020 | Left Turn at Albuquerque Transcript

Morgan:  Welcome to our first-ever Pickleball Trivia ProAm. This promises to be a barn-burner as two highly successful and experienced pros take on our two most successful quiz contestants.

Glen Peterson, pro-player, engineer, and father of the Selkirk Omni paddle, teams up with none other than Dee Davison, a legend in the game and an encyclopedia of Pickleball knowledge.

They’re going to take on Keith Ramos and Sue Wong. Two contestants that effectively dismantled their opponents during the season’s Pickleball Trivia.

The questions increase in difficulty and are multiple-choice. Each team will alternate questions until one team reaches five points. Up for grabs is $200 in gift vouchers and a signed Maxima. The sentimental value of that is through the roof. So let’s get this show on the road!

 

First Question [1:12]

Morgan:  Alright, so the first question, Sue and Keith. Do wait until I finish all the multiple-choice options before you blurt out the answer. You might know it immediately but there’s no stars for being quick to the gun.

Alright, so ready to roll?

Sue:  Yup!
Morgan:  The maximum length of USAPA Pickleball-approved paddle is:

1. 17 inches
2. 18 inches
3. 16.5 inches
4. It doesn’t matter anymore because you can’t touch a paddle

Sue:  Wow! Hey, Keith, I think I know the answer to this. I’m going to say 17. What do you think?

Keith:  Yup.

Sue:  Okay, that’s our final answer, Morgan.

Morgan:  Alright, they’re going with A. 17, and that is correct. Congratulations!

Alright, I told you it was going to start easy, so no worries.

Sue:  Okay.

Morgan:  Now, over to Dee and Glen. They’re off to a flying start, let’s be honest.

Glen:  Hmm…

Morgan:  Okay, your question: Enrique Ruiz was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. His nickname is:

1. The Raven
2. La Falcon
3. El Condor
4. The Pink Flamingo

Dee:  Glen?

Glen:  I’d have to go with El Condor. What would you say?

Dee:  It’s definitely that because we were sitting around a dinner table and gave Enrique that nickname in Bend, Oregon.

Morgan:  Really?

Sue:  Wow!

Dee:  So it is El Condor.

Morgan:  Okay.

Dee:  My nickname was Taz – I didn’t like it. Grindless Taz, I thought that’s not right. Tasmanian Devil. But yes, Enrique was given El Condor in Bend, Oregon.

Morgan:  Wow!

Glen:  With his left and right hand, the span has got to be greater than most players – if not, any player.

Dee:  It was greater than an eagle.

Morgan:  (chuckles…) Wow, okay, we’re all learning something today. Very good! Excellent!

Keith:  Yeah, I didn’t know that’s why they called him El Condor, so thank you for sharing that. I happened to have his pink paddle, his new signature paddle – I love it!

Morgan:  That is, of course, correct. Congratulations, you are on the board.

Dee:  Way to go, Glen!

Second Question [3:21]

Morgan:  Now, we head back over to Sue and Keith for their next question.

The USAPA has recently gone a name change to USA Pickleball. The URL changed as well. It is:

1. USAPB.com
2. USAPickleball.com
3. USAPickleball.org

Keith:  It is C, Sue, if you agree?

Sue:  You sound confident, Keith, so I’m going to go with that.

Morgan:  Well, congratulations, Keith, you are exactly right. It is C.

Sue:  Good job, Keith!

Morgan:  Well done.

Keith:  It’ll be bad if I didn’t know that as an ambassador.

Morgan:  Yes, that’s true. I won’t tell anyone.

Alright, good job. So there’s the point for them. They are up 2 – 1. But Dee and Glen have a chance to close the gap right there. Are you ready, guys?
Glen:  Yes.

Dee:  Totally confident.

Morgan:  Okay!

The game was invented on one faithful Saturday afternoon in 1965 by some friends. However, one of the friends that was attributed to the invention of the game wasn’t introduced to the game until the following weekend. Was it:

1. Bill Bell
2. Joel Prichard
3. Barney McCallum
4. Errol Flynn

Glen:  (laughs…) So Dee, I want to guess that Bill was involved with that first day. So I don’t know…

Dee:  I would think so too.

Glen:  So I don’t know whether it was Joel or Barnie that got in the following weekend or not.

Dee:  I don’t either. I would take a guess at Joel.

Glen:  So would I.

Morgan:  Okay, so you’re going with B. Joel. Unfortunately, that is incorrect. It was Barney McCallum.

Glen:  Oh…

Dee:  Aw…

Sue:  Wow!

Morgan:  Yeah, wow!

Dee:  Alright.

Glen:  Sorry, Dee.

Morgan:  This is a drastic turn of events. I did not see this coming. I have to catch my breath here.

Dee:  Come behind victories!

Morgan:  Alright, okay, well you’re going to have a chance, there’s no doubt about it.

 

Third Question [5:21]

Morgan:  Alright, Sue and Keith, you’ve got a chance to extend the lead.

Senior Men’s star, Rich Lopez, has a nickname. It is:

1. Lightning
2. Rocky
3. Thunder

Sue:  Keith, I know this one. I’m going to say it’s Thunder.

Keith:  I don’t know it, so I’ll go with you.

Sue:  Okay, C. Thunder is our final answer.

Morgan:  Alright, that is correct! Well done. Thunder Lopez – he’s doing good things in the game these days. Well done, Thunder!

Keith:  He is.

Morgan:  Okay, back over to Dee and Glen.

The current board chair of USA Pickleball is:

1. Justin Maloof
2. Phil Mortensen
3. Jack Thomas

Glen:  So Dee, it’s not Justin for sure. He’s the president.

Dee:  No.

Glen:  But I would have guessed it was Jack got back involved.

Dee:  Jack, that’s what I would say – of the board, right?

Glen:  Chairman of the Board, yeah.

Dee:  He said of the board, so I would agree with Jack Thomas.

Morgan:  Alright, Glen, is that your final answer.

Glen:  I’d go with that too.

Morgan:  Unfortunately, is it B. Phil Mortensen.

Glen:  Dee, he always takes over.

Morgan:  (chuckles…) That’s true. He does help with legal matters and they’re going to need that.

Glen:  Sorry, Dee.

Dee:  Hey, we’re showing our knowledge as old-time Pickleball players. (laughs…)

Glen:  I thought Jack got back involved — I’m sorry.

Dee:  I thought he did too.

Morgan:  No worries.

Dee:  Maybe he’s smart and he stayed on the outskirts.

 

Fourth Question [6:56]

Morgan:  Okay, so we head back over to Sue and Keith. They have a 3 – 1 up. This is getting serious.

Keith:  Thanks to Sue.

Morgan:  Oh, come on? Don’t sell yourself short there.

Sue:  No, Keith, you got that other answer.

Morgan:  That’s true.

Sue:  Teamwork!

Morgan:  Teamwork makes the dream work, let’s be honest.

Okay, moving on…

Byron Freso is well-known to be the second-best ref in his marriage. In 2015, he and his wife, Marcia, did team up and win gold in which tournament?

1. The State Games of America
2. Huntsman World Senior Games
3. The Nationals
4. Saturday Afternoon Play at Dan Gabanek’s backyard

Sue:  Oh my goodness. Keith, I don’t think I was there.

Keith:  I didn’t know what Pickleball was until 2017.

Morgan:  It was very similar, just more dinking.

Sue:  So Keith, the choices – it’s either between Huntsman or Nationals. Gosh, what was the first? You said State Games where?

Morgan:  State Games of America.

Sue:  Oh, man, I don’t even know that one. So I guess, Keith, do you want me to try to take a guess?

Keith:  Yes.

Sue:  Oh, goodness. Okay, I guess let’s go with Huntsman. I know it’s either – yeah, I’ll say Huntsman.

Morgan:  Okay, unfortunately, Huntsman is incorrect. It was A. The State Games of America.

Sue:  Okay, yeah. Didn’t know that.

Morgan:  Dee knew that.

Glen:  Where’s that at?

Dee:  Albuquerque wasn’t it?

Morgan:  Albuquerque, exactly! You take a left turn in Albuquerque and you find the state games.

Okay, so we’re back over to Dee and Glen with that slight hiccup. Are we ready?

The first official tournament was held in 1976 where the now-legendary Steve Paranto placed second in Men’s Singles. Who came first?

1. Mark Friedenberg
2. David Lester
3. Chris Miller
4. David Hasselhoff

Dee:  I would say Mark Friedenberg.

Glen:  Yeah, he said it was 1970…

Morgan:  1976, it was the first…

Dee:  Yeah, because Chris Miller would have only been like – Chris Miller was born in ’69.

Morgan:  Yeah, but he’s talented as an 8-year-old. I feel like he had it in him.

Dee:  Yeah, as an 8-year-old.

Glen:  The Hasselhoff name is familiar to me. But I would guess with you that Friedenberg would be the name. If he would have said Gabanek, I would have gone with him or Billy Jacobsen but…

Dee:  Yeah.

Glen:  I don’t know if Friedenberg was playing back in 1976.

Dee:  Oh yeah. I’d almost imagine Mark was.

Glen:  Yeah, he’s probably playing back in 1936.

Dee:  (laughs…)

Morgan:  I think Mark won silver with Moses in the first Nationals.

Glen:  (laughs…) That’s so funny!

Morgan:  Alright, so your answer is A. Mark Friedenberg, and that is incorrect. I’m sorry.

Glen:  Shoot!

Dee:  Who was it?
Morgan:  It was David Lester. I mean, come on? It’s Dave, you know? From Lesterville – I don’t know. I’ve never met him.

Dee:  What? Never heard of him.

Keith:  I wasn’t born that year yet.

Glen:  Oh, sorry.

Morgan:  Neither was I, man, don’t you even worry about that.

Dee:  We weren’t in Pickleball yet.

Glen:  I was. I was born – I was not in Pickleball.

Morgan:  (laughs…) Okay, we’re clearly getting out of control but that’s good, that’s what we’re here for.

Sponsor: CoachMe Pickleball

 

Back to the ProAm [11:50]

Morgan:  Okay, let’s head back over to the ProAm and see if Glen and Dee can get it together…

So we’ve got a 3 – 1 lead still. Sue and Keith, congratulations. Looking to close out. Are you ready for your next question?

Sue:  Yes.

Morgan:  In the recent APP Tour event in Chicago, who won the Women’s Pro Doubles? Was it:
A.  Michelle Esquivel and Callie Smith

1. Andrea Koop and Irina Tereschenko
2. Simone Jardim and Jessie Irvine

Sue:  Oh, man. Keith, were you paying attention?

Keith:  Oh, I know Simone won in Utah.

Sue:  Gosh! Because I’m trying to remember the picture that I saw but now, I can’t remember who I actually saw on the podium. I’m actually going to say maybe it’s Michele and Callie. What do you think, Keith?

Morgan:  Any thoughts there, Keith?

Sue:  Because I remember seeing a podium picture but… So that was – I think – oh wait, and you said – sorry, Morgan, you said the other team was Andrea and…

Morgan:  Andrea Koop and Irina Tereschenko

Sue:  Oh, man! I think it’s between those two. What’s your thoughts, Keith?
Keith:  I don’t remember seeing Simone in the picture.

Sue:  Yeah, that’s why I think it’s either between Michelle and Callie versus Andrea and Irina, and I just can’t remember what that picture looked like, who was on the podium.

Morgan:  Yeah, the shot-clock is running, guys.

Keith:  I’ll go with Irina if you’re…

Sue:  Okay, because yeah, Keith, since I don’t know, we’ll go with that.

Morgan:  Okay, so you’re going with B. Andrea Koop and Irina Tereschenko?

Sue:  Are we sure, Keith? (chuckles…)

Keith:  (laughs…)

Sue:  Yeah, let’s do it. I’ll let Keith choose this time.

Morgan:  Alright, well you chose right. Congratulations!

Sue:  Good job, Keith!

Morgan:  Let’s face it, it’s blind luck.

Keith:  I’m thinking Simone didn’t play on that.

Sue:  She did.

Morgan:  No, she did.

Keith:  Oh, okay.

Morgan:  Her and Jessie got bronze, I believe.

Keith:  Okay.

Sue:  Way to go, partner!

Keith:  I was in a tournament in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, so I didn’t watch any of this.

Morgan:  Oh, I see.

Alright, now, heading over to Dee and Glen. They’ve got a little bit of work to do, let’s be honest, we’ll say that easily.

Glen:  Yup.

Dee:  We do.

Morgan:  Next question for you, guys: Long-time Paddletek user and Hall of Fame player, Jen Lucore, recently switched to another paddle sponsor. Is it:

1. HEAD
2. Engage
3. GAMMA

And there was deathly silence…

Glen:  Dee, do you know which one?

Dee:  I don’t. I remember that she switched over.

Glen:  Did she switch to…

Dee:  I almost want to say GAMMA, is what I’m thinking. But I am not very sure.

Glen:  I knew but I forgot.

Dee:  Do you think – did she join the Engage Teaching Team with Gigi?

Glen:  She might have. It might be Engage but I don’t know for sure.

Dee:  I’m thinking she might have joined the Engaged Teaching Team because GAMMA’s Teaching Team lost on it.

Glen:  Yeah, I’d say we go with Engage then.

Morgan:  Okay, so is your final answer Engage?

Glen:  I’m good with that, Dee.

Dee:  Let’s go Engage.

Morgan:  Well, congratulations!

Dee:  Ooh, we got one! Yeah!

Glen:  Hey, nice going, Dee!

Keith:  I kept thinking, “Why didn’t we get that one?”

Sue:  Yeah.

Dee:  I know! How many times you guys’ questions, and I’m like, “Really?” There should be a pass button like you can pass it to the other team.

Sue:  I think I like a steal button.

Dee:  Oh yeah, yeah!

Morgan:  Alright, you know we can’t afford buttons. Let’s not go crazy. The Selkirk guys might listen to this and they’re going to think we’re demanding buttons. (chuckles…)

 

For The Win [15:56]

Okay, so now we’ve got 4 – 2. Sue and Keith, you have a chance to win here.

Sue:  Let’s go, Keith.

Keith:  Let’s do it, Sue.

Morgan:  Alright, here we go. Ready?

The Dura 40 has 40 holes in it, obviously – it’s pretty obvious. However, they are not all the same size. How many large holes does it have?

1. 16
2. 20
3. 24

Sue:  Keith, do you know that? (chuckles…)

Keith:  I know there are different sizes. I didn’t realize there was a difference in the name for it.

Sue:  Wow! Well, okay, maybe we’ll have to do some deduction here. If’s a Dura 40, would they split it in half and do 20?

Keith:  Okay, what were the options again?

Morgan:  A.  16, B. 20, or C. 24?

Keith:  Can you repeat the question?

Morgan:  So, there are two different diameter holes, one is larger than the other. There are big holes and small holes. How many big ones are there? How many of the larger variety? I think .33 of an inch is the…

Keith:  Okay. I will say the lesser number, Sue.

Sue:  You mean, you’re saying 16? Okay. You know, I honestly don’t know, so you’re good last time. I’ll go with you.

Keith:  I’m just thinking because I would think most of the holes are the smaller ones if I remember. I guess I never paid attention to the fact that there is a set number.

Sue:  I know, I didn’t know either.

Morgan:  I’m just curious, Glen, you’ve been around these a lot. Do you know the answer?

Glen:  You know, I owned that brand for a while and I would – no, I don’t know the answer. I have a pretty good guess what the answer is.

Morgan:  Well, I think you know that Keith is spot on. Congratulations!

Sue:  Wow, Keith, way to go!

Morgan:  Well done! You pulled through the team. You really came to play at the end there, Keith. You and Sue — what a team!

Keith:  You know, I play with friends because I can’t afford balls.

Morgan:  Ooh, well I don’t think… (laughs…)

Glen:  (laughs…) That hurts, Keith.

Keith:  I’m sorry, but I just don’t get free balls.

Morgan:  Okay, so that is game, set and match. Unfortunately, Dee and Glen, you’ve come away with two points. That’s better than zero points and one point, so that’s a win. However, I think  — let’s be honest, this has shocked the world, I’d say, putting it lightly.

But hats off to Sue and Keith. They came to play. They may have even studied – I don’t know.

Glen:  I was impressed.

Dee:  I was impressed but I will say it was a pleasure to be in a mixed event with Glen. It’s an honor.

Morgan:  Yeah, yeah. I’ve been watching for my mixed debut with Glen, and I don’t know if it’s ever going to happen, to be honest.

Keith:  Sue, I guess, we’ll have to hopefully meet in the courts. You too, Dee, Glen, and Morgan. I love to meet you all.

Morgan:  Yeah, we could have a reunion, a Palm Desert Reunion – it’s just closest.

Sue:  Yeah! But Dee, I will see you in Las Vegas next week. Glen, are you going to be there?
Glen:  I will, Sue, so I’ll look forward to seeing you there.

Sue:  Yeah!

Keith:  Oh good! Are you guys coming to Maine?

Morgan:  Maine is just around the corner.

Keith:  Yeah, I’m just around the corner in Maine on your ways to somewhere.

Morgan:  (laughs…) It’s on the way to Albequerque, right?

Sue:  We’ll keep that in mind, Keith.

Dee:  Yeah.

Morgan:  Alright, guys and girls, thank you so much for your time. Much appreciated! Maybe we’ll do it again one day. I’ll let the Selkirk brothers decided if these are the two pros that should go forward after this somewhat of a shocking defeat.

Dee:  (laughs…) This hampers our contract, is that what you’re saying?
Morgan:  I wasn’t allowed to tell you before but yes, it’s…

Sue:  I’ll put in a good word for you, Glen and Dee.

Dee:  Oh, thanks!

Glen:  We were good sports.

Sue:  You were.

Dee:  We were very good sports.

Sue:  Entertaining – yeah! The best.

Glen:  Thank you, Sue.

Morgan:  That’s half the battle, and that’s usually what gets the job done in Jeopardy as well – just being a good sport. There’s also points in there, or not.

Alright, guys! Take care, everybody. Stay safe. Be good to your parents. Put on sun cream – all that good stuff.

Sue:  Thank you, Morgan! This was fun.

Keith:  Thank you so much, Morgan!
Dee:  Thanks, Morgan!

Sue:  Bye, you guys!

Morgan:  You’re welcome! I had the easy part. Take care, guys!

[background music plays]

Sponsor: Selkirk Sport

 

Morgan:  That’s it for today. I’m Morgan Evans, and this has been More or Less Pickleball.