- The Kitchen Newsletter
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- He called her a "F****** B****"
He called her a "F****** B****"
Agassi loses in 2nd round of 1st pro event
Major League Pickleball got off to an electric start last week in Orlando, with an incident on the sidelines between the St. Louis Shock and New Jersey 5s that made headlines beyond the picklesphere. If you haven’t seen the altercation that happened after Hayden Patriquin called Anna Leigh Waters a “F***ing B****” we wonder where you’ve been for the past 5 days.
Waters was involved in more big pickleball news this week when she teamed up with tennis legend Andre Agassi in the US Open. More on how they fared below.
And make sure to check out our new Mother’s Day pink visors! lov 🩷
Also in this issue:
Waters and Andre Agassi go 1-1 at US Open 🇺🇸
Study highlights mental health benefits of pickleball 🧠
Which pickleball club model works best? 🤔
That’s one baller move 😎
Stay safe in the kitchen 👓
Let’s cook. 🧑🍳
GIVEAWAY
FIFTEEN Adidas Metalbone Paddles! 🦾
We’re partnering with Adidas to give away 15 of their brand new Metalbone pickleball paddles. Your choice of the four new models.
VIRAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
1.6 MILLION VIEWS! Check out the hops on this guy
Conventional wisdom would say that this insane point was scripted, but we really don’t think it was.
It starts with a tweener/behind the back shot (yes, a combo) from the guy on the right and ends with two wild overheads from the guy on the left (the one doing his best Michael Jordan impression in the screenshot above).
THE PROS
He called her a “F***ing B****” 😳
If you were tuning in to the last Major League Pickleball match of the weekend at the season-opening event in Orlando, you were treated to an exciting, drama-filled battle between two of the top teams in the league -- the New Jersey 5s and St. Louis Shock.
But the match will be remembered more for what happened on the sidelines than on the court (St. Louis won 3-1, by the way). At the end of the first mixed game, Hayden Patriquin appeared to call Anna Leigh Waters a “F***ing B****” as they walked off the court. Uh-oh.
What happened next was pure chaos and involved a lot of shouting, an alleged shove and MLP's head ref trying to de-escalate the situation. Watch for yourself here.
The general consensus among fans seems to be that Patriquin was obviously in the wrong for saying that (we agree) but also that Waters shouldn’t have gone charging into the St. Louis Shock bench area, which further escalated the situation.
In the end, the league opted not to suspend either player, but released a statement urging all players and staff members to stay on their side of the sideline and to keep the smack talk appropriate.
IN OTHER MLP NEWS
▪️ The defending champion Dallas Flash looked dominant in Week 1, cruising to a 4-0 start. They are one of three teams who look to be serious contenders for this season’s MLP title.
▪️ 9 teams are back in action this week at MLP Columbus, which starts Thursday. On Wednesday the league announced a new serve rule, a change to the on-site alternates rules and did away with teams moving benches during the side switch. Everything you need to know about MLP Columbus.
I LOVE YOU MOM
LIMITED EDITION Mother’s Day Pink Visor!
The perfect gift for your pickleball-loving mom! With Mother's Day coming up soon we decided to drop a limited edition Pink & White The Kitchen visor! The 3D-puffed embroidered logo really pops with the bright pink. 🩷
Super limited edition - only 75 made! Order yours here!
All of our hats are crafted and custom embroidered by Imperial, the Official Headwear of The Kitchen.
TRENDING
Andre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters surprised the pickleball community earlier this month when they announced they would be playing the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships together.
They made their debut Thursday, winning their first match but falling in the Round of 16 later in the day. Trang Huynh-McClain and Len Yang beat them 7-11, 11-4, 11-7 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Waters is also playing women's doubles with her mom, Leigh Waters, and they have advanced to the semifinals with three wins so far. They are the defending champions in women's doubles.
POLL
Has playing pickleball improved your mental health? |
FEATURED STORY
New study highlights mental health benefits of pickleball
A recent study that gathered data from Apple Watch users found that the self-reported scores of depressive symptoms were 60% lower among frequent pickleball players compared to the general population.
The study's authors delve into several theories about why this might be the case, but the gist is that racket sports activate the body and the mind, making them one of the healthiest physical activities available.
The report outlined several key benefits of pickleball and how they relate to mental well-being:
Endorphin release: When you participate in an aerobic activity like pickleball, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that relieve pain, reduce stress, and boost well-being.
Fostering relationships: Pickleball gives people the opportunity to connect with friends and family or develop new relationships through leagues and open play.
Time outside: Playing pickleball outdoors can increase people's exposure to natural daylight. And research suggests the more natural light we’re exposed to, the better our sleep quality, activity levels and overall quality of life.
Strategic thinking: Pickleball requires people to think quickly and strategically, which promotes cognitive function and can help prevent cognitive decline. "Some studies have even found that sports like pickleball and racket sports can improve memory and processing speed,” one expert said.
STAY SAFE IN THE KITCHEN
Kitchen Blockers: The ultimate in safety
Ready to change your face? Kitchen Blockers are showing up everywhere, becoming a popular choice for pros like Zane Ford, high-level pickleball teachers and coaches, amateurs and players around the world.
They are literally changing the face of pickleball with their unique lensless design, military-grade materials and rigorous military testing give players the ultimate in eye safety with laser focus sight lines.
Each pair is easily customized, available in multiple colors and come with a hard case, fitted strap and extra neoprene tabs for the best personal fit.
INDUSTRY CORNER
Which pickleball club model is best?
The popularity of pickleball has quickly surpassed the number of courts available for players, but which facility model works best and what are the differences?
Both single-owner clubs and franchise chains are popping up in cities across the country, so we recently broke down the pros and cons of each model and what trends we could see in the coming years.
CULTURE
Every successful business — large or small — shares one thing: a culture of excellence. It’s not something easily replicated, bottled, or copied. It’s intangible. It lives within the people who make up the organization.
It’s the IT factor. Mom & pop shops often have an edge here. They control the hiring, the vibe, and the culture.
ROOM TO GROW
Growth doesn’t always mean new locations. It can mean expanding an existing space, increasing staff, or adding new services. Single-owner clubs will face real challenges here.
Managing one location is simple. Focus can stay sharp, and being on-site ensures high standards are met. With a second location, attention gets split. The original location weakens, and the new one struggles to gain traction.
This is where the franchise model excels.
QUICK HITS
One of a kind: She hit it behind her head!
Couples pickleball: It’s a fine line we walk
Youth vs. Experience: Score one for the young bucks
What did you think of this week's newsletter? |