All articles tagged with #pickleball
Charles Barkley blasted pickleball on The Kittle Cast, calling it risky for older players and citing injuries like torn ACLs and broken wrists; George Kittle chimed in agreeing, saying he won’t step on the court, highlighting the broader theme of aging athletes adapting post-retirement and suggesting alternatives like golf for staying active.
An Apple TV+ comedy, The Dink follows a former tennis pro who falls for pickleball, lampooning the sport’s court wars and tennis skepticism while pushing the idea that pickleball and tennis can coexist.
Apple TV premieres The Dink, a star-studded sports comedy about a washed-up tennis prodigy who discovers pickleball and rekindles his competitive drive, starring Jake Johnson opposite Mary Steenburgen with Ed Harris as his father; written by Sean Clements, directed by Josh Greenbaum, and produced by Ben Stiller and Johnson. A trailer is out as Apple TV expands its sports lineup, and the service is priced at $12.99/month or via Apple One.
An easygoing Apple TV+ sports comedy follows Dusty Boyd, a former tennis prodigy, as he’s forced to switch to pickleball and learn humility from a group of senior players, with Jake Johnson’s affable performance and Mary Steenburgen’s warm chemistry anchoring a mostly gentle, formulaic story that offers a few smiles but few big laughs.
Jake Johnson headlines The Dink, a breezy Apple TV comedy about a former tennis prodigy who clashes with his father’s club as pickleball rises. The self‑aware rom‑com earns its warmth from Dusty’s romance with Candace (Mary Steenburgen) and a shift from ego to empathy, before a conventional save-the-farm finale. Directed by Josh Greenbaum from a script by Sean Clements, the film lands as a charming if familiar crowd‑pleaser, streaming on Apple TV starting July 24 (Grade: B-).
The Dink is a light, small-stakes sports comedy starring Jake Johnson as a washed-up tennis prodigy who regains his swagger by learning to relax and dink his way to a win at a country-club pickleball tournament, anchored by Johnson's and Mary Steenburgen's warm chemistry; directed by Josh Greenbaum with a July 24, 2026 Apple TV release, the film favors breezy humor over big set pieces, though the review notes some flat staging; the piece also surveys Rosebush Pruning, Motor City, and Heartstopper Forever, offering mixed verdicts on tone and ambition across the rest of the page.
Jake Johnson leads The Dink, an Apple TV+ sports comedy about a former tennis prodigy who rediscovers his mojo on the pickleball court; despite a strong supporting cast and capable direction, the film lands as a bland, formulaic underdog story that never fully hooks or surprises.
Jake Johnson discusses filming The Dink, where he trained for months in pickleball to convincingly play Dusty, aims for light, old-school comedy with no heavy messaging, and reflects on his career—from chaotic early acting gigs to New Girl’s fame and a Prince cameo—while balancing family life that keeps him grounded as the movie heads to Apple TV.
Prince Harry attended a countdown event for the Invictus Games at Birmingham’s NEC, watching wheelchair rugby and playing pickleball, while Meghan Markle did not attend public UK events this week amid security concerns and ongoing royal-family spotlight.
In May, ultra-high-net-worth family offices made 51 direct sports investments, including a $225 million round for Pickleball Inc., the parent company of Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour. Notable bets include Tom Dundon’s family office with Apollo, Michael Dell’s group taking a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, and Darco Capital’s backing of PlayerData (GPS vests and smart balls) used by Crystal Palace, highlighting sport as a diversification tool and inflation hedge.
A 31-year-old man, Saif Kaleem of Tannersville, vandalized two pickleball nets at TLC Park and Mountain View Park in Pocono Township after injuring himself during play. Surveillance captured him cutting nets and leaving in a white Hyundai Tucson. Kaleem told police his summer was ruined by the injury, and he’s charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.
Investigators say a single-engine Cessna carrying pickleball players to a Texas tournament broke apart in midair and crashed near Wimberley on May 1, 2026; a report details the breakup of the aircraft.
Five members of the Amarillo pickleball club were killed when a twin-engine plane crashed in Texas while en route to a pickleball tournament; investigators from the FAA and NTSB are examining the cause, the other plane in the same group landed safely, and the pickleball community is mourning.
A Texas plane crash killed several pickleball players, triggering widespread mourning in the community; among the victims were a school tennis star and a trauma counselor, with an investigation underway into the cause of the crash.
A small Cessna carrying pickleball players crashed in the Texas Hill Country near Wimberley, killing the pilot and all four passengers on board.