Just a guessestimate…Depending on how you play, what level, how committed, wear and tear and where you play, expenses can add up. I’m sure some players pay less than this and I’m very sure many “competitive” players pay more. This estimate doesn’t factor in any medical expenses that can occur.
There is an increased level of commercialization in the sport that is inevitable as it becomes more popular and mainstream.
Ah the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs are ending. Baseball is in full swing. Caitlyn Clark is the new American heroine and Taylor Swift continues to captivate audiences on her worldwide tour. Millions of Americans are on or about to enjoy their well deserved vacations. Summer is here, full of festivals, concerts, community activities, fireworks, and music fairs. Americans are enjoying the extended sunlight by playing golf, pickleball or heading to the shore to swim and lie comfortably on blankets in the sand serenaded by the timeless tunes of War’s classic song:
Cause it’s summer
Summer time is here
Yes it’s summer
My time of year
The stock market continue to reach for new highs. Unemployment is low. The economy and job market have largely recovered from one of the great health and financial challenges in the history of the world. There are no American soldiers involved in active combat. Indeed there was a recent commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where American soldiers braved heavy artillery and gunfire from German forces to start the last days of tyranny.
Amidst this idyllic picture, what could disrupt our enjoyment of the sun, warm nights, and the sounds of children playing in the park?
Discordant and rabid voices are baying hatefully at political rallies clad in red hats and clothing like SS troopers at a 1930’s Nuremberg rally. Clutching their flags, Bibles and sometimes guns, they pledge allegiance to an ideology of hate, revenge and promised retribution. Like their leader, they know little of history or truth. There is no discussion of compromise. They wish to destroy democracy by employing their ruse of democracy—-the people want a dictatorship!?
As we revel in the joys of summer, it is crucial to remain vigilant. The threats to our democracy are real, and they come from within. Hopefully people will not be complacent by the warmth of the season. The future of our nation depends on awareness, actions, and unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy and justice.
Half of me thought that the Trump trial would result in a hung jury. The other half of me thought that Trump might be filed guilty of 10 or less of the 34 charges he faced.
I’m very surprised that Trump was found guilty of all the charges against him. How good were Trump’s lawyers? They couldn’t get him clear of at least one charge! Based on some of the things that I read about the trial, Trump’s lawyers may have been lacking in, presenting the best case for him.
What angers me the most are the people who are still supporting Trump. Don’t you people have any shame? There is an argument that this verdict will only help Trump get reelected. It’s possible, but given the actions of Trump’s jury today, I feel a little bit more hopeful that Trump will not be successful.
Politics in this country is such a huge mess. I blame the political parties, the press (or at least most of them), and just too many disinterested and ignorant voters.
RFK Jr.’s path to the June debate. RFK Jr is closing in on joining Joe Biden and Donald Trump in a debate scheduled late next month. None of these men should be running for President. Joe Biden is a good man but he is too old. Donald Trump is a bad man, too old and should be in jail. RFK Jr. has no credentials to run. According to a New York Times article, his running mate has drug and gold digging issues. RFK Jr., though a younger man, is more incoherent than both Trump and Biden.
Here is a small list of more qualified men and women who should be running for President:
Democracy may be dead. 50/50 that this November’s elections results will not be accepted by the losing party.
Donald Trump, MAGA, Fox News and the Republican Party are holding the bloody knives in democracy’s demise or in Kristi Noem’s case, the smoking gun. There is also huge crowds cheering this on.
My sense is that our current political culture and craziness could not have taken place 50 or 60 years ago. Back then, anyone who had a whiff of scandal would not be electable and would not have a political future.
To have a viable and working democracy, there needs to be a majority of smart people, large enough to suppress dumb people. That does not exist today. Not even a majority of reasonable, intelligent voters can offset the rising number of dumb ones.
The end of democracy actually started after the election of Barack Obama when the Republican party decided to strictly become a party of obstruction. They were determined and largely successful in stonewalling Obama’s agenda for eighth years. Remember when the Republican party blocked the nomination of Merrick Garland as a Supreme Court Justice in 2016?
The Democratic Party shows absolutely no spine. There are times you have to fight as dirty as your opponent and the Dems have failed to do that.
Most of my intellectual life, I have been a student of Nazi Germany. I have been fascinated by the rise of Hitler and how the German people largely supported him. Maybe soon I will get to experience a similar government and dictatorship here in the U.S. that existed back in 1934 Germany.
There is too much influence of religion in politics. Religious people tend to believe almost anything, especially those claims not grounded in fact, truth, or science. Easily manipulable, religious people are the least tolerant and the least likely to be persuaded by evidence or reason.
I heard on one of the pickleball podcasts that about 30% of the pro players wear glasses. Given the increased and dangerous speed a pickleball travels, particularly from super powered paddles, it should be mandatory that players wear sport glasses.
Esot-eric 