Simone Jardim stretching low to make a return .
championship run , with Arnold excelling on the court and capturing MVP honors . “ I ’ m super-excited about our team ,” added Tereschenko . “ Every player on Mad Drops can bring both energy and a high level of play . Also stoked about our team owner Drew Brees . I have been a Saints fan since 2009 ( before pro pickleball ) so this was an incredible honor to represent his team .”
Perhaps the shot of the tournament , and one that made ESPN ’ s Top Ten list , was a between-the-legs shot off the paddle of Tyler Loong of the Seattle Pioneers in an early round match against the Las Vegas Night Owls . “ Kyle Yates hit an incredible lob and had I been a little more athletic I probably would ’ ve hit it out of the air , but Yates ’ lob went over me ,” said Loong . “ I thought the lob might be going out , but sure enough it landed right inside the line and the only shot I could hit was between my legs . I hit that and followed up my shot to close out the point !”
If there was any doubt as to the continuing rise in popularity of pickleball , an appearance on sports ’ top medium put those to rest . “ More and more people started messaging me and sending me the clip and it finally hit me . I have no idea who shared the clip initially or if ESPN was watching , but super-cool to be featured on SportsCenter ’ s Top Ten ,” added Loong .
Witnessing the first of what may be many other shots featured on TV and video ’ s brightest stages in the future is also super-cool . Major League Pickleball is now comfortably part of the lexicon of sports . •
Drew Wathey is author of “ A Season With Hope ” and former director of communications for the PGA Tour ’ s Phoenix Open . Wathey is owner of SportsLink , a home-based sports public relations and marketing company . He is also a national sports anchor for iHeart Radio . His family lives in Phoenix , Arizona .
A CLASS OF THEIR OWN
As the sport of pickleball continues to rise , so does the attraction for ownership within Major League Pickleball .
One of sports ’ most prolific advertisers , Anheuser- Busch , is the new owner of the Atlanta Bouncers while Tom Dundon , owner of the NHL ’ s Carolina Hurricanes , finds himself sitting atop the Seattle Pioneers .
Winners of the Premier Level tournament at MLP ’ s inaugural event in Mesa , Arizona , the L . A . Mad Drops team is owned by Drew Brees , Zubin Mehta , Kevin Kroeger , Greg Fleishman and Sam Casperson . LeBron James , through his family office with Maverick Carter — LRMR Ventures — owns the New York Hustlers along with Draymond Green , Kevin Love , SC Holdings , Paul Rivera ( SpringHill Company ), Daniel Sillman ( Relevant Sports Group ) and Corey Benbasset .
The Bay Area Breakers , which captured the Challenger Level in Mesa , finds its ownership group consisting of Jeremy Lin , Mimi and David Mercado , Geoff Nguyen , Stacey and Jeff Nishi and Kathleen and Wayley Louie . Perhaps pickleball will now take up a good portion of Tom Brady ’ s retirement days , as the legendary NFL quarterback is teaming up with Kim Clijsters to own the Las Vegas Night Owls . Joining them are Tom Wagner , Matt Alvarez , Callie Simpkins and Kaitlyn Kerr .
Other notable celebrity owners who are among the dozens of investors in the clubs are Patrick Mahomes , Naomi Nasaka , Chris Evert , Mark Cuban , Heidi Klum , Kate Upton , Odell Beckham Jr ., and Eva Longoria . •