Last year, Kim Janssen (AKA "Pickleball Widow") shared with the PPA a special "Pickleball Birthday" story about her huband, Steve, and now she has another memorable tale to tell that deserves a read.

Steve played the Cincinnati PPA tournament last month, did well in the 60+ division, and—true to form—came home with stories that are better than medals.

First, his favorite running gag: for the second time, he had to "kick Anna Leigh Waters off his court."

The first was in Vegas, on his birthday trip, when Anna Leigh—his favorite player—was practicing on the court he was assigned. He had to politely ask her to depart. This year in Cincinnati, it happened again… and Anna Leigh even remembered him!

Next, we met up with Jackie and Jade Kawamoto Friday evening at our hotel. We chatted for a while during dinner and told them we hoped to see them play, but would not be in attendance Saturday, but return on Sunday. They laughingly told us they would at least be playing for third place on Sunday, so we could watch them. Steve told both girls, "We expect to see you in the Championship match!" Imagine our surprise and excitement when those girls dominated to win gold in women’s doubles!

But that wasn’t the story. This is.

Years ago, when Steve first picked up pickleball, he went to a Riley Newman clinic in Texas. He loved Riley’s paddle so much he bought it. Fast forward five years, after trying countless others (and finding out his beloved Black Ace wasn’t tournament legal), he dusted off that old Riley paddle for Cincinnati.

After winning gold in 60+ mixed, who was standing courtside but Riley himself, congratulating Steve, noticing the paddle, and even giving him a hat. Nice moment, right? But wait…

The next day, Steve was walking up for his bronze medal match in men’s 60+ 3.5 division. He saw Riley and Andrei Daescu playing on his court. Steve figures, 'Well, here we go again, I’ll have to kick them off.'

But instead, the referee points at Riley and asks, "Are you Steve?" Riley, dead serious, says yes. Then she turns to Andrei: "Are you Steve’s opponent?" He says yes. They immediately start playing, full throttle.

Meanwhile, my Steve is frozen on the sidelines, watching Riley be him. At one point Andrei calls a ball out that was clearly in, and Steve can’t help himself: "No, no—it was in!" The ref scolds him, "You can’t call from the sidelines!"

Then Riley (as Steve) loses a rally, and my Steve yells, "Time out! If I’m going to lose, I want to be the one doing the losing!"

By now Riley and Andrei are laughing so hard the referee finally realizes she’s been had. The whole thing spread like wildfire—refs, players, fans. Steve may have come for the bronze, but he left with a story that’s pure gold.

And honestly, that’s what I love most about pickleball: the people, the laughter, and the stories that live on long after the medals.

When Steve plays in Lakeland, FL this November, I know he’ll be living his best pickleball life… because he’ll have the story to tell.