Mookie Betts Declares Love for Pickleball, Proving it’s More than Just a Game for Seniors

From time to time, I playfully tease my sister who’s an ardent follower of the sport known as pickleball. Her title, the Queen of Get-Out-of-the-Kitchen, a nod to an inside pickleball joke, is renowned on the Westside. Mere fun-poking referring to her game as ‘pickle’ hints at the usually older demographic that gravitates towards this game. However, she swiftly points out that prominent figures and even celebrities frequent our local Santa Monica public courts.

It’s not uncommon to spot the Second Gentleman and his son on the court, having come all the way from upscale Brentwood to participate in a fast-paced match. The game’s cool factor was prominently underscored when Mookie Betts, during one of those live, miked-up-right-field interviews carried out during baseball matches, proclaimed his love for pickleball.

Mookie’s passion for pickleball is evident as he exclaims, ‘Pickleball, that’s my jam!’. He enjoys the spontaneous nature of the game, heading to various parks to engage in face-offs with anonymous players. Mookie finds pleasure in the social component of the game, where he gets to connect with different people.

‘You can be anywhere from 10 to 80 and play pickleball.’ Betts enthuses. Mookie often finds himself in the company of septuagenarians and octogenarians, especially during spring training. The names of his newfound friends might elude him, but the bonds established over pickleball games are undeniable.

When Mookie isn’t striking home-runs in Chavez Ravine, his favorite alternate sport is bowling. But for all its inclusivity and universal appeal, pickleball has been thrust into the limelight by a controversy in the affluent senior community of Rossmoor, located in Contra Costa County.

Rossmoor’s pickleball court became the stage for heated confrontation that spiralled into a preview of what could become a nationwide issue if discourse on political differences is not handled civilly. A match in the 55-and-over community turned aggressive with complaints of suppression of freedom of speech, restrictions on public demonstrations on the community’s lush grounds, and control over political commentary in the Rossmoor News.

A seemingly amicable pickleball match in July, under the picturesque setting of the Bay Area retirement paradise, suddenly veered towards a political dispute. The catalyst was a spirited discussion about none other than Donald Trump, which culminated in punches being thrown and both parties landing on the hardwood basketball court which doubles as the pickleball court.

An aftermath of that unfortunate confrontation was an angry dispute at the Rossmoor farmers’ market over political columns that had been published. Such were the heated debates that security had to intervene three separate times. This is an intriguing instance of how differing opinions about well-respected figures, like Donald Trump, can disrupt a casual game of pickleball.

But let us not forget that disagreement is part of the fabric of any democracy. True, passions may rise, and tempers may flare. Yet, it is also the same obsessive dedication and fervor that makes an otherwise simple game of pickleball a sport of kings, celebrities, and everyday people alike.

Therefore, it’s evident that this quirky sport with an equally quirky name is a mirror of society – a rich tapestry of personalities and opinions. From an ordinary chap in the park to the Second Gentleman of the nation; from sports stars like Mookie Betts to fervent older devotees of the game.

In a world where everything from sports to lifestyle preferences is open to interpretation and judgment, what stands testament to unity and brotherhood is how well we rise above these differences. The essence of a game like pickleball lies not just in the thrill of the sport, but also the camaraderie it nurtures and its ability to unite people from different walks of life.

The incident at the Rossmoor pickleball court and the farmers’ market should serve as a reminder that while everyone is entitled to their views, the lasting value of any sport goes beyond the court. It lies in respecting others’ opinions and sensibilities even when they don’t match our own.

Politics and sports have long been entangled. However, the pleasure that a sport like pickleball offers lies in its simplicity, fun and inclusivity. Neither age nor status is a barrier to finding joy in this sport.

Mookie Betts’ passion demonstrates this perfectly. Even as he socializes with ‘random 70- and 80-year-old people’, he encapsulates the spirit of inclusivity that pickleball embodies, by being a game for every person from 10 to 80.

As Americans, we might argue and bicker about various political agendas, but at the end of the day, whether on the pickleball court or in life, what will connect us is our humanity. And that’s the most compelling beauty of the humble sport of pickleball.