Long, McGuffin Team up for Title
Brendon Long was all smiles. Standing next to Tyson McGuffin, Long had just wrapped up his first PPA Tour victory, a thrilling five-game rollercoaster of a match against Dekel Bar and Collin Johns.
Three of the biggest names in the game sharing the court and then there was Long, minutes from lifting the Red Rock Open trophy.
“As you’ll notice, I don’t have a sponsor,” Long said to the crowd in St. George, Utah., and anyone who might have been tuned in to watch on the PPA’s stream of the event, in what has to be considered the first sales pitch ever made on tour.
“Just being good at pickleball doesn’t get you sponsored. It’s about your brand and your Instagram and I just kind of want to ask the people here and the ones watching to go follow me, so I can get a sponsor.”
Listen, Brendon. You keep winning, they’ll come find you. Playing his best pickleball of the year, Long is getting ready to get really popular on tour after he and McGuffin finished out a 11-1, 3-11, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11 comeback against Johns and Bar.
“Tyson called me and asked if I wanted to be partners,” Long said. “I didn’t have anything else to do.”
Well, with a robust PPA Tour schedule available the rest of the spring and summer, it might not just be the sponsors calling Long. Chances are he’s going to be a sought-after partner.
“It was great every step of the way,” Long said of his partnership with McGuffin, who was on the tour podium as a men’s doubles winner for the first time this season, as well. “He was supportive and energetic, which is something I need. Whether I hit a bad ball or a good shot, Tyson was there to pump me up.”
There’s no doubt McGuffin brings the energy, carrying it over into the post-match interview, shouting at anyone who would listen, “Are you not entertained? We came to take what was ours.”
McGuffin was there after the match with the microphone in his face, soldiering on in a war no one was fighting, and by his side was Long, just asking for a bit of attention in the most-sheepish, innocent sort of way.
“I feel like I’m close to playing the best I’ve played,” Long said. “I’m at that level again. I’m going to go home and rest and play some video games.”
McGuffin Doubles Down
McGuffin was certainly fired up after his doubles win, but his energy during and after his singles match was impressive – even for McGuffin’s standards.
He rallied from down 8-1 in the first game against Pablo Tellez, won 11-9, took the second game 11-7 and walked off the court holding up the peace sign – you know, two fingers up.
“Very special,” McGuffin said. “I had a conversation with my wife and had been a little down and dark lately and said maybe i’m not cut out for singles. But once I got healthy, here I am. Surprise, surprise. Daddy’s home. Two at once today.”
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