It’s Tuesday night, and I’ve just walked into the indoor pickleball courts at Lifetime in Oak Brook. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into. Would I be able to hold my own? And what would the people be like?

Having played tennis for most of my life, I know that world and can easily adapt—or at least act as if I know what I’m doing. But pickleball? A whole new milieu. I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off here, but I knew one thing: I was going to die trying.

I’d been invited to join a more advanced league by the head pickleball coach at Lifetime. The crowd? Mostly men, with just three women in the mix—a number of the guys were young enough to be my kids. One 6’4”, tattooed, ridiculously athletic player stood out immediately—Josh.

You could see his advanced technique in the way he warmed up—power, precision, confidence.

The league runs round-robin style: … [continue reading...] about 6’4″, Tattooed, and Kind