Sunday, October 12, 2025 (Court Day #860)

Last night was the annual Santa Cruz Pickleball Club Party. It was held at Bargetto‘s winery in Soquel. I left work early and arrived at the winery about 15 minutes before it was supposed to start. I brought the “Welcome” sign that I had made along with a couple of tabletop signs thanking event donors. The gathering was a quite enjoyable. Every year, it’s sometimes difficult to recognize people when you can see their face. That sounds backwards, but, for instance, I never make an appearance at Brommer Park without wearing a cap and sunglasses.

Rachel, Sycha, Ying Francis, Irene, Mike, me, Pauly.

What is really hard thing for me is having former students walk up and greet me. Most of the students that I teach, I’ve never seen before the first class. I see them up to four times over the course of the four-week session and then I may not see them again for months or sometimes even a year or two. But they will remember me! It can make for a somewhat awkward interaction sometimes. As much as I wish I could remember everyone, that’s not realistic for me.

Brommer Park

It was 63°F and not a cloud in the sky as I made my way to Brommer Park. I arrived around 10 a.m. It was a light crowd today and at no point were all the courts full.

I played a game with the computer guy Jordan Rein, against a couple of good players. That was a really fun one. We pulled off a win. After a high ball at the net was slammed in my feet, I returned it gently into their kitchen. After that rally was finished, Jordan paid me a compliment, “That was the reset of the day!”

Trevor and I played against Mexican Tony and Mo’s husband Frank, we won 11–7.

I checked the time and it was 11:56. Time to go home, eat lunch, and get ready to teach.

Today was a mix of really phenomenal shots and dumb shots like me attacking balls that ended up in my side of the net. It was a combination of maybe not getting low enough or overswinging.

NFL

Philadelphia Eagles running back AJ Dillon is a pickleball fan:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPowm1PEVdo/

”All I’m saying is that the rate at which I got better is a generational run, I can be the Lebron James of pickleball. I can be the Messi of pickleball. Just give me time.”

Profesional athletes often talk a big game. I never expect to see AJ Dillion at the top of the pro pickleball ranks, but, hey, prove me wrong, AJ!

Number of days on a court: 860
Number of total hours: 3,300.5
Number of paid coaching hours: 175

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