By Scoop Malinowski
I watched the Pickleball Slam today on ESPN at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida with John McEnroe, Michael Chang vs Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick and it was a sensational experience.
Agassi lead McEnroe 3-0 but ended up losing both games to McEnroe. McEnroe delivered his trademark drama, “First argument I won in 40 years!” he yelled after Andre called his shot out and then video replay overruled. McEnroe refused to take the point 14-11, instead agreeing to replay it because it was so close. Agassi was stunned by McEnroe’s gesture, “I’m breaking out in hives, I can’t believe how nice you are.”
The battle was intense and thrilling to see the tennis icons slug it out in the mini whiffle ball variation of tennis. “This is SO EXCITING,” yelled Agassi at one point. He later revealed oddly, “I have an eighth grade education.”
McEnroe won both close games vs Agassi, then Roddick dominated Chang, which made the doubles determine which team won.
Patrick McEnroe and Chris Fowler were the ESPN commentators. Patrick was loving the action too, “So much strategic talk between points by both teams. Fascinating.”
At one point McEnroe gave his paddle to Steffi Graf to sub for him and play a couple of exo points in the doubles. More on that later.
Chang was stoic in the singles but his intensity erupted in the doubles. Chang Mac lost 21-15 but then won the second game 23-21 to force the 11 point third game.
Chang was fiery and his head was bobbing as it did during his prime tennis years, he was really into it, but at the same time also trying to disguise his passionate fury. “Cmon Let’s do it now! Cmon!”
Patrick McEnroe: “Think of all the Grand Slams these guys have played, how intense this is.”
Chang yells after a McEnroe winner: “Great volley! Great shot!”
Agassi and Roddick eventually won a classic 12-10.
After the competition, Roddick said in the on court interview: “Nothing like being on television playing a game you don’t know.”
Agassi was more smitten by the pickleball experience: “Pickleball is where tennis players go to die. I stopped getting better at tennis a long time ago. I’m playing this as long as I can walk. I can’t wait to get back out there.”
PMac: “Awesome, awesome event.”
Chris Fowler: “Thanks for watching the first but not the last Pickleball Slam.”
Now if only Jim Courier’s Inside Out, which produced this event, can get Pete Sampras involved, and perhaps Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati and Aranxta Sanchez to play PB Slam 2. Then it’s just a matter of time before Federer and Nadal get the invitation.
How about Borg and McEnroe and Pete and Andre next?
Pickleball Slam is the perfect way to transition senior tennis to a more entertaining, intriguing, innovative new event. It’s a better show than senior tennis and also BJK’s apparently now defunct World Team Tennis because it’s a fascinating to see these all time tennis greats trying to learn and master this whiffle ball variation of the sport they dedicated their lives to.
It was exciting to see four tennis wizards today adapting their genius to this silly yet challenging game they call Pickleball. To see McEnroe, Chang, Agassi and Roddick all putting their ego and tennis skillsets on the line today, trying new shots, new tactics, new ideas against each other was a special thrill.
“Pickleball Slam” was a smashing success.
Andre Agassi · Andy Roddick · John McEnroe · Michael Chang · Pickleball Slam
Bill McGill · April 4, 2023 at 10:05 am
I still can’t decide how I feel about the success of pickleball. I would have been much happier with Touch Tennis, Padel or Platform Tennis having made it big like this. Pickleball is, clearly, a dumber, lower skill game than these other three small-court racquet sports. But I guess it beats none of them having made it big in the U.S.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2023 at 10:28 am
Bill did you watch the Sunday Pickleball Slam? It was very good to watch for many reasons. But I think McEnroe was what saved it, without McEnroe it would have been flat. McEnroe’s presence and energy are why it was a smashing success. When they match Federer vs Nadal in pickleball, it’s going to be the next pivotal explosion moment in the PB evolution. I do think they should rename is Whiffle Tennis though )
Bill McGill · April 4, 2023 at 5:19 pm
I did not, but watch some padel, platform and touch tennis points and tell me which sport you find more compelling:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8U4yTXVUYI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiHbKY-MCSw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7wv_EOivIU
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2023 at 5:41 pm
I like Touch Tennis more than the other two which remind me of racquetball with the off the walls stuff, not a big fan of using walls. All three variations are difficult to master, Pickle is easier but still difficult. I’ve played against some pretty good players and it’s harder than it looks.
Scoop Malinowski · April 5, 2023 at 7:27 am
Sock is venturing over to pro pickleball soon for a tournament in North Carolina and he will play with one of the top pros Tyson McGuffin. Sock’s tennis career continues to suffer, he got a WC into Houston but lost lost last night to qualifier Machac 6 64. Sock is ranked 166 and has not been in the top 100 since 2018.