Pickleballers

Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
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The Pickleballers Podcast — hosted by Jared Paul and Dane Iliff, founders of The Kitchen (the largest media company in pickleball), alongside top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy — is your new go-to source for all things pickleball.From breaking news and spicy hot takes to hilarious banter and all-star guests, Pickleballers brings the energy. Tune in for celebrity drop-ins, pro insights, and a front-row seat to the fastest-growing sport in America.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Andre Agassi: How Pickleball Changed His Life | S3 E4

    1 HR AGO

    Andre Agassi: How Pickleball Changed His Life | S3 E4

    Andre Agassi is one of the most iconic athletes of all time — an 8-time Grand Slam champion, Olympic gold medalist, and a legend changed tennis forever. In this episode, Andre sits down with Roscoe and Jared to explain why he’s gone all-in on pickleball — not as a gimmick, not as a cameo, but because the sport genuinely hooked him. He breaks down what tennis players don’t understand yet: pickleball isn’t just “easy” — it’s insanely nuanced, mentally exhausting, and filled with tiny variables that change everything in real time. He even explains why two hours of tennis leaves him energized… but two hours of pickleball leaves him so mentally cooked he can’t even make it to the shower. Andre dives deep into his game and what he’s learning — what translates from tennis, what absolutely doesn’t, why the rhythm and “blood pressure” of pickleball is harder to manage, and why he’s become a right-side player focused on forehand dinks, two-handed counters, and deception. He also answers the big questions: tennis vs pickleball difficulty, what he would change about the sport (including a wild idea to widen the net posts), why pickleball struggles on TV with camera angles, how the Lifetime ball is changing singles, and why paddle “grab/spin” might matter more than pure power. Andre tells the story of playing the US Open with Anna Leigh Waters — including the one thought he couldn’t shake: “Don’t be the first person to lose with Anna Leigh.” He shares how a back injury nearly derailed the run, how fierce Anna Leigh is as a competitor, and why pickleball has genuinely changed his life — physically, mentally, and socially — even in his mid-50s. Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 1:25 — Tennis vs pickle “animosity” + Andre’s take 2:35 — The real reason he fell in love with pickleball 4:28 — Small margins + why pickle is tricky for TV 6:47 — Andre’s game: what translates from tennis + what he’s working on 9:39 — Pickleball Slam prep: when he actually got committed 11:30 — Roscoe’s Pickleball Slam story + why Andre matters to the sport 12:59 — Tennis/pickle/padel: do they grow together or cannibalize? 15:38 — Andre’s honesty: “Tennis is the Everest of racket sports” 17:07 — Crazy poker story 18:57 — US Open with Anna Leigh Waters 22:06 — How Agassi x Joola partnership happened 26:24 — Gambling in pickleball 29:39 — Andre’s dinner speech to Joola pros 31:23 — What pro would Andre play with? 33:36 — What would he change in pickleball? 40:08 — Singles evolution + the Lifetime ball changing 44:50 — What’s harder: tennis or pickleball? 47:01 — Carlos Alcaraz on a pickle court 52:53 — Pickleball Olympics path: college + scholarships 54:13 — Legacy + why he wants to help grow the game 55:38 — Has pickleball changed his life? #pickleballers #andreagassi #pickleball #ppa #mlp

    58 min
  2. Leigh Waters: What It’s Really Like Raising Pickleball’s Greatest Player

    19 FEB

    Leigh Waters: What It’s Really Like Raising Pickleball’s Greatest Player

    Leigh Waters is the mom and coach of Anna Leigh Waters — the most dominant pickleball player of all time — and the person who’s been in the room for every major moment that turned Anna Leigh into the face of the sport. In this episode, Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind pickleball’s biggest moves: Anna Leigh signing with Nike, switching from Paddletek to Franklin, and what those months were really like behind the scenes. She breaks down the stress of negotiations, the pressure of making a once-in-a-career decision at 19, and how she kept Anna Leigh grounded while the internet and the entire sport watched every step. Then we go deeper. Leigh explains what it’s actually like wearing every hat at once — mom, best friend, coach, and protector — while raising someone whose “normal” is winning everything. They talk perfectionism, motivation when you’re already the best, how Anna Leigh stays obsessed with getting better, and why Leigh constantly reminds her: this level of dominance isn’t normal, and losing doesn’t mean the sky is falling. And it’s not just pickleball strategy. We get into the reality of Anna Leigh’s growing celebrity — security at tournaments, massive autograph lines, online hate that shows up in Leigh’s DMs, and the full team that’s now been built around Anna Leigh (social, PR, equipment, travel) to protect her peace while she keeps pushing the sport forward. Plus: women’s doubles predictions for 2026, who could eventually threaten the throne, and what pickleball still needs to do to reach the Olympics. Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 [https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521](https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521) Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 2:36 – Nike + Franklin: the stressful months leading up to both deals 4:43 – “Mom, coach, best friend”: what Leigh’s role really looks like 6:23 – “This isn’t normal”: how Leigh keeps Anna Leigh grounded 7:38 – Why the Nike/Franklin moves actually energized Anna Leigh 8:20 – What Nike HQ was like (all-day meetings, gifts, massive photo wall) 10:46 – What Nike could unlock next (events, access, collabs, Caitlin Clark) 12:24 – Ryan Harwood’s impact + doing deals the right way (no bidding wars) 13:42 – Pickleball Power 50 + Leigh’s real influence in the sport 14:34 – “Did you give up your dreams?” 16:39 – Coaching other players vs coaching your daughter 18:51 – Leigh playing again 22:33 – How Anna Leigh stays motivated when she’s already the best 24:05 – The perfectionism and obsession that drives Anna Leigh 26:13 – Who could threaten Anna Leigh’s reign (Caitlin Christian + wildcards) 29:51 – Women’s doubles landscape + who can challenge Anna Leigh/AB 35:36 – Being the mom of the GOAT 36:59 – Missing “normal life” (prom, friends, growing up in the spotlight) 41:21 – Fame is real now: security, fan lines, and managing the hate 44:43 – “Psycho mom” comments + the truth about money and the team 45:47 – The full team: PT, RV driver, publicist, and more 49:15 – Pickleball in the Olympics #LeighWaters #PPA #MLP #AnnaLeighWaters #Pickleball #Pickeballers

    51 min
  3. Greg Dow: The Funniest Player on Tour (Unfiltered Stories, Hot Takes, and Chaos)

    12 FEB

    Greg Dow: The Funniest Player on Tour (Unfiltered Stories, Hot Takes, and Chaos)

    Greg Dow is one of the funniest guys on the entire pickleball tour — a self-proclaimed “beer pong legend,” a legit pro who’s been battling top teams for years, and one of the best commentators in pickleball because he actually understands the game *and* knows how to make it entertaining. In this episode, Greg sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story: growing up outside Charlotte, being a multi-sport kid (football, baseball, basketball), discovering tennis late, and finding pickleball during COVID back when “pro pickleball” barely existed and only a couple guys were making a real living. Then the conversation turns into pure tour-life gold. Greg breaks down how the iconic Dow & Scarpa partnership started, why they’ve stayed together for so long, and the real separator at the top level of men’s doubles — not the dink game, but the first 4–5 shots and getting quick points like the elite teams do. He also shares what it’s like living in the “round of 16 / quarterfinal door” tier of pro pickleball, how close they’ve been to massive breakthrough wins, and what he’s focused on to make real noise in 2026. And of course… we get into the chaos: Scarpa’s legendary sweat problem (yes, matches have been paused to mop the kitchen), Greg’s brutal TV finals loss (11–0, 11–0), how he met Alex Walker (the most ridiculous “Canada” conversation ever), and how his commentating evolved from “how ludicrous can I be?” to being taken seriously — including the infamous moment that got the league to send an email telling commentators to stop calling players “cute.” Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 [https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521](https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521) 1:13 Greg wrote his own PPA bio + “Dinking with Dow” pod era 3:10 Why Greg needs more spotlight in pickleball 6:00 Why everyone’s so serious on tour (and why Greg stands out) 8:05 Greg’s childhood: Charlotte suburbs, multi-sport kid, ping pong battles 10:27 Tennis late start + finding pickleball during COVID 12:16 Charleston pickleball scene + TC North shoutout 14:04 What transferred most: touch, hands, ping pong instincts 15:16 How “Dow & Scarpa” became a real team 18:20 The Scarpa sweat problem (and stopping matches to mop the kitchen) 21:57 The early pro path: grinding 5.0, learning to win, then moving up 23:09 Hot take: you shouldn’t play pro until you’ve won 5.0 25:27 “Round of 16” life: why breaking through in doubles is so hard 26:29 The separator: quick points in the first 4–5 shots (serve/return/3rd/5th) 30:35 Where to aim your third shot 31:46 2026 goals 33:19 Full Greg Dow potential 36:03 Level-up concept: make weaknesses “not weaknesses” 37:42 How Greg got into commentating 39:14 The infamous “calling players cute” commentary moment + league email 42:07 Story time: first finals run… and the 11–0, 11–0 beatdown on TV 46:28 Alex Walker love story 54:39 Austin to Arizona move 55:28 Dow Questions of the Week: pickleball boy band draft 1:00:18 Who’s the mayor of pickleball? 1:01:43 Build the perfect pickleball player 1:05:04 What to expect in 2026 #PPA #MLP #Pickleball #Greg Dow

    1h 7m
  4. Anna Leigh Waters: The Nike Signing, The Franklin Switch, and Pickleball’s New Era

    5 FEB

    Anna Leigh Waters: The Nike Signing, The Franklin Switch, and Pickleball’s New Era

    Anna Leigh Waters is the most dominant pickleball player of all time — the sport’s biggest star, the standard everyone is chasing, and now the first-ever Nike signed pickleball athlete. In this episode, Anna Leigh sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story behind the two biggest moves in pickleball: signing with Nike, and leaving Paddletek after years to join Franklin. She breaks down what the public didn’t see — the pressure of rumors before anything was actually signed, how she handled the internet going crazy after the leaked practice photo, and why she ultimately chose brands based on what would grow the sport long-term. Then we get nerdy. Anna Leigh explains the paddle testing process, why she didn’t want a “bidding war,” how important it was to actually love the paddle, and what it felt like walking into the Masters with a brand-new setup — new paddle, new Nike kit, new expectations — and still winning. She also talks foam tech, Gen 1 vs newer paddles, why the “singles paddle vs doubles paddle” trend is coming, and what she wants to build next with Franklin (shapes, thickness, and future prototypes). And with Nike, she shares what it was like visiting Nike HQ, sitting in all-day meetings, helping them think through true pickleball-specific gear, and why this partnership feels bigger than just her — it feels like a milestone for the entire sport. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef

    1h 3m
  5. Genie Bouchard: Wimbledon, Fame, and Becoming a Legit Pro Pickleballer | S2 E10

    25/12/2025

    Genie Bouchard: Wimbledon, Fame, and Becoming a Legit Pro Pickleballer | S2 E10

    Genie Bouchard is one of the most recognizable athletes of her generation — a former world No. 5, Wimbledon finalist, and one of the biggest tennis stars to ever come out of Canada. From growing up in Montreal, to moving to Florida at 12 to chase tennis full time, Genie’s story is all sacrifice, pressure, and competing on the biggest stages in the world. In this episode, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full journey: the abnormal junior life, winning Junior Wimbledon at 18, cracking the Top 100 in a year, and what it actually feels like walking onto Centre Court at Wimbledon — including the mindset, nerves, and reality of playing a Wimbledon final. Then the conversation turns to pickleball. Genie breaks down why she signed with the PPA, what it was like starting 0–9 in her first tournaments, dealing with expectations and noise from the outside, and how she’s gone from “tennis star trying pickleball” to a legit threat making finals and beating top players. She also talks MLP pressure, doubles being a whole different world, paddle switches, and why this new chapter has brought her more happiness and stability than tennis ever allowed. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 1:04 Welcome + Genie’s intro 3:36 Growing up in Montreal, moving to Florida at 12 4:18 Abnormal childhood: school + training grind 7:31 Leaving home young + Florida academy life 9:14 Going pro vs college 11:52 DoorDash giveaway mention 12:37 Winning Junior Wimbledon at 18 + why it mattered 15:15 Top 100 timeline + getting stuck in the minors 17:41 Branding, spotlight, and being “different” early on 18:09 Anna Kournikova, fame, and unfair criticism 21:00 Social media authenticity 23:33 Hatred, privacy, and staying genuine 29:38 Has it been hard being Genie Bouchard? 31:25 Wimbledon Centre Court: what it feels like 33:05 Wimbledon final pressure + physical nerves 36:51 Pivot to pickleball: why it happened 37:53 PPA signing process (2023) + what appealed to her 44:17 Pickleball “validation moments” + the sport arriving 45:06 First pro tournament pressure + internet expectations 50:34 0–9 start: first wins and breaking through 52:03 MLP pressure 53:05 Franklin paddle ad 53:23 Proton partnership 54:07 Vietnam trip + team bonding 55:40 Making finals, real results, and new motivation 57:31 Number one vs “knocking on the number two door” 58:15 Playing vocal opponents 1:00:07 Tennis vs pickleball: what’s more fun? 1:01:49 How fast could Coco Gauff be top 5 in pickleball? 1:04:15 How long will Genie play + what’s next? 1:05:45 Favorite people on tour + Ryan Sherry stories 1:09:33 Message to the pickleball audience 1:10:22 Tennis vs pickleball

    1h 14m
  6. Terrell Owens: From NFL Hall of Famer to Chasing Pro Pickleball | S2 E9

    18/12/2025

    Terrell Owens: From NFL Hall of Famer to Chasing Pro Pickleball | S2 E9

    Terrell Owens is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time — an NFL Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant competitors the game has ever seen. From growing up on welfare in rural Alabama, to walking on at Chattanooga with no expectations, to becoming a Hall of Fame NFL receiver, Terrell’s story was never about hype — it was about patience, work, and discipline. In this episode, he sits down with Roscoe and Jared to tell the full story: developing late, getting drafted by the 49ers, playing alongside Jerry Rice, competing in a Super Bowl on a broken leg, and navigating one of the most misunderstood legacies in sports. Then the conversation turns to pickleball. Terrell opens up about discovering the sport late, committing to daily training, drilling with pros, and why pickleball requires more strategy than football. From drives, drops, and dinks to chess vs checkers at the pro level, he explains why pickleball has completely hooked him — and why he’s chasing high-level competition at 51 with the same mindset that made him great in the NFL. Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 2:00 – Growing up on welfare in Alabama 5:30 – No big offers, walking on, and being a late bloomer 9:42 – Role models & life if not for football 13:40 – The first touchdown that changed everything 18:30 – The 3 Ds: desire, dedication, discipline 21:45 – From college afterthought to NFL prospect 32:30 – Entering the NFL completely clueless 38:40 – Playing with Jerry Rice & learning the game 44:30 – Leaving San Francisco & joining the Eagles 49:00 – Super Bowl on a broken leg 54:40 – Legacy, rings, and media narratives 59:50 – Who Terrell Owens really is off the field 1:03:30 – Discovering pickleball 1:07:00 – From worst player to legit competitor 1:12:30 – Why pickleball is chess, not checkers 1:18:15 – Pickleball vs football strategy 1:22:00 – The social power of pickleball 1:26:30 – Celebrity pickleball & growing the sport 1:31:30 – Training, coaches, and closing the gap 1:36:00 – Playing pro pickleball at 51 1:41:00 – What’s next for Terrell Owens 1:27:54 – Final thoughts #TerrellOwens #Pickleballers #NFL #PPA #MLP #Pickleball

    1h 28m
  7. Lucy Kovalova: Becoming World #1, Simone Era Dominance & The Evolution Of Women’s Pickleball | S2 E8

    11/12/2025

    Lucy Kovalova: Becoming World #1, Simone Era Dominance & The Evolution Of Women’s Pickleball | S2 E8

    Lucy Kovalova is one of the OG queens of pickleball — a former world number one, multiple-time triple crown winner, and one of the most feared right-side players of all time. From a tiny village in Slovakia to Wichita State with no English, to “accidentally” becoming the best in the world, Lucy has lived every chapter of pickleball’s rise. In this episode, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story: chasing pro tennis across Europe, landing in Kansas without knowing what D1 even was, discovering pickleball through a made-up paddle game… and then quietly becoming one of the best players on the planet. She opens up about the first US Open in Naples, forming superteams with Irina Tereschenko and Simone Jardim, the golden era of grindy dinking, dominating women’s doubles with Simone, the rivalry years as new talent flooded in, what really separates the top women’s teams today, how the PPA Tour turned pickleball into a real career, and why her relationship with the sport has evolved from pure love of the game to business, purpose, and legacy. Delivered by @DoorDash! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 0:00 Lucy Kovalova intro and “accidental” world number one 1:03 Welcome back to Pickleballers delivered by DoorDash 2:20 Growing up in Slovakia: small village, tennis and ballroom dancing 4:18 The brutal pro tennis grind and trying to “make it” in Europe 5:43 Burnout, quitting tennis and deciding to go to college in the US 6:51 Landing at Wichita State with no English and becoming freshman of the year 9:04 College life, international crew and first impressions of Americans 11:05 Staying in Wichita, coaching at the club and discovering pickleball 13:04 The made-up paddle game, first temp courts and saying yes to US Open Naples 15:02 First US Open: women’s doubles, slow dinking and singles ATP vs Simone 17:14 Early mixed results with Matt and when they started dating 20:21 Winning TOC and Nationals and realizing they were a top mixed team 24:48 Women’s partnerships: Irina, Simone, Callie and building superteams 26:58 Dominating with Simone and the rise of new rivals 29:34 Inside the rivalry era and five-game wars on the PPA Tour 35:31 Respecting Anna Leigh as a player and Lucy’s perspective on that era 41:35 When pickleball became a full-time career and the rise of the PPA 43:32 From love of the game to business: contracts, sponsors and pressure 44:39 Looking ahead: two more years, legacy and being the “cool aunt” 46:00 Could she just coach, commentate or watch without playing? 50:06 What separates the top women’s teams in modern pickleball 51:13 Missing the old dinking era and thoughts on the wooden paddle event 54:11 PPA superlatives: funniest, smartest, loudest, best trash talk and more 55:31 How Lucy wants to be remembered on tour and on court 56:03 Life after pro pickleball, teaching at the club and ballroom dreams 56:50 Craziest match she’s ever played and final thoughts #Lucykovalova #Mattwright #PPA #MLP #Pickleball

    59 min
  8. Matt Wright: Rivalries, Breakups, and the Future of Pickleball

    04/12/2025

    Matt Wright: Rivalries, Breakups, and the Future of Pickleball

    Matt Wright is one of the most polarizing, respected, and mysterious players in pickleball — and somehow, he had never done a real pickleball podcast… until now. At 48 years old, Matt is still making PPA finals, still out-thinking kids half his age, and still one of the most entertaining players on tour. In this episode, Matt sits down with Roscoe and Jared to finally tell his full story: from obsessed tennis kid in Wichita, to #1 at Michigan with Tom Brady in his dorm, to discovering pickleball through a made-up “mini tennis” game with a wooden mallet. He opens up about the first US Open, early days with Lucy Kovalova, his loyalty to Connor Pardoe and the PPA through the tour wars, the Riley Newman breakup, what it was really like playing with Ben Johns, the Julian Arnold rivalry, cheating vs trash talk, and why he thinks pickleball is at a crossroads: chess match or power game? Delivered by @DoorDash ! 🚘 Pickleballers Hat: 🧢 https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521 Instagram: 📲 @pickleballers 📲 @thekitchenpickleball 📲 @roscoebellamy 📲 @jpaulthechef 01:12 – Why Matt Wright has never done a pickleball podcast 02:37– Growing up in Wichita as an only child 05:20 – Falling in love with tennis watching John McEnroe 07:05 – Junior grind, national tournaments & balancing real school 08:32 – Choosing Michigan over Stanford & TCU 11:35 – Playing #1 at Michigan, rivalry matches & old tennis footage 13:00 – Age vs Athleticism 16:22 – Fire, villains, and why sports need characters 20:57 – Don't piss Matt off 22:34 – Discovering “mini tennis,” meeting Lucy, and the backyard sport that led to pickleball 26:15 – 2016 US Open debut: pushing Morgan Evans & Marcin Rozpedski to the brink 29:35 – 2016 Matt Wright footage 36:52 – Early paddle deals, Engage days, and the pre-testing paddle era 37:41 – Connor Pardoe, PPA beginnings, and why Matt stayed loyal during the tour wars 42:06 – The Riley Newman breakup 45:05 – Playing with Ben Johns: gameplans, covering 65% of the court & the backhand counter era 49:19 – Blowing leads, mental edges & why everyone tightened up against Ben/Collin 51:15 – Partner carousel: Rafa, Jay, Dylan & the hypothetical JW/Matt super team 53:00 – Ranking today’s top 5 men’s doubles players 54:17 – The Julian Arnold rivalry, chirping, and separating on-court battles from real life 56:54 – Hitting Jesse, not apologizing 58:54 - Cheating in pickleball 59:57 – Who Matt really is off court, no social media, and being “mysterious” on tour 1:03:10 – No Senior Pro plans, Andre Agassi fantasy partner & where pickleball goes next 1:04:12 - The future of pickleball? 1:06:21 – Legacy: how Matt Wright wants to be remembered #Pickleballers #Pickleball #PPA #MLP #ProPickleball #MattWright

    1h 8m
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About

The Pickleballers Podcast — hosted by Jared Paul and Dane Iliff, founders of The Kitchen (the largest media company in pickleball), alongside top-ranked pro Roscoe Bellamy — is your new go-to source for all things pickleball.From breaking news and spicy hot takes to hilarious banter and all-star guests, Pickleballers brings the energy. Tune in for celebrity drop-ins, pro insights, and a front-row seat to the fastest-growing sport in America.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jared Paul (founder of The Kitchen) and Roscoe Bellamy (pro pickleball player)
  • Show Website
    Pickleballers
  • Provider
    Pickle Ballers

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