As most saw in the new viral clip, DJ Young threw his paddle to the ground, and it launched to the top row of the stands at the PPA Minnesota indoor championships. Old ladies like Good Ole Deborah were so mad that they suggested he should get fined and even sued. The reactions in the stands couldn't have been more priceless. Robin, Mary, and Beatrice in the crowd had a look as if they had just seen someone get murdered right in front of them.
For those personally offended by his actions and wanting him to get fined or banned, he was indeed fined for his behavior. Fines in sports are not unusual, but other sports are more developed, and most pro athletes in top leagues make a killing. For example, fines in the NBA and NFL are around the price of $10k for things like not tucking in your jersey in the NFL, not making it on time to practice, or using inappropriate language and swearing at a ref. In the sport of pickleball, an NFL player's fine is more than they make in a month. The PPA disclosed the amount that he was fined, and based on the prize earnings, my guess is that DJ Young was fined $45.
In my opinion, I think it's fantastic for the sport. You have players like JW, Dylan, and Colin's brother, who are so stoic that they seem like they don't really want to be in the tournament in the first place. Those guys are fantastic players, but they don't offer much of a storyline except that they win a lot of games. The sport needs more from the players, even if it means throwing a paddle and launching it 10 feet in the air. It shows that these athletes care about what's going on. If I could make any suggestion, I would want more players to start smacking their paddles after tough losses. Maybe they shouldn't throw their paddles, but they could keep them in hand and give them a few swings to the ground. This year is the year of the paddle smash.
Clayton Boydston is a self proclaimed pickleball fanatic! A former semi-pro soccer player, he was looking for a new athletic outlet as he transitioned out of soccer. He discovered pickleball when he moved to Utah County in the summer of 2021. From the moment he stepped on the court he was addicted. He studied hours of professional pickleball matches, drilled for hours, and played matches every chance he got. He started as a 3.0 player and quickly advanced to the pro ranks. Clayton loves everything pickleball and loves writing about the latest news and events of this sport he loves.
He is also a pickleball instructor and of the founders of the Boydston Pickleball Academy where they teach beginners all the way up to advanced players.