Pickleball Saved His Life
January 16, 2024
Todd Boynton says his second wife and pickleball saved his life.
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Pickleball has changed millions of lives. Todd Boynton says the sport, and a woman, saved his life.
Boynton speaks bluntly about his demons. The 56-year-old resident of Greenfield, MA, says his troubles began after his 16-year marriage ended in 2010. “The pain of divorce, not seeing my kids all the time, and physical injuries coupled with the mental ones turned me into a raging alcoholic. A gallon of Tito’s a day was not unheard of.”
Boynton is beat-up physically from years of being a hockey goalie. He was a very good goalie in high school in Northampton, MA, and played the sport for 35 years. He’s had numerous back surgeries and other procedures. His weight worsened his pain. At five feet, 11 inches tall, he ballooned to 350 pounds after the divorce. “My knees are shot, everything hurts all the time,” he told me. He also credits medical marijuana for his turnaround. “I absolutely love the medical THC. Another thing that saved my life,” he says.
A mutual friend introduced him to Stacie, a second grade teacher Todd calls “A church girl” and says, “She was sent to me by an act of God. I’d be dead today without her.
“We married in 2013, and that should be the ‘happily ever after’ end of the story,” he says. “It’s not. The drinking got worse. [I also did] pills and pot. The only thing I’ve never done is stick a needle in my arm. If I knew how I would have.”
Todd entered detox two days after Christmas in 2019. “I got out of a seven-day stint in rehab early on good behavior,” Todd says. “Haven’t had a drop of vodka in over five years. I still struggle with the beer and wine.” He knows that’s not smart and is working on it.
Todd discovered pickleball in 2021. “First time I touched the paddle I was hooked. Everything I missed from hockey was here [in pickleball]. The catlike reflexes were still there. The locker room camaraderie was everywhere. Why couldn’t I have found this when I was 12?”, he says about pickleball.
His weight has dropped from 350 pounds to 278 through healthier eating, no vodka, and playing pickleball four or five days a week for up to three hours. He says his DUPR is 3.4, but in the scheme of things for him, that’s pretty trivial.
Todd has the nickname “Happy.” He says it was bestowed on him sarcastically years ago. “I was miserable all the time because of my [first] marriage and subsequent divorce.” Now he embraces the name and calls himself “Happy Pickleball” on social media.
Todd has two daughters from his first marriage. One is a television news producer, the other a teacher’s aid who wants to be a teacher. He says both are terrific young women who are doing well. He owns a roofing and siding business and his weight loss has helped there. “At 350 pounds it’s hard to climb around somebody’s roof,” he says.
Todd loves pickleball so much he recently started an intro to pickleball class. “The facility wanted to cap attendance at 10. I said, ‘No cap.’ Had 17 [players] last Wednesday. They all want to sign up again this week and bring friends. The more the merrier,” he says. He’s excited about what the future of the sport holds especially in his area, because, like everywhere else, pickleball is booming in Western Massachusetts.
Todd wants to lose another 66 pounds and get down to 212.
Boynton was nicknamed, “Happy” ironically, because he was always cranky. Now he says he really is happy, especially when playing pickleball.
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Now, his nickname, “Happy,” isn’t an ironic one. He says he really is happy, thanks to his wife and pickleball. And some medical marijuana. He knows more self-improvement is needed. “My goal is to be alcohol free,” he says.
Based on what Todd Boynton has accomplished, you have to root for him. You have to be happy for “Happy.”
Overheard at the courts
A female 3.75 player: “I don’t mind playing with a beginner for a game or two, but she’s never taken a lesson or practiced. I know she’s here for fun and exercise. It would be okay if she played only with other newbies. But I think it’s frustrating for her and every good player she partners with, losing every game 11 to 3.”
I agree 100 percent.
Thoughts of the week, not all pickleball
· Parts of Southern California look like war zones and the worst among us are looting homes. The next worse are the landlords taking advantage of those whose homes burned down by jacking up rents. Despicable.
· I saw this on Facebook and like it enough to share with you. I’d credit the writer but couldn’t find his or her name.
“Pickleball Trends We Need to Retire in 2025”
Pickleball is all about fun, fitness, and friendly competition—but let’s face it, some trends drive players absolutely bonkers. Here are the most complained-about habits we seriously need to ditch:
Score Whisperers – Call the score like you mean it, not like you’re telling secrets.
Ball Snobs – Demanding a specific ball brand like it’s fine wine. Chill— it’s just plastic.
Lob Whiners – Complaining about lobs? It’s a strategy, not a crime.
Line-Call Debaters – Arguing calls without even seeing the ball land. Trust or bust!
Sandbaggers – Playing down just to crush newbies. We see you, and we’re judging.
Quick Servers – Serving before anyone’s ready like it’s a race. Slow down, Speedy.
Kitchen-Campers – Hugging the kitchen line and acting shocked when they get body-bagged. Step back or brace yourself!
Attitude All-Stars – Acting like rec play is the Olympics. Relax—no gold medals here.
Apology Machines – Saying “sorry” after every missed shot. Save it for when you hit someone in the face.
Cliquey Crews – Turning courts into high school cafeterias. Let’s play, not exclude!
Let’s keep it fun—ditch the drama and enjoy the game!”
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