In ESPN’s early days, the network was famous for broadcasting obscure sports, such as Australian rules football, introducing those events to a wider audience.
The network went full retro mode Tuesday night, airing a celebrity pickleball match. In prime time.
Fans didn’t know what to think. Some loved it, a greater number seemed to hate it, but there seemed to be no middle ground on social media.
ESPN brought out the stars for the Pro-Am Celebrity Pickleball Showdown. The event, held in the Dallas area, featured a number of pro athletes including former NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS broadcaster Tony Romo and 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
Romo also took a turn in the booth as an announcer.
The match was meant to be a fun companion event to the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships at Brookhaven Country Club, an event featuring more than 3,500 pro and amateur players. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S., with an estimated 37 million players in the country.
Romo and his broadcast partners certainly got the memo about making the event fun and lighthearted.
At one point, after Nowitzki made a play, Romo joked, “I don’t know if it’s legal, but you guys said it is legal,” Romo said. “That was impressive.”
At another point, broadcaster Michelle McMahon announced Nowitzki as a “four-time All-Star.”
“No, he’s more than a four-time All-Star,” Romo quickly noted.
“You’re right, he’s a 14-time All-Star,” McMahon apologized.
There was even an awkward sideline interview moment.
Awkward sideline reporting with the Dallas Stars Ice Girls on ESPN pickleball tonight. "What brought you out to a pickleball event here today?" "We are here to support the president of the Dallas Stars Foundation, Marty Turco." "All right. we'll take it back to the court now." pic.twitter.com/yr4Nx6yjCd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 8, 2023
Later, McMahon invited Romo to return to the booth this weekend to announce the Professional Pickleball Association National Championships.
“I’d love to, but I’ve got a day job,” Romo said.
“What did we learn tonight, Tony?” McMahon asked near the end of the ESPN broadcast.
“We learned that I can’t compete with any of these players,” Romo said.
Fans checked in on Twitter during their event to share their thoughts.
Baylor-Auburn isn't on ESPN right now because of … pickleball? pic.twitter.com/OZPDwoyu6U
— Jackson Posey, Basketball School Attender ✞ (@ByJacksonPosey) November 8, 2023
Pickleball is on ESPN. I’m done. pic.twitter.com/iRnqiqC5vS
— Warren Ables (@WarrenAbles) November 8, 2023
This celebrity pickleball match on ESPN right now is absolutely awful… it’s John Isner and Dirk Nowitzki (!) vs. Scottie Scheffler and Jason Kidd. I should be interested in this! But pickleball is just so wildly unwatchable on TV
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) November 8, 2023
“Celebrity Pickleball Showdown”
Apparently @espn turned its clocks back to 1983 this weekend.
— Nick Nerbonne (@NickNerbonne) November 8, 2023
Why in the HELL is ESPN showing a celebrity pickleball contest in primetime?
— RepublicanDore (@RepublicanDore) November 8, 2023
It’s 2023.
Dirk Nowitzki and John Isner are playing Jason Kidd and Scottie Scheffler in pickleball on ESPN right now.
What a time to be alive and change the channel.
— Arpan (@_arpandixit) November 8, 2023
Celebrity @pickleball on ESPN from 8-9 pm with Tony Romo broadcasting less. Great window. Dirk Nowitzki and John Isner on one team and Scottie Scheffler and Jason Kidd on another. Not sure where you hit against 7-footers. Keep it low, fellas.
— Neil Rudel (@NeilRudel) November 8, 2023
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
