Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight

The Champions Table

News EN ↓ 7 episodes

Welcome to The Champions Table — the unofficial insider podcast of the MLP Champions Series, the world's premier 50+ professional pickleball league. We're Shay Coker, Senior Pro and OKC Punishers player, and Jeff McKnight, Owner, GM, and player for the Columbus Hotshots. We're not the official voice of the league. We're better. We're on the courts, at the events, and at the table with the players, owners, and personalities that make this sport extraordinary. The MLP Champions Series attracts the best 50+ pickleball players in the world — elite competitors who bring a lifetime of athleticism, g...

Author

Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight

Episodes

Lee Whitwell on Joining the Phoenix Firebirds & the MLP Champions Series 08.07.2026 28:53

The conversation with Lee Whitwell covers rising competition in senior pro pickleball, the format and experience of MLP vs. APP events, transitioning to MLP Champions Series, Lee's background and multilingual abilities, building a fan base for Major League Pickleball, growing pains and rule changes in MLP, Phoenix Firebirds and team strategy, expectations for the Phoenix Firebirds, the relevance o...

Episode #6: Daniel Gold & The Las Vegas Headliners 07.07.2026 41:36

The conversation covers Daniel Gold's transition from playing tennis at Wimbledon to becoming the GM of the Las Vegas headliners in the Major League Pickleball Champions Series. It also delves into the process of building an expansion team, player selection, and team dynamics. The conversation covers the team selection process, mental adjustment in the league, preseason power rankings, analysis of...

Episode #5: Tommy Ho Returns to the MLP! 25.06.2026 36:35

The conversation with Tommy Ho covered his remarkable athletic journey from tennis to pickleball, including his early tennis career, training under Rick Macci, memorable matches, transition to pickleball, return to the Major League Pickleball (MLP), playing for the hometown team, pressure and mental toughness, team dynamics, rankings, and regulatory changes. The discussion provided insights into T...

Episode #4: Inside the New Jersey Fives with GM Ryan Harwood 19.06.2026 52:37

Episode #4: Inside the New Jersey Fives with GM Ryan Harwood Join us on The Champions Table as we sit down with Ryan Harwood, co-owner and General Manager of the Major League Pickleball (MLP) franchise, the New Jersey Fives. We dive deep into what it takes to build a professional sports team, the high-stakes world of MLP drafts, and how to manage superstar talent like Anna Leigh Waters. In this ep...

From Underdogs to Contenders: How Columbus and Detroit Aim for the Top 14.06.2026 32:01

Jeff and Shay discuss the #15 and #14 teams in the Major League Pickleball Champions Series pre-season power rankings. Special guest Toki Yamasato adds some Latin flavor to the podcast as she talks about her dangerous Detroit Disruptors team.

Interview with MLP Palm Beach Royals co-owner Zach Hunter 28.05.2026 1:02:22

The conversation covers a range of topics related to professional pickleball, including player feedback, team rankings, ball selection, and the acquisition of pickleball teams. It also delves into the introduction of Zach Hunter and his involvement in Major League Pickleball, as well as the acquisition of the Boca Surge and the NPL alliance. The discussion provides insights into the dynamics of pr...

Preview of 2026 MLP Champions Season 28.05.2026 47:52

The conversation covers the rebranding of the league to Major League Pickleball Champion Series, the introduction of new and returning players, and the impact of player transfers on the league dynamics. It also discusses the league expansion, season start, and the merger of teams within the league. The conversation covers the significant player movements and team lineup changes in the Major League...