Ben and Collin Johns Drop Out of MLP Columbus Over Lighting
The Johns brothers don’t usually leave tournaments early. They’re the faces of pro pickleball. They play deep. They win a lot. So when Ben and Collin pulled out of the MLP Columbus event mid-weekend, it turned heads fast.
They had already played and lost matches on Thursday and Friday. But come Saturday, they were out. The reason? According to Ben, the indoor lighting at Pickle & Chill in Columbus, Ohio was dangerously bad. He cited safety concerns, especially given his long-standing eye sensitivity from a childhood injury and the fact that he doesn’t wear protective eyewear. He later posted that lighting readings on the court were roughly a third of what professional tennis courts use, which he said created real risk of injury, especially when combined with hot paddles and intense gameplay.
Collin, who does wear protective eyewear, backed the decision and withdrew with him. Their team, the Carolina Hogs, scrambled to bring in alternates. But the damage was done. Under MLP rules, using subs meant starting every match with a 0–1 deficit. The Hogs lost every match that weekend and ended the event 0–6.
The Tweet Heard Around Pickleball
And here’s where things took a sharp turn.
A good chunk of the pickleball community didn’t buy the lighting excuse. Or at least, not fully. Some believed it was a convenient out after a rough couple of days on court. The most vocal critic? Zane Navratil.
Zane didn’t hold back. He accused Ben of tanking his final match and said he should be suspended—not just from MLP, but from the PPA Tour. Ben responded that he would’ve happily continued if lighting conditions were improved or if the event had been moved outdoors. Zane acknowledged that safety could be a concern but said the bigger issue was effort. He brought up a previous tournament where he supported Ben pulling out over poor court conditions, but drew the line at what he saw in Columbus.
That exchange lit up social media and sparked a bigger conversation: what should pro pickleball players be held to? What do they owe their teammates, fans, and the league?
Sour Taste, Meet Lemon Pickles
This is where the lemon pickles moment hit.
For fans of the Hogs, and really anyone who was excited to see the Johns brothers compete that weekend, the withdrawal left a sour taste. The team’s season momentum took a hit, and the subs, while valiant, had no real shot at turning the tide. Even some neutral fans felt like they got short-changed.
But on the flip side, if what Ben said about the lighting is true, and some players seemed to agree, should he have risked an injury just to keep up appearances?
This wasn’t just about light levels. It was about professionalism, trust, and what it means to be the face of a sport that’s trying to scale into primetime.
What's Next for the League?
The United Pickleball Association and MLP said they’re reviewing the incident with the Carolina Hogs. There’s been no official word on penalties or discipline, but the fallout is already being felt across the sport.
One clear takeaway at 11 PICKLES? MLP has to take venue standards seriously if it wants to keep growing. These aren’t backyard rec centers anymore. If you’re charging real money, signing sponsors, and building broadcast deals, the courts have to meet pro expectations.
Safety First? Or Competitive Cop-Out?
The truth probably lives somewhere in the middle.
Ben and Collin made a choice they thought was right. Some people believe them. Others think they bailed when things didn’t go their way. Either way, it raised the bar on what players and fans expect from these events—and it might force the league to raise its bar too.
The Johns brothers will be back. Whether it’s under brighter lights or a brighter spotlight is still TBD.
Want to Protect Your Own Vision?
If you're playing indoors, don’t mess around. Here’s what we recommend:
Buy the CRBN pickleball eyewear, worn by pros.
Here at 11 PICKLES, we’re not in the business of picking sides. We’re here to report the real, give it some flavor, and let you decide what to do with it. Whether you saw Ben and Collin’s withdrawal as a safety stand or a tough call gone sideways, one thing’s clear — the game is growing, the stakes are higher, and the conversations are only getting spicier.
So yeah, the lighting in Columbus might’ve been off, but the drama? Crystal clear.
And because we love a good lemon pickle moment, we turned it into a drop.
Our “11-0 or Nothing” hoodie is a tribute to chaos, controversy, and keeping your cool under weird fluorescents. It’s comfy, cheeky, and lets you rep one of the most talked-about DNF moments of the season, without picking a side.
Grab the sweatshirt here before it disappears like the Johns brothers on a Saturday morning.
And while you're at it, stick around. We’ve got more coverage, gear, behind-the-scenes drama, and player breakdowns dropping weekly , all powered by 11 PICKLES, the internet’s favorite pickleball pit stop.
