Pickleball Magazine 7-2 | Page 39

Larry Fitzgerald at the Paradise Valley Country Club ’ s newly converted pickleball courts in Paradise Valley , AZ , near his home .

His legendary play as a wide receiver in the NFL will all but assure Larry Fitzgerald of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer . His bronze bust will forever be enshrined in Canton , Ohio , and Fitzgerald will eventually join the sport ’ s elite after a sparkling career that rivals few .

Coming off the campus of the University of Pittsburgh where he was the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft , Fitzgerald has spent 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and amassed an incredible receiving portfolio with 1,432 receptions for nearly 17,500 yards and 121 touchdowns , second only to the great Jerry Rice in pass catches and yards . Holder of 24 NFL records and 40 Cardinals franchise milestones , Fitzgerald is undoubtedly one of the finest players in NFL history .
His athleticism and attention off the gridiron are now being played out on the pickleball court . His passion for the game quickly caught on the first time he held a paddle .
“ I started playing a little before the pandemic , played down in Cabo San Lucas with a couple of friends at El Dorado , the Discovery property in Mexico ,” says the 11-time Pro Bowler . “ I was just kind of fascinated with the speed of the game and I just got addicted . I ended up playing when I got back in Arizona that next week .”
Like so many current and former professional athletes , Fitzgerald was attracted to the speed of the sport , the volleying at the kitchen line and overall pace of play .
“ I like the speed , the hand-eye coordination , the finesse shots , the dinking , and also just thinking through the shots and why you are trying to execute this shot , in terms of hitting it ,” he explains . “ Also , the difference between driving a shot or trying to dink it , using the angles and using my long wingspan . So , all of that played into why I like it so much .”
Fitzgerald ’ s long wingspan instilled terror in defensive backs who had to cover him on the field . He posted nine 1,000-yard seasons and five years where he caught 100 or more passes , and made first-team All-Pro in 2008 . Fitzgerald associates quickness in hauling in the pigskin with reacting to shots on the pickleball court . He feels that many of his NFL brethren could pick up the sport and soon attain a fairly level competence of play .
“ Anybody who has lateral quickness and ability to move , and has touch around the net , would be good ,” added Fitzgerald . “ So , any professional wide receiver would be pretty good at pickleball , and any defensive back would be really good just because they are so quick .” Fitzgerald hopes to become a skilled pickleball player and enjoys playing with his family and friends so much
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MARCH / APRIL 2022 | MAGAZINE 37