MI Pickleball, The Pink Ladies and Pat Sullivan!!

"Many of the Pink Ladies would like to thank Pat Sullivan for generously giving of her time and energy to teach, organize and play pickleball with us. The trophy represents not necessarily winning but the achievement of touching people's lives in a kind and unselfish way. It is about the wonderful journey and friendships formed through the sport of pickleball. We will miss your enthusiasm while you are in AZ but look forward to playing again with you next spring. We are going to practice and give you a run for your money! Have a great winter!"

USAPA Results: Troy MI Pickleball Tournament

Troy MI 50+ Pickleball Doubles Tournament

September 26, 2008 Tournament Brackets and Results

http://www.usapa.org/tourney/bracket_list.php?tname=troy92608

MEN'S DOUBLES

• 1st Place Jack Licata and Pat McPhail
• 2nd Place Dick Manasseri and Owen Papke
• 3rd Place Matt Falerious and Larry Kraus

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

• 1st Place Penny Kragh and Nancy Robertson
• 2nd Place Nancy Thoenes and Liz Travis
• 3rd Place Gail Licata and Carol Mcphail

Jack Licata and Patrick McPhail also 1st Place Auburn Hills Fall08 Tournament!!

Penny Kraigh and Nancy Robertson also 1st Place Auburn Hills Fall08 Tournament!!

The Joys of Outdoor Pickleball

by Dick Manasseri, USAPA Great Lakes Ambassador

The same folks that brought Pickleball up to the Great Lakes Region from Arizona and Florida are now teaching us how to enjoy Pickleball in the great outdoors.

The secret, of course, is creating outdoor courts like the impressive ones pictured here in Middletown, Ohio. Stanley Volkens, USAPA Local Ambassador for Southwest Ohio, and seasonal resident of Arizona, surveyed the 16 tennis courts in Middletown and found them greatly underutilized. Stanley approached the Park Board with a plan to convert two under-utilized tennis courts into 6 beautiful new and regularly used Pickleball courts.

Stanley got the details plans for Do-It-Yourself Resurfacing from Tennis Universal http://www.tennisuniversal.com/ The plans take you step-by-step through the conversion process and Tennis Universal offers the material that you need including paint with sand in it to make the new courts safe.

The Park Board gave Stanley and his Pickleball players permission to convert 2 tennis courts over to 6 Pickleball courts. The dimensions worked out perfectly. The courts have 14 ft. between them with 8 ft. at the ends. The tennis nets are the backdrops between the ends of the courts. The courts are laid out North and South. The Pickleball players did all the work and paid all the cost ($3956 total). They presented the new Courts to the city with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Park Board and City Council Members.

But the story doesn’t end there. Paul Barksdale and Rex Lawler, Local Ambassadors for Greater Terre Haute, Indiana played on the new Middletown courts in the SW Ohio Senior Games in August and were so impressed that they brought a similar plan back home. They found underutilized tennis courts and proposed a shared cost plan to their Park and Rec Department. The players raised $1500 to cover nets, posts, and other supplies and the Park and Rec Department agreed to provide the labor following the same step-by-step process and court format used in Ohio. The new courts will be ready for play this fall.

In Royal Oak, MI, Pat Sullivan back home from Arizona in June, got permission to convert a single tennis court to a Pickleball court at a few player’s expense and “sweat equity”. The result was a summer filled with outdoor play by all ages. The icing on the cake is that, at the end of the summer, Pat approached the City with as proposal to put Royal Oak on the Michigan Pickleball map in a big way by converting two underutilized tennis courts into 8 new Pickleball courts. And, guess what? Royal Oak will likely be a prime location for outdoor tournaments next year.

Jean Mulder, Local Ambassador for Holland Michigan and seasonal resident of Florida, has a similar story to tell. Eight new outdoor Pickleball courts will likely be the home of fun-filled tournaments next summer.

The bottom line here is that, with a little initiative on your part and a well-defined plan, your Parks Department may well become your partner in transforming old tennis courts into the joy of outdoor Pickleball.

Give it a try! What do you have to lose? We will be looking for the right venues for the 2009 tournament series being planned across the Great Lakes Region.

MI Pickleball Outdoor FUN!

MI Pickleball Outdoor FRIENDS!

MI Pickleball Outdoor FITNESS!

MI MI MI Triplets

Rochester Hills MI PICKLEBALL Demo Clinic 09/27/2008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mipickleball/sets/72157607542712041/show/

Eastside Tournaments and Westside Dejavu

Troy Tourney results and photos will be posted ASAP...

Meanwhile enjoy this slideshow of the Auburn Hills Fall Fest '08 Pickleball Tournament. In the photo, Michelle Pozan, Auburn Hills Fitness Coordinator, is awarding Jack Licata and Pat McPhail 1st place Men's Open trophies. Westside Dajavu! Well done gentlemen!

Congratulations to ALL the athletes!!!

PICKLEBALL..."just for the fun of it!"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mipickleball/sets/72157607451139989/show/

Marquette: MI Gold Leaves & MSO Gold Medals

Karen and Tom Teichman of Marquette, MI traveled "downstate Rochester" for the 29th Annual MSO Summer Games. Tom swam his way to the winners platform with gold medals in the 50 and 100 breaststroke, and bronze in the 100 freestyle. Karen, competing in both swimming and PICKLEBALL is decorated with six gold medals, one silver and one bronze. In swimming, Karen set five MSO records in the women's 60-64 category, with finishes in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 500 free style, 100 individual medley, and 200 backstroke. In the pickleball competition, Karen and her partner, Elfreda Nowicki, took home gold medals in women's doubles. Karen took the bronze in pickleball women's singles for the 60-64 category.

Thank you Karen and Tom for traveling from the UP downstate to improve the quality and the competition of the Michigan Senior Olympic Games! The smiles on your faces say it was worth the trip! Enjoy the full listing of MSO 2008 Summer PICKLEBALL results and photos at http://mso-news.org/pickleball2008.php .

SAVE THE DATE:

MSO 2009 Winter PICKLEBALL Games February 2, 3, 4

imagine the future of OPC...

• Oakland Seniors Invitational Pickleball Tournament February 2008
• MSO Pickleball Instructional Clinic Featuring Lewis Forrest May 2008
• Pickleballmania Tournaments MD, WD, MX, MS, WS July 2008
• MSO 2008 Summer Pickleball Games
• MSO 2009 Winter Pickleball Games - SAVE THE DATE: February 2, 3, 4
• Weekly OPC Rochester Pickleball Ladder Tournaments
• Weekly Free Beginner Pickleball Lessons for OPC Members
• Weekly A Dozen Hours of 4 Season Drop-in Pickleball
  

Tonight is the OPC Greater Rochester Area Community Meeting. Like every weeknight at the OPC, pickleball players will be a positive presence. MI Pickleball players extend our deep appreciation to Marye E. Miller for being a visionary courageous enough to "imagine"... ... ... "OPC! A great place to be!"

OPC! A great place to play PICKLEBALL!

Brackets: Troy Tourney 09/26/2008

USAPA Troy MI 50+ Pickleball Doubles Tournament Brackets

Men: http://www.usapa.org/tourney/brackets/troy92608_MD_50-.php

Women: http://www.usapa.org/tourney/brackets/troy92608_WD_50-.php

Celebrating 143 MI Tournament Athletes!

The MI Pickleball blog has a new feature ~

Bottom Line: USAPA Official Tournament Rulebook

dedicated with highest personal regards to

the 143 MI PICKLEBALL 2008 Tournament Athletes

"...during a tournament is where referees and players alike

find out what the rules of pickleball really are."

Dennis Duey, USAPA Rules Chairman

I carry an updated, dogeared and highlighted copy of the USAPA Official Tournament Rulebook in my gym bag. Still even reading the rules, rereading the rules and reading the rules again AND again - some rules just don't 'pop out' at me until a player 'discussion' ensues at a tourney.

Embracing the 'discussions' as teaching moments, I go home from a tourney and reread the rules. I also request and receive corrections, clarifications and exposition from the USAPA. (Same day responsiveness to the needs of tournament officials is one of the many ways the USAPA leadership wows me! Tournament time is a great time to show your appreciation to the USAPA by becoming a member! http://usapa.org/memberships/index.php )

Rules are foundational to the challenge and enjoyment of any game. Like the game itself, pickleball rules pull from other sports, but are not a carbon copy. The "Bottom Line" will begin by highlighting rules that came into 'discussion' during tournaments and go from there. The USAPA link that gives you free access to the USAPA Official Tournament Rulebook is also included. The Rulebook, 29 pages, is on my recommended reading list for the officials and the 40 players registered for this Friday's Troy Tournament.

Scroll to the bottom of the blog to read the 1st "Bottom Line" posting. Highlighted is a rule that I've been wrong about: Yelling "OUT!" (I can hear you on the other side of this computer -- "I knew she was wrong!" Enjoy it -- it might be your only chance to say -- "I told you so!")

Yours in pickleball, Janet Razz aka "The Princess Ref"

Midland MI Pickleball

Midland Community Center

PICKLEBALL

Sunday Afternoons 2:00-5:00

$5.00 Drop-in/no membership or residency requirements

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mipickleball/sets/72157607447225030/show/

Midland MI Welcomes Pickleball!

USAPA Places to Play has a new MI listing:
Midland Community Center

"Developing Individuals, Creating Community"

Welcoming PICKLEBALL!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mipickleball/sets/72157607447225030/show/

Papa Razz, kindly drove Dick Manasseri and I to the Midland Community Center for a pickleball demo clinic on Sunday. We left home early to get the drive underway. Thus we missed church for pickleball. Papa Razz, always a punster, told the kiddos God would approve because pickleballs are "holey". (Are you grinning or groaning? :)

Midland Community Center got an early start too! Ryan Longoria, Assistant Athletics Manager, welcomed us with a marque streetside announcing the big event! AND a box full of new pickleball equipment! AND a two gyms for active players of all ages! Ryan introduced Pickleball to Midland and it was love at first game. Doug Kant, Dave Sierawski, Pam Piger and Mike Rusaw, Certified Villages' Pickleball Instructor, helped rotate players on and off five courts -- the men sweating -- the women glistening -- the boys undaunted!!! No Sunday afternoon nap for these folks. 3 hours of friends and family enjoying a fun yet challenging fitness activity, in one of Michigan's premier community centers...now that's wholly good -- that's PICKLEBALL!!!

For the final match, two of the boys partnered up against MSO 2008 medal winners Mike Rusaw and Pam Piger. The hard shots in the first rally were so incredible, it was evident there would be no patronizing in this game! Then one of the boys delivered a soft shot with such finesse he jolted the fans and his opponents into cheering! This game between two skilled young athletes and two skilled 50+ athletes was, without question, the most intense PICKLEBALL I've ever watch! And this is only the beginning!!!

MI Pickleball Players' Bench Chat ~ with Nancy

"Here is a picture of our PINK LADIES team. Since August, twelve of us have ordered paddles and are playing pickleball on a regular basis outdoors . The game is fun and it allows us to enjoy each other's company and play long after our softball season has ended. Eight of us are playing a weekly ladder and one or two other times a week for open play. Some of us have brought friends and husbands and have introduced the game to them as well. We laugh a lot and work on improving our pickleball game!" ~ Nancy

Great Lakes Ambassador ~ Pickleball News

Dick Manasseri, USAPA Great Lakes Ambassador sent his Pickleball News out to a large number of MI Pickleball players this morning via email. Here it is again for ALL to enjoy accessing and sharing. ALL MI Pickleball players deeply appreciated ALL Dick is doing to 'grow' pickleball in Michigan and in the Great Lakes Region! Thank you Dick!
---

Cross Border Pickleball TalkHave you checked out the new Pickleball blog, MI Pickleball? http://mipickleball.blogspot.com/

Janet Razz started the blog 2 weeks ago and it is already loaded with stories, pictures, links, place to play, etc. Janet and Wayne Roswell, author of the The Official Pickleball Website for The Province of Ontario, have struck up a cross border blog conversation:

Janet: "Pickleball MI style! Recreational AND Competitive! Seniors AND Younger Friends! Eastsiders vs Westsiders! AND now - "friendly cross border rivalry"! See what our neighbors in Ontario are saying about MI Pickleball at http://pickleballontario.blogspot.com/

Wayne: "Welcome to Our Fellow Pickleball Players Across the Border I would like to welcome our friends and fellow Pickleball players from just across the river in the State of Michigan. Welcome Michiganders! Michigan is holding several tournaments this month and as I mentioned earlier in this blog, I think some Ontarians should go down and play. You will have fun and make some new Pickleball friends."

Pickleball NewsMuch of the type of information that we have shared in these newsletters is now available in a timelier manner on the MI Pickleball blog. Please visit the blog regularly to check out the news:

MI TournamentsOPC Rochester 08Fall Ladder Leagues Fridays 11:00 and 5:00
Troy 50+ Doubles Tournament Friday, September 26, 2008

MI Pickleball Demo Clinics
09/21/08 Midland Community Center
09/23/08 Ferndale
09/25/08 International Academy Bloomfield Hills
09/27/08 Brookwood Country Club

Offer comments or submit articles to MI Pickleball about what's happening in your area.

There will be a Great Lakes Regional Website with links to state and province websites. Please become an active reader/contributor to MI Pickleball and provide feedback on what is needed. If you are interested in starting a blog in your state, just let us know and we can help.

Auburn Hills Tournament - excerpts from MI Pickleball"Auburn Hills hosted a tremendous Pickleball Tournament! Three CHEERS for the Auburn Hills Community Center! They sure do know how to host a tremendous PICKLEBALL Tournament! MI players had a full day of FUN!"

The results are posted at the USAPA website
http://usapa.org/tourney/bracket_list.php?tname=ahod08

Register for the Troy Tournament – Friday September 26thexcerpts from MI Pickleball
"Most of us are ready to do it all over again at the
Troy, MI 50+ Pickleball Doubles Tournament, September 26, 2008. Here's the flyer/registration form http://usapa.org/schedule/events/troy_mi_2008_0926.pdf ."

Check out who's already registered at
http://usapa.org/tourney/player_list.php?tname=troy92608&admin=

Winter Day and Night Ladders at OPC Rochester Start November 14thContact Janet Razz to register - "Janet Razz" MIPickleball@gmail.com


MSO Doubleheader in 2009Mark your calendar - February 2nd-4th. The Michigan Senior Olympics (MSO) has established Pickleball as an integral part of the 2009 Winter Games in February as well as the Summer Games in July. This means that one Membership fee for 2009 can be applied for both Games. Details will be coming soon.

MI Pickleball Players' Bench Chat ~ with Arlene

" This past Monday, I met three of my dear "high" school friends of 46 years at the Salter Center in Royal Oak. I kept telling them how great Pickleball was, and that they had a great facility to play at in Royal Oak, where they all live. So I introduced them to Pat Sullivan, whom some of you met at the MSO. Wouldn't you know it? they had a common friend and had previously met, although forgetting exactly where or when. Since my friends are Irish, they got along just great with Pat. Pat spend almost two hours showing them how to play and playing with them. My friends are hooked. And wouldn't you know, one of them took another friend on Wednesday to the Salter Center to try it out. They're all ordering paddles. The irony is that Picklelball was right in their neighborhood, but they needed their friend to invite them and take them to their own facility. So now there are four more Pickleball players in Michigan, and I have another place to play and more people to play with....if they don't get too good for me. "

"As an aside, the Salter Center is located on Lincoln, just west of Campbell between 10 and 11 mile Rd. They have a lovely facility with three courts like OPC. Currently they play 11:00 - 1:00 Monday and Wednesday and it's $1 for anyone (resident or not). They're thinking of adding more time." Storyteller ~ Arlene!

MI Pickleball Players' Bench Chat is a regular feature of the MI Pickleball blog. ALL MI players are invited to email their story to me for posting. I learned bloggers call this "content". I call it lively conversation -- my favorite entertainment on and off the courts! Thank you Arlene for being the 1st Bench Chat contributor AND for taking home the 2nd Place Trophy in the Auburn Hills Tourney! Well Done Partner!

Auburn Hills 09/13/2008 Tourney Results!

http://usapa.org/tourney/bracket_list.php?tname=ahod08

Jeanne! Thank You!

Thank you for the photos!

Thank you for being a USAPA Member!

http://usapa.org/memberships/index.php


New sidebar: "MI USAPA Members"!

I will post all (G rated) photos I receive of

MI players wearing their USAPA Members' tee-shirt.

Picture yourself a USAPA Member -- and email the photos along to me!

MI Flowers!

Do you look forward to your perennial flowers blooming each year? Growing up, my Detroit backyard was filled with deep purple and royal gold prize iris blooms. MI weeping cherry flowers in May. I have photos of all of my kiddos in university regalia in front of that MI beauty. Ever notice how a flower or flowering tree can lead you down memory lane? MI flowers and trees mark the seasons of the year and the seasons of our lives. I have a folder of pictures on my computer labeled "Our Flowers". It's a taste of home, for my out-of-staters, to receive a photo of a freshly blossomed MI garden jewel. When I downloaded MSO pickleball photos I mistakenly placed them in the folder labeled "Our Flowers". Here's the result ~ side by side beauties! Our PICKLEBALL Flower, a GOLD medal winner, a garden jewel that everyone loves! Thankfully MI PICKLEBALL is a 4 season sport. We enjoy the beauty of the game and the beauty of the relationships all year long! PICKLEBALL for every season of LIFE!

Great Lakes! Great Friends! Great Pickleball!

Pickleball MI style! Recreational AND Competitive! Seniors AND Younger Friends! Eastsiders vs Westsiders! AND now - "friendly cross border rivalry" ! See what our neighbors in Ontario are saying about MI Pickleball http://pickleballontario.blogspot.com/ The USAPA Great Lakes Region includes IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH, ON, and WI. I've added a section for the links of our Great Lakes Region friends and neighbors. Great Lakes! Great Friends! Great Pickleball!

"My papa can beat your papa at pickleball!"

We are shamelessly proud of our kiddos in the Razz family. When the the front of the refrigerator door fills up, we type drawings, certificates of accomplishment, and anything that applauds our kiddos on the front door.

While we wait for the Auburn Hills Tourney results to post at USAPA, enjoy these happy MSO memories... http://usapa.org/tourney/bracket_list.php?tname=mso08 Print them off and post them on your frig or on your front door :) Let your kiddos be shamelessly proud of you!

It's good for them!

The MEN and The Manager!!

Women Can! Women Do!

1st PLACE Women's Doubles!

Sunday 2:00 Pick-up Games

Do you think the rain will clear up by 2:00 today?

If the rain stops, we'll have Sunday 2:00 inter-generational games at the Auburn Hills Community Center tennis courts. All ages and skill levels are welcome to play!

If the rain continues, today is a good day to browse the USAPA Training Room! http://training.usapa.org/

Rain or shine, today is a good day to become a USAPA Member! http://usapa.org/memberships/index.php

Rain or shine, today is a good day to express thanks to MI players, managers, facility directors, and the USAPA for making PICKLEBALL MI Game!

ALL of the players DAZZLED!

Auburn Hills hosted a TREMENDOUS PICKLEBALL Tournament! Auburn Hills gave the players t-shirts, bottled water, fruit, cookies, coffee, and TROPHIES! Trophies - another MI PICKLEBALL first!

The song goes "girls just want to have fun"...and that's sort-of-kind-of-maybe true. I'm a recreational player and I do play "just for the fun of it!" But when I walked in the gym and saw the trophies lined up on the award table (silly as it is) I coveted THAT trophy! I have an attic filled with my kiddos' trophies, but this was the first time I ever entered a sporting event that awarded trophies. I could taste and smell the 'bragging rights' to THAT trophy! I got serious. Well, as serious as you can get playing a game with the name "pickleball" :). My partner shined and I played my personal best. I don't know what it's called in the sport's world when there is a surprise win, but whatever it's called my partner and I did it! In a line up of formidable players, my partner and I took second place. I won THAT trophy! A real TROPHY! A trophy that reads "Auburn Hills Senior Services Fall Fest 08 Women's 50+ Intermediate 2nd Place"! How fun is that! My 1st and MI's 1st ever PICKLEBALL TROPHY ;) !

And then, the more challenging AND even more fun (it is possible!?!) part of the day! In the afternoon, I served as ref for the men's games! Thank God for the USAPA Rules Chairman and his behind the scenes support! (Shhhhhhhhhhh don't tell my players. When I have the clipboard I sound like I know what I'm doing. But it's a little posturing and a lot of head knowledge. Anyway my reputation goes before me as a ref that doesn't take any gruff. And I plan to keep it that way... :)

Three CHEERS for the Auburn Hills Community Center! They sure do know how to host a tremendous PICKLEBALL Tournament! MI players had a full day of FUN! ALL of the players DAZZLED!

Most of us are ready to do it all over again at the Troy, MI 50+ Pickleball Doubles Tournament, Sept 26, 2008. Here's the flyer/registration form http://usapa.org/schedule/events/troy_mi_2008_0926.pdf . A warm and friendly MI welcome to ALL 50+ pickleball players -- recreational and competitive -- to register and enjoy the Troy tourney..."just for the fun of it!"

Tourney! Today! Auburn Hills Community Center!

Thanks to the City of Auburn Hills for hosting today's PICKLEBALL tournament! A HUGE thank you to Michelle! Auburn Hills Community Center has indoor and outdoor courts. In the event of rain, today's games will be moved indoors. The women start 8:00 AM! The men start at Noon!

If you are a player - Good Luck!
If you are a fan - Come Cheer Us On!
Either way - Enjoy the Games!

Auburn Hills Community Center
1827 Squirrel Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326.

Tomorrow! Auburn Hills Tourney! September 13!

MI PICKLEBALL Tournaments! Three words that would not have created a buzzzz if they were put together a year ago. All that has changed! Michiganders have a long and glorious history of being COMPETITIVE at our RECREATION! We embrace hard work and 'hard' play! (Do other players around the USA say, "NO Mercy!" when they get serious about winning? Or is that a MI thing?) Michiganders give life all we've got! Michiganders embrace family, friends, fun and pickleball! USAPA links tourney information, including registrations forms, players lists, brackets, and RESULTS at http://www.usapa.org/tourney/ . If you are competing in tomorrow's Auburn Hills Tournament get the edge - check your starting bracket! If you are a fan - get ready to 'catch the fever'! Playing or watching -- pickleball is a treat! MI Pickleball players are tournament players -- "just for the fun of it!"

Friends Across The Miles

The USAPA "Places to Play" page http://www.usapa.org/ptp/index.php unites pickleball players. Knowing there are courts filled with pickleball friends across North America -- makes easier to leave home or to see someone you love leave home. Lauren, you are a fantastic Pickleball Advocate! MSO and the Greater Rochester Area have received tremendous benefit from your leadership, creativity and friendship. Your OPC Pickleball Players and Crittenton Fitness Challenge Family wish you much continued success! Please visit us when you come home for holidays. (Best to eat at your mom's first, because pickleball players stay out of the 'kitchen' :) Thank you for your capable and cheerful service! See you on the courts! xox

Communication is a Gift!

I'm a great referee. I've got good assessment skills and an ability to assimilate new information fairly easily. I'm smart, quick, honest, fair, bold, loud, even tempered, funloving, and humble. Most of all I love people and encouraging health and well being in the people I love. (MSO players may be 'booing' by now - but behind my back so I won't give them a technical warning :) I'm a terrible cook, it's easy for me to stay out of the 'kitchen'! And the laundry room. I much prefer the title 'princess' to 'manager'. I freeze at the thought of ____well that's TMI for a blog. Growing PICKLEBALL in MI will include players having a right estimation of their skills/abilities/desires. AND deciding how/if they want to use those talents in the pickleball community. Dick Manasseri our Great Lakes USAPA Ambassador has authored a 2008 Pickleball Players Forum look for it to arrive via e-mail soon. OR maybe one of you wise wwwers will teach me how to post The Forum on this site. It's not wise to stretch cold muscles. Warm-ups are essential to happy healthy pickleball. The MI PICKLEBALL blog is a 'warm-up' exercise. I've invited several leaders in our pickleball communities including USAPA Ambassadors to be blog authors. I don't know what that means yet...let's learn together. Communication is a gift!

Invitation to ALL OPC Pickleball Players

TODAY! Wednesday, September 10, 2008 OPC Pickleball Players Forum! Two meetings 1:00 & 6:00, Choose the time that works best for you. Or come to both and hear your fellow players' visions for 'growing' pickleball in MI. Open to all pickleball enthusiasts! For those that aren't available to attend the meetings, your pickleball passions are important to your Ambassadors! The 2008 Pickleball Players Forum questionnaire will soon arrive via e-mail. Please take the time to consider the questions and return your replies. Honored to be among such a vibrant and talented group of players! Pickleball MI Game!

Grandma found her game!

Michigan PICKEBALL courts boast physical education teachers, lifelong coaches, pros and long time competitors in tennis, racquetball, and badminton. These players have strategy! And a backhand! I, on the other hand, never played sports. That all changed the day Greenie gently told me, "it would help if you watch the ball" -- Grandma found her game!

And so did 250+ Michiganders! Pat Sullivan, Dick Manesseri and many many others cooperated in tilling the soil. PICKLEBALL games, ladders leagues, and tournaments began sprouting up! Pickleball indoors and outdoors, pickleball for seniors and younger friends, pickleball for recreational players and the toughest competitors, pickleball on weekdays and weekends!!!

The three enemies of Tai Chi are lack of persistence, greed, and hurry. Those are also the enemies of pickleball. I began to practice "Chi Pickleball"! Pat taught me to dink, "Mo" taught me to reduce my "unforced errors", and Lewis taught me -- well a lot! But he is still working on teaching me a backhand...This self disclosure is a little risky to post for my opponents to read just before this Saturday's Auburn Hills Outdoor Tournament. But this blog, like my favorite pickle is deli-fresh and a little crunchy.

Blogging is all new to me. I don't know an upload from a download, so I'm thinking one of you in the pickleball community would enjoy teaching me this game - or, better yet, beating me at it! Let's communicate about how we can continue to "grow" pickleball in Michigan!

The excitement we've seen is the last 12 months is only the beginning! Next Michiganders are going to stop asking, "What's PICKLEBALL?" And start asking, "Where can I play PICKLEBALL!?!"

Post comments...and let me know what is your favorite pickle?!?