Episode 42 - Denver Iconics - NPL (National Pickleball League) Championships - Seattle

Thank you for joining in. I'm Mike. I'm Christana. We're the Pickleballers next door Sports Center and we're here with Some great pros from the Denver Iconics. We got Molly Carter and we got Chad Shane I'm Chris Anna and we got Mike remotely. We're from Pickleballers next door How you guys doing? Sorry, I couldn't be there. I I Had family come in and I didn't want to be living in the garage when I got back So I had to make a choice. I really I we don't get to see my daughter very much So it was a it was tough. I and so I had to stay here So but I want to be there so bad because I don't know if she told you or they told her anybody told you guys I am on the team, but I'm the water boy Hey, that's not nice. That's not nice. Who's gonna bring the high-quality h2o if you're not here I it was gonna be it was gonna be me now. Chris Anna's got to do it My goal is to be where you guys are. I want to play so bad I mean, I've been working hard to get there. I'm I'm getting closer and closer I'm hoping to try out next year, but I you guys I mean you are my dream I mean, that's why I said I'll be water boy. I'm happy to Good It's super fun playing on the Iconics and playing in the NPL and it's a great goal to work towards so kind of started Sorry, Mike. Oh, go ahead. Oh, it's just how did it start with you Molly how I started? Yeah, and how you got on to the team and all that I started playing pickleball for fun Like it was actually a way for an excuse for me to kind of drink and play and then I started getting serious about it And I was like god, maybe I shouldn't drink while I play I started playing tournaments and I've been playing now for almost three years and luckily I turned 50 last year and got to play for the NPL So that's awesome. Wow I was gonna I was gonna have them say I was gonna check your idea to see if you're old enough to be playing Yeah Okay, so So, hey, how about you? How did you how'd you get into this fun being into the Denver Iconics? You know played basketball from our car for my cardio But a few of my friends were like you got to come play pickleball similar to Molly. I played college tennis So that transition definitely helped for pickleball and and started playing for fun And was pretty good pretty fast and then played a couple of tournaments and did pretty well. So then I I turned 53 years ago and Wow, you are yeah. Oh, hey, don't let her do that to you. Yes. Don't ask her how old she is Yeah, yeah We can't hear you tell her that what okay I said, I'm gonna ask her for some advice sometimes so you can tell how that she's older than me and I look old Well, and so what do you guys how do you feel today you guys a little nervous I feel excited We're coming in here as the 12th seeds ready to just be wrecking balls So I'm to practice. I'm not excited to play our first match tomorrow morning I think as a team, I mean, it sounds weird as a 12th seed, but I think we feel confident Yeah, I completely agree. We're if you look at our record, although we struggled a little bit of late We've barely been losing matches and and some some of these Teams that we've barely lost to I mean by one point would have put us into a dream breaker or tiebreaker We could have got some wins and we'll be dangerous going today's your day tomorrow actually, right? What time what time tomorrow 930? I believe right around there Yes, you might want to be here for that What What I love what I love about you guys is we were out at the pickle con and When we're out there and you guys were playing out there at the dinner pickle con, you know You guys such a team you come together and it's so off. I Mean it's awesome. I mean, it's it's why you guys are pros. It's why where you are, you know People think we're old and they're throwing us away, but I mean we still have some life in us, you know And I like him to challenge us, you know, you and us to you know play we can hold our own And you know, we have over these young guys is patience She was gonna give me a hard time if I said that so I was smart I didn't say it right away so but How is that and how many games you guys play? Well, it's a different Setup than the rest of the weekend since the championship weekend now, we're in brackets. So Okay, if we win tomorrow morning, we will then feed into Oklahoma, Oklahoma Okay, yeah, okay see I Think it is. Oh, yeah. So if we win tomorrow morning, we'll play Friday afternoon Against okay. See if we win that then we'll play Saturday morning against Seattle Because we're playing we play if we win we'll play somebody had a bye so Okay, see didn't get a bye. Oh, no, it is. Okay. Sorry. Yeah See Molly's always, right? Well, I'm right that's what like it he's not even drunk Well And that's that let's not say when you guys are gonna win you're gonna win. I'm your coach here right now. I'm the coach I'm the water boy. You guys are gonna win Excited to watch you guys. Yeah, Mike talked a little bit about team And I think that's one of the reasons we feel confident because we are such a team like we're gonna we're gonna go in there together You know, we're not divided whatsoever So we know whoever we're playing with this weekend, it's gonna be pretty solid We feel like we're coming together at the right time and and we'll get some wins out there. Oh Yeah, you're gonna win. I want to see you guys take it all the way, you know for Denver, you know Yeah, well, I think we're gonna try to get some more of your guys's teammates on and Yeah, thank you we're gonna get you afterwards to all the way through if that's okay Tell people just because our listeners want to know at this level what you can do and can't do, you know I mean, they don't realize that there is more to pickleball than going to open plays and leagues There is another there's a there's a place and especially as us as seniors We have but there's more to our life to go into this and we could take this all the way to championships and pro level Absolutely There they are they're right in front of us right now, I'm excited Well, I'm sorry your water boy isn't there but I will be next year I will be proud and have a little thing on my back and I will be filling up your guys's water I'm ready That's me. So well you guys have a great game. Thank you. I'm sad I can't be there to watch you but I have heard they're living Vicariously through her so we'll be so getting some videos and some fun things of you guys Sound good. Thank you guys. Thank you The Denver Iconics Jen, hey, I am like Over the moon to be here over the moon to be here. I love it you guys here at this credible facility in in Seattle and And all these teams it's just it's it's like a home, you know, we we play every month but it's Every time you see players even from other teams, you're like, oh Really genuine Kind of family. Yeah, everybody's so friendly here. Yeah. Well, you're missing you're missing one of your teammates here the water boy Yeah, I know I I gave you the hotel link. I know I think you have family I do. I'm so sorry. My daughter doesn't come in very she hasn't been here in years and it was on the same time and she's only here for a short time and I didn't want to live in the garage for the rest of my life, so Well, what's fun is that The schedule just came out for next year. So I will get that to you guys. Yeah, so we'll be there. Love it I love it. Yeah, I'll be there. I'll have my I'll have the water and I'll have it all ready to go different temperatures It'll be ready for you guys Until I can get on the team, you know, I mean, that's my goal is to be part of your guys's team I that's my dream No, I made it official that we have a 60-plus division a 40-plus division and the next step division so love it I love it. So you are doing 40 then? Well, I'm ready up or well, I mean, I don't know which one I'll do I don't have to do all of them. I'll do I'm kind of leaning towards a 60-plus Mike you may have a chance Hey, I turned 60 next year. Maybe oh, yeah, so don't make fun. Don't be making fun of me. Don't even do it I'm not I'm not and I'll be honest 60 plus players are amazing. I mean, oh Look at us. We're awesome, and we're smarter or more mom. We're ready to go. I'm not even referring to myself, but that's funny Mike always talks about himself I'm sorry I'm I'm so sorry I can't be there and I'm so glad Christina Chris Anna could get there and get this set up and I can be a little part of it. I am so sad I want to be there so bad, but I will be at the next event all of them and we're gonna make this fun Later today or later we'll get right on here. And so I'll try to find him. He's available. Yeah Right CEO at the NPL Yeah, we were just pressed because they got a warm-up in practice and get everything So the so now you are you playing tomorrow? No. No, I don't play on the team. I'm just the owner. Oh, that's right That's right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I always thought you face of the team. He's the pretty face. I'm the water boy You gotta have these parts of the teams We wanted to go viral And then I'll do it they'll do one of those funny clips or a head move and stuff We definitely are gonna keep getting you on the podcast Only but you have to have enough in your teeth. Yeah. Yeah, exactly Well, we are I am I'm so thankful to have this conversation with you and be a little bit a part of this Chris Anna's gonna take care of you. She's awesome. I don't care what other people say. I like her. I like her Thanks. Awesome. You guys are both awesome. It's you know, it's gonna be really fun. Yeah go forward it is We as it is it is so well enjoy your team We are we I was coaching them already because they I told them they're gonna win. There's no we may win you're gonna win That's right. So the water boy knows that's right One shot time. That's it. Okay. Thank you. Thanks Mike. Have a good day Side-out tsunami sports complex in Seattle. We're here with Jonah Jonah is one of the sons of The Denver Iconics Danny. So hi Jonah. How are you? Hey, let's go. I'm so excited You're there Yeah, I've got a funny story about how I'm why I'm even here, okay, so tell us oh, let's hear it Yeah, so my dad's Danny. He's on the Denver Iconics and he's been playing pickleball with me for a while We can talk about how we started playing pickleball after this But the reason why I'm here is funny because I got invited to go to the last tournament, which was in Indianapolis Okay, so me my mom and my sister went to go watch my dad play and just my natural spirit I was having so much fun watching and cheering them on that. Basically what happened was I became the team hype man Okay The water boy, oh, yeah, I'm on the team. I'm the water boy. I just couldn't be there What are you I don't know yet we'll have to see I don't know when that shows up is what I know. Hey, don't even hey Okay, so I became the hype man. I just was cheering everybody on at the last tournament and Basically, there's one player in particular who I was cheering for, you know Because he really feeds off the energy of whoever's cheering awesome And so you can always cheer for random people, but certain people are like, all right, whatever. He's no this guy Was loving it when I was cheering and so basically I helped him somehow play better by cheering Basically, they ended up winning Whenever I was cheering and so it was a good vibe good energy and so much fun And then a few weeks went by after the tournament and my dad said hey the team put together a go fund me To buy you a ticket to come to Seattle You know what though I mean it is good because you know when you is if you played in tournaments You know how nerve-wracking and when you're a pro You're even thinking this much in a different whole light than everybody else This isn't this is a pro team this isn't just coming to a tournament and thinking well we lost it's important It's how you keep your sponsors. That's how you you move up as any pro teams in football or baseball You have to keep trying to win these games And so there's a lot of pressure on everybody a lot. So if we got it, we have you that's awesome I'll cheer for anybody And what's cool about this tournament and and also not cool for the people who are playing is that if you're familiar With it, you know, you've got three different teams, you know, a B and C I think or whatever the levels are all and what happens is they're all playing at the same time And so unlike other team sports, they can't they don't get a lot of time to watch each other play So it's not that the team doesn't cheer for the other their their teammates It's that they're playing at the same time as the teammates and so that was one thing that like I think was was really cool about the My ability to be there and cheer for everybody is that like, of course, they're gonna want to cheer for their teammates But they're playing at the same time. So that's one I mean, we'll do this this whole weekend go and share everybody on right How about anything to cheer your dad on I mean that is so important and especially to a dad that is like giant You're there for him That that does a world out for him. I mean that that is just incredible So I give you high fives if I was there I had hired you so I know I don't know there. Boom. There we go Do you play? Yeah, so me and my dad actually started playing pickleball and early kovat when there was nothing else to do We went out to the tennis court that was close to our house And we drew the lines with chalk on the tennis court and we started playing and I remember just The the grind at the beginning do you guys play pickleball? I am I started about four months ago. Okay. I'm trying to be really good. You're in the addict phase. Yes I am. Yeah. Yeah, and I'm I'm trying to my goal is actually be on that team in the next couple years Okay, so I want I'm I'm I'm not I'm a senior and I want to be that's my goal is to be with those They're being with them. Yeah with the Denver Rock on it. Yeah, you're gonna get there. Let's go. I'm going through I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm already I'm already taking out the young guys Yeah, hey and then I can cheer you on I like you. Yeah, right. I like it. I would love to hear you are. You'll at least I'm your number one Can't catch me now. Yeah, I play pickleball. I play with dad. Dad's really good. I don't try to get better I just like to play for fun because that's good and I'm athletic so I can play with better players and I can have fun Players I also coach pickleball So I have a lot of clients and I coach all around Atlanta some private lessons So but I just love pickleball so much and how fun it is But one quick story before we head off so hey So me and my dad started playing together and he had a lot of racket experience I didn't so he was already a little better than me just because he's hit the ball Racquetball with his dad and stuff like that since he was growing up So I was a little bit behind but pretty much we were right on track getting better together And what was not is it is at the beginning? We started at the the lower level group and then once we started beating those people We got invited kind of invited to the next group which was a little better and then a little better And so we have like four or five different communities of pickleball players and friends and that memory of getting better together and and leveling up Different things and then at some point I just got too mad because I wanted to get better Now your dad's better and now dad started to take off and I went to college and now but but dad When I say he's addicted, I'm saying it's raining. There's a thunderstorm outside and I hear like a And I was like, what the heck is that noise? So I like look out the window. It's raining. My dad has a Rain jacket on and he's hitting against the wall So, yeah, he's addicted and it's a really it's a fun thing. Yeah, we are too I know Mike is Time I'm a coach too. So I get to teach people which is awesome teaching people's probably It gives you it isn't about the money I don't even charge for most of my teaching but I mean it is about watching that person hit that first drive that first Really good thing or they get they get that body bag. Like that's a good like yeah I know we don't that's not like we want people to do it. But when you get one, you know, it feels good Yeah, so so it's a sport and this is a cool Team and you guys are cool people Mostly me You Don't turn me off so, you know what I give you high fives. Thank you so much for supporting Again, I mean you you just you need people to do this. And like I said, they're going through a lot It's a lot of stress and you know, it is, you know, they're calm. They're old. We have patience, right? But inside we're falling apart, you know, we're waiting for the get on that court And so I just love it that they have you and I'll be seeing you soon. I'm the water boy So we'll be hanging out together. Hi man and water boy. Yeah, that's the name of the next podcast And I'll be cheering you on soon I Hope so. I really do it is my ultimate goal, you know to say to my kids I've always been an athlete to football baseball racquetball, you know, and I never hit those kind of levels But if I could do in one time of my life to hit that pro level, that's incredible, right? You know what? I mean, you're gonna do it. Oh, you got it Friends I need your number so I can call you when I'm down if you can do it I love it. Well, thank you. Johnny. You are awesome Thank you for being on our show and we're gonna see a lot more you we're following you guys all year next year All right All right I'm Chris Anna and I got Mike remotely Hi, Mike. How you doing over there? I'm doing good. I wish I was there with you You're having all the fun and having all the seeing all the action and and you know cheering everybody on Yeah There's a lot of fun here at the we're in Seattle at the Side-out tsunami and we're here for the NPL championship. It's really good What are you doing there you're looking at something oh, sorry, yeah, I'm actually was getting lunch So I was having lunch and where I'm at. There's nothing there So and but I bet everybody's not hydrated so because I'm not there to give them their water Right because you are the water boy So, well we we got a great guest here we got Rod friend He is the indie or he is the CEO of the NPL the National League. So, how are you, Rod? I'm doing great. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it And well, yeah, we're excited to have you we really want to kind of know about Kind of about the National Pickleball League just for people that don't know. Yeah happy to thanks for having me This is our third season this this year marks our third season. This is our championship weekend Our format is we have 12 teams from around the country and they play five events five regular season events one per month May through September and we take the rankings from those five events and we have four of our top seeds and then we Have our championship tournament to determine our our winner. We have $100,000 in prize money. We're awarding this weekend Wow, our morning session our top four teams had a bye We are entering our afternoon session and those top four seeds will we'll get into action So we've got a lot of great matches coming up for sure this afternoon. I think how do you keep up with all this? Well, that's a really good question. Mike some would say not very well But I know we've got a great team and and a lot of folks that work hard on it And it's a lot of fun to do this and certainly inspirational when you see, you know All of our players are age 50 plus each of our 12 teams has at least two players that are 60 plus on their squad and so The level of competition is just phenomenal We have some like I Yeah, I just think it's awesome I just think what you do that, you know, because we're seniors doesn't mean we're not we are not alive, you know Absolutely, the level of place phenomenal I mean people will tell you the play last year the quality of competition this year is even better It's crazy watching Wow a lot of parody. I think of our 12 teams Only three if I remember correctly only three did not take first or second place throughout the season So, I mean on our on our regular regular events So nine of twelve teams kind of were in the money each month while we were playing this year. So a lot of parody It's one of these where anybody can beat anybody on any given day and it's exciting They're inspirational to see these players compete so hard, you know again at this age, but again, it's just a number You know, we've got a lot of former pro tennis players out here. You know, you guys know from from Denver We have a former NFL quarterback and Danny Werfel a couple of former Major League Baseball players former pro volleyball player former pro cyclist We just have some great athletes a lot of college athletes to obviously So we're we're excited to see everybody come out here and compete and it's it's very motivational it is we Might we do and I think the team I think it the way you guys structure the team and the the the the you know Getting there how they root for each other and help each other. I mean, it's incredible like it's a family Everybody's by each other's side when they're not playing they are on this side. Yeah cheering them on which is really nice to see It's a real social environment, you know, I mean at this, you know this stage this is about you know, group of people You know living their best lives. That's kind of what we're promoting. You know, we've got this demo of people 50-plus It's the wealthiest demo, you know in the United States We are a consumer base that likes to travel and have experiences and we're into health and wellness and fitness and longevity And you see that out here and and it's not only do you see it on the court you see with the brands that want to be part of what we're doing and It's just it's a lot of fun and it's very social for them And again, a lot of these players have known each other for a long long time Especially if you come from the tennis world some of these players have known each other for literally, you know What 40 years, you know that they were in the teens and you know playing, you know playing the junior tennis circuits You know against each other So we have a lot of very talented people a lot of very accomplished athletes and now at this stage It's like they they appreciate being out here. They appreciate a chance to compete. They appreciate the sportsmanship They appreciate kind of getting after it. They're professional athletes, you know And we are one of only two sports That you have professional athletes over a certain age and the other would be the you know The PGA that senior PGA Golf Tour, you don't have this in you know, senior NBA basketballers, you know, pick your pick your no You're personally, you know, I I like, you know, I think of us as mature adults, you know The champions, you know that kind of a age group, but you don't see it in other in other sports and so we don't any really fortunate and You can go as old as you can go I mean I I trained my I'm a coach and I've trained up to a 97 year old man That came from tennis and he can play pickleball. Yeah. Well, I was I was mentioning, you know we have some pretty aggressive expansion plans for next year and Part of that is a we want to get more people, you know Obviously like like a lot of folks we want to try to grow the sport and grow our brand as we are new We're going to introduce tournaments. So we have a you know tournaments mean that both pro players and amateur players can play again We're just focused on the we're gonna add 40. So we have 40s 50s and 60s We want to focus on that demo and our tournaments will be for both pro players and amateur players and then in our league We anticipate growing to 15 or 16 teams, I think it's going to be 16 That's what we're shooting for but we're also going to add a 40 year old division. So those players at age 40 They're kind of on an island right now They they don't want to compete against the 20 year olds on a you know in tournaments There they have to wait till they get to be 50 to join our league We said hey, you know what? Let's go. Let's go invite them in So we're gonna have a separate division for 40 year olds We're gonna keep doing what we're doing, but we're also gonna have a separate division for 60 year old players And so that way, you know, I'm 62. I'm 64. I'm whatever I don't want to play against a 50 year old when I have a separate division for the 60 year olds That's good That is that is great And then our fourth division will be those players 50 plus who don't get drafted because there are so many great players out there We want to keep them in the family and that's the population that we use on the weekends for subs And so we give them a chance to keep playing some of them might be new to the pro level Some of them might be just turning 50 They may not be as well known and so this gives them a chance to play high level competition and Again, we put them to use we need subs, you know on every weekend We have a built-in tool to do that in a way to kind of reward those players and there are some subs here Right. Yeah, and they're playing really well there. Yeah injuries happen. Yes happens other things like that schedule happens We get that so, you know, we want to it's nice to share with other folks, but we have something really special We you know We have a team that works really hard on growing this and and really, you know making it kind of a players first league You know, we we do little things, you know, like we do their laundry tonight and tomorrow night. So we'll wash their uniform so they have Fresh gear when they play the next day. We you know, we have lunches for them on you know on Every day they play we have a pair allowance throughout the day for hydration and snacks and you know to get some fuel We had a nice welcome party last night again have dinner for and we had a fun exhibition match here on on our center court For sort of local Seattle sports legends and they were all into that and got to root for them And we had player awards that we distributed last night and the theme last night was grunge leaning into Seattle So, you know, we saw a lot of a lot of Nirvana a lot of Nirvana t-shirts and a lot of stocking caps So we they get into it. It's fun. It's social. That's part of the vibe and that's part of what makes us special Everybody's happy there. You know, they're all around their friends. It was really it was really fun It's like a homecoming every Hello, well, we're thankful for you to put all this together and to run all this I mean what a what a chore, but I I'm I hope to see you soon and be part of this. That'd be great We'd love to do that. We had a great a great experience we know we played in in Denver back in June at a brand new facility and So we got to bring half of we you know, our format is each month We typically play in two different venues so half the teams kind of go west the other half kind of go east and So we we took half the teams and came to Denver and played there in June. Where'd you play? We played it relish And opened a week before we got there And so it was fantastic would love to come back there. We really like the people that really like the facility Our players had a fantastic time there and so we are definitely looking to come back and and part of our business model that we introduced this year is Each of our regular season events in our championship, we're trying to play in team markets it's important to help our teams build their brands create businesses and and Use their team in the league as a catalyst to do other things And so it might be tournaments or you know clinics or you know programs or whatever the case may be So coming to town and being able to generate attention and publicity and get news cameras out there and coverage that helps our Our team owners build those brands and gives us, you know And our players some some look some local attention in the Met in the press and that's really important to us So we're excited to kind of keep doing that and get back to Denver. I Love it. I love it because that's our podcast is for 40 and older. That's who we are We're older. And so we we really love this factor of being part of the NPL Yeah, we were excited to be able to be part. I mean, I mean, I know Mike couldn't come but we're You really are so we're you know, I got I appreciate it Picture doesn't justice I'm a lot prettier in person You know Mike and I met people don't realize that Mike and I go way back we met at the hair club for men convention They've been with the NPL for about what two months Yeah I started on a consulting project with a colleague back in back in in last September And he plays in the league and had had played in the first two years And our backgrounds are kind of complimentary. He has kind of a finance legal background, but but certainly delves into Entrepreneurship and in the sports, you know sort of industry. My background is 30 plus years of sports marketing so I've done TV work and sponsorship sales and So bring we had these complimentary skills And so we were brought on to help the league kind of navigate where they were going to go And about two weeks into it There are some changes within the board structure and so our scope kind of pivoted to helping them navigate How they wanted to restructure the board and so we we took that over and and helped you know The team owners and and the founders kind of figure out what that was going to look like and when they reconstituted the board We added three team owners we added a couple of other sort of at-large members and my colleague and I were each asked to join the board and I was asked to chair it and Again with my background there was an opportunity Where they they also asked me to take over as CEO so I we kind of got that all organized in December and then Really had a very quick window to start jam things and you know It's like a lot of you know, a lot of new businesses, you know You've got a great idea and you get going and then you get to the point where hey, we've got a we got to look at This differently. It's got to grow. It's got to expand. We've got some other resources We got to look at things and so we started sort of making some tweaks and trying to get this thing you're going and But now we're really have a chance to kind of you know, keep executing this weekend because this is you know This is the priority. This is important, but we've also obviously already announced our expansion plans And and so we're already looking ahead and you know And to keep growing this thing and identify the ways ways that we can shore it up ways that we can make it better ways that we can improve ways that we can grow and You know much like these players try to get better. We've got to do the same thing for them. That's awesome Well, we're here. We're here for you. We're the big laws next door. We travel You'll be seeing a lot more of us traveling around to the tournaments I hope so and maybe you'll really actually meet Mike, you know, he's not just a puppet over there I'm gonna make sure Mike really exists. I know this isn't Yesterday that and we had him like this on the computer and then my husband over there was sitting there He goes wasn't that the guy that was just on the computer. So it's kind of funny to see that That's a compliment to make people think people think Mike looks like your husband. That's a compliment, you know Thank You so much Appreciate you so much. And thank you Chris Anna for putting this together and being there I'm having fun. So thanks for coming. Yeah, appreciate you guys being here and sharing our story and and Just spread the word. That's what we're trying to do trying to grow our business. We're gonna players So yeah, and we're there for you. Yeah, we are definitely there for you And is there any kind of do you have a website that people need to go to to kind of find out more NPL? Pickleball.com is our website and you can follow along in the brackets all weekend There's info about our expansion if you want to sign up and be on that list as we start to announce Tournament sites and dates and things like that. We haven't we have shared dates for our Our tournament series the first four dates and and same with our our league play for next year Now we got to go back and lock in those venues, but we're we're starting to announce plans But we'd love to have people check us out come out and play in one of our tournaments come to a combine Try out for the league, whatever you'd like to do or just be just be a fan. Try out for that water boy there Mike Position well, we really appreciate your time. Thank you for having thank you so much. Thank you Hi guys, hey, this is Chris Anna and I got Mike remotely we're with the pickleballers next door. Hi Mike Hey, how are you doing? You surviving? Yeah, it's great. I'm having some fun. Here's wish you were here with us I actually do I love my family, but you know how family times it's not always as fun as you would want it to be Especially during holidays and stuff. Yeah, which is crazy. Well, we are here at the tsunami side out tsunami in Seattle and We are here with Chris Chris on Right, do I say that right sounds good to me and she is a sub for the Denver Iconics Love her name. What a great name. Yeah We're like really cool people here don't you think I don't like the best I don't know how you got Mike I don't Mike come from I know I Mean you could be Chris Mike Yeah, Mike today Anyways, you did great you play great out there And so you kind of explain to us how you're a sub for many teams, right? So you happen to be the sub for the Denver Iconics. How was that today? Yeah, it's been fantastic so I am lucky enough that in the last event that we had for National Pickleball League was in Indianapolis and I was a sub for Denver in that event So the the neat thing that happened this time around is I got to sub for them again this weekend back Yeah for continuity familiarity those kinds of things that was just really beneficial for me this weekend I think it helped the way we played today, too. Yeah, you did great. I was I was impressed You guys are I wish I'm like maybe someday. I don't know if I'd ever be able to get that good But we got Mike here. He's actually the official water boy of the Denver Iconics I'm the water boy still. Oh Mike. I needed you today multiple times. Where are you? I'm sorry I've let everybody down on their h2o Well, he's actually gonna he's a really good player. So he I think you probably won't try it out, won't you? I am I'm gonna try out. Yeah, I can't wait to try out. So let's go. Yeah. Well cheer you Yeah, it's my goal. I mean, it's my dream to just say that I made it to the pro team So you go I would love to you know, right you won't regret it. You won't regret it at all It is fan such a fun fun Atmosphere. It's a great experience and You know bring your podcast with you. Yes. Oh, yeah. I love it. I love it I mean, I just I've been around you guys a few times I was out there at pickle con last year and that was awesome the way you guys come together as a team and family Support each other. I mean, how much more do you have to say? I mean, it's awesome Absolutely, that was Kansas City, right? Yeah, that was Kansas City. That was yeah, we were there and Yeah, that's when I kind of our podcast took off was from there So but it was it was it was such a great experience to watch you guys play and again So professional but so family life, you know It's the difference in the sport, right? Out there that is this competitive this high quality and Everybody's friends and family. I mean the social party started pickleball still lives and breathes at this level and that's very unique to the game Yeah, it was really to see you guys all cheer on each other. We were out cheering on you know, it was great Yeah, how'd you guys do today? Well, we didn't take home the gold medal today. Yeah But I tell you what if we could get a gold medal for the closest matches of the weekend Yes, we would probably get a double gold. It was crazy. How close these matches were they were head-to-head? Yeah, I think my last mix match was literally 10 11 10 11 Wow This this level of play is just like I said, it's pros. I mean it is biting nails It is every shot counts. I just takes a tiny mistake and that's it. I mean, it's over. It's crazy Yeah, it is. The last one that hits the ball is either the winner or the loser, right? So yeah, it really is It's a lot of fun a little luck there right on that last one sometimes occasionally when you're that close So yeah, and if you know, yeah And try to keep your composure and your nerves down and all those good things, you know It's a balance. It's a balance Yeah, but you were always very calm on the she's very calm on the I can't even talk When she's playing you can just tell she's you're really good I mean you you said that one time you kind of had a little plateau or not plateau just right? Yeah We're talking about not a little sure we were talking about You know in this cycle, right? First of all, we a lot of players out here, right? they have some athletic background some sport that they did most likely a high achiever at it and Then pickleball booms around COVID and now and then we get the National Pickleball League three years ago. And so it gave us an opportunity to Awake that inner athlete and that competitor and give us a chance to compete It's such a high level and National Pickleball League gave that to us as well as some other tours but from a team perspective this this league just opened the door for us to be able to come and play and Leading into my experience of NPL which started last year Leading into that I had two tournaments back-to-back that my performance Was subpar would probably still be a compliment and so the last one was Nationals and it My fallout wasn't about Nationals as much as my play was subpar But on top of that it was a cross-country journey for my partner as well as myself but there's a lot of money spent a lot of training and time and commitment by my partner and So we literally think we went to and out I really do and I just when I went back home I took you know The loss the losses my poor performance and then you know Of letting down my partner and my partner spending all that money to come that far and to not have played well And I could sense that my confidence was really shaking I mean it was like a lone rock in a glass jar. I mean you could hear it just crackling and Fortunately not where it came from but fortunately I had the self-awareness to Notice that was happening and I was like oh my gosh. I better do something about this You know it's cracking and just like a foundation to a house if you don't take care of the crack the whole thing falls, right? Yeah, I wasn't ready for a fall So so yeah, so I reached out and did some research and I found a sports psychologist I said hey, there's all these pro athletes and and just any level athlete. That's very competitive they have it ebbs and flows and it's very common now for them to have a Sports coach or a sports psychologist or what have you so I said I'm not I'm not too big to do that so I reached out and Call out his name Josh Berger He saved me saved me save my game and got me back on the court feeling more confident But more importantly how to deal with when you're not playing well. How do you come back? How do you fight through that when you say calmness on the court? I told you the games were 10 11 10 11 if you saw that calmness and I had that calmness then Josh Oh Josh a lot more money You did great you were you just saw her I actually have videos of you Yeah, but again when you're lots of you're playing at that level and once you get into your head That's the bad part with this game because I know I've got I get in my head sometimes and then you can't get out It's like oh, it's like a cage. It's like a cage. You can't get out. No and It's horrible And so I mean I tell people it's like race car driving you got to have your crew there your pit crew and change those Tires put the gas in because if you don't it's a when you're playing at your level. It's a new game. It's a new game It's a great analogy right and it does take everybody and that's one. Yeah, what's one of the beautiful things about team pickleball, right? I'm not out there by myself You know, I've got a partner on the court like everyone else, but I also have an entire team I have ownership group that's very engaged particularly with Denver and They're there for me. You know, they're gonna help pick me up We're gonna forget about the last one coming in this weekend. We you know, Denver struggled this year I mean it came in as a seed this year But one of the things that I know I shared prior to prior to our first match on Friday was this is a blank canvas Right. This is the season is over. We can't do anything about the season It's over that history has been written. But what hasn't been written is what we do this weekend, right? It's a blank canvas We get to write whatever we want to write on that canvas and create our history and we get to do that Also every single new serve, right? Doesn't matter so I said, let's write big letters and draw big pictures So I think again without that sports psychology and helping me push through my my performance slump If you want to call it that I don't think I could have gotten to the point where I could share something like that with the team and and you know Especially as a sub, you know I'm trying to You want to come in you want to give the team a lift if it's on the court or off the court doesn't matter And you did I hope so you did. I hope so That's the other part as you as a sub that has done your nerves or even even a set at another level because you're trying To meet everybody be part of everybody and then this can change next week or next game It's just crazy. So I give you high fives to that because that's got to be tough walking in as the sub, you know Well, I'll tell you I'm glad you brought it up because I'm going to be doing a probably a blog or something like that I do a Facebook Reflection typically after I play in NPL and they've gotten very very popular So I'm gonna I'm going to do one about being a sub and I'll give you the breaking news for anybody else the name of It's going to be don't be submissive That's We'll have to follow you and yeah, yeah the information Yeah, it's it's really interesting because so this was my third team this season so I think I played like five of the events perhaps and Every team's a different experience. But again, it goes back to the mental part of the game and your mindset So coming in my first time so I played in the league last year with Coachella I was drafted this year, but chose to be a sub instead so I could play with Any team that needed someone and so it's been quite a growth experience But from a mindset, you know weekend one The way I came in as a sub in my mind is very different than the way I came in Weekend two I made an adjustment then I realized I was still not quite where I needed to be. So then weekend three I made another adjustment and I had a great performance in that particular weekend and then coming in this weekend You know again another slight adjustment and the details behind that, you know again We'll get into that when when I get that that blog together and get to put all my thoughts together on the season It's a different experience every time and what's fascinating is I can't imagine being a sub and you didn't play last year You don't know the people like I know a lot of people in the league and I still came in with some weight on my shoulders Yeah, okay some high expectations some purpose that I Created within myself, but it probably wasn't helpful to come in with that kind of weight You know give the team a lift do your best, you know do make a mark Dad I think you made a mark. Well, you just gotta come in Yeah, I think your mindset just test you just have to come in and go I'm now one of them We're all equal you're just gonna bring my game and do the best I can today and see what that looks like but it's been a experience for sure and Sometimes they need that person that looks outside in that comes from outside because they're kind of sometimes I get stuck in their whole realm And sometimes it's nice to have your you're a fresh a breath of a fresh a breath of fresh air coming in To give another perspective to look at it differently and to bring that energy up So I love what you're saying Yeah, and I have a personality that's like everybody has a competitive spirit and it comes out in different ways on the court So, you know as soon as I get a feel for what my partners kind of like or what makes them tick then Then I do my best to try to figure out. How do I how do I compliment that? right, so That that was another learning experience for all on all the teams Because everybody's different in the way they have the competitive spirit So hopefully I was able to come in and if someone needs more calm Maybe I could bring them more calm if someone needed more hype I could bring more hype So I basically I think it just means I'm crazy. You needed to mold to what they were Right, you know what be neat from this experience would be able to write this out for the subs that are coming in Because I'm telling you the nerve factor has to be like crazy So what you have learned and experience would be incredible to help the other subs that are starting to come in Others, you know, there's no doubt about it. Again. I came in I played last year and And I was fortunate because I'm a social bug So I'm fortunate to to really get to know a lot of the players So imagine being someone that knows a lot of the players familiar with a lot of the coat that the owners Etc coming in as a sub and if I carried weight in and responsibility in What would it be like to be a sub and not have doesn't know anybody yeah, that's true. I mean I Can't even imagine what it would be like I can I keep thinking myself of me walking in don't know anybody and I got to Play this game that I played with nobody and all of a sudden I'm in a pro series and going. Oh my gosh You know right and in a team environment. It's a different kind of pressure, right? I mean it is Well, one of my mentor says there's no such thing as pressure that's a whole nother podcast right there He says pressure only exists when you attach a motion to it and give it texture. How about that? Yeah, I actually added the word texture so he can't have that part but but he said competitive stress that that's what it really is and so to come in as a sub and not know anyone and be in a competitive stress situation and And playing with people some you may know or not if you played tournaments but it's it's a lot of it's a lot of expectation and In an unfamiliar ground and and so my hats off to any and every sub that's ever been in this league Whether you have played or not, but especially if you've never been in this league For you to come in and step in on the court and contribute to your team hats off Do I do I see a book coming? It sounds like a book, right? About five pages Well, you do another thing right you're a part of a podcast right I am it's about that a little yeah, thank you very much Yeah, I'm super excited about it. It's called the pickle gals So I thought yeah YouTube Spotify and Apple So we started two years ago and in the beginning my co-host and I Rachel Roney out of Richmond, Virginia We said, you know, there's there's a there's a lot of podcasts out there on one hand However, there aren't many female podcasters talking about sport in general any sport. No There are some and they're very good, but there's not a lot and in pickleball There's even less and then the second component is that we talk a lot about the pros I mean if you listen to those podcasts a lot of them If not, all of them are about the pros and when I say pros, I mean the young pros as we call them the under 50s And if you look at the community 90% or more are not professional players. They're not even competitive players. They're the people who fell in love with the sport and Represent what the sport is all about from its origin, which is the social aspect, right? So We're not you know, so we wanted to come out we wanted to be female podcasters in this in this in the pickleball arena and We wanted to bring topics of interest to that 90% Most of them don't know. Sorry Ben Johns and Annalie, but most of them at that recreational level They don't really know who now guys are I did it I mean, I'm a new at playing pick ball, and I don't really know all the names. I'm learning them But yeah, exactly. Well, the only one you need to know today is for Sean Spackman. Yes. I know right now I know her and Mike. Yeah, Mike. Am I? Really not real this is just a I Yeah, really I'm just giving a hard time so where is your podcast? So what is it? What is it? Is it the pickleball girls? The pickle gals the pickle gals. Okay. So so yeah the first year we chose topics that affect everyone So the one that comes to my mind quickly would be partnerships And if you don't think part of it's on the court aren't the same as dating off the court. You've never played this game So that was a really fun one, but we even if we talked about coaching strategy how to find a good coach What's the difference maybe between a good coach and and and not for you and your your personality and your game? so we kind of ran the gamut with topics and then this year we decided we wanted to Have guests on each of our podcasts. So I think we've had episode 7. I think we've just finished recently So we had a clinical psychologist on we had a lady who founded adaptive pickleball out of Greenville, South Carolina Which is just a phenomenal Program that she's put together. We've had a female sports agent Sarah Ansboury sports agent Kim McGuire So we really cover Anybody and everybody and and now the CEOs of Court Reserve the app that many many clubs use They they reached out to us first. Nice. Hey, we'd love to be on your podcast. That's awesome Doesn't that feel good when you're you know, when you're probably casting you don't know you're don't know what's going on You're trying to get out there It's so when somebody calls like we were just with USA pickleball and we've got invited to the Golden Ticket in San Diego And it just makes you feel like you you're getting the right words out to the world You know, it makes you feel so good as a podcaster Well, there's no doubt about it because I will say that when you look at it from a subscriber perspective You're you would hope the number would be higher You do right? Yeah drives you nuts. It's like how am I not we are like we are doing everything possible And it's like so slow What's interesting is so, you know, you learn how to measure success, right? So what's interesting is but if you look at the amount of plays you're like, okay, I guess they didn't have a mouse They couldn't click on that subscribe button Look at the number of plays you can be quite happy, you know get a hundred four or five six hundred plays. That's fantastic when we do the Facebook Reflections on it on the National Pickleball League weekend like I'll do on for championship weekend as well I'm getting up to a thousand two thousand. So, you know, they're out there. You know that people are listening Oh, yeah, you just got to get them to know you more and do more right? It's just apparently so keeping in their place. I Think that's what made us different too is we didn't want to be stuck in an office or in a building or something We come out that's why she's there We go to these events and actually meet people and talk to people and high-five people bring the energy there and excitement And so that's what's changed our podcast You know, we still have we have a studio, but we spend 90 probably 50% of our time on the road meeting people Yeah, no, that's that's so so smart. I know in our first year I lived in Richmond as well with my where my co-host was is all right is still and So we had a professional studio we'd go in and it was just amazing set up and then when I moved to Florida We had to kind of revamp how we're gonna do it So now it's a little bit different and it doesn't look as you know, like Hollywood studios anymore But then again, you know, most people aren't watching the podcast, you know Yeah, they just so and they really want the content your content. It's good enough. They don't really care You know how silly you may look so we try to they don't care about Mike's look so that's good. Well, that's clear I like this two against one It's making it's making me feel like my game is 1110 now We got to get another lady I said no way I'll never make it you guys will destroy me Well, what's funny is he doesn't know I can just close that computer and he's off like that The gauntlet the gauntlet has been tossed so well, we're Excited for you so excited that you know, I have another podcaster because you know, well, you know, we're doing the same things We want people to get the message out there just like what you're doing the senior the NPL It's awesome because people think we're dead because we're old. We're not we're pros We're people just like everybody else and we play at a high level, you know If you don't think that 50 plus can play competitively and blow your mind You have never seen an MPL and play come play with you guys I mean, it's all over. Yeah, you can watch matches on YouTube, but check it out if yeah And again, let me just say that about this real quick. I know we got a wrap-up YouTube doesn't tell you everything that really is happening. So when I watch myself on YouTube, I'm like, oh my god, I'm a turtle I Felt like a rabbit, but I look like a turtle and so in some days a sloth maybe so Just so you know what you when you see it on on YouTube even the best of the best network or broadcast it to see It in person is is just fascinating. It's so fast in person You have to see how fast is but I'm telling you we have 50 and 60s in this league we have a couple of 60s sprinkled in here and I'm just gonna tell you never never doubt the talents It's amazing Here's a funny as we are a lot calmer. We can take a little bit more time and think about things than rushing things That's why are the the strategy comes compared to maybe that youth? That's 20 years old, but we know how to place a job and we know where the ball's coming next So be careful if you if you think that you're young and you could take us try it Hey, I just heard a challenge out there I Love it. I love it. You know this was wonderful, and we can't wait we need to get on our pod Come on your podcast. Let's go and love the chat with you guys, and especially we're heading out to We're setting out to know in November to Golden picket San Diego would love to talk to you there and Maybe put us on your podcast and we can talk to some of the pros and stuff Hey, you're you're already booked for the next podcast on my show, okay, I love Done deal do we have to have the recording here? Tell me you know, I think Mike's doing pretty good on the computer I don't know if we dare bring them in We got an empty mic right here I think you just got a nickname Well we We just appreciate what you're doing and what you've said and give to our listeners a great view of where you come from Especially as you'd be coming in as a sub Wow I mean it takes a lot and I know it does because I sub for people all the time and different things and pickleball And it's I know what you feel and I can't even imagine at your level what it feels like I mean I'm going to I'm gonna be there with you soon. Let's go, but I'm gone here. I'm here. So it's my goal Well, I thank you so much Thank you, and so the pickle gals right is it at the pickle gals like on Instagram Check us out on Facebook the pickle gals. Okay, and then to check out the episodes you can go to Spotify Apple and YouTube and just put in the pickle gals and there's two seasons out there Maybe 15 16 episodes a couple more coming for season 2 and then we're gonna actually I'll give you some another breaking news We're going to start the pickle gals. Happy hour Yes, so we're gonna we're going to have an interactive community around us and bring your a BYO B And it's gonna be a good time. That'd be fun. Love it. I love it Well, thank you so much again. You are wonderful. I can't wait to meet you back at you Mike and I'm so thank you I'm being here. So thanks for having me on it's a thrill and I'm grateful that you're doing what you're doing in a pickleball space Also, thank you. Thank you. Have a great day