With Memorial Day behind us, we face a long hot summer and the inevitable slowing of activity at the pickleball courts. Many familiar faces disappear for the next two or three months, favoring instead the cooler climes of vacation homes far north of the Mason Dixon line. Tournaments are paused, and those who remain swaddle themselves in suntan lotion and ingest gallons of electrolytes before taking to the courts. A ninety-degree day means a heat index of well over one hundred on the unshaded, dark-surfaced pickleball courts. Hot or not, dedicated picklers will still be out there playing. For those uninitiated, some unsolicited advice – be aware, use sunblock and stay hydrated.
Memorial Day is a time to remember ordinary people who did extraordinary things so that the rest of us can enjoy the luxury of a three-day weekend in May. Regardless of what one feels about war, whether right or wrong, just or unjust, it’s important to remember that over 1.25 million Americans have died fighting for us. Many of us know someone who gave his or her life protecting the American dream.
For most of us at The Landings, the American dream includes a well-earned retirement and enjoying the many activities the Landings Club provides, including pickleball. Alex Fox and Bradley Morse organized a Memorial Day pickleball round robin. Before the games began, Alex, a Marine who spent a year in Afghanistan, reminded participants of what Memorial Day is all about. As Alex stressed, the day is not about barbeques and pickleball, it is about honoring the many men and women who gave all. His comments were followed by a lovely rendition of the National Anthem, sung by Austin Lofquist who is currently studying musical theater in New York.
The round robin was not about awarding trophies or medals. It was a meet and greet opportunity for new picklers who mixed with some of our pickleball elite for purely social play. No medals were awarded so no one had to suffer performance anxiety. Each team of four included a 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5 level player. The 4.0s teamed with 3.5s and the 3.0s teamed with 2.5s. The higher rated players played their counterparts and when one team scored eight points, the court was turned over to the lower rated players. It should be noted that many of the lower rated players will be playing at higher levels by next year’s Memorial Day Round Robin.
To this observer, it appeared that every participant was engaged in the spirit of the event. According to Dinah Zapatka, “Alex ran a terrific event, but pickleball took second place to the bacon wrapped Oreos he made. They were delicious - it was too difficult to eat just one.” Alex must have a hidden agenda: The greater the number calories, the greater need to crowd the courts in order to retain those million-dollar figures. Well played Alex.