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is to reach the youth
“I grew up in a broken home. My mom worked two and three
jobs to make ends meet. Not having a positive role model,
while it’s not an excuse, I got into things I shouldn’t have,
so I wanted to help other kids so they didn’t make the same
mistakes I did. I want to teach them how they can do things
that are more productive. If I can reach one kid, it’s all worth
it,” he says. “So my goal with pickleball is to reach the youth
and be your favorite player.”
Hall unabashedly charges the court draped in cheeseburger
pattern fabrics—whether it’s jerseys, leggings, capes or
whatever he feels like wearing that day—all so fans can say,
“The guy in cheeseburgers? That’s Gizmo.” But it’s more than
a gimmick. There’s personal meaning behind his carnivore
style. He calls easy lobs “cheeseburgers,” the kind you
just drool over, ready for you to crack. And, there’s literal
cheeseburgers that he loves
and eats regularly.
Hall’s nickname was the
name of his first dog and
has stuck with him since
he was 14, but he’s found
it helps him stand out in
tournament settings when
it’s announced over the loudspeakers.
“There’s not many African Americans in this sport in
general, not many with dreadlocks, and nobody wearing
cheeseburgers,” he adds. “You’ll remember me for how I
play or how I dress, but at the end of the day, you’re going to
remember me.”
JULY/AUGUST 2019 |
MAGAZINE
43