The Champions Table

Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Sports News

Welcome to The Champions Table — the unofficial insider podcast of the MLP Champions Series, the world's premier 50+ professional pickleball league. We're Shay Coker, Senior Pro and OKC Punishers player, and Jeff McKnight, Owner, GM, and player for the Columbus Hotshots. We're not the official voice of the league. We're better. We're on the courts, at the events, and at the table with the players, owners, and personalities that make this sport extraordinary. The MLP Champions Series attracts the best 50+ pickleball players in the world — elite competitors who bring a lifetime of athleticism, grit, and passion to every match. Every week we break down the teams, the rivalries, the stories, and the people behind the fastest growing sport in the world — no filter, no PR spin, just real talk from two guys who live it. New episodes weekly. Subscribe and pull up a chair.

Episodes

  1. Jul 15

    Episode #9: Preseason Power Rankings, Teams 3-5

    The conversation covers the preseason power rankings of the MLP Champions Series, discussing the top three teams and their players. It also delves into the potential of an MLP champions all-star team and the format of the team battles. The conversation provides insights into the strengths and potential weaknesses of each team, as well as the impact of new players and strategic pairings. Takeaways Preseason power rankings play a significant role in assessing the potential of teams in the MLP Champions Series.The addition of new players and strategic pairings can significantly impact a team's performance in the league.The format of team battles and the point system for scoring adds a new dimension to the MLP Champions Series. Chapters 00:00 Preseason Power Rankings03:09 MLP Champions All-Star Team12:25 Team Analysis: Seattle Tsunami18:42 Team Analysis: Oklahoma City Punishers29:13 Team Analysis: Atlantic City Aces

  2. Jul 14

    Episode #8: SoCal Hard 8's Owner Tim Parks Talks MLP

    This conversation with SoCal Hard 8's owner Tim Parks covers the business aspects of pickleball and the merger of Major League Pickleball (MLP) and Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). It delves into the strategic and financial considerations of running a professional pickleball league and the impact of the merger on the sport's future. The conversation delves into the unsolved questions of pickleball, particularly the experiment with mixed doubles and the debate about the top-heavy nature of the sport. It also explores the comparison of pickleball to other sports, the business side of pickleball, and the importance of competitive balance in the league. Takeaways Pickleball as a BusinessThe Merger of MLP and PPA Pickleball's unsolved questionsThe importance of team valuations Chapters 00:00 The Business of Pickleball02:39 The Merger of MLP and PPA26:30 The Experiment with Mixed Doubles27:37 The Top-Heavy Nature of Pickleball29:03 Comparing Pickleball to Other Sports36:02 The Business Side of Pickleball50:19 Competitive Balance in the League

  3. Jul 8

    Episode #7: Lee Whitwell on Joining the Phoenix Firebirds & the MLP Champions Series

    The conversation with Lee Whitwell covers rising competition in senior pro pickleball, the format and experience of MLP vs. APP events, transitioning to MLP Champions Series, Lee's background and multilingual abilities, building a fan base for Major League Pickleball, growing pains and rule changes in MLP, Phoenix Firebirds and team strategy, expectations for the Phoenix Firebirds, the relevance of senior pro pickleball, and preparations for the upcoming event. Takeaways Rising competition in senior pro pickleballThe format and experience of MLP vs. APP events Chapters 00:00 Introducing Lee Whitwell03:34 Rising Competition in Senior Pro Pickleball05:30 The Format and Experience of MLP vs. APP Events07:17 Transitioning to MLP Champions Series09:12 Lee's Background and Multilingual Abilities14:50 Building a Fan Base for Major League Pickleball16:04 Growing Pains and Rule Changes in MLP18:34 Phoenix Firebirds and Team Strategy24:07 Expectations for the Phoenix Firebirds28:08 The Relevance of Senior Pro Pickleball30:15 Preparations for the Upcoming Event

  4. Jul 7

    Episode #6: Daniel Gold & The Las Vegas Headliners

    The conversation covers Daniel Gold's transition from playing tennis at Wimbledon to becoming the GM of the Las Vegas headliners in the Major League Pickleball Champions Series. It also delves into the process of building an expansion team, player selection, and team dynamics. The conversation covers the team selection process, mental adjustment in the league, preseason power rankings, analysis of new players and team dynamics, and upcoming matches and league dynamics. Takeaways Wimbledon ExperienceTransition from Tennis to Pickleball Team selection processMental adjustment in the league Chapters 00:00 From Wimbledon to Pickleball09:57 Building an Expansion Team19:54 Player Selection and Team Dynamics28:19 Mental Adjustment in the League51:28 Discussion on New Players and Team Dynamics57:25 Upcoming Matches and League Dynamics

  5. Jun 25

    Episode #5: Tommy Ho Returns to the MLP!

    The conversation with Tommy Ho covered his remarkable athletic journey from tennis to pickleball, including his early tennis career, training under Rick Macci, memorable matches, transition to pickleball, return to the Major League Pickleball (MLP), playing for the hometown team, pressure and mental toughness, team dynamics, rankings, and regulatory changes. The discussion provided insights into Tommy Ho's experiences and expectations for the upcoming season in the MLP. Takeaways Remarkable athletic journeyTransition from tennis to pickleball Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest07:09 Transition to Pickleball19:38 Draft and Team Dynamics34:20 Team Rankings and Expectations42:05 Regulatory Changes

  6. Jun 19

    Episode #4: Inside the New Jersey Fives with GM Ryan Harwood

    Episode #4: Inside the New Jersey Fives with GM Ryan HarwoodJoin us on The Champions Table as we sit down with Ryan Harwood, co-owner and General Manager of the Major League Pickleball (MLP) franchise, the New Jersey Fives. We dive deep into what it takes to build a professional sports team, the high-stakes world of MLP drafts, and how to manage superstar talent like Anna Leigh Waters. In this episode, we cover: The MLP Experience: Ryan breaks down his unique, high-energy approach on the sidelines and why he believes it helps his team perform under pressure [06:32], [07:26].Draft Strategy & Anna Leigh Waters: The story behind drafting Anna Leigh Waters, the challenges of the auction draft, and what it’s like managing a franchise cornerstone [16:48], [18:21], [24:00].Building a Fanbase: Ryan discusses the organic growth of the Fives' fanbase and the importance of fan engagement in growing the sport [21:08].Tournament Recap: We recap the recent action in Cincinnati, including the rise of senior pro talent and key takeaways from the field [00:08], [02:02].Power Rankings: We continue our deep dive into the 2026 preseason power rankings, breaking down the Kansas City Stingers (#13) [35:36], the Los Angeles Extreme (#12) [40:36], and the defending champions, the Coachella Valley Scorpions (#11) [46:00]. Whether you're a die-hard pickleball fan or just getting into the sport, this episode provides an insider look at the growth, strategy, and business of Major League Pickleball. 🔔 Subscribe for more exclusive interviews and breakdown segments! 💬 Drop a comment below with your thoughts on our power rankings—we love hearing your feedback! #Pickleball #MLP #TheChampionsTable #NewJerseyFives #ProPickleball #SportsManagement

  7. Jun 14

    From Underdogs to Contenders: How Columbus and Detroit Aim for the Top

    Jeff and Shay discuss the #15 and #14 teams in the Major League Pickleball Champions Series pre-season power rankings. Special guest Toki Yamasato adds some Latin flavor to the podcast as she talks about her dangerous Detroit Disruptors team.

  8. May 28

    Interview with MLP Palm Beach Royals co-owner Zach Hunter

    The conversation covers a range of topics related to professional pickleball, including player feedback, team rankings, ball selection, and the acquisition of pickleball teams. It also delves into the introduction of Zach Hunter and his involvement in Major League Pickleball, as well as the acquisition of the Boca Surge and the NPL alliance. The discussion provides insights into the dynamics of professional pickleball and the strategic decisions made by team owners. The conversation delves into the future of the MLP Champion Series, the attraction of top players, the engagement of local talent and community, and the scalability challenges in Europe and South America. It provides insights into the growth and development of the sport, as well as the strategic considerations for expanding the MLP Champion Series globally. Takeaways Professional Pickleball PlayersMajor League PickleballTeam RankingsPickleball Ball Selection MLP Champion Series attracting top playersLocal talent and community engagementScalability challenges in Europe and South America Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Player Feedback05:43 Lifetime Ball Selection and Chicago Event17:09 Introduction of Zach Hunter and Palm Beach Royals27:03 Zach Hunter's Involvement in Major League Pickleball32:56 The Future of MLP Champion Series59:28 Scalability Challenges in Europe and South America

  9. May 28

    Preview of 2026 MLP Champions Season

    The conversation covers the rebranding of the league to Major League Pickleball Champion Series, the introduction of new and returning players, and the impact of player transfers on the league dynamics. It also discusses the league expansion, season start, and the merger of teams within the league. The conversation covers the significant player movements and team lineup changes in the Major League Pickleball league. It explores the impact of player transfers, surprises in team changes, and the formation of new teams. The proposed pod ranking system and its impact on player lineups are also discussed, along with the expectations for various teams in the upcoming season. Takeaways Rebranding to Major League Pickleball Champion SeriesNew and returning players in the league Key player movementsNew team lineups Chapters 00:00 Introduction and League Rebranding05:03 Top Players and Season Preview10:00 New Additions to the League14:57 Player Roster Changes19:58 League Merger and Team Dynamics25:11 Player Lineup Changes30:43 Las Vegas Headliners Team Formation36:52 Team Expectations

  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Champions Table — the unofficial insider podcast of the MLP Champions Series, the world's premier 50+ professional pickleball league. We're Shay Coker, Senior Pro and OKC Punishers player, and Jeff McKnight, Owner, GM, and player for the Columbus Hotshots. We're not the official voice of the league. We're better. We're on the courts, at the events, and at the table with the players, owners, and personalities that make this sport extraordinary. The MLP Champions Series attracts the best 50+ pickleball players in the world — elite competitors who bring a lifetime of athleticism, grit, and passion to every match. Every week we break down the teams, the rivalries, the stories, and the people behind the fastest growing sport in the world — no filter, no PR spin, just real talk from two guys who live it. New episodes weekly. Subscribe and pull up a chair.

Information

  • Creator
    Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight
  • Show Website
    The Champions Table

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