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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JULY 2024 | 55 POP Tennis POP Tennis, formerly known as Paddle Tennis, is a fun, fast sport that can be enjoyed by people at all fitness levels. Though played on a smaller court with a different paddle and 20 percent deflated tennis balls, POP Tennis is otherwise scored and regulated like traditional tennis. POP Tennis is played on the courts to the left of the Main Clubhouse on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 am (spring/summer hours). Additionally, there is a group that plays Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3 pm and Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 pm. People are free to come and go as their schedules permit. All are welcome and there are always friendly folks to teach beginners the game! Paddles and balls are provided too. For more information or to be on a decision-making committee, please feel free to contact Carl Miller at (951) 512-3131. **All regular POP players are asked to get their $10 membership fee to Jeanne McGuire. The dues are used to plan parties, tournaments and buy balls and paddles. Hope you'll POP by! Professional athletes are embracing pickleball with sprinter-speed. It seems that every week or so another hero from big time sports is converting to pickleball, either as a conditioner for those still competing or as a post-retirement pusuit. The WNBA's Jewell Loyd is joined by NFL stand-out quarterbacks Josh Allen and Drew Brees, along with tennis husband/wife duo Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, in promoting their new passion, but it may be the NBA that is producing the most celebrated crop of pickle entrepreneurs. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and the superstar Kevins (Durant and Love) are a sampling of the best-known round ballers to move from the hardwood courts to pickleballs. The Graf-Agassi partnership demonstrated their prowess in the second Pickleball Slam event last spring at a Hard Rock Hotel in Florida. In a battle worthy of their opponent, John McEnroe and his fiery temper, Steffi and Andre outlasted "Johnnie Mac" and Maria Sharapova. The purse was advertised at $1 million, proving our game's appeal to the prominent names mentioned above. Nevertheless, Agassi's quote at the Slam is telling: "As long as I can walk, I'm playing pickleball. That's how much I enjoy this." Pickleball can't claim the high-dollar salaries and prize money offered by better-established sports empires, but the fact that people like MJ, LeBron and even Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes are buying-in as investors proves that rich folks see a future monetarily. Fortunately, it is the spirit of Agassi's gush that assures pickleball's future no matter the money to be made. This comes from one of the true greats of tennis, someone with all the money. Perhaps he and Steffi donated the proceeds, but they certainly weren't in the Slam for the purse. She explained: "Last year I came here as a spectator and John kind of pulled me in. So many fun times trying to learn this game … it's been a lot of fun and a great challenge too." That, friends, is why we at Sun Lakes have taken to pickle. Studying for finals, learning a new job, fixing your first flat tire. These are not usually "fun" experiences. No one likes feeling incompetent. If you are hesitating to try pickleball because of fear of failure, please know that those of us in our club can speak from experience that "newbies" have a good time. We welcome all comers. We can loan paddles so you needn't invest until you decide. You can enjoy the game even if you weren't a tennis pro in a past life. So, overcome any doubts and give our cheerful ambassador, club VP Judy Luna, a call at (949) 929- 2390. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club