Roger BelAir - Pickleball History! ----THE Pickleball show with Curtis Reese - June 30 2023

Roger BelAir - Join in this amazing episode with Roger BelAir - a very successful and charismatic pickleball influencer who has introduced pickleball to many people - including the most notable philanthropy work done within American prison systems ( 60 minutes link below) Enjoy his many stories including advice from Vince Lombardi ( yes THE Vince Lombardi) as well as the actual pickleball founders and history, as well as insights on helping others wherever their journey may take them. We are very excited to present this episode with the great Roger Belair - please enjoy the impressive body of work from this accomplished author, philanthropist and pickleball enthusiast. Years ago Roger BelAir was introduced to Barney McCallum, the only living founder of the game. They quickly became friends and many of the anecdotes and vignettes Roger shares about the game come directly from Barney. Next Roger came to know the management of Pickle-Ball, Inc., the company formed by the three founders to promote pickleball. He learned even more "behind the scenes" stories. As a result, Roger's clinics are uncopiable! With a style that mixes humor, insights, and proper technique, Roger has taught 3,000 people ... from a former Wimbledon tennis pro to Fortune 500 executives to grandmothers who want to stay active and have fun. He is frequently the Guest Teaching Pro at the renowned Rancho La Puerta (one of the "Five Best Destination Spas in the World" according to Travel + Leisure magazine). Inspired by a CBS's "60 Minutes" segment on crime, Roger envisioned pickleball as a means of teaching "life skills" in prisons. Since 95 per cent of all inmates are eventually released, perhaps pickleball could help make them better people ... making it safer for all of us once they return to society. His thinking was correct. Roger introduced the game to men charged with murder at Chicago's Cook County Jail and his program was hugely successful. Gang members who wouldn't even talk to each other were playing pickleball together. Soon they were even laughing together! Disciplinary problems at the jail were reduced. The success of his program in Chicago led Roger to prisons coast-to-coast, from Rikers Island in New York to San Quentin in California. His life-changing efforts have been applauded by the Washington Post, NPR, a front-page story in USA TODAY, and others. A documentary is currently in production. Off the court, Roger is a financial expert who has been profiled in a cover story of Money magazine; an acclaimed author of books on finance and investments; and a keynoter at business conventions around the country. He's been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and many other publications. He knows finance, but pickleball is his passion. https://www.ppatour.com/pickleball-in-prisons-giving-back-in-unlikely-ways/ https://thepickler.com/blogs/pickleball-blog/pickleball-magic-beyond-reasonable-doubt https://watchtvonline.org/lp2/?keyword=60%20minutes&gclid=Cj0KCQjwho-lBhC_ARIsAMpgMocXgaMkW_MeJ6o1nDGo84OtxlGdKYW4q-9NYKB5LZzCkoGNxlKhqvwaAkREEALw_wcB https://peoplearetheanswer.com/podcast/s6e7-episode-57-roger-belair-on-how-pickleball-is-changing-prisoners-lives/ https://inpickleball.com/bringing-change-to-the-prison-system-with-the-power-of-pickleball/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee03ZL6uPHM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee03ZL6uPHM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eXBvHynYM0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0NIG7bGK7E https://www.heraldnet.com/news/mr-pickleball-takes-his-sport-to-parks-and-prisons/ https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/07/26/pickleball-prison-cook-county https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/22/pickleball-prison/ https://inpickleball.com/bringing-change-to-the-prison-system-with-the-power-of-pickleball/ https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/2022/02/25/pickleball-rancho-mirage-retiree-roger-belair-brings-game-jail/6916135001/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-belair-80314111/