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- From Drug Addict to Pickleball Star: Evan Slaughter’s Story
From Drug Addict to Pickleball Star: Evan Slaughter’s Story
Plus, reduce injury risk with 3 simple steps
Erik Korem
September 20, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
What Does a Major League Baseball MVP Think About on the Field? Pickleball, Obviously.
Turns out, when Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts isn’t focused on hitting a 100mph fastball, he’s daydreaming about Pickleball!
While mic'd up in the bottom of the second inning, Mookie managed to sum up exactly why we’re all obsessed with this sport:
"Pickleball, that's my jam. A lot of people have fire in them, especially in pickleball. They get really mad, which I love. The cool thing is, you can be anywhere from 10 to 80 and play. I’ve got a lot of random 70 and 80-year-old friends from Spring Training I hang out with. I don’t know their names, but it's fun!"
Mookie, we feel you. There's nothing quite like hitting the court with some pickleball pals (even if you don’t remember their names).
Keep ballin’, Mookie! Who knows—there might just be some pickleball gold medals waiting for you after baseball.
The Evan Slaughter Story
How did U.S. Army veteran Evan Slaughter transform his life from drug addict to viral content creator?
In this powerful episode, Evan shares his journey of overcoming PTSD, substance abuse, and personal struggles to find purpose through comedy, pickleball, & fitness. In this episode you’ll learn:
How laughter and creativity became crucial tools for healing
The unexpected role of pickleball in Evan's recovery journey
Strategies for maintaining sobriety and mental health
Evan's mission to give back to the rehab facility that saved his life by building pickleball courts
Did you know?
Over 90% of Pickleball injuries occur in players over 50 years old.
But here’s the good news… you can seriously lower your injury risk by following these three simple steps:
Warm up before you play – Prepping your body with a proper warm-up improves balance and gets you physically ready, so you’re less likely to tweak something mid-match.
Optimize your sleep – Your muscles and joints recover best when you're getting quality sleep. Skip the late-night TV, and let your body do the repair work while you rest.
Train your mobility off the court – Focus on your range of motion, stability, and strength. You'll feel more flexible and controlled, which means fewer mishaps when you're chasing that next point.
When it comes to strength training, timing is everything.
Yes, lifting weights 2-3 times per week builds power and endurance, but hitting the weights right before game day? Not the best move. That lingering soreness can drag down your performance the next day.
The smarter option? A bodyweight circuit that leaves you feeling ready for peak performance.
Stick to Bodyweight: The day before a match, opt for bodyweight exercises.
Faster Recovery: Bodyweight exercises are easy on your muscles. Without the heavy recovery time, you’ll be fresh and ready to go for your matches the next day.
Perfect for Travel: No gym? No problem. You can do bodyweight exercises anywhere, even in a cramped hotel room. It’s the ultimate travel-friendly workout.
If you don’t already have a go-to bodyweight circuit, use this blog to help you design the perfect workout for you!
Get ready for an electrifying Fall
with Honcho Pickleball League!
AIM7 is excited to invite you to join a community where competition meets camaraderie in cities across the nation.
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Save 20% on your registration fees by using the code: AIM20
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