Sports In America with David Greene
WHYY | PRX Sports in America explores stories that shape athletes and fans alike. Each week, David Greene hosts in-depth conversations with people across the world of sports – from the star who hits the game winner to the millions of us whose lives are touched by the game.
Sports in America explores stories that shape athletes and fans alike. Each week, David Greene hosts in-depth conversations with people across the world of sports – from the star who hits the game winner to the millions of us whose lives are touched by the game.
Why Are 24 Million Americans Obsessed With Pickleball?
The US Open is in full swing, and injuries have knocked out some of the biggest athletes in the men’s tournament. But there’s no shortage of star power on the women’s side: Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is on fire, inspiring “Eala-mania” all over the world. To get us up to speed on the tournament, we chat with Giri Nathan, senior correspondent at the tennis outlet The Second Serve.
After that, we attempt to answer one of the inescapable questions of our time: Why are so many people obsessed with pickleball? Clare Frank was a firefighter for more than 30 years. When she retired, she stumbled into the game. At first, she didn’t quite get the hype — but like so many retirees who came before her, Clare quickly became captivated by pickleball. In her latest book, “Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest,” Clare dives headfirst into the world of pickleball to try to figure out how it has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Spoiler alert: It’s not just your grandmother’s game anymore.
Show Notes
- Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest by Clare Frank
- How Pickleball Got Its Name | USA Pickleball
- Wanna play? Find a pickleball court near you
- Pickleball is the Worst | Rick Reily
- Alex Eala is Catching The WTA’s Best Off Guard | Defector
Show Credits
Host: David Greene
Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler
Senior Producer: Michael Olcott
Producer: Michaela Winberg
Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa
Talent Booker: Britt Kahn
Engineers: Mike Villers
Tile Art: Bea Walling
Theme Song: Emma Munger
Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.