Be Like John Boyd

It was extraordinary. It was a little competitive. And it was headline worthy.

Three Capell siblings in the finals, two champions, a little friendly controversy, and an official proclamation declaring Be Like John Boyd WEEKEND!

Too much news for one post, so we made a newspaper. John would’ve loved this.

BREAKING: Be Like John Boyd now has a SILENT AUCTION, and it has officially begun.

For year 4, we decided pickleball wasn't competitive enough. So we're adding the first-ever Be Like John Boyd Silent Auction, where you can quietly outbid your friends and then act surprised when you win.

Why we're doing this: Over the past few years, you helped build a perpetual scholarship in John's name, and it has already made its first award. (Watch where it went: https://youtu.be/XeyItwTTkTQ)

The fund now stands at about $34,000. This year we're trying to get it to $50,000. The bigger the fund, the bigger the scholarship it pays out every year, forever. And if we get past $50K, we can start giving in John's name to a wider range of charitable organizations too.

We're $16K away. Sure, golf towels alone won't get us there, and yes, you can buy a golf ball marker cheaper somewhere else. But this isn't just any golf towel. This is a Be Like John Boyd golf towel. And that's not just any ball marker. It's a Be Like John Boyd ball marker. And good luck finding a friend with a 3D printer who will make you a Bills breakable table for your stuffies, dolls, and small babies.

On the auction block (the bid forms are in the photos below, so take a look):

Golf Package (two versions): a custom waffle golf towel + 3 ball markers. Finally, something on the golf course that looks good and is also a part of John and the memory of this upcoming weekend. Starting at $100

Carbon Fiber Paddle Package: a custom BLJB paddle, case, net phone holder and more. You'll still lose at the kitchen line, but you'll look incredible doing it. Starting at $200

Bills Mafia Package: a hype chain, 4 Bills shoe charms, and a desktop breakable table for your stuffies or babies. Crocs not included. Dignity also not included. Starting at $100

Beach Towels (green can or red bottle): for the beach, the pool, or lying face-down after a tough loss. Starting at $75

Playing Card Decks (green or red): for when it rains and you still need to beat someone at something. Starting at $25

Can't make it in person? Live across the country? Have "plans"?

You can still bid. Just DM Michael Z or Trien your maximum bid. We'll keep it totally private (we're not telling anyone, not even your spouse) and bid for you up to that amount. And if the bidding ends below your max, you only pay the final price. It's like having a secret agent at the auction table, except your agent is a psychologist in pickleball shorts.

Bidding closes Saturday, 10/3 at 8:30pm Eastern (7:30 Central, 6:30 Mountain, 5:30 Pacific). West Coast friends, that's before dinner, so set an alarm. Get your DMs in before then, because "I meant to" is not a bid.

Not into towels? Or Buy a shirt or you can donate directly at https://www.belikejohnboyd.com/ or to the fund directly at https://racfs.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=5356

Bid big, bid often, and be like John Boyd.

We could use your help. ❤️

We’re officially 7 days away from the main Be Like John Boyd event on October 3!

BLJB has become more than an event. It’s a reason for this community to keep coming together.

This year is a little smaller, which means the cost of putting everything together is higher per person. We want to keep BLJB going, keep it affordable, and continue this tradition for years to come.

So we’re reaching out to our extended BLJB family, including those who can’t make it this year but still want to show a little love from afar.

If you’d like to contribute, any amount helps and means a lot to us. As a thank you, we’ll send you a commemorative BLJB poker chip.

No pressure at all. Whether you contribute, attend, stop by, or just keep cheering us on, we appreciate you.

Help us keep Be Like John Boyd going. ❤️

Sign-up for events or sponsor a court: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2026-pickleball-classic

Make a tax-deductible donation here: 👉 https://racf.org/jboyd

🚨 FINAL CALL for Be Like John Boyd Pickleball + BBQ! 🚨

We’re finalizing numbers and ordering shirts, so if you’ve been thinking about coming — come!

You do not need to be great at pickleball. We’re not exactly pros ourselves — we just try to dress well enough to make it look like we know what we’re doing. 😂

And you don’t have to commit to the whole day. Maybe you have a bar mitzvah, wedding, or something else going on. We understand. Stop by when you can — we’d still really love to see you.

If you’re vegetarian or don’t eat meat, message us and we’ll make sure there’s something for you too.

🎤 We’re also looking for some musical or other fun talent for the BBQ. Not everyone has their own Netflix series — congrats, David Kwong 😂 — but we know you’ve got something. Message us if you want to perform or do something fun.

No judgment. No pressure. Just come be part of it.

John probably would’ve signed up late too. ❤️

The rare BLJB merch train keeps rolling…

And apparently I’m terrible at keeping surprises.

For those new here, BLJB = Be Like John Boyd — and this year’s event merch is getting a little ridiculous.

First up: this custom carbon-fiber Be Like John Boyd pickleball paddle and case, made specifically for the 2026 event.

I’ve seen it in person. It’s amazing. And it’s going to be one of the rarest prizes of the tournament.

We also have official BLJB playing cards 🃏 that we’ll actually use Friday night during the Euchre Tournament.

And yes, you may even have a chance to become the proud owner of a set. These are pretty special, and we’ll be putting some up as prizes and/or auction items, giving you another way to support the Be Like John Boyd Scholarship Fund while taking home some ridiculously rare BLJB memorabilia.

And just to be clear: you do NOT have to play Euchre to come Friday. Plenty of people will be there just hanging out. Euchre is simply something fun to do while we’re all together.

Never learned? I made an infographic. You’re welcome. 😂

Most importantly, please register now so we can get an accurate headcount and plan the weekend.

👉 Register: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2026-pickleball-classic

Rare merch. Great people. Great cause. Now we just need you there.

And stay tuned — we have plenty more fun surprises coming.

This isn’t just any golf towel.

This is an authentic Be Like John Boyd golf towel.

And that isn’t just any golf ball marker—it’s an official BLJB golf ball marker. ⛳️

With only one or two of each available, we’re talking about extremely rare, highly coveted, borderline priceless BLJB merch.

They’re not for sale.

Well…technically, almost anything is available for the right price. 😂 And every dollar would go directly to the Be Like John Boyd Scholarship Fund.

How can you get your hands on them? You may have to win one, claim it as a silent-auction item, or make the kind of donation that causes a double take. 👀

And this is only the beginning. More exclusive BLJB items are coming, so stay tuned.

Sign up Here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2026-pickleball-classic

Rare merch. Great cause. Questionable access. 💚

👉 www.belikejohnboyd.com
👉 Donate: racf.org/jboyd

🎉 4TH ANNUAL BE LIKE JOHN BOYD • SIGN-UPS ARE LIVE!

It is happening!

📅 October 2–4, 2026
📍 Rochester, NY

Pickleball, Dino BBQ, the Bills, euchre, great merch—and maybe even some live music from our talented friends.

Friends of John Boyd, registration for the fourth annual Be Like John Boyd weekend is officially OPEN!

Come for one event or join us for the entire weekend. All skill levels and all ages are welcome. Bring a pickleball partner or let us pair you up. Come to compete, come to cheer, or come to heckle from the sidelines.

No matter where you live, how you knew John, or whether this will be your first BLJB weekend—you belong here. Bring your kids, reconnect with old friends, make some new ones, and help us continue these connections with the next generation. We would love to see you!

👉 Register: www.belikejohnboyd.com

THE WEEKEND LINEUP

🃏 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

EUCHRE PRE-PARTY • 7:00 PM until bedtime

Cards, trash talk, and an early start to the weekend.

Never learned how to play? This is especially for those who want to belong, but no one ever took the time to teach them!

📍 We will provide details after registration.

🏆 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

PICKLEBALL INVITATIONAL • 12:30–4:00 PM

All skill levels are welcome. Play in the tournament or simply come hang out, cheer, and offer unsolicited coaching from the sidelines.

Bring a partner or let us pair you up.

📍 Dinkers, East Rochester

🍖 DINO BBQ FEAST • 6:00–9:30 PM

Post-tournament BBQ, drinks, great company, a breakdown of the day’s action, and the crowning of our MVP.

🎤 BLJB’S GOT TALENT

Some of our musician friends may be taking the stage—and we know this group has plenty of other hidden talents.

Can you sing? Play an instrument? Tell jokes? Juggle pickleballs? Perform a skill no one knew you had?

Contact us! We would love to showcase your talent…assuming you pass our extremely selective and completely made-up audition process. 😂

Kathy and Jessica—we already know you have talent. We’re looking at you. 👀

🍻 AFTER-PARTY AT STRANGEBIRD • 9:30 PM–close

Cash bar, great people, ridiculously good b**r, and nostalgic conversations that will run later than anyone planned.

🏈 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

BUFFALO BILLS VS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS • 1:00 PM kickoff

Bills Mafia, flying pigskins, breaking tables—GO BILLS!

📍 The new Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park

🍻 BILLS PRE-GAME TAILGATE

Join us before kickoff! The tailgate has its own separate option on the registration page.

Sign up for as much or as little as you want—one event, all three days, or just the BBQ.

🎓 THE OTHER REASON WE DO THIS

The Be Like John Boyd Scholarship Fund is permanently endowed, and this spring it presented its first award to Maria Shinina, who is headed to the University of Rochester.

That happened because of this community.

The fund currently stands at $33,897.24 toward our $50,000 goal. Reaching that goal means:

✓ A larger scholarship award every year—the more the fund holds, the more it can award, forever
✓ The opportunity to expand our giving to other organizations in John’s name

Registration and donations are separate: registration helps us organize the weekend, while every donation goes directly to the scholarship fund.

👉 Donate: racf.org/jboyd

A huge thank-you to our wonderful friends at Strangebird. Their generosity—and their ridiculously good b**r—has helped make this event so special over the years.

THE POWER OF CONNECTIONS

John taught English in the Far East and financed small businesses in developing countries. He led with indiscriminate love and support, and he made everyone around him feel like the most interesting person in the room.

So, be like John and connect.

Bring somebody with you. Forward this to anyone and everyone—wherever they live, however they are connected, or even if they are simply looking for a weekend filled with fun, friendship, and purpose.

Nobody has ever shown up to this thing and regretted it.

👉 Register for the weekend: www.belikejohnboyd.com
👉 Donate to the Scholarship Fund: racf.org/jboyd