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"Guys, the Pro Pickball talk discord, hit over a thousand members. And to celebrate, we're doing a couple of things. I'm giving away two signed paddles. I'm giving away two tickets to San Diego cause unfortunately, I'm not using them. And then Nico and I are gonna be going live within the discord on Saturday to watch some of these matches and kinda just hang out with you guys. We'll announce the winners of those things during that time too. So join if you haven't already. Remember a thousand numbers. It was popping off during this last week cause I was screaming my brains out against Casey. So."

"Getting to a great idea is hard in college. Nonsenseical essays, cringing-ducing presentations, and seemingly unsolvable problem sets. But then. The first thought becomes a final thesis. Jumbled slides transform into a polished keynote. And that midterm assignment gets a lot less mid. Because the road to great ideas is littered with bad ones. You just have to keep going until something clicks. Great ideas start on Mac. Find out more on apple.com slash college. And your mouth forever and nothing happens."

"Getting to a great idea is hard in college. Non-sensical essays, cringed inducing presentations, and seemingly unsolvable problem sets. But then the first thought becomes a final thesis. Jumbled slides transform into a polished keynote and that midterm assignment gets a lot less mid. Because the road to great ideas is littered with bad ones. You just have to keep going until something clicks. Great ideas start on Mac. Find out more on apple.com slash college."

"Getting to a great idea is hard in college. Nonsensical essays, cringe-inducing presentations, and seemingly unsolvable problem sets. But then the first thought becomes a final thesis. Jumbled slides transform into a polished keynote and that midterm assignment gets a lot less mid because the road to great ideas is littered with bad ones. You just have to keep going until something clicks. Great ideas start on Mac. Find out more on apple.com slash college. Oh, I've never heard that"

"And with that, here's Cameron. Well, thanks a lot. We have Cameron Boultez here with us. Cameron, we were diverging from the normal slapstick, silly humor that we have throughout the pod. All the time, hopefully people enjoy that. But we had a story, Cameron, you reached out to me, and I'll let you share more of the story, but that really touched me. I shared immediately with Zane, and Zane's first reaction was, let's get Cameron on the pod, because I mean, this is I think an incredible use of energy coming from a difficult situation. So Cameron, why don't I just give you the floor and kind of let me share a little bit about your son and what you guys are doing? Yeah, so thanks. I guess I would say first, before I get into my son, we had this tragic thing happen. And you kind of hit this panic wall of like, man, I don't know what to do. And he passed away. We have an incredible 16-year-old son who passed away a week ago. And everybody was like, well, what do you want to do in lieu of flowers? And what do you want to do? And our son loved pickleball so much. Yeah, I can't wait to tell you maybe more about why I love pickleball, but we just had the idea that it would be awesome to be able to do something besides flowers for him. And we live in a little town in eastern North Carolina, about 10,000 people. And we technically we have two pickleball courts in town, but there's no lights and they're in a neighborhood. And you know, you can't play after dark because it frustrates folks. And so Solomon and all of his buddies would go out at nighttime and they would drive to the only place with lights, which was tennis courts. And they'd use their headlights and the lights that were sort of there and play pickleball on tennis courts with lines, right? And like, I like to play pickleball too. And I kept being like, hey man, but on tennis nets, like, and they just don't care. You know, like they want to hang out. There's like 30 or 40 dudes that would roll in guys and girls that would like roll out there and play until midnight. Like his curfew was 12, you know? And we'd be like, come home and they would, it's hot here in buggy. And then he would be like dripping wet when he came home from playing for five hours. You know, he'd get off work. He was a lifeguard. And he and his best friends would all play pickleball literally every night of the summer. So late. So we had the idea of wanting to build a place that he and his friends could go, but also just anybody could go and play. Regardless of it was nighttime or daytime. And it actually maybe had real pickleball nets and courts and that kind of thing. So that's kind of what started this for sure. So yeah. Well, it's like, it's like a, like a field of dreams situation. Just makes you, you know, building it out. I'm just like imagining like the imagery of, you know, all of the car headlights just trying to shine some light on the court and just like, you know, you get to that point where I always say, I'm just kind of sad where it's like pickleball sometimes gets less fun the more you play it. It's because you start getting picky or particular. I'm like, I'll only play with a lifetime pickleball. Right, right. Same, same, same year. So the best for us where it's like, I'll play on the tennis court. I'll play in the dark. I'll play with like, you know, Colin Johns won't play in a professionally lighted indoor facility and your son is playing with headlights, you know, outside on the street. So like, I mean, that's like, I think that's what people, everybody fell in love with pickleball doing similar to the way your son did. So man, 100%. I think one of the things it was like, you know, so I want to be good at pickleball and not, but I like to play a lot. And, you know, I try and like have like tips for beating your friend, you know, like, hey, man, have you figured out like a third shot drop? Like, you know, like, this is going to help be. And he'd be like, I don't care about that, man. Like, you just, you just want to rip, man. Like, you just want to go out there to have fun and he plays with an old paddle. That was mine. And I was like, do you need a new over grip? And he would look at me like, I was speaking Greek. Like, what? No, like, he wants to go hang out with friends and play. And you know, maybe that's like, what's the coolest about pickleball is like, you can be that guy, you know, like, you can go out with a bunch of high school friends and just rip for five hours. And I'm, or you could grind away on this one specific shot. And then like, it just checks so many boxes for so many people, you know, like, and the community around it. Like, you guys are a perfect example. Like, I was kind of out of law. And I was like, man, I don't even know who to ask her. And you were literally the first person that I sent something to. And I, you know, my wife and I both love your podcasts. And we were just like, oh, maybe all those send the flyer. And like, 15 minutes later, you were like, can you be on the podcast? And I was like, if there isn't a better affirmation that like, this is the best group of people and the best sport of all time, like, that was it. Like, just the community around it, you guys know. I mean, you guys see it on all the levels, Zane from being like one of the very best in the world. And, you know, just to Solomon who just wants to go and play with friends at nighttime. And it just, there's a space for everybody in pickleball, which is so cool. And cool for us as parents of kids to have something like that for kids to go do is awesome. Yeah, it's, uh, the pickleball community is definitely tight knit and unmatched. That's for sure. And I think evidence by I took a look at the go fund me right after Nico sent it. And I think what yesterday, it was at like, yeah, $40,000 dollars already. I think with today, we're like over 55,000 in the matter of a few days. So it's just been unbelievable, man. And you know, we, not to owe to all the talking here, but like we went and that talked to Parkson Rack in town because I was worried like, hey, we're going to raise money and they were just awesome. They were like, man, we're going to give you a bunch of different possible places. And we want to do everything we can do to help make this come true. There was no red tape. There was no like this or that. It was like, yeah, we're going to make it happen. However, whatever it takes to make it happen. So that felt awesome. So cool. I didn't realize I didn't realize this happened just a week ago. So I mean, the fact that that we've already gotten so much traction so quickly is, I mean, it's incredible. And hopefully, we're not even close to the end of that. What would you say is the overall vision with everything you're able to turn? You know, like, I think I'd love, you know, I'd love to build enough courts that, and I don't know if that's six courts or what, but that people feel like they can actually go there and get on a court and play, you know, last night I went for a walk just different times the day are tough in different ways. And I walked by the courts that are kind of by our house. And this was just a testament to how great pickle ball is, but there's these two courts that I was telling you all about. And there was about 15 or 20 people out there. And one of the courts, our courts have like no rules, right? Like there's no rotate in nobody's figured out how to do like, and there were like two dudes and jeans and cowboy boots, ripping singles. And it was like, oh, okay, that's what's going on right now. But, you know, I'll place where there's enough courts where people can go and play. And like when my wife came down the other day, she was like, there's a hard morning. And then she just said, you know, I just was the first thing she talked about in the morning was getting these courts going and like having lights and maybe even having a cover on a quarter to so that if there was a kid like Solomon that was struggling and that there'd be a, you know, a place to go with friends kind of kind of rain or shine day or night, you know, that there's a place to show up and play and that people will be there and that will have, you know, that's free. And you can just roll in there and play. And it doesn't matter if you suck. And can't hardly play or if you're killing it, you know, and clearly to Solomon did that, or I would try and give him all these tips and it just, he didn't care. He just wanted to be with people and it was so fun on that that side of things. Yeah, can you tell us a little bit more about Solomon? Like, yeah, what was, what was this? I mean, what was your favorite pickleball memory with him? Yeah, yeah, sure. Let us know. Let us know Solomon a little bit. Yeah, so Solomon was actually, he was born in Kampala, Uganda. So he's been home with us since he was about 18 months old and he was a state like a multiple time state champion gymnast. So he loved gymnastics and he was incredible. And when he got to high school, it was so important to like be able to do high school team sports. You know, gymnastics is so singular in so many ways. And he was, he killed it like he just did all the sports like every season he, he did cross-country and he'd never swam before. And he was like, well, I want to be on the swim team because that's a winter sport that I could do with the team. And so he did that and then played tennis for the first time, Zever. And like totally figured it out and was, you know, he just loved being on a team with people. Like that was special to him. And when we had his service on Saturday, you know, like a consistent theme was, you know, people were like, well, he was always like wearing me out to go play pickleball, you know, like I get texts and his best friend, like they had made plans for on Monday to go play. And that was, you know, consistent. He loved doing that with people. And I think more than anything, he just loved being with people. And you know, it kind of feels perfect in all the right ways. You know, another, you know, just pickleball is one of those sports where you can be with people. You can talk trash with your friends. He can hang out. I think you all know better than anybody. Like you can be terrible and still go have a great time. It doesn't, this like barrier to entry is so low. As evidenced by like the dudes and jeans and cowboy boots play in the other night, like you can just come right as you are. And Solomon did, he did a great job of that. He just showed up as he was and played. Yeah. Well, it's incredible. And it loved, loved hearing about Solomon. And when I was reading us, like, you know, you reminded me a little bit about of me, but bad her. Like I was like, oh, like, I was like, we're in the cross country and swimming and pickleball and tennis. And it just sounds like, you know, loved everything, loved love spending time, loved love being active. And I think that I'm sure one thing that drew him to pickleball. And what I, what I love about kind of where you and your family are putting your energy is like, how much pickleball brings people together, you know, and like, yeah, there's a lot of adults or kids that that don't have a lot of friends, right? That don't like don't have a lot of connection. And because of pickleball, they have friends. Like, you know, like, they're an example. Like they retired. They worked their whole lives. And they were just like, it was like, they're a media family and work. Then they retired. And I was like, oh, no, what are they going to do? They found pickleball. And like last night, they were like at a concert that they'd never go to with friends, like having fun and pictures. It's all because of pickleball. And so like, I just feel like, you know, this, this project is so impactful. You know, it's, it's, you know, it's a, you know, great, you know, memorial or, you know, tribute to Solomon. And also how many people it's going to help. And like, yeah, as much as flab or fantastic, this pickleball might change other people's lives, I'm sure it's changed more people's lives than probably almost anything that has come, you know, invogue in the last, you know, 20 years. No doubt. Mine included, you know, like I, Meg's and I'm a wife and I will be close just like courts courts are about 40 minutes away from our house. And we'll go play over at this pickleball club. And like we've met all these people, like the guy I play with is a dude named Jeric who like I refer to as the walls of Jericho. And like he was at Solomon's service, you know, like, and I know from nothing but pickleball. And like we got a card and like hundreds of people from that pickleball club had like signed it. And you know, I don't know where else that happens. I don't think it does happen in other communities the same way. So and like you said, I think just having a spot for people to go when there's other kids in Solomon's place or just feels right, you know, and feels I don't know where else you could set up where kids are going to get show up or people are going to show up and make friends as easy as it does on the pickleball court. So we're excited about that for sure. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, just one more testament to that. I looked yesterday, like I said, and it was at 40,000 and just now already up 60,000 and 290 different donations. Unbelievable. Yeah. That's got to be. Oh, man, I got like cold chills right now. I, yeah, hearing you say that I haven't done a good job looking. And so man, just hearing you say that's like I was driving in my car this morning and had to go take care of something really sucky that I don't want to deal with. And I just got thinking that I was, you know, I'm like, I got to buy the new paddle. You know, like I had a coral and then I had to get a coral pro because better grit, right? And I suck. I'm not good. And I didn't matter. I could play with the frying pan and be the same. But I was like, man, and this sounds so dumb, but I was like 500 people, if I've heard people were like, instead of buying a new paddle, we would like kick in towards these courts, like we'd be done. And I wish I just wanted to. It seems so minor, right? And but it matters a lot. It's, yeah, it feels like the goal is like right there and totally doable. And no knock on the coral pro. It's great. But I could have held off, you know, had I known. But yeah. Yeah, six six zero sponsor of the pod. If you guys are listening, you know, okay. Yeah, man. Donation buttons right there. I love this. And you know, if anybody's listening, maybe the donation is your permission to get your next battle. So you hit the donation button and then you can feel good. Yeah, buy your next battle. It's a win-win. But I mean, I'm sure you guys will make your cool. I'm sure everybody listening is is inspired. I think so basically for those at home, you can we'll link the GoFundMe in the bio. We put it on Twitter. I'll try to make sure we get it on Instagram everywhere I can. We'll share the GoFundMe. We'll share the link to the park project as well so that you guys kind of see what's happening. And to your point, you know, I think you know, what I would say is like people listening either you can you can donate or you can share either one is just valuable. Big time. It's better and and and if you are if you guys know anybody, sell Kirk, C&D, Nets, whatever, you know, if you're a court surface person, if you can provide in kind donation to the park, everybody can do their part. I think these are, you know, I'm going to go on a limb and say, this is the most important pickleball court project that is currently happening in the country. So if you want to be a part of it, like we all we would all appreciate it. You know, it couldn't be a better feeling than than supporting this for sure. Yeah, thank you guys. So for reference to I just you can Google it. It's a building, Solomon, Boltes, Memorial Pickleball Courts. It's the GoFundMe. You can find more info there as well if you just want to do that. And I think my wife, I'm terrible at social media and everything and I think my wife, it hers is Meg SportsPix on Instagram. I think she's got Link. She's a pro sports photographer. So she's got a link in there somehow and all that. Yeah, this is actually prompted. This is you can edit this out. But you know, I listen to you all's podcasts all the time and I hear you guys talk about like the discord. And so like last night, I was like, I just got to figure out how what I don't even know what discord meant, you know, like I'm googling discord. Like what does that mean? And then I like, man, I got like I figured it out. It was so cool to go in there and read all that stuff. So yeah. Well, thank you guys so much. Y'all are like a testament to why this is the best community. I don't, you know, this would never happen in baseball or football or tennis or whatever. Everybody would be too cool. And you guys like are unbelievable, man. I'm super, super thankful for y'all big time. I can't, I can't, I don't got the right words other than to just say, how much this would have meant to Solomon and I'm oh, it means to my wife and I. So pulling hard. I was on bums. They that y'all didn't get through the MLP, man. I was fired up to get you guys out of that round and yeah. Yeah. Well, and hey, I'm a bucket hat guy, by the way, like to my wife's disappointment. Like I actually have like an off the textual picture, but I have a strong contender for bucket hat here. Little yeah, strong. So, and good stuff. Yeah, well, good. Good. Well, hey, I appreciate you. I mean, look, it's, I think if I was in your position, the last thing I would want to do is actually calm and have to speak on something like this, but it goes a long way, right? I think this is going to be great for continuing the goal that you have with these courts. So we're just as appreciative and honestly, pretty humbled to be able to have a positive impact with you and with the courts and like, and that we just talk smack and talk about pickleball. So if we can do something in that like helps in real life, that's pretty cool too. So thanks to everybody who listened to this segment and Cam. Thanks so much for coming on and oh man, thank you guys. You're the best. Appreciate it big time. Come on. Thanks. Take care."