On The Front Lines of the Merger w/Tim Parks | The Future of the MLP & W...

 

They Came to Merge King of the Court Podcast Hosts Discuss Pro Pickleball's Historic Union

The worlds of professional pickleball were rocked earlier this year when it was announced that the two rival tours, the MLP and PPA, would be merging into one united tour starting in 2024. This merger brought together the top players in the world onto one tour after years of competing separately. On a recent episode of The King of the Court podcast, hosts Tyler Loong and Jimmy Miller invited guest Tim Parks, owner of the MLP's SoCal Heart Eights, to discuss this historic deal and what it means for the future of the sport. 1:15 - Drafting for Challenger Parks praised his draft strategy in Challenger league, noting "the formula for winning is to get a third round player who by the end of the season is a first round player." He highlighted drafting CJ Clincher, who he expects will dominate mixed doubles. Parks says, "all four of my players would go higher in the draft today." 3:20 - MLP Promotion & Relegation The hosts and Parks agreed promotion and relegation between leagues made less sense business-wise with the team franchise model, impacting investment and valuation. Parks suggests "the best owners end up in the premiere because they have to essentially pay to get in" which gets the "best players with the best owners." 6:20 - The Kyle Yates MLP Controversy They recounted the debate over Yates being drafted when he said he couldn't play. Parks explained it was partly gamesmanship by other owners, noting precedents like Riley Newman. He said it illustrated "zero-sum debates" among owners despite Commissioner Brooks' efforts. 13:05 - New MLP Committees With the merger, decisions will be made by committees versus individuals. Parks said this should reduce complaints and frustration previously aimed at sole decision-makers. Several committees are already meeting on matters like scheduling. 14:30 - Jimmy & Travis Beef Revisited Miller and Travis renner's beef from comments about Renner drafting himself was revisited. Parks reveals it was partly strategy by Renner's owner Richie Burckle, noting his reputation for ruthlessness and "zero-sum games." 18:10 - Is Jimmy More Trouble Than He's Worth? Parks amusingly recounts Burckle's complaints about trouble caused by hiring Miller, including player complaints about his comments. He notes most players can't handle criticism but fans want honesty, comparing Miller to LeBron James needing a coach despite his greatness. 23:40 - On the Front Lines of the Merger As owners competing for players during the turbulent merger, Parks and PPA's Connor Pardoe traded "war stories." Parks focuses on understanding players' motivations versus money, citing the Johnsons as an example. He says despite financial differences, "the huge winners in this entire thing are the players."

29:50 - Which Owners Are the Best Players? In good-natured trash talk, they debate which owners can actually play at the pro level. Parks argues singles prowess is overvalued, saying team success relies more on consistency. He believes doubles specialists like himself thrive in the team format. 33:25 - Tim's "Do Not Draft" List Parks reveals he shares his mental list of players he'd never draft with other owners. He looks for players with little value in the MLP format, even if their singles ability is strong. Fit with teammates and consistency are more important. 38:40 - Is KOTC Too Dangerous for Guests? Laughing over team owner Al Tylis wariness about appearing on the show, they joke about its reputation for honesty, drama and mudslinging - part of its appeal for fans. Parks admits he ignored advice that it was a risky move to be a guest. 39:20 - The Future Landscape of Pro Pickleball Parks describes optimism about blending schedules, running MLP events alongside PPA's to benefit operations. He expects fewer but bigger events with more at stake as "the cups or slams have bigger impact." 49:15 - MLP Season 2 Predictions/Discussion Never shy about touting his team, Parks predicts the Hard Eights will go undefeated for the season, taking their rivalry with the BLQK BEARS "into more detail." Miller and Loong push back at his confidence. 01:05:40 - Tim's Top 5 Pickleball Podcasts Always looking to stir debate, Parks shares his top podcast rankings:

• King of the Court
• It Feels Right
• The Pickle Pod
• The Drop
• Jill Braverman Experience

He compliments the hosts' honesty and inside access, but critiques Braverman's lack of preparation and irregular scheduling of others. 01:12:30 - Tim Confronts Tyler In the funniest segment, Parks directly challenges Loong's criticisms of MLP's scoring system, point by point. Loong concedes some arguments but holds his ground on matches feeling "different" despite statistical similarities.

Throughout the lengthy but entertaining discussion, what stands out is the optimistic belief by all three that the merger will strengthen pro pickleball. There's acknowledgment of growing pains, but confidence that combining forces is best for the sport's future. The rapport between hosts and guest also demonstrates increased unity.