Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayTwitter LogoFeatured Columnist IVOctober 24, 2023
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Lil Wayne’s ever-growing sports fandom has added a new team.
The Grammy-winning rapper was announced as the latest owner of the Texas Ranchers of Major League Pickeleball, joining a group that also includes Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and golfer Scottie Scheffler.
“Pickleball is the moment and I’m excited to be part of the Texas Ranchers ownership group,” Lil Wayne said in a statement. “I’ve enjoyed watching and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join this team of owners.”
Pickleball is one of the United States’ fastest-growing sports, and Major League Pickleball is rapidly expanding as interest grows. The league expanded to 24 teams for the 2023 season and has high-profile investors in the sports world, highlighted by LeBron James, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Lil Wayne is the most prominent rapper to join in the pickleball craze, but it should not come as a surprise. The 41-year-old has been a fixture in the sports world for more than two decades, making appearances at events and littering his rhymes with references to top athletes.
With his long-awaited Tha Carter VI album seemingly on the way, it would not be a surprise to see the Ranchers receive a shout-out when Wayne finally drops his latest LP.