That night, I went to play a tournament knowing I was going to lose. Even though I was a much better player than my opponents, I had signed up with a lower level partner. It had been a long time since the good players wanted to play with me. And this clearly limited my ability to compete. So I started warming up like I always did under the artificial lights. And when the match started, the very first ball I touch, which was a return, I hit it out. And the return is one of the easiest shots in the game. But ...

Investment Strategy & Market Analysis - The speaker passed on investing in professional pickleball due to its perceived limitations as a professional sport compared to the potential of women's soccer [2] - The speaker believed investing in the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) would be more profitable than investing in pickleball [2] - The speaker highlighted the undervaluation of women's soccer in 2020, emphasizing its popularity and the success of the American women's team [2][3] - The speaker contrasts the investment pitches for pickleball with the proven success and global popularity of women's soccer, suggesting a misallocation of investment focus [3] Sports Industry Trends - The speaker views pickleball as a great hobby and exercise but questions its viability as a professional sport due to a lack of aspirational energy and viral appeal [2][3] - The speaker notes the absence of viral pickleball highlights, indicating a lack of widespread public interest and attention compared to other sports [3] - The speaker suggests that the very qualities that make pickleball accessible as a hobby hinder its potential as a compelling professional sport [3]