Mo Money Mo Problems | New Merger Details, Unpaid Contracts & The Future...

 

Passion and Uncertainty: The Rollercoaster of Professional Pickleball

Negotiations, lawsuits and big money define the chaotic early days of a booming new sport

The world of professional pickleball continues to take fans and players on a wild ride. With big money now pouring into the fledgling sport from investors, lawsuits flying between warring startup leagues, and stars leaving their day jobs to pursue pro careers, pickleball today looks less like a backyard pastime and more like a high-stakes, big-money affair.

For hosts Tyler Loong and Jimmy Miller of the popular King of the Court podcast, making sense of this chaos has become a full-time job. In their latest episode, they dive into the non-stop news coming out of the two rival pickleball leagues – the MLP and PPA Tour – and what it means for the sport’s passionate but beleaguered fans and players.

1. 2:40, Merger Update
   After months of negotiations and legal battles, a proposed merger between the rival PPA and MLP tours recently hit yet another roadblock, leaving players and fans confused and frustrated. According to Loong and Miller, billionaire MLP team owner Tom Wagner sent a bombshell letter to the league accusing PPA executives like Connor Pardoe. Wagner said he is ready to step in and bankroll the merger himself under more owner-friendly terms. But in a surprise twist soon after, Wagner mysteriously backed off his offer after private talks with Pardoe and others, saying “significant progress” had been made. With the planned January 1 start now long gone, Miller says angry players are left in limbo, unpaid and wondering if they quit their jobs for nothing. But the hosts remain hopeful that the messy merger will still go through once cooler heads prevail. As Miller says, it’s less about money than finally coming to terms both sides can embrace.
   
   
2. 10:50, Upcoming MLP “Combine” 
   While league executives feud over contracts, players and teams like the Utah Breakers are focused on what they can control: finding and developing talent. Loong discusses plans for an upcoming MLP combine where unsigned hopefuls will descend on Utah to showcase their skills and possibly land a pro deal. With top unsigned prospects like Richard Livornese Jr and Hannah Blatt joining drafted stars like Amanda Hendry and Chuck Taylor, Loong says the Breakers combine will let players and coaches see talent they rarely get access to. Miller jokes the event may need to sell tickets, predicting the state’s big Polynesian community will flock to what for them is far more than a casual hobby.
   
   
3. 14:50, MLP Contracts Update
   With facts scarce on the ground, speculation on tour message boards is hitting a fever pitch. Loong and Miller address growing player and fan fears that technological woes could cause the MLP Tour to implode. Rob Nunnery, an early vocal critic of both leagues, recently tweeted that to his knowledge none of the promised MLP player payments due January 1 have been made. Miller confirms no one has been paid, but cautions that money itself is not yet the issue. Tyus and Stein may simply be unable to close the PPA merger that would unlock investor funds. Until that huge deal gets done, Miller says the contracted MLP players will just have to stay patient and keep the faith that their leap into full-time pickleball will pay off down the road.
   
   
4. 29:00, APP Punta Gorda Recap
   As the PPA and MLP navigate their political quagmire, Ken Herrmann’s upstart APP Tour is steaming full speed ahead with events across the country. Their Punta Gorda tournament in Florida is underway now, and early results have brought some surprises. Miller reports that Will Howells and Bobbi Oshiro scored back-to-back upsets over top men’s teams before finally falling to Yates Johnson and Jorja Johnson in the semis. The real shocker came in the women’s singles event, where Judith Costillo stunned Megan Fudge. With $100k now up for grabs in the APP’s new team championships, could Herrmann’s rogue tour keep gaining momentum?
   
   
5. 34:30, Which Pros Are Allowed to Play APP?
   When it comes to who can actually play in APP events, strict contract rules make for strange bedfellows. Miller explains that while Vivien Glozman had to withdraw from Punta Gorda upon realizing she lacked the proper “carve out” in her PPA/MLP deal, other big names remain free agents, at least for now. Georgina Johnson is taking full advantage, partnering with lesser known youngster Millie Davis. And why haven’t marquee brothers JW and Dylan Johnson followed suit by playing APP? Loong speculates they may just want to demonstrate faith that the PPA ship will right itself after weathering this current storm.
   
   

In the end, fans can only hope that the warring pickleball tribes recognize what the sport so badly needs: unity, transparency and decisive leadership at the top. The players deserve nothing less than a stable platform on which to share their passion with the world. If executives on all sides can honor that, then professional pickleball may still have a very bright future ahead.

0:00 - Intro 2:40 - Merger Update 10:50 - Upcoming MLP “Combine” 14:50 - MLP Contracts Update 29:00 - APP Punta Gorda Recap 34:30 - Which Pros Are Allowed to Play APP? 37:00 - Q&A 01:00:30 - Why KOTC is the Best