WATCH: Pickleball match ends with guy getting kicked in the face

Pickleball, a “backyard” game that took retirement communities by storm has somehow found its way into the mainstream sports world. Not because of the game itself, obviously.

Outside of golf, when you’re 50+ years old and playing any “sport” there’s really not much to talk about. However, when you’re watching viral videos and a recent pickleball match pops up with a guy getting kicked in the face after celebrating like a total asshole, then it’s blog-worthy, right?

Pickleball match ends with guy getting kicked in the face:

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. But maybe we should shrink the game a little if we have people kicking each other in the goddamn face over a loss. @stoolpickleball pic.twitter.com/xAuJSsrrTe

— Jordie (@jordiebarstool) November 17, 2024

Let’s pause for a second here and address the bigger question: why are young, able-bodied dudes even playing pickleball in the first place?

This game was invented for people who can’t keep up with tennis anymore.

It’s designed for shuffleboard enthusiasts looking to feel a little spry. That’s clear as day given the fact that there’s an old lady inches off the court in the white visor that could barely even react to what just happened in front of her.

Then we have the actual match where the one team won on what was considered a “foot fault”—basically the most anticlimactic way to end a game—and celebrating like he’s a certified world champion?

Look, I’ll never condone violence but if you’re celebrating like that and then knock the paddle out of the opposing team’s hands, whether he meant to or not, I can understand how you would end up slumped over the net completely unconscious.

At the same time, that other dude should have walked away instead of channeling his inner MMA fighter and kicking the dude in the face. All of this seems completely unnecessary, even more so when you’re playing a game with plastic balls and paddles the size of cutting boards on courts that you could literally walk across in a matter of seconds.

Side Note: Why didn’t the dude pick up his paddle? That’s literally why he kicked the other guy right? Now he knocks the dude out with his foot and keeps walking off the court? As for the teammate of the guy who just knocked his boy out, bad reaction by you as well. At that point, you have to fight back. There’s no way you can give that dude a “stern talking to” with your buddy sleeping on what was now a completely wrecked pickleball court.

All of that is pretty pointless when you look at the bigger picture. If you’re playing Pickleball in your 20s or 30s and treating it like it’s the most competitive game in the world, it’s probably better if you take some time and reevaluate life.

There are so many sports out there designed for actual athletes. Why not hit the gym and pick up basketball? Or join a tennis league if you want to scratch that racquet-sport itch? Hell, even ultimate frisbee sounds more respectable than trying to dominate a sport that was literally made for retirees.

While there’s no defending that level of aggression, you almost have to laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing. A grown man resorting to physical violence because someone celebrated too hard at what’s basically the sport equivalent of shuffleboard-on-steroids?

It’s peak chaos but for whatever reason, I can’t stop watching the video.

Obviously, pickleball isn’t the problem here—it’s the people trying to turn it into something it’s not. If you’re young, athletic, and looking for competition, maybe go play an actual sport.

Leave pickleball to the folks it was made for. And for the love of all things holy, keep your kicks and over-the-top celebrations off the court.

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