It’s only been about 5 days since the Olympics kicked off in Rio, but we’ve already seen a ton of exciting things go down. And Although some sports have finished, many fans are getting their second-wind for the next round of events to start: most notably, track and field and badminton.
Badminton, in particular, is one of those sports that you’d be hard-pressed to not find at least a LITTLE fascinating…mostly because you’re mesmerized by how fast the birdie can go when Olympians — as opposed to your kids — are smacking the bejeezus out of it. I also assumed that it isn’t really a sport that inspires strong emotions, either.
I was wrong.
Mary Carillo, American sportscaster and former professional tennis player, has some of the strongest feels about the sport that I have ever witnessed in my life. But they’re not out of some weird tennis-badminton rivalry. No no. Her pure, unadulterated hatred is a feeling shared by ALL parents who decide to buy their kids badminton sets for the summer time, thinking, “What’s the worst that could happen?” A lot, it turns out.
A few months ago, a recording of one of Mary’s broadcasts from the 2004 Olympic games in Greece resurfaced, in which she went on a very calm, yet persistent rant about how badminton is every parent’s worst nightmare. And it’s absolutely the funniest thing I’ve seen all week. I know it’s 4 minutes, but IT’S. ABSOLUTELY. WORTH. IT.
To recap the video, Mary Carillo hates badminton. Why? Because badminton ruins shrubbery, breaks your car windshield, turns your house into a day care…but at least your garage is cleaned out?
