It's time to put on your crime junkie hats, folks, because pickleball was a topic of conversation in a murder trial that has drawn nationwide interest.
 
"Doomsday Mom" Lori Vallow Daybell - who's already serving life in prison with no possibility of parole for murdering her two children - is currently being prosecuted in Arizona for conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in 2019.
 
This story is about as crazy as it sounds, especially with pickleball entering the mix.

On Day 4 of the proceedings, a man named Adam Cox took the stand.

Not only is he Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, but he also identified himself as a senior pro and coach.
 
“I’m a pro pickleball player and instructor,” said Cox, when asked to share his profession with members of the jury.
 
Cox is the Head Pickleball Pro at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa where the PPA Tour makes an annual stop. He has also competed in several PPA tournaments at the 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 levels, and won gold and silver medals along the way.

Cox even boasts a 5.1 DUPR rating.

He also co-hosts the Silver Linings Podcast, which discusses the murders and recaps the action in court. Unfortunately, pickleball doesn't usually come up.
 
The fascinating part of this story is that when Cox spoke about his pickleball career, people watching the trial immediately took to Reddit to ask: What is it with pickleball? 

Commenters were more concerned about bashing the sport than the actual trial.
 
Some people just love to hate pickleball. Period.

Commenters insinuated that Cox was trying to appeal to the jury through his love of the game, and even suggested that if people like him were coaching, the sport was in trouble.
 
Talk about a stretch. Pickleball players and coaches come from all walks of life and backgrounds.

And remember, Adam Cox isn't the one on trial here.