​VIP ticket holders had a chance to dink with the professionals during a Coachella Valley Scorpions exhibition at The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino in Rancho Mirage, California, on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Andy Abeyta of The Desert Sun captured the evening, which kicked off with a meet-and-dink session, followed by three lively professional exhibition matches and even a celebrity showdown. Many of my students were in attendance, and the turnout was superb.
Here are some reflections from participants:
Bonnie noted that the drill stations offered great variety, smooth flow, and coaches who were friendly and helpful.
Laura was impressed by the giveaways, adding that she left with T-shirts, towels, nutritional supplements, and a signed poster.
Amy praised the high-energy contests at the stations, and Lynn and Molly appreciated the fabulous coaching tips and the well-organized event, thanks to Agua Caliente staff.
Scorpions player John Riedy signed autographs for fans during the exhibition.
Elaine, Kim, and Deb commented on the great music and intimate venue, joking that they wished they had attended the dink and meet portion.
Tim O’Brien from NBC Palm Springs hosted the event and brought a high level of energy that helped energize the crowd.
One of the evening’s highlights was a celebrity match that featured Palm Springs police chief Andy Mills, Sumo Dogs owner Jeff Lunak, and Hall of Fame NFL star Terrell Owens, who transitioned to pickleball with impressive hustle. Owens can be seen sprinting to chase down a shot as he plays in the exhibition.
Among the standout performances, Scorpions player Marcin Rozpedski stole the show with his humor, spectacular shots, and boundless energy. I even collected an autograph from him on a giveaway poster.
Conversations with the team ownership provided further insight into future plans. Don Zuker, Rob Zwimmer, and Kim Jagd shared ambitious visions for expanding the Scorpions. This year’s roster expanded beyond the previous 14 players in the 50-and-over category to include a 40-plus and a 60-plus division, bringing the total to 22 players.
The partnership network includes Agua Caliente Casinos, Ace Hardware, Sumo Dogs, Eisenhower Healthcare, Joola, Rod Davis, and The Pickler, among others. A major objective moving forward is establishing a large indoor pickleball facility to host home matches. Currently, all Scorpions games are played away, and a dedicated indoor venue would greatly benefit the community by providing a cool space to play during the hot summer months and potentially improve local SEO.