Lively Discussion on King of the Court Podcast Reveals Inside Scoop on 2023 Pickleball Season
Popular hosts Tyler Loong and Jimmy Miller provide candid commentary on Nationals drama and results
Pickleball stars Tyler Loong and Jimmy Miller returned with another juicy episode of their hit podcast, King of the Court, recapping all the action and intrigue from two major pickleball tournaments.
The enthusiastic hosts provided their signature blend of thoughtful analysis and lighthearted humor as they reviewed results and controversies from Nationals and Major League Pickleball in Dallas.
1. Embarrassing Airport Mix-Up Causes Frustration (1:10)
A hilarious airport mishap kicked things off, with Loong sharing how he was left waiting at Dallas-Fort Worth airport after Miller mistakenly flew into the smaller Dallas Love Field.
The hosts joked about Miller's mistake, with Loong joking "I'm not driving over there!" After teasing his co-host for the embarrassing mix-up, Loong admitted he should have been more clear on which airport code to use.
2. Large Scale but Disjointed Layout Presented Challenges for Players and Fans at Amateur Nationals (5:10)
Shifting gears, the duo dove into a recap of the USA Pickleball National Championships, starting with the large but disjointed layout for the 3,500 amateur divisions.
Loong acknowledged the difficulty of accommodating so many players, leading to converted tennis courts and challenging viewing. However, he praised the event's "Pickleball Boulevard" vendor village and noted some indoor courts provided better viewing.
Miller concurred about the vendor village but felt the layout caused significant challenges, especially for fans trying to watch matches.
3. New Tournament Format Drew Mixed Reviews from Players (12:40)
Transitioning to the pro divisions, Loong and Miller analyzed the new "progression format" which grouped all rounds of singles, doubles and mixed doubles on separate days.
They noted pros like Ben Johns felt this format discouraged upsets by letting top seeds recover between rounds. However, crowded schedules led to extremely long sessions for some, like Tina Pisnik playing over 6 hours of high-intensity matches in one day.
Overall, the hosts felt the format had pros and cons but expected tweaks in future tournaments based on heavy player feedback.
4. Anna Leigh Waters Squeaks Out Finals Win Over Catherine Parenteau (19:05)
In women's singles action, 16-year-old phenom Anna Leigh Waters outlasted Catherine Parenteau in a hotly contested three-game final.
Loong praised Waters' mental fortitude in overcoming multiple match points against her frequent partner. He and Miller viewed Parenteau as Waters' closest competitor now, noting past wins by Tyra Black and Parris Todd.
They also remarked on Waters' court side Coke drinking, joking about potential sponsorship deals. Ultimately, they acknowledged her hard-earned victory against a gritty Parenteau.
5. Local Player Haywood Upsets Legend Johns, Can't Stop Eventual Champ Dub (21:55)
The men's singles division produced high drama with North Carolina teacher Chris Haywood utilizing his powerful Gearbox paddle to upset defending champ Ben Johns in a stunning upset.
Despite Johns citing lighting issues, Miller felt Haywood's paddle gave him an advantage with its unmatched power. However, Haywood fell in the next round to JW Johnson, who claimed his first National singles title.
The self-effacing Johnson attributed his win more to fitness than his lack of intense singles training. Loong and Miller lauded the local teacher's breakthrough and Johnson's humble win.
6. Anna Bright and James Ignatowich Fall to Dominant Johns Pairing in Mixed Finals (25:00)
In mixed doubles, partners on and off the court Anna Bright and James Ignatowich impressed by reaching the finals before falling to the powerhouse team of Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.
Johns and Waters captured their latest mixed crown by sweeping the finals 3-0.
7. Player Withdrawals Cause Controversy and Difficulty for Partners (31:40)
Player withdrawals emerged as a hot topic, with Loong empathizing with partners impacted by last minute dropouts. He understood players falling ill but suspected some exploited loopholes to avoid tough matches.
Miller agreed withdrawals disrupted partnerships and the event but cautioned against assumptions on player motives without all the facts. They agreed whatever the cause, late withdrawals created undue hardship for partners traveling to compete together.
8. Intense Player Confrontations Spice Up Lively Pro-Am Atmosphere (35:30)
Switching gears, the hosts dove into juicy stories of tense player interactions that livened up the pro-am atmosphere.
Miller excitedly recalled pro player Jill Braverman pretending not to recognize him during an awkward exchange caught on video. He also shared Braverman provoking young player Hayden Patriquin with explicit trash talk during a mixed match.
9. Loong's Impressive Showing Against World #1 Team Earns Praise (41:10)
Transitioning to recaps of epic pro matches, the friendly rivals revisited Loong's impressive showing with partner James Ignatowich against the world's top team of Ben Johns and Collin Johns.
Miller, who did commentary during the match, praised Loong's improved attack skills and lauded the competitive match that had fans enthralled. Though disappointed in the loss, Loong took pride in pushing the Johns brothers to the limit and nearly scoring a major upset.
10. Hosts Review Tournament Highs and Lows While Praising Overall Execution (58:30)
As the wide-ranging podcast wound down, Loong and Miller shared their overall takeaways from the two big events.
They focused on the positives, like the "Pickleball Boulevard" vendor village that boosted fan engagement. Loong also appreciated fans interacting with them in person, softening the usually salty Miller.
In terms of negatives, they cited disjointed amateur layouts and questionable player withdrawals. However, they praised organizers for largely overcoming logistical hurdles and providing mostly positive tournament experiences.
11. Lighter Moments Include Airport Mishaps, Paddle Talk and Crazy Comebacks (59:55)
Though they covered plenty of pickelball drama, the hosts packed in lighter moments too, like Loong's airport adventures and Miller's search for a proper tournament snack.
They also delved into paddle maintenance, grip techniques, player superstitions and numerous crazy on-court comebacks that happened away from the streamed matches.
Through it all, Loong and Miller entertained listeners with their signature blend of witty banter and astute match analysis. They promised excitedly to reconnect soon to recap fall events and look ahead to the 2024 pro pickleball season.
12. Co-Hosts Share Tales from Major League Pickleball Weekend (1:00:00)
Before rehashing the National Championships, Loong and Miller took some time to recap their experiences at the prior Major League Pickleball event in Las Dallas.
They got into the unique setup of the three-day pro team tournament, describing the festival-like atmosphere with food trucks, live music and games for fans. Miller admitted the scene tempted him to indulge in beers, tacos and poker despite strict training.
Transitioning to MLP team results, Loong excitedly recalled his Dream Breakers squad defeating rival Utah Diamonds in a tight quarterfinal match. He credited team chemistry and rowdy home crowd support for fueling their upset victory.
13. Questions from Fans Prompt Discussion on Training, Gear and Mental Game (1:00:55)
In a lively question and answer segment, Loong and Miller fielded fan questions on topics like training regimes, paddle preferences and mental toughness techniques.
Addressing a question on essential tournament gear, Miller stressed the importance of phone chargers to avoid losing touch during long days. Loong added that niche pickleball equipment like grip powder is a must for serious competitors.
When asked about paddle customs like overgrips or popsicle sticks, Loong explained his minimalist approach of using thin overgrips to simplify re-gripping. In contrast, Miller noted Collin Johns' quirky use of popsicle sticks under his grip, attributing it to player superstitions.
Fielding a question on combating rival sports, they argued ignorance drives most pickleball hate. Loong pointed to misguided social media attacks on pickleball using pros "playing soft" against tennis celebs. They reiterated pickleball's soaring popularity and urged critics to give it a genuine try.
14. Partnership Possibilities, Pro League Changes and GOAT Debate (1:10:00)
Later questions allowed the co-hosts to speculate on potential pro player partnerships, changes to league formats and debates on the sport's "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time).
Loong revealed he is discussing plans to partner with James Ignatowich after their successful trial run at the National Championships. However, he believes Ignatowich may already have a partnership lined up for next year's circuit.
In league news, Miller suggested the Premier League may expand to 24 teams next year, returning to a promotion-relegation system after this year's condensed Super 8 tournament. They agreed more details should emerge soon.
15. Reflections on Growth of Pickleball and its Passionate Community (1:15:00)
Approaching the end of their wide-ranging recap, the co-hosts took time to reflect on the incredible growth of pickleball and the development of its passionate community.
They noted how pro player earnings are climbing with more corporate sponsors and broadcasting deals. With higher stakes, they unfortunately see some players emulating negative behaviors like gamesmanship from other professional sports.
However, Loong and Miller asserted most pros remain gracious competitors who respect the sport's roots. They vowed to continue celebrating positive player stories on their platform as the sport evolves.
Before signing off, the enthusiastic hosts thanked fans for their lively questions and support of the show. They promised exciting episodes to come during the offseason as they gear up for expanded pickleball coverage in 2024.
Summary:
Popular pickleball podcast hosts Tyler Loong and Jimmy Miller returned with an entertaining recap of the USA Pickleball National Championships and a Major League Pickleball event.
The co-hosts kicked things off on a light note, reminiscing about a mix-up that left Loong stranded after Miller flew to the wrong Dallas airport. They also shared fun anecdotes from the MLP Vegas event, where Miller was tempted by beers and poker despite his training regime.
Transitioning to serious tournament recap, they felt the massive amateur Nationals event had logistical issues with its disjointed layout across converted tennis courts. However, innovations like the “Pickleball Boulevard” vendor village boosted fan engagement.
In the pro divisions, a new match format drew mixed reactions. Players like Ben Johns argued more rounds in one day increased upsets, while marathon sessions left some competitors drained. The hosts felt tweaks were likely after abundant player feedback.
Highlighting pro results, Loong and Miller broke down several memorable matches. They were impressed by Loong’s play pushing the Johns brothers to the limit in a narrow semi loss. They also praised Catherine Parenteau for nearly upsetting young phenom Anna Leigh Waters in the women's singles final.
The co-hosts had plenty to say about player controversies as well. They understood frustrations causing AJ Koller’s physical confrontation with Federico Staksrud but emphasized better communication is needed to prevent such conflicts.
Loong also recounted awkward exchanges Miller had with player Jill Braverman, who denied recognizing him and trash-talked an opponent using lewd language. They agreed players must check inappropriate behavior as the sport’s profile rises.
Above all, Loong and Miller appreciated the passion of pickleball fans who approached them at events and engaged with their show. They aim to continue celebrating the sport’s growth while providing honest commentary on areas for improvement.
With funny banter and thoughtful insights, the hosts entertained listeners while analyzing key storylines emerging from the national championships. Their lively recap promised more open and honest debate as the pickleball season continues unfolding.
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