Dave breaks down his origin story in detail: growing up in a sports-obsessed family, his early TV career, and the chance golf cart conversation with Hank Haney that connected Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe — a meeting that helped shape the modern PPA. He also shares how he almost missed his own start in broadcasting after years working outside sports media entirely.
Dave also opens up about the craft behind the mic: where catchphrases like "snowman," "crooked number," and "floor is lava" actually came from, how he handles online criticism by blocking and moving on, and his predictions for which discipline — mixed doubles or singles — will be the one to break pickleball into the mainstream.
Pickleballers Hat: 🧢
https://shop.thekitchenpickle.com/products/pickleballer-snapback?variant=58191198781521
Add us on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/pickleballers
https://instagram.com/thekitchenpickleball
https://instagram.com/roscoebellamy
https://instagram.com/jpaulthechef
Timestamps:
1:02 — Meet Dave Fleming, The Most Listened-To Man in Pickleball
1:57 — Getting Recognized at Tournaments (And at a Concert)
3:10 — The Chris Collinsworth Comparison
4:18 — His Parents Met at a Copier in Pittsburgh
5:35 — The High School TV Station That Started It All
6:42 — Ball Boying Jimmy Connors, Then Interviewing Him Minutes Later
8:15 — Why Pro Tennis Wasn't in the Cards
9:21 — Choosing Marketing Over Sports Broadcasting in College
10:14 — Writing Periodontal Brochures for Delta Dental
11:01 — Blocking Out Steelers Scores on Championship Sunday
14:26 — Discovering Pickleball at 49 Through a Tennis Friend
16:34 — Meeting Adam Stone and Winning Their First Tournament
18:51 — The Email From Steve Dawson That Changed Everything
21:03 — The Golf Cart Ride That Connected Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe
22:57 — Building the PPA From a Backyard Pickleball Court
26:28 — Introducing Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe
29:15 — Finding His Voice as the Voice of Pickleball
31:02 — The Broadcasters Who Shaped His Style
33:20 — How Dave Handles the Haters
35:11 — Navigating Negativity in The Community
43:03 — The Loudest Roar He's Ever Heard on the Mic
44:47 — The Match That Gave Him Chills: Kalamotos vs. Waters/Bright
48:36 — What's Needed to Break Pickleball Into the Mainstream
51:21 — Is There a "Dinking Problem" in Pickleball?
53:25 — Mixed Doubles vs. Singles: Which One Breaks Through?
55:14 — What He Wants His Broadcasting Legacy to Be
56:29 — Breaking Down His Catchphrases: Snowman, Crooked Number, and More
59:07 — The Story Behind "Scratch My Back With a Hacksaw"
1:01:26 — What Dave Wants His Legacy to Be