Fitzgerald | Continued
that he built a pickleball court in his backyard during the pandemic . “ We couldn ’ t leave the house and my kids were playing all these types of games — basketball and baseball in the backyard and playing football — and it was something we could do at night ,” recalls Fitzgerald .
“ You couldn ’ t play football in the backyard at night as I didn ’ t have the lights , but I put some lights outside the pickleball court , and we would play out there until 10 or 11 o ’ clock at night and it would be a lot of fun .”
His love of all sports is also clearly reflected in his becoming a minority owner of the NBA ’ s Phoenix Suns in 2020 .
The 38-year-old Minneapolis native has earned numerous football accolades , one of which was accepting in 2016 the NFL ’ s highly prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award . Named in honor of the former Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back nicknamed “ Sweetness ,” the award highlighted Fitzgerald ’ s philanthropic work and community impact that has earned him abundant respect beyond the football field . Now , besides learning how to handle the third shot drop , he ’ s continuing to focus on bettering the community he lives in .
“ That third shot drop . It ’ s always something I kind of work on especially with the backhand or if I ’ m on the left-hand side , and people are serving it to me out wide trying to get that down ,” he says . “ I want to get up to the net and use my strength , athleticism and length .”
Since he began playing pickleball , Fitzgerald has become fascinated with the quality of play from topflight pros like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters , who — at
Larry Fitzgerald shined in the PPA Carvana Desert Ridge Open Special Exhibition Match with U . S . Olympian Michael Phelps and top pickleball players in the world , including Ben Johns , Matt Wright , Lucy Kovalova , Callie Smith , Anna Leigh Waters , Riley Newman and more . Photo by Bruce Yeung ; IG : @ yeungphotography .
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is undoubtedly one of the finest players in NFL history . Photo by Bruce Yeung ;
IG : @ yeungphotography .
only 15 years old — is beginning to dominate the women ’ s singles scene , and along with her mother , Leigh , is also doing remarkably well in doubles .
“ I don ’ t know if I ’ ll ever be able to react as quickly as them , but it is phenomenal to see their skill . The power — I ’ m a really strong guy so that doesn ’ t really jump out at me , but it ’ s just the shot quality . Playing Anna Leigh a couple of weeks ago , she can hit a driving backhand with topspin — so when it hits the ground , even if you can get there , it ’ s hard to do anything with it because it ’ s running away from you . It ’ s not only the power of their game , but it ’ s also the finesse and skill level of the shots they ’ re executing ,” says Fitzgerald .
Like so many who play the fastest-growing sport in the country , Fitzgerald feels its potential for growth is limitless : “ I would love to start seeing it played at the high school level , maybe in the clubs , and then develop into a true spring sport possibly . I see a lot of kids playing it all over the country and I think the more popular it gets , I definitely think it is something that can be played at the high school level and hopefully , gradually elevate it to a game that will be played on the international world circuit .”
While growing up in Minnesota , Fitzgerald worked as a ball boy for the Vikings under head coach Dennis Green and was able to see many of his boyhood idols up close . Players like Cris Carter , Warren Moon and Randy Moss established his impassioned desire to excel at the sport , and excel he did .
Regarded by many as one of the finest receivers to play in the NFL , Larry Fitzgerald is now turning his attention to the pickleball court . And , once he figures out how to maneuver the third shot drop — and you know he will — watch out . •