The perfect pickleball birthday gift

Kim Janssen is a “Pickleball Widow.”

Self-proclaimed, of course, but she’s not too different from so many others who have spouses who seemed “married” to the sport.

Kim’s husband Steve is one of those kinds of pickleball players. He plays every day, sometimes twice a day. He built a half-court in his driveway at their home in Charleston, Ill., perfect for games with his grandchildren and other friends. Steve loves the PPA Tour, cheers on his favorites like Tyson McGuffin and Anna Leigh Waters, has participated in a Riley Newman camp, and was even scheduled to play with a pickleball group in Alaska before it was rained out.

Let’s just say, Steve Janssen loves pickleball. He and Kim live part of the year in Texas and travel all over in their RV, always finding new and different places to pick up a paddle and join a game.

So, when Kim was trying to come up with a plan for her husband’s 65th birthday which was in June, she knew it had to be pickleball-related. 

“Last winter, I tried to find a PPA tournament near us in Texas, but nothing worked out,” Kim said. “Then I saw Las Vegas and the plan started. I talked to his partner, J.R. Raschilla, and got him on board. After that, I had to let Steve know my plan.”

Then after they got to Vegas, Kim and Steve headed to the courts to check out the facility and they were surprised when the Hype Guys, Erik and Canton, presented Steve with a pair of courtside seats for Championship Sunday.

“I saw the Hype Guys would be giving away week-long courtside tickets, so I talked Steve into ‘showing me’ Sunset Park in hopes of seeing Canton and Erik.”

In addition, Janssen’s youngest daughter lives in Arizona and is flying in with her family to watch Steve play. What a week in Vegas.

“He was so excited. We got off the plane Monday and the first thing he wanted to do is drive to the venue to see it in person.”

Steve will play in the 3.5 division along with J.R., who has a pretty great story himself, as he volunteers in his town of Harlingen, Texas, where gives free lessons and helps Veterans with PTSD. “I always have liked his drill sergeant style,” Kim said.

While Kim doesn’t play, she loves to watch, and while Steve loves to watch the pros, now he gets to play alongside them.