Pro pickleball players often have interesting passions beyond the court.

For Michael Loyd, that passion is all things Pokémon, a love that’s been with him since childhood.

“I still have my first Nintendo Game Boy and the first Pokémon game with it. I played it all the time growing up,” said Loyd. “Even today, I still have a bad habit of binge playing a new game right when it comes out. When I get a new game, I disappear for five hours.”

It’s not just the games he enjoys.

He’s also a dedicated collector of Pokémon cards.

“I’m an avid collector. My vice is Japanese slams. I loved playing the games and collecting the cards. I’ve lost count of how many I have,” explained Loyd. “It’s gotten expensive though. I’ve been collecting for years, and now more and more people are into it, so the prices are only going up.”

Daniel De La Rosa is a fellow enthusiast, and Loyd enjoys bonding with him over their shared passion for collecting.

“It’s a super fun hobby for me. Between matches I’m probably hopping on eBay looking up cards and seeing what they go for. For me, it’s not just about the card itself, but it’s the hunt for finding different things,” revealed Loyd. “I love the game where I’ve been looking for a card for a long time and then one day it’s gone down in value so I can buy it.”

Even during a packed tournament day, Loyd is constantly checking prices on his favorite cards.

He buys them to keep, not to flip, and as his collection grows, he has no plans to sell.

“The most expensive card I’ve bought was $410 and it’s worth about $500. Everyone has what they call a “chase card.” It’s like your holy grail,” said Loyd. “I don’t have mine yet, but I’m on the hunt for it. I’ve told myself that the next time I get a medal, I can buy it.” 

Along similar lines, Loyd is also a big fan of anime.

“I watch a lot of Japanese shows with audio dubs so I can get it. Funny enough, Donald Young is also huge into anime, so he and I are always talking to each other and putting each other on shows,” he noted. “I think a great way to get into it is watching something that’s more like a slice of life. It’s less about the superpower, typical anime fantasy stuff, and it’s more realistic. A great coming of age movie is A Silent Voice. That’s a really good entry point. I love it because the artwork is beautiful and the soundtrack is amazing.”

Loyd encourages others to keep an open mind and give the genre a chance.

“So many people say they don’t like anime, but I think it’s just because they haven’t found the right one. I guarantee you, there’s so many different and cool stories that there’s something out there for you,” he concluded. “It’s like any other movie genre, it’s just animated. More people should give anime a try.”

To keep up to date all things pickleball, follow us on Instagram.