Sunday, November 3, 2024

2024 MLP Playoffs

 


Dallas

Las Vegas Night Owls vs. Atlanta Bouncers (1)
Atlanta Bouncers vs. Las Vegas Night Owls (2)
Las Vegas Night Owls vs. Atlanta Bouncers (3)

Miami Pickleball Club vs. Frisco Pandas (2)

D. C. Pickleball Team vs. Texas Ranchers (2)
Texas Ranchers vs. D.C. Pickleball Team (3)

Dallas Flash Pickleball
JW Johnson
Augustus "Augie" Ge
Jorja Johnson
Hurricane Tyra Black

AZ Drive
Andrei Daescu
Dylan Frazier
Jessie Irvine
Lacy Schneemann

Columbus Sliders
Riley Newman
Jay Devilliers
Callie Jo Smith
Roscoe Bellamy
Parris Todd


DC Pickleball Club
James Ignatowich
Rachel Rohrabacher
Dekel Bar
Vivian Glozman

Los Angeles Mad Drops
Thomas Wilson
Hunter Johnson
Catherine Parenteau
Jade Kawamoto

Texas Ranchers
Christian Alshon
Quang Duong
Etta Wright
Tina Pisnik

Orlando Squeeze
Federico Staksrud
Tyson McGuffin
Vivienne David
Meghan Dizon

St. Louis Shock 
Gabriel Tardio
Hayden Patriquin
Anna Bright
Kate Fahey

New Jersey 5s 
Zane Navratil
Will Howells
Anna Leigh Waters
Mariana Humberg



Challenger Team Members

Atlanta Bouncers
Susannah Barr
Emily Cederquist
Todd Fought
Jaume Martinez Vich

Bay Area Breakers
Jill Braverman
Allyce Jones
Collin Shick
DJ Young

Brooklyn Aces
Pablo Tellez
Lina Padegimaite
Daniel De La Rosa
Layne Sleeth

California Black Bears
Susannah Barr
Brandon French
Rafa Hewett
Amanda Hendry

Chicago Slice
Megan Fudge
Allison Harris
Brendon Long
Jack Munro

Florida Smash
Donald Young
Christa Gecheva
Travis Rettenmaier
Martina Frantova

Frisco Pandas
Tamaryn "Tammy" Emmrich
Ewa Radzikowska
John Cincola
Stefan Auvergne

Las Vegas Night Owls
Rafa Hewett
Blaine Hovenier
Judit Castillo Gargallo
Chao "Zoey" Yi Wang

Miami Pickleball Club
Noe Khlif
Bobbi Oshiro
Eric Oncins
Milan Rane

SoCal Hard Eights
Yana Newell
Max Manthou
Irina Tereschenko
Erik Lange



Thursday, October 31, 2024

2024 MLP PLAYOFFS: Preview Erik Tice

 

Premier League Awards

MVP:

  • Anna Leigh Waters (39-3 regular season record)

First Team:

  • Anna Leigh Waters
  • Anna Bright
  • Hayden Patriquin
  • JW Johnson / Will Howls (split pick based on win percentage)

Second Team:

  • Jorja Johnson
  • Rachel  Rohrabacher
  • Will Howls (if JW was chosen for First Team) / JW Johnson
  • Quang Duong (narrative-driven choice)
  • Ben Johns

Manager of the Year:

  • Ryan  Dawidjan  (for managing injuries, team trades, and player substitutions effectively)

Challenger League Awards

MVP Candidates:

  • Ava Radzikowska (significant impact on a struggling team)
  • Jaume Martinez Vich (32-14 record, mixed and DreamBreaker advantage)

First Team:

  • Megan Fudge
  • Ava Radzikowska
  • Jaume Martinez Vich
  • Max Manthou (surprising standout performance)
  • Todd Fought

Second Team:

  • Yana Newell
  • Chao "Zoey" Yi Wang
  • Jack Munro
  • Todd Fought
  • Daniel De La Rosa

Most Improved Player:

  • Max Manthou (for consistent improvements and success in the AP tour)

Challenger Manager/Coach of the Year:

  • Carlos Delores (Chicago Slice coach, likely MLP’s winningest coach)

00:00 INTRO 0:38 MLP Miami 2:25 Premier Awards 6:17 Challenger Awards 9:58 Playoff Format 12:26 Premier Playoffs 20:53 Challenger playoffs

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

2024 MLP Miami UNDERDOG MAKES PLAYOFFS + Can Anna Leigh Waters Get The 5's To #1?!

 

0:00 This Ball Is So Bad Scream (Chicago Slice vs. Florida Smash Clip) 4:02 Day 1 Recap Day 2 5:16 D.C. Pickleball Team vs. New York Hustlers 8:14 Orlando Squeeze vs.New York Hustlers 10:22 Face Shots 12:18 Orlando Squeeze vs.New York Hustlers (continued) 13:04 Orlando Squeeze vs.D.C. Pickleball Team Day 3 21:48 LA Mad Drops vs. D.C. Pickleball Team 24:54 New York Hustlers vs. New Jersey 5s Day 4 32:20 D.C. Pickleball Team vs. New Jersey 5s 37:35 LA Mad Drops vs. New York Hustlers 40:01 Orlando Squeeze vs. New Jersey 5s 43:01 Premier Standings 45:48 Challenger Recap 56:36 Hooks Of The Week



Premier Level 

0:00 Women's Doubles - Vivian Glozman/Rachel Rohrabacher vs Anna Leigh Waters/Mariana Humberg 11:24 Men's Doubles - Ryan Fu/Dekel Bar vs Will Howells/Zane Navratil 31:52 Mixed Doubles - Rachel Rohrabacher /Dekel Bar vs Zane Navratil /Mariana Humberg 36:14 Anna Bright - Commentator 48:24 Mixed Doubles - Ryan Fu/Vivian Glozman vs Anna Leigh Waters /Will Howells 1:02:55 Dreambreaker




2024 MLP Miami DRAMATIC Regular Season Finale! UPSETS, CINDERELLAS AND MORE!

 

00:00 INTRO 0:45 Storylines to watch 2:34 NERDS ONLY (model methodology) 4:34 More storylines to watch 5:15 Thursday 7:47 Friday 17:10 Saturday 19:36 Sunday 27:50 Final Premier League Standings 28:34 CHALLENGER LEAGUE INSANITY

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Donald Young on Transitioning to Pickleball

 

4:33 Donald's Pickleball Story 6:46 US Open Tennis 9:20 20+ Years Playing Tennis 9:59 In a Rap Song 11:09 Looking Back At Me At 25 Years Old 12:06 Not Enough Aura 12:39 Context 13:03 Enjoying The Process 13:30 Talking About Pickleball At the US Open 14:28 Tennis Transition 15:01 Is Pickleball More Fun 16:01 Now You Are A Grown Man 16:45 Playing Gabe 17:13 Best Tennis Player Converting Over To Pickleball

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Riding with Riley: Riley Newman Talks Pickleball Prep, Strategies, and More

 

Behind the Wheel with Riley Newman: A Pro Pickleball Journey to Day 4 at Virginia Beach

Riley Newman Opens Up About Life as a Pro Pickleball Player: From Pre-Match Routines to Part-Time Jobs


In his first episode, pro pickleball player Riley Newman takes us along for a ride to Day 4 of the PPA Tournament in Virginia Beach. As he navigates the streets, he shares his thoughts on competition, strategies, pre-game rituals, and even some personal anecdotes about his journey before becoming a pickleball star. From his unique sleep habits to his former jobs, Riley provides a behind-the-scenes look into the life of a pro athlete.


1. Introduction and Sleep Routine (0:17)

Riley kicks off the interview with a discussion about his excitement for Day 4 of the PPA Tournament. Despite a late night, he’s well-rested after 10 hours of sleep, something he considers essential for recovery. He even mentions that tennis legend Roger Federer sleeps 12 hours, highlighting the importance of proper rest for peak performance. For aspiring pros, he advises prioritizing sleep as a critical aspect of recovery.

2. Visualization and Relaxation Techniques (1:02)

Riley talks about his mental preparation for the match, noting that his visualization exercises were completed the day before. As he drives to the venue, he takes time to focus on his breathing and relax. He suggests that many players, both amateur and professional, can benefit from managing pre-game nerves with breathing exercises and mindfulness.

3. Mixed Doubles Strategy (1:49

Riley discusses his upcoming mixed doubles match against former partners Catherine Parenteau and Christian Alshon. He explains a unique strategy he and his partner Jackie Kawamoto used, placing Jackie on the left side to disrupt the opposing team’s rhythm. Riley emphasizes the importance of flexibility in doubles, noting that some players are too rigid about their court positions. 

(4) Catherine Parenteau/Christian Alshon v (11) Jackie Kawamoto/Riley Newman

4. Men's Doubles and Underdog Mindset (3:22)

Riley dives into men’s doubles, mentioning an upset in a previous match involving Casey Diamond and Max Freeman defeating Tyson McGuffin and Jay Devilliers. Though Riley and his partner Rafa Hewett are often considered underdogs due to his lower ranking this season, Riley enjoys the challenge. He explains that taking time off in 2024 to travel to places like Brazil and Australia caused his ranking to drop, but he’s ready to prove the doubters wrong.

(6) Christian Alshon/James Ignatowich v (9) Riley Newman/Rafa Hewett

5. Part-Time Jobs Before Pickleball (4:36)

Before finding success in pickleball, Riley worked various part-time jobs, including being an Uber driver and a movie extra in LA. He shares a funny story about his mom’s favorite memory of him, playing Danny Zuko in a middle school production of Grease. Despite his pickleball achievements, his mom still fondly recalls his performance in Grease as her favorite moment.

6. Pre-Game Routine: A Calm Start to the Day (6:01)

When asked about his routine on the day of a tournament, Riley shares how he tries to avoid diving into his phone immediately after waking up. Instead, he takes a few moments to relax, get some fresh sunlight, and enjoy a hearty breakfast—usually a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel. His focus is on staying calm and mentally prepared for the day ahead.

7. The Life of a Pro Pickleball Player (6:44)

Riley laughs about driving himself to the tournament in a rental car, as many pro pickleball players do. He mentions that he’s not one to splurge on parking and shares a funny anecdote about his dad’s frugality, which has clearly rubbed off on him. Despite the fame and success, Riley remains grounded, doing what it takes to save a few bucks on the road.


In-Depth Summary:
Riley Newman offers an authentic glimpse into the life of a professional pickleball player in this candid car ride interview. He emphasizes the importance of sleep, mental preparation, and flexibility in strategy—keys to his success on the court. Beyond the sport, Riley’s stories about his past jobs and frugal habits reveal a down-to-earth personality, relatable to anyone pursuing their passion. Whether he's playing against former partners or navigating the challenges of being an underdog, Riley's enthusiasm and humility shine through.


Question List:

  1. (0:17) How many hours of sleep does Riley recommend for aspiring pro athletes? 
  2. (1:02) What mental preparation techniques does Riley use before a big match? 
  3. (1:49) How does Riley adjust his mixed doubles strategy to gain an advantage? 
  4. (3:22) What challenges does Riley face due to his lower ranking in the 2024 season? 
  5. (4:36) What were some of Riley’s part-time jobs before becoming a pro pickleball player? 
  6. (6:01) How does Riley start his day on the morning of a competition? 
  7. (6:44) Why does Riley prefer to drive himself to tournaments instead of using other transportation options?
Riley Newman Interviews




Friday, October 25, 2024

2024 MLP Miami


Premier Level 

0:00 Women's Doubles - Vivian Glozman/Rachel Rohrabacher vs Anna Leigh Waters/Mariana Humberg 11:24 Men's Doubles - Ryan Fu/Dekel Bar vs Will Howells/Zane Navratil 31:52 Mixed Doubles - Rachel Rohrabacher /Dekel Bar vs Zane Navratil /Mariana Humberg 36:14 Anna Bright - Commentator 48:24 Mixed Doubles - Ryan Fu/Vivian Glozman vs Anna Leigh Waters /Will Howells 1:02:55 Dreambreaker




2024 MLP Playoffs

  Dallas Las Vegas Night Owls vs. Atlanta Bouncers  (1) Atlanta Bouncers vs. Las Vegas Night Owls  (2) Las Vegas Night Owls vs. Atlanta Boun...