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More and more NFL players are publicly sharing that they are pickleball fanatics. Others are wagering their money on the business side of the sport, expecting to reap the rewards of their enthusiasm as the industry grows.

Also, don't get too giddy if there are plans to construct pickleball courts in your community. In the course of a year, those who were once good friends might turn into your worst foes.

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TODAY’S MENU

• Daily Scoop: The plea for pickleball noise relief

• News Stash: NFL stars invest in pickleball. Toy R Us home to pickleball facility. $1 mil’ for top players.

• Sizzling Skills: Give those wrists a break, please.

• Kitchen Talk: The most annoying thing a player can do (according to reddit users)

DAILY SCOOP

The plea for pickleball noise relief

To millions of pickleball fanatics, the sounds of pickleball are music to our ears.

To the millions of others, though, who are just trying to catch some shut-eye or enjoy a quiet moment on their porch, the noises are enough to send chills up their spines.

Tik, Tik, Boom.

Imagine being 1 of the 400 (and growing…) pickleball players waiting impatiently for even more pickleball courts to be built at your local club.

And all of a sudden, BOOM. The plans…cancelled.

For the York Tennis and Pickleball Club, it was all fun and giddy anticipation until the local neighbors rallied together in hopes of destroying the plans.

According to the neighbors, all they hear is the constant tiking and consider it “very destructive.

York isn’t a special case:

• In May 2022, a couple decided enough was enough and sued a nearby country club for the “repetitive nuisance.”

• In 2020, apartment renters were forced to move out as they described the sounds as “gunshots.”

A potential solution?

Back in York, the club has withdrawn its plan to build the extra 2 courts in hopes of maintaining good relations with the surrounding neighbors.

Instead, they will build an “8-foot, specially designed fence around the court area to mitigate sound coming from the club by 10-15 decibels.”

Also, the hope is to encourage players to use “sound proofing” paddles. 

Another county located in Virginia is also planning to install acoustic fencing to diminish the dinking sounds coming from nearby courts.

The cost? 1.5 million dollars.

The problem? People are not convinced it will work.

Let’s hope and pray that Bob Unetich can come up with a solution soon, or we may be seeing more teardowns than builds if the complaints keep comin’.

NEWS STASH

Longhorns star Robinson smashes into pickleball with team ownership stake

Happenings: Texas Longhorns football star Bijan Robinson has expanded his entrepreneurial endeavors, becoming part-owner of the Texas Ranchers team in Major League Pickleball.

The story? Robinson grew fond of the fast-growing sport during college, frequently playing to loosen his hips. With the Ranchers and his Longhorns sharing an Austin hometown, Robinson jumped at the investment opportunity alongside his NFL peers.

Robinson has embraced pickleball's growth despite the fact that football remains his primary focus because of other celebrities like LeBron James getting involved in team ownership.

Pickleball startup seeks first Midwest center in former Toys R Us

Happenings: PickleMall, a startup indoor pickleball facility company, is proposing to open its first Midwest location in a former Toys R Us store in Vernon Hills, Illinois by the end of 2023.

The Deets: Backed by Major League Pickleball's founder, PickleMall seeks to capitalize on pickleball's huge growth by providing state-of-the-art centers across America.

With overwhelming village board support, PickleMall Vernon Hills aims to meet surging demand with 24 courts for drop-in, membership, lessons, and even pro tournaments.

As pickleball's popularity booms with inadequate court supply, PickleMall's adaptive reuse of old retail spaces provides dedicated infrastructure for the flourishing sport.

Ooo…Pickleball's top pros earn 7 figures

Happenings: Though recreational pickleball participation has exploded, the economics of playing professionally remain challenging, with average earnings shy of six figures.

Money Talk: Top players can make over $1 million annually through tournaments, appearance fees and sponsors, but up-and-comers often hold other jobs, competing weekends for smaller prizes.

Major League Pickleball projects 2023 payouts will hit $5 million, spread across many events and 96 players.

As visibility and investment grow with brands like Monster and Sketchers involved, pros' pay is expected to rise, but for now, hard work off-court to attract deals is key for less established players to profit amid the sport's surging popularity.

SIZZLING SKILLS

In a pickle: When hitting, give your wrist a break and lead with the shoulder.

In a pickle: No running while returning the ball. Set your weight first, return, then run.

KITCHEN TALK

Discuss this: Most annoying things a player can do?

Clarity, please: If the ball lands out, and you call “out”, but you return/hit the ball back still… what happens ?

Help: I'm getting OWNED by my opponent's topspin serve!

Source: Reddit

HIGHLIGHTS

👉🏻 Basketball star Tyler Herro makes a bold claim: “I am the best pickleball player in the world.”

👉🏻 Oyy, mate! Did ya hear Franklin Sports is now the official ball sponsor of Pickleball Australia?

👉🏻 Chicken N Pickle secured a $10 mil’ investment from NFL players Patrick Mahomes and others.

👉🏻 93 years old and rockin’ the court.

PLAY OF THE DAY…

Time to simmer down…🧘🏻‍♀️😮‍💨

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Dink me at [email protected]

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

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