Posted on 02/12/2026 7:25:46 AM PST by DFG
Police arrested a couple in Florida after a game of pickleball allegedly descended into a massive brawl involving more than 20 people.
Anthony Sapienza, 63, and his wife Julianne, 51, were detained following the fight at Spruce Creek, a country club not far from Daytona Beach.
As reported by People, the Sapienzas were taking on another couple on the morning of Super Bowl Sunday when tensions came to the boil.
Before long, both police officers and fire and rescue were called to the country club in response to 'a physical fight in progress on the pickleball court' involving 'over 20 individuals.'
According to the police affidavit, the teams hurled insults at each other, with Anthony Sapienza accused of yelling: 'Your wife is a c***!'
After he was confronted by the woman's husband, Sapienza 'then approached him and punched him on the left side of the face and struck him with a pickleball paddle, causing significant bleeding,' police allege.
The man was rushed to the hospital for treatment after allegedly suffering a laceration above his eye. Anthony Sapienza is also said to have 'forcefully' pushed the man’s wife to the ground as she tried to help her husband.
Another individual, aged 70, claimed to have tried to break up the brawl, only to be punched in the face by Anthony Sapienza. Their nose reportedly began 'to bleed profusely.'
Police were called but, according to the affidavit, Anthony and Julianne Sapienza fled the scene before being tracked down and arrested.
It's said the pickleball game first became 'heated' when Anthony Sapienza accused their opponents of going into the 'kitchen,' an area at the front of the court where players are banned from volleying the ball.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I noticed that ... Mr. Sapienza doesn't seem to be particularly sapient.
Sounds like the game turned sour.
Pickleball is serious business among the elderly in Florida?
No. Probably in the concrete business.
I guess Pickleball is a white persons game.
You know.... racist.
There was always a few thousand gallons of wine in various stages of production in the basement. Sausages and cheeses hung from the ceilings.
Blood thinners will make you bleed more.
Ha ha.
I remember my neighborhood in Massachusetts where I lived until I was ten. Lots of Italian families. They all had bocce courts in their yards. They’d leave the balls out on the court. We’d go over and play bocce in their yards. They got a big kick out of us kids.
This is way we don’t have nice things.
Floridapithecus
No boo boo. It’s not them again
I pretty much guarantee, those two have spent a lot more time in New York or New Jersey than they have in Florida ...
Just some friendly court banter they use to throw you off your game. 🥊
“The Sea was Angry that Day!”
George
Because “bocce players are never people of violence” said Santos Trafficante, once an elderly man of peace from Tampa Florida.
You had a kissing club?
“””Normally I’d say booze was involved but Florida senior citizens can get cranky.”””
They were probably hopped up on Geritol.
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