Area Man Announces He's "Just Here To Have Fun," Immediately Begins Tracking Wins
Local 62-year-old Steve Marlow declared himself 'just here to have fun' at intermediate open play Tuesday, then spent the next two hours maintaining a color-coded handwritten record of his match results.
GREENWOOD — Local pickleball player Steve Marlow, 62, arrived at Tuesday intermediate open play stating that he was “just here to have fun” before spending the next two hours maintaining a handwritten record of his match results.
Witnesses confirmed Marlow made the declaration within approximately thirty seconds of entering the facility.
“I don’t really care about winning,” Marlow said while writing down the score of his second game. “At this stage, it’s just about getting some exercise and seeing friends.”
By 8:15 PM, Marlow had developed a color-coded notation system.
Players report the behavior has become increasingly common among recreational competitors attempting to maintain a public image of casual participation while privately operating as highly invested amateur athletes.
“It’s actually one of the more stable personality types in rec play,” said league observer Karen Walters. “The people who openly admit they’re competitive are usually fine. The dangerous ones are the people who say they’re not.”
According to several regulars, Marlow’s interest in tracking results intensified shortly after a former doubles partner advanced from the 3.5 division into 4.0 play last year.
Marlow disputes any connection.
“Good for him,” he said immediately before asking whether anyone knew the partner’s current DUPR.
Players later observed Marlow watching a nearby court while pretending not to.
Asked whether he considered himself competitive, Marlow paused.
“No,” he said. “I just think some outcomes are more correct than others.”
At press time, Marlow had posted in the community Facebook group asking whether anyone had accidentally taken home a small black notebook labeled “NOTES.”