Backlash Erupts After Johns Brothers Quit MLP Over Lighting Concerns, Leaving Team in Ruins
The Johns brothers sparked major drama in Major League Pickleball by ditching their Carolina Hogs team mid-tournament, claiming the Pickle & Chill facility lighting was too dim. Their sudden exit left teammates scrambling, resulting in a brutal 0-6 defeat in Columbus and an 0-8 season record. Pro player Zane Navratil accused Ben Johns of “tanking,” while Commissioner Odhwani considers slapping them with a $96,000 fine. The controversy exposed deeper cracks in the league’s foundation.
While pickleball fans have grown accustomed to the Johns brothers dominating the sport, their sudden mid-tournament withdrawal from Major League Pickleball (MLP) has sparked a firestorm of controversy.
The brothers cited inadequate lighting at the Pickle & Chill facility as their reason for bailing, leaving their team, the Carolina Hogs, in shambles.
The aftermath wasn’t pretty. The Hogs went 0-6 in Columbus, their season record plummeting to a dismal 0-8.
Making matters worse, replacement players were forced to start games with a 0-1 deficit, thanks to new MLP substitution rules. Talk about adding insult to injury.
Starting with a one-point deficit, replacement players faced an uphill battle thanks to MLP’s harsh substitution penalties.
Pro player Zane Navratil didn’t hold back, accusing Ben Johns of “tanking” a mixed doubles match before withdrawing.
His X/Twitter thread called for the PPA to suspend Johns, igniting a heated debate about player responsibilities versus venue safety standards.
Ben Johns defended his position, pointing out that the facility’s lighting measured just one-third the brightness of professional tennis venues.
The new equipment timeout rules could have provided a solution for addressing visibility concerns without causing such disruption.
He referenced a childhood eye injury that makes indoor play particularly challenging.
But critics weren’t buying it, especially since no other teams had similar complaints.
The controversy deepened when Collin Johns also withdrew without explanation, despite his consistent use of eye protection.
Their exit left teammates hanging, with Martin Emmrich and Ross Whitaker stepping in with minimal preparation.
St. Louis Shock dominated the tournament while the drama unfolded.
The team’s performance in critical tiebreakers – predictably – tanked.
This isn’t the initial time the Johns brothers have made waves with withdrawals.
Commissioner Samin Odhwani is considering a fine of $96,000 for the brothers’ actions.
They previously exited a North Carolina event over court surface concerns. But this time feels different, with potentially serious implications for the sport’s future.
Questions about star player influence, contract obligations, and league policies are swirling.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Hogs’ playoff hopes are basically dead in the water.
The facility hasn’t addressed the lighting situation, and calls for cross-tournament suspensions are growing louder.
One thing’s for sure – this dramatic exit has left more than just the lights dimmed in Columbus.
