Hard Rock Hotel and Casino offered up guitars to the winning duo . Pictured ( l to r ): Jon Venison , Chris Weil , Andre Agassi , Andy Roddick and David Levy .
McEnroe backed up his doubles partner . “ And then there was pickleball … Mr . Andre Agassi , you can ’ t run me around like you used to do on the tennis court , and Mr . Andy Roddick , you have to serve underhand . So , guess what , Michael Chang and I are coming for you . Let ’ s do it !”
The trash talking actually began in earnest many weeks before the matches got underway . Roddick was the first to fire this verbal salvo —“ I ’ m coming out of retirement to play in these matches . John may be actually coming out of a retirement home .” McEnroe quickly shot back , “ Seventy-seven singles titles , 78 doubles titles . What do you guys got ? I ’ m bringing the New York energy in , baby !”
Pickleball Slam featured two singles matches where Roddick faced off against Chang while McEnroe took on Agassi . A final doubles match culminated the action , with Agassi and Roddick paired together . Roddick commented , “ I ’ m sure glad that Andre and I still look the same . All I see is hair and cheekbones and I ’ m grateful for this .”
Pickleball Slam was the brainchild of HS & E , an innovative agency combining sports , marketing and media capabilities , along with InsideOut Sports & Entertainment ( ISE ). This inaugural Slam marked the first of a five-event partnership between Hard Rock , HS & E and ISE , with future Pickleball Slams to be held at other Hard Rock locations .
The day prior to Pickleball Slam , an event for amateurs — aptly called the Am Slam — played host
to 88 doubles teams across two divisions . Notable participants included NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry whose wingspan nearly covers sideline to sideline of a pickleball court ; Danny Wuerffel , former Gator and Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida ; and the commissioner of Major League Pickleball , Brooks Wiley .
To help better understand the nuances and intricacies of the game , the legends took part in some doubles action at Am Slam as the team of Agassi and Roddick lost to amateurs Roscoe Bellamy and Matt Manasse of Los Angeles , 15-9 . McEnroe and Chang fared better , beating the squad of Daniel Revis and Seth Fine of Davie , Florida , 16-14 . Winners of their respective brackets before taking on the legends , all four of the players took home $ 10,000 .
The highly anticipated singles match of Agassi and McEnroe kicked off play in Pickleball Slam . Agassi , 52 , who said McEnroe had to do a lot more than complain out on the court , jumped out early , nailing some patented forehand winners to go up 3-0 . But , the loquacious McEnroe — the elder statesman of the talented foursome — came back , sending angle volleys out of Agassi ’ s reach , all the while exhorting the crowd with verbal volleys of “ Come on !”
Down 11-9 to Agassi , McEnroe replicated one of his tirades from a past tennis match and challenged an out call . He confronted a courtside television camera for ESPN with the comment , “ Once again , umpire gets in the way of everything .” Much to his surprise , and the packed house at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino , the call
52 TO SUBSCRIBE , CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE . COM