-up floors and nets, the setup can be dismantled quickly when their lease is up so they can reopen in a new location.

And yes, it’s a huge hit so far.

Picklecon is alive, people

Happenings: We’ve made it people. Comicon, scooch over. It’s our turn.

Announced mid this year, Kansas City will be hosting the inaugural Picklecon event in 2024, an all-encompassing pickleball experience expected to draw thousands.

The deets: Organizer Triple Crown Sports is collaborating with Visit KC to hold the 4-day event at the Kansas City Convention Center, featuring tournaments, clinics, panels, open play, and more for all skill levels.

Money: Estimated to generate nearly $4 million in economic impact, Picklecon aims to capitalize on pickleball's growth.

Dink, the offical drink

Happenings: Apparently, water just isn’t good enough for us pickleball players.

That’s why some very thoughtful business-minded pickleball players created the sports drink DINK, a drink brand formulated “specifically for pickleball players”.

It supposedly offers a hydrating beverage in lemon lime, orange, and pineapple flavors packed in convenient take-anywhere cans.

It also provides electrolytes, minerals, and hydration to aid pickleball recovery.

Co-founded by avid players Joe Feerrar and Abby Feerrar, the hope is that DINK celebrates the upbeat camaraderie of pickleball culture while meeting the nutritional needs of the fast-growing sport.

Try it out yourself.