A new statement by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has come to light wherein he is harshly critical of Cristiano Ronaldo
Fifty years ago, I started playing this little-known sport with a funny name. Now, it’s all the rage.
I’ve been a little stunned—and delighted—by the sudden popularity of one of my favorite pastimes, a game with a funny name and strange terminology, such as, “dink,” “kitchen,” and “skinny singles.”
Largely confined to the Pacific Northwest for decades, it has now emerged as America’s fastest-growing sport.
I’m talking about pickleball.
It’s best described as a mash up of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. And if you haven’t heard of it, I expect you soon will.
I’ve been a “Pickler,” as people obsessed with the game like me are known, for more than 50 years.
And if you and your family are bored and looking for something to do this summer, I encourage you to become one too.
Boredom was what got this sport started in 1965.
Three dads living on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, came home one summer evening to find their children complaining that there was nothing for them to do. So, they found a net, a Wiffle ball, some ping-pong paddles, and created a game on an old badminton court that the entire family could play together.
It was a hit.
Over the next year, the three friends worked together to develop a set of rules, formalize the court layout, and introduce a larger plywood paddle that was good for striking the ball. And they decided to call it pickleball. (The name’s origins remain a matter of debate. Some believe it was named after a dog. Others say it’s a reference to a “pickle boat,” a thrown together boat made from the leftover rowers in crew races. I don’t know. I prefer to just play the game and stay out of the fray.)
Meanwhile, word slowly spread in Seattle of this odd new pastime.
My dad was friends with the game’s inventors, Joel Pritchard, a state legislator and later Washington’s lieutenant governor, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell. He learned about their creation and by the late 1960s, he got inspired to build a pickleball court at our house. I’ve been playing ever since.
“I doubt there were more than a thousand people in the Seattle area who had ever seen the sport when my family picked it up.”
At the time, the pickleball community was very small. I doubt there were more than a thousand people in the Seattle area who had ever seen the sport when my family picked it up. And I don’t think anyone expected it would ever become a national phenomenon.
Today, there are more than 4.8 million players nationwide, a growth of nearly 40 percent over the last two years. And I expect it will only get bigger. (I knew things had gotten serious for pickleball when I opened up The Economist and found a story about the game’s newfound fame.)
I don’t know exactly what’s driven this recent surge in interest in pickleball, but I think the fact that it’s so easy to play is one big reason. People like to say a lot of sports—even hard ones like golf—are “easy to play,” but in the case of pickleball, it’s true. Everyone from the super young to the super old can take part. It takes minutes to learn the basics, games are short, and all you need is a net, paddle, and ball to get started. It doesn’t take much skill to hit the ball, either, because it doesn’t move as fast as a tennis ball. The best thing about pickleball, however, is that it’s just super fun.
I look forward to playing a pickleball game with friends and family at least once a week and more often during the summer. I’m also a lifelong tennis player, and for me, the games complement one another. Pickleball has helped me become a better tennis player and tennis has done the same for my pickleball game.
Still, I’ve spent a lot of time explaining and defending pickleball to newcomers, especially tennis players. Many people are confused by the unfamiliar court and a little skeptical of the strange terminology. There’s an area of the court within 7 feet on either side of the net called “the kitchen” or non-volley zone. And a key to being a top player is to master something called the “dink shot,” a soft shot that arcs over the net and lands within the opposing team’s kitchen. While playing doubles is most popular, singles games, including a version played crosscourt, called “skinny singles,” is another option.
Despite its silly terms and funny name, pickleball is actually quite a sophisticated game. I enjoy watching YouTube videos where I can learn about tactics and strategies from the best players. It’s amazing to see pros like Ben Johns play the game. Given all the rage about pickleball, I expect someday soon it may end up as an exhibition sport at the Olympics.
Nearly everyone in my family plays and we’ve had great fun in matches against one another over the years. We’ve all played so much that we can sometimes get very competitive. If we ever lose a game to visiting players, we’re always a little surprised and vow to take the next match more seriously.
Win or lose, I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day than as a Pickler.
If you decide to give pickleball a try, I hope it brings you as much joy as it has my family and me.
राखी सावंत हुईं ‘प्रेग्नेंट’! फ्लॉन्ट किया ‘बेबी बंप’, बोलीं-बाहुबली आने वाला है – Rakhi Sawant pregnant flaunt baby bump hilarious video viral tmovk – AajTak
राखी सावंत (Rakhi Sawant) एंटरटेनमेंट इंडस्ट्री की वह कलाकार हैं, जिनका नाम लेते ही चेहरे पर मुस्कान आ जाती है. राखी सावंत का नाम सुनते ही मन में यह बात आती है कि अब की बार इन्होंने ऐसा क्या कर दिया जो सुर्खियों में आ गईं. राखी सावंत कभी अपनी डांस परफॉर्मेंस से लोगों को एंटरटेन करती हैं, तो कभी अतरंगी बातें करके सबको हंसा जाती हैं. इन दिनों राखी की खुशी सातवें आसमान पर है. आखिरकार वह ‘मां’ जो बन गई हैं! बस-बस, आपकी इस एक्साइटमेंट पर ब्रेक लगाते हुए आपको बता दें कि राखी असली में मां नहीं बनी हैं. राखी ने पैपराजी के साथ एक प्रैंक किया, जिसे देखकर हर किसी की हंसी छूट जाएगी.
वीडियो हो रहा वायरल
दरअसल, राखी सावंत अपने दोस्त के साथ जिम से बाहर निकलती हैं और अपने पेट के हिस्से में दो बलून्स लगाईं नजर आती हैं. इन बलून्स को राखी फ्लॉन्ट करती हैं, यह बोलकर कि वह ‘प्रेग्नेंट’ हो गई हैं और वह जल्द ही एक ‘बाहूबली’ को जन्म देंगी. राखी को इस प्रॉप में देख वहां मौजूद पब्लिक और पैपराजी, हर किसी की हंसी छूट जाती है. इतनी देर में राखी सावंत का दोस्त, एक्ट्रेस के पेट के पास से बलून्स निकालता है और राखी उन्हें फोड़ देती हैं.
अपने फैन्स संग फोटोज क्लिक करवाकर वह वहां से चली जाती हैं. सोशल मीडिया पर राखी सावंत का यह प्रैंक वाला वीडियो खूब वायरल हो रहा है. फैन्स मजेदार कॉमेंट कर राखी के मजाक की सराहना कर रहे हैं. फैन्स का कहना है कि केवल एक राखी ही हैं जो कभी भी कुछ भी कर सकती हैं. वह जगह देखकर लोगों का मनोरंजन नहीं करती हैं. उन्हें जहां मौका मिलता है, वह वहां मनोरंजन करने लगती हैं.
आजकल राखी सावंत अपने बॉयफ्रेंड आदिल दुर्रानी को लेकर भी सुर्खियों में आई हुई हैं. राखी, आदिल के साथ कई रोमांटिक वीडियोज सोशल मीडिया पर पोस्ट करती नजर आती हैं. राखी सावंत के नौ मिलियन (90 लाख) के करीब फॉलोअर्स हैं. यह हर दिन बढ़ते ही जा रहे हैं. राखी अपने फैन्स को एंटरटेन ही करती नजर आती हैं. राखी और आदिल को साथ देखर उनकी मां भी बहुत खुश होती हैं. राखी के साथ उनके भाई और भाभी का भी ढेर सारा आशीर्वाद जुड़ा है.
सम्बंधित ख़बरें
Pep Guardiola hails ‘funny guy’ Erling Haaland but promises he’ll be no laughing matter when he’s unleashed on Liverpool
ERLING HAALAND has already shown he is a “funny guy” in his short time at Manchester City.
But the Norwegian’s arrival in the Premier League will be no laughing matter for defenders up and down the country – starting with Liverpool in the Community Shield final.
The champions’ new £51.4million signing has had his new team-mates chuckling since making his move from Borussia Dortmund this month.
And Etihad boss Pep Guardiola is delighted with the way Haaland has settled in so easily.
The Spaniard said: “The first impression of him is really good, a funny guy.
“He’s settled really well with the team. That is important. Apparently people think it’s not one of the most important things but it is.
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“The good vibes in the locker room is more important than any advice.
“We try to help him settle well with the family, house and try to get to know each other in training. Then the quality will do the rest.”
Guardiola then revealed Haaland WILL be unleashed against the Reds in Saturday’s final.
On the Norwegian’s status, the City chief said: “He is ready to play. He feels good.
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“When I spoke with him over the last couple of days, he feels a few little niggles but he can train and move.
“At the end of August, he will be better than now. Now we have one game a week, with more training.
“[Haaland and Julian Alvarez] have the special sense, smell, quality to score a goal.
“If we play good football, create a lot of chances, put the ball close to the box…
“If we do that, we know Erling and Julian have this incredible talent to score goals. But they will not do it alone. We have to help them.”
Guardiola admits he has not had the chance to have a beer with his new centre-forward yet.
But if he can help overcome old rivals Liverpool at the King Power Stadium today he will surely be the toast of the dressing room.
Guardiola added: “I don’t see it all off the pitch. I don’t take a beer with them. But off the pitch what I see in the canteen and corridors is good.
PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW FOR FREE WITH £100k IN PRIZE MONEY
“We have been incredibly fortunate to have the guys that we had in previous seasons, otherwise you don’t win titles that’s for sure.
“The new guys are embraced really well from the guys already here from day one, that’s why it’s so easy.
“Fernandinho left an incredible legacy over how you have to behave in the locker room.”
Haaland’s new team-mate John Stones had the daunting job of trying to mark him when City met Dortmund in the Champions League 16 months ago.
And he in no doubt about the problems he is going to cause for defenders in England and Europe during the years ahead.
The Three Lions centre-back said: “I think he will bring goals. He is such a presence, such a big kid.
“Physically he is very able in all aspects and that is so difficult because he has pace, he has power, his finishing with both feet, his aerial threat as well.
“I played against him two seasons ago and he causes problems. He is obviously so young as well and has so much to come.
‘AN INCREDIBLE ADDITION’
“He is thriving here and his opportunity to train with us, learn with us and obviously bring his skillset to our team.
“He is an incredible addition to us as a team and I think he is raring to go to be honest.”
Haaland is one of four new faces added to the City squad ahead of the new season along with Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez and keeper Stefan Ortega.
Guardiola does not believe the new boys will need long to adapt and is predicting a rapid start to their careers at City.
He added: “Hopefully they will not need much time. The quicker they settle in the better. In my feeling they will not take time.
“Stefan surprises us a lot with what he can do and the other three guys, the way they settle, they listen, they behave, in the few games they play, I think they are going to start quick.
“Not just for Erling and Kalvin, for Steffen for Julian, the Community Shield is a title, of course we want to win it, better to start winning than losing. It is good for City.”
Meanwhile Guardiola commended his bosses for the work they have done in a summer which has seen them hold the biggest sale in Premier League history.
City have raked in £174m during the close season with Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko the biggest casualties.
That makes it a record sum raised for a top-flight club beating the £166m brought in by Chelsea five years earlier.
Guardiola said: “Congratulations for that. In part I’m a little bit sad that these important players have gone but it’s a business, it’s good for the club.
“To invest you have to sell players otherwise you can’t be sustainable. Yet the image of the club is always we buy, buy, buy.
“For the club it’s good. It’s part of the business. Everyone can sell, not everyone can do it, it’s difficult to do it. It’s good for us.”
Maybe it could mean City can raise their offer slightly for a left-back with Brighton’s Marc Cucurella their top target.
“We will see,” smiled Guardiola.
There is plenty to smile about at City, right now.
Hilarious moment drug gang’s GUARD DOG lays down on the ground alongside crooks in Brazil | Daily Mail Online
Put your paws behind your back! Hilarious moment drug gang’s GUARD DOG lays down on the ground alongside crooks as they are arrested in Brazil
This is the hilarious moment a drug gang’s guard dog laid down on the ground alongside the criminal as they were arrested in Brazil during a drugs bust.
Narcotics cops arrested three men on a ranch in Hortolandia, Sao Paulo state, on Thursday and footage of the raid shows them lying face-down on the floor with their hands cuffed behind their backs.
And the gang’s massive Rottweiler decided to surrender too and flopped down beside the three suspects.
The officers seized 1,176 bricks containing 1.1 tonnes of marijuana from the property.
Narcotics cops arrested three men on a ranch in Hortolandia, Sao Paulo state, on Thursday and footage of the raid shows them lying face-down on the floor with their hands cuffed behind their backs
The officers seized 1,176 bricks containing 1.1 tonnes of marijuana from the property
According to Narcotics Police, the drugs had been shipped to the house in Hortolandia from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state.
But police had been monitoring the property and swept in when the delivery arrived.
Cops believe the drugs were destined to be sold in and around Campinas, Sao Paulo state.
Pablo EscoBARK: The gang’s massive Rottweiler decided to surrender too and flopped down beside the three suspects
According to Narcotics Police, the drugs had been shipped to the house in Hortolandia from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state
The men, one of whom owns the house, were taken to the Narcotics Police headquarters in nearby Americana.
The dog remained in the property with the female owner of the land around the house, who police say is not involved in drug trafficking.
Cops will return to the ranch today to check on the Rottweiler and two other dogs to see if the the animal protection services need to be called.
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Hilarious moment drug gang’s GUARD DOG lays down on the ground alongside crooks in Brazil
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