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Senior Pickleball Report

Pickleball Changes Tennis Olympian’s Life

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CHANDLER, Ariz. /PRNewswire/ — Tennis and Pickleball are at war! Tennis purist view pickleball as a fad. Pickleballers think tennis is over and wants all their courts converted. And no one was more squarely in tennis’ corner than Eric Amend. 

At age 12, Eric was ranked #2 in the United States. At 14, he was #1. With a scholarship to USC, he became a four time All-American and in 1989 was an NCAA Doubles Champion. His career highlight was competing for the United States in men’s singles tennis at the 1984 Olympics.

Eric Amend Director of Facilities for Pickleball Kingdom
Eric Amend, former US Tennis Olympian and current Director of Facilities for Pickleball Kingdom

After his playing days were over, Eric coached tennis for awhile, but that didn’t last. His life spiraled downward. Eric summarized, “I was depressed. I had no joy. I was sleep-walking through my life.” 

Following the death of his father, Eric quit his job in February of 2022. There was a nagging hole in his life. “I wanted to be active again. I kept hearing about pickleball. To even think about playing pickleball felt wrong. But I was so down that I was finally willing to try anything… even pickleball.”

The moment Eric walked in Pickleball Kingdom, an indoor pickleball facility in Chandler, Arizona, everything changed. “Just walking into the Kingdom transformed me. The colors, the sounds, the energy. I just felt good.” He started playing every day. With his tennis background, he improved quickly. 

In June of 2022, Eric met the owner of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Rodrigues. They talked about sports and life. When Ace found out Eric wasn’t employed, he offered him a job on the spot. Ace recalls, “There was an intensity about him. I remember seeing him on courts pushing himself hard. I liked him from the beginning.” 

As he did in tennis, Eric has been quickly climbing Pickleball Kingdom’s ladder. He’s now their Director of Facilities. 

“With our recent announcement that we will franchise nationally, I’m excited to train new locations with, ‘The Keys to the Kingdom.’ I know there will be a Pickleball Kingdom in every U.S. city soon and I’m proud to be a part of that. I now have joy in my life. I feel so grateful because I have a huge community of friends and I work in a place that just makes me happy.  My heart is full. Pickleball has truly changed my life.”

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Link: https://pickleballkingdom.com/

SOURCE Pickleball Kingdom

https://q5i.09c.myftpupload.com/first-premier-pickleball-facility-launches-nationally/

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Senior Pickleball Report

Sleeves Tells Us The Best Way to Begin a Pickleball Point!

The Senior Pickleball Report emphasizes the importance of preparation for consistent performance in pickleball. It offers resources and updates for the senior pickleball community.

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Our latest episode of the Senior Pickleball Report

To gain consistency we must look at what we do and how we prepare prior to a point being played.

Nadal Link:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/27/world/rafael-nadal-philosophy-blake-cec/index.html

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Pickleball Mastery

Get the latest updates and information on the rapidly growing sport of pickleball, specifically designed for the senior community aged 50+. Check out Sleeve’s Senior Pickleball Report on YouTube to stay informed and up-to-date with the ever-changing world of pickleball. Join the community and stay ahead of the game.

https://sleeves-spr.com/

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story Premieres April 11 on truTV

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Senior Pickleball Report

Fifty Dollar D.I.Y. Pickleball Court?

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The latest chapter of the Senior Pickleball Report presented to you by Mike Sleeves Sliwa…

https://stmdailynews.com/sleeves-senior-pickleball-report/

Get the latest updates and information on the rapidly growing sport of pickleball, specifically designed for the senior community aged 50+. Check out Sleeve’s Senior Pickleball Report on YouTube to stay informed and up-to-date with the ever-changing world of pickleball. Join the community and stay ahead of the game.

https://sleeves-spr.com/


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Unmasking the Deception: The $300 Million Fraud Case Surrounding Arizona Athletic Grounds

Randy and Chad Miller face serious fraud charges after allegedly defrauding investors out of $300 million in their failed sports complex, revealing a cautionary tale for investors.

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A huge sports facility illuminated by the light of sunset. Created by AI

In a tale that intertwines ambition with deceit, the shocking story of Randy and Chad Miller, the father-son duo behind what was once touted as the largest sports and entertainment complex in the United States, has taken a dark turn. Opening the sprawling Bell Bank Park—which boasts an impressive 194 fields and courts—in East Mesa just three years ago, the Millers had big dreams. But now, they find themselves embroiled in a federal indictment that claims they defrauded investors out of nearly $300 million.

A Grand Vision Becomes a Nightmare

The original vision for the sports complex, which has since been rebranded as Arizona Athletic Grounds, was ambitious. Randy Miller, the mastermind behind the project, had long dreamed of creating a hub for sports and entertainment that would attract families, athletes, and fans from across the nation. After years of planning and investment, the facility finally opened its doors, seemingly fulfilling a lifelong dream.

However, dreams of grandeur have turned into a nightmare, as the Millers face serious allegations of using the facility as a front for an elaborate fraud scheme. With the company declaring bankruptcy in 2023—reporting debts of a staggering $366 million—investors and stakeholders are left reeling.

The Allegations: A Web of Fraud and Deceit

According to the federal indictment, Randy and Chad Miller allegedly enriched themselves at the expense of investors, using funds raised from municipal bonds for personal luxuries rather than for the intended purpose of constructing and operating the sports complex. The FBI claims they employed fraudulent documents and misrepresented the financial viability of the project to lure in unsuspecting investors.

From lavish purchases of luxury vehicles to alleged misappropriation of funds for personal expenses, their actions paint a picture of greed and entitlement. Not only did the Millers reportedly pay themselves significantly beyond disclosed salaries, but they also misled investors with false financial projections and forged documentation purporting to show interest from customers.

A Cautionary Tale for Investors

This case serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of investing in large-scale projects. The Millers poured their aspirations into the Arizona Athletic Grounds but masked disappointing financial realities with misleading projections and falsified documents. The initial feasibility study performed in 2016 indicated the project would generate significantly lower revenues than anticipated—a warning sign that went ignored in pursuit of ambition.

In a staggering twist, the project opened to a far cry from its projected success, generating less than $28 million in its first year compared to the nearly $96 million touted to investors. With bankruptcy filings showing that investors recouped a paltry sum of less than $2.5 million from their $284 million investment, many are left to ponder how their trust could be so easily manipulated.

Legal Ramifications and Future Implications

As the case unfolds, Randy and Chad Miller are facing severe legal consequences, including charges for wire fraud, securities fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they could spend decades in prison, a sobering reality for the once-celebrated entrepreneurs. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also pursuing parallel action, further complicating matters for the Millers.

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This incident not only reflects the pitfalls that entrepreneurs can face but also highlights the responsibilities of investors to conduct thorough due diligence before committing funds to any venture. The tale of the Millers serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity, transparency, and community trust in business practices.

Conclusion

As this saga continues to unfold, the story of the Arizona Athletic Grounds serves as a reflection on ambition gone awry. It’s a stark reminder that behind every grand vision lies the essential need for honesty and ethical conduct. The community of East Mesa, once hopeful for a thriving sports destination, now faces the challenge of moving forward, learning from the past, and rebuilding trust in local business ventures. We can only hope that the lessons from this cautionary tale resonate not just within the realm of sports and entertainment but across all industries that forge the backbone of our economy.

Related link:

https://www.themesatribune.com/news/300m-mesa-sports-park-fraud-alleged/article_44c8a2cb-900d-42c7-a737-2e5a03c5ee88.html

Get the latest updates and information on the rapidly growing sport of pickleball, which is specifically designed for the senior community aged 50+. Check out Sleeve’s Senior Pickleball Report on YouTube to stay informed and up-to-date with the ever-changing world of pickleball. Join the community and stay ahead of the game.

https://sleeves-spr.com/

https://stmdailynews.com/the-fate-of-lucky-supermarkets-in-socal/

The fate of Lucky Supermarkets in SoCal

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