AROUND THE POST

One of the reasons we all love pickleball is because players of various ages can compete together . And we mean compete — people with equal skill levels , despite a 30 or more year age difference . A young — perhaps even cocky — player crosses the path of an older , wiser player with nothing to prove — and the game begins .

Our friend Keith from out west tells the perfect story to illustrate the splendor of pickleball :

Last week , two guys in their early 30s , both over 6 ft ., mopped the floor with a man and woman in their 70s . These two knuckleheads were strutting and high-fiving , celebrating as if they ’ d just defeated Kyle Yates and Wes Gabrielsen .

Later , my friend Philip , 61 , and I , 73 , played these two fellows . Philip is a deft soft shot and spin artist , and I ’ m a polyglot shot maker . Our games complement each other well .

These guys ran up a 7-0 lead . Finally , Philip and I got our chance and ran off eight straight points to win the game 12-10 . These two were not trash-talking or posing anymore — and after the game , one of them muttered , “ Fluke .”

Philip , a normally placid and contemplative man , immediately

By Jennifer Lucore & Alex Hamner

challenged them to another game . Both of these dweebs practically jumped up and down in eager acceptance .

Game two ? 11-2 , Philip and I again . They challenged us to a third game , but Philip , God bless him , said , “ Nope , two will do .”

I love pickleball !

Not only was Keith ’ s game on fire — his humor was , too , as he rattled off several title suggestions for this story !

“ NEVER UNDERESTIMATE GRANDPA ”

“ SENIORS SPANK SMARTALECKS ”