A Few Takeaways from the MLP Champions Series — From The Professor
Every tournament has its defining moments—whether it's a hard-fought win, an unforgettable rally, or simply the experience of being back on the court. Following our Chicago season opener, Kansas City Stinger and guest contributor David George (aka ‘The Professor’) shares a few reflections from the weekend, including what stood out most about the competition, the personalities that make the league unique, and why he's already looking forward to the next stop on the schedule.
One of my biggest takeaways from the weekend had nothing to do with wins or losses—it was how much personality matters in this league. MLP Champion Series is simply more entertaining when players like Lee Whitwell and Dave Weinbach are around. They’re competitors, but they’re also characters, and that makes the entire event more fun for everyone watching. In fact, I enjoyed watching Dave so much that I recruited him to play a tournament with me in Wisconsin this weekend.
Lee Whitwell & Dave Weinbach // Photo Credit: Brad Evenson
My own weekend couldn’t have started much better either.
My first match back in the league was against my former team and one of the strongest teams in the field. We managed to pull out an 11-9 victory in the third game, and that felt like the perfect “welcome back” moment.
The entire weekend also reminded me why I still love competing. There was a different energy in the building with MLP players stopping by, Eric Oncins watching our match against his father, Zane Navratil saying hi, and Rafa Hewett offering some coaching tips.
Jaime Oncins // Photo Credit: Brad Evenson
Then came one of those moments I’ll remember for a long time.
Championship Court. Kansas City Stingers versus the Indy Drivers. Daryl Wyatt and I were playing Jose Derisi and Rick Witsken, and I happened to glance over and realize Ron Saslow—one of the most influential voices in pickleball—was on the microphone calling our match. Hearing him break down my shots and even describe one of them as “surprisingly athletic” made me laugh. I’m still deciding exactly how to take that compliment, but I’ll gladly accept it.
David George & Daryl Wyatt // Photo Credit: Brad Evenson
Moments like those are a reminder that this league has become something special, and I’m already looking forward to the next stop.
The MLP Champions Series continues to showcase elite competition for players ages 40+, while celebrating the stories, personalities, and lifelong passion for the game that make this league unique. Stay tuned for more player perspectives throughout the season as we continue the road to Championship Weekend.