The Millstone Times April 2020

KIDS Max's Minute Stay At Home Challenge By Max Druckman

In the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, sports fans worldwide find themselves missing their favor- ite pastime. Whether it be baseball, basketball, soccer or hockey, professional athletes are confined to their homes, unable to bring the joy of live sports to their legions of zealous supporters. However, using the power of social media, these athletes have created the viral “Stay at Home Challenge”. The challenge, in which participants juggle a roll of toilet paper as they would a soccer ball, raises awareness for the pandemic, allowing fans to see their favorite players “in action” and lifts spirits while leagues around the globe are temporarily cancelled. The kicking challenge was started by a Dutch soccer media company called N33. It quickly went viral on social media outlets during mid-March, as people worldwide were beginning to social distance while protecting themselves from the Coronavirus Pandemic. Toilet paper has been notoriously pur- chased in bulk amidst the crisis, and using it as a makeshift soccer ball seemed like the perfect way for athletes to keep fans engaged while encouraging them to stay home. The challenge picked up con-

testants on Twitter and Instagram, as athletes and fans alike showed off their skills and flare. It originally consisted of just European soccer players, such as Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid. Soon after, though, it garnered an international and inter-sport audience. Basketball players such as Hall of Famer Steve Nash and Boban Marjanovic of the Dallas Mavericks also joined the movement. Even hockey players such as Victor Arvidsson of the Nashville Predators and John Klingberg of the Dallas Stars showed off the juggling prowess. Some athletes even began adding tricks to their challenge. For example, Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid scored a goal with his roll at the end of the keepy-ups and retired star Michael Owen used his juggling to show off his incredible trophy collection. More importantly, the challenge also provided fans with much needed diversion and laughs. Paul Pogba of English club Manchester United accidentally hit his young child with the toilet paper during a juggling error, causing him and viewers to laugh out loud! The challenge has sparked an abundance of athlete/social media trends. From push-ups to dance moves, athletes have continued to interact with and enter- tain their supporters. This sparks joy to fans in these times of isolation and uncertainty and people around the world remain connected through the power of social media. Similar to past trends like the Ice Bucket Challenge to support ALS, social media has been a motor to keep people aware of Coronavirus. So, how many juggles will you do during your toilet paper challenge?

50 The Millstone Times

April 2020