The following is excerpted from an article
on the NPR website:
A bipartisan group of senators are joining
the ranks of Americans picking up paddles
and playing the fastest growing sport in the
country — pickleball.
Once a week, the group sets aside politics
to play for a while. For Sen. Thom Tillis, (R)
N.C., those moments of human connection
sow seeds for better communication.
"It's kind of hard to treat people in an
untoward way if you've been out on pickleball
court," he told NPR. "We need more of that."
West Virginia GOP Sen. Shelley Moore
Capito, who is a tennis player, took it up
during the pandemic as a way to spend time
with family outside. She co-chairs the new
Senate pickleball caucus with Tillis and Iowa
Sen. Joni Ernst.
With fights over federal spending and the
odds of a government shutdown, Capito said,
"All of the cares, or all of the worries are in
front of us, and we'll deal with those, but not
this morning."
Capito and Tillis faced off on a court on
the top floor of the Dirksen Senate office
building recently at an event with folks from
a professional pickleball team.
Capito says playing sports helps build
relationships, regardless of party affiliation.
"It's a way to sit down after the game and talk
about your family or the game. It's a way to
connect in a different way, more relaxed, so
that when we do want to relax or if it gets
tense, we already know who we're looking at."
Please wear appropriate sport clothing
and court shoes.
We play Mondays, Wednesdays and
Saturdays from 7:30 am ish to 10 am ish.
You can always contact either Sue Miller at
(503) 702-4273 or Sandy Stearn at (951) 797-
0991 for Solera pickleball information.
PICKLEBALL PADDLERS
50 | LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2023 |
Senators Capito (black pants) and Tillis (red shirt) playing pickleball
