Summer of Sports '16: Dude Perfect - Digital Darlings

A DCBLOG Sports Special

BY DC CUEVA                     

> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

It is summer time and for the second straight year, DCBLOG is presenting Summer of Sports, as we devote a season of posts looking at aspects of my longtime passion for sports. Last year during a summer which saw the U.S. Women's National Team, American Pharoah, the Warriors, Spieth and Serena dominate the headlines, we brought you articles looking at soccer's Premier League and UEFA Champions League, golf's major championships, Wimbledon, the UFC, the Tour de France, World Series of Poker, Aussie rules football, and NFL Films.

   This year, we'll have more of the same featured here, from these dedicated posts to mini-articles in the ExtraTime portion of our MTV Trifecta coverage, as you've seen in a few of them in our posts covering The Challenge Rivals III. And a good number of our sports posts this year will center around the year's biggest summer blockbuster: the Rio Olympic Games, and we'll have regular posts during the August fortnight. This is all part of a summer that's seen an improbable NBA title run and two major international soccer tournaments. But today, we begin with something fun and off-the-wall.

If you're someone who heads to the local pool parlor in town, or if you're in Britain who watches a lot of snooker on TV, then you know about a "trick shot." Its definition is, per Wikipedia, "a shot played on a billboards table, which seems unlikely or impossible or requires significant skill." There are numerous championships and events that showcase this organized cue sports discipline known as artistic pool, where trick shot artists demonstrate their wizardry on the felt baize table.

   The category that covers trick shot artists on Wiki does not cover sports outside of billiards, referring to other categories when warranted. But if there's one group who have made this art of trick shots mainstream, it's not one, but a group of five guys from outside this relatively genteel part of our sports world. And unlike those trick shot artists who hone their craft in the subdued environment of a room lit only by lamps above pool tables, these people practice their shots on camera and with great energy.

   It's true that YouTube has had a profound impact on the way all of us get to view our world as the screens we get to view our favorite shows and content has shrunk down from large HD sets to smartphones that allow us to watch video in the palm of our hands. There are numerous people who have become YouTube stars over the years as the reality TV way of making regular people like us famous in making internet videos in the comfort of their own home, and making a career out of it. And in this age, videos and stars can become viral sensations and capture the world's attention almost at the speed of light.

   But no single group of people have become as widely popular in this newfound world of internet stars as the five guys who call themselves Dude Perfect. With making the impossible look possible with their trick shots, their infectious energy and total views of their videos numbering in the 10 figures, this phenomenon has truly become the darlings of the digital age.

In 2009, a Texas-based group of five former high school football players - Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert and twins Coby & Cory Cotton, came together in the backyard of one of their houses for a simple contest. They betted with sandwiches, of all things, on who could make the most basketball trick shots, with each and every one of them captured on camera. That trick shot video eventually made it to YouTube, and the unbelievable shots they made caught the media's attention almost immediately, as well as over 100,000 views within a week of its release.

   That first video also brought about the origin of the group's name where Tyler remembers that when the camera's tally light went on just before pulling off one of the trick shots, the camera man uttered "dude, perfect" when he didn't have to move the camera much. And when time came to edit the video afterwards, Coby & Cory heard the words there and the name has stuck since. The plans for these buddies at Texas A&M were to pursue different careers, but what wasn't included was finding fame in making online videos that would ultimately capture the world's attention.

   When the guys attended College Station, this became more of their forte as the guys released more and more videos with trick shots being captured on camera, and eventually being posted on YouTube. They also introduced their own mascot, Panda, who first became famous for taunting the opposing team at A&M basketball games. Tyler remembers in an interview shortly after they first videos made worldwide news, "Once we came out with the first video we didn't expect anything to happen, and we didn't expect anything that has happened to the degree that it has."

   That was back in 2009, and that would turn out to be just the beginning. Some six years later, the Dude Perfect YouTube channel recently cracked the 10 million subscriber mark as the most-followed sports channel of the video mega-site, outstripping the total numbers of major sports leagues, big time athletes and the like. Their Facebook page has over 17 million followers; their Instagram account has 3 million, and their Twitter following is at over 370,000. And they're one of those handful who can lay claim to their own video game for mobile devices, as well as a book called Go Big.

   But the most important number they have is 1.5 billion views of their YouTube videos, with each of their videos cracking 8 figures. From impossible trick shots covering all sports to last man standing contests to Guinness world record attempts, it's when a video is released by them that becomes an event to their millions of fans. They've had a slew of guests joining them for their videos: from Chris Paul, Aaron Rodgers, Serena Williams and Luke Bryan, to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Russell Wilson and, yes, A&M alum Johnny Manziel. And they also got to mingle with the 2012 U.S. Olympic basketball team with Kobe, LeBron and KD, and most recently with both Manchester City and Arsenal F.C. When you have celebs and athletes like them appear in your videos, then you know you're in elite company.

   Corporate America has also partnered with the guys to combine their brand with the broad appeal of these guys. Walmart, Pringles, Nike, Marvel Comics and other Fortune 500 companies have all had their massage featured in their videos... So have major movies such as this summer's Independence Day revival too. As the company's brand ambassadors, NERF has been longtime partners of the guys in not only making many videos and commercials with them featuring their blasters and sports products, and is part of their most viewed video ever at over 50 million views.

   The coolest sponsor activation to date is when Bass Pro Shops gave the guys the keys to spend an overnight at their co-flagship location at the former Pyramid Arena in Memphis for a shopping spree, shooting at archery and shooting ranges, playing a laser arcade and go fishing in the complex's own lake inside the former home of the Memphis Grizzlies. And of course, they got to film a trick shot video both in and outside the building, including making a basketbal shot from the observation deck.

Of course, given this tremendous success some would question their authenticity and how they would make those shots in the first go when we see those videos being posted, and making these shots from such an impossible angle. But what folks don't see is all that blood, sweat and tears of trying to attempt those trick shots again & again so many times and not succeeding. It can take as many as 400 or so attempts (as in a remote control car trick shot video) and several days for them to get it all perfect, and of course all of that patience that eventually they will nail it. But when that shot is finally made, the unbridled joy the guys have is undeniable and makes all those attempts to get it all perfect seem worth all of that hard work.

   I first discovered Dude Perfect during NBC's pregame show of Super Bowl XLIX back in winter 2015, and there they got to do a football bit with Odell Beckham, Jr. And when I subscribed to their YT channel last year, I found out what everyone else was talking about. Tyler, Coby, Cory, Cody and Garrett have the knack for making the impossible become possible, and also making it look oh so easy, regardless of which angle they're focusing the ball on. In having watched these videos, I've become amazed by their great talents, the awesome trick shots they make in making shot after shot, and how they've defied the limits of what's possible and making it looking routine. They also have the kind of great camaraderie that only comes with being lifelong best friends, as well as a sense of humor.

   The guys' bios describe Tyler as the captain of the group in getting his guys all into game mode as someone who's hyper-competitive but also being that source of mischief too. Cody is the tall guy who stands 6'6" who's also the resident jokester of the troupe with a lovable personality. Garrett is described as the dad of the group in managing the finances, taking care of getting those toys for the man cave and doing the cleaning after. For Coby, he too also looks after the business side of this web empire and watches the group's feelings in making sure that everyone's best friends at all times. And twin Cory looks after production, wrote the Go Big book and pushes the guys to test their limits.
   Giving the immense success they had on YouTube, it was inevitable that they would bring their talents from the internet to television. CMT, the country music-oriented channel of Viacom and an MTV sister network, came to the guys with an idea to bring them and their ideas to more eyeballs, and have brought on the same man who has built his own MTV franchise that has seen him have a bromance with a big security guy, opened up a fantasy factory and a show that shows viral videos. Rob Dyrdek had the DP guys on both Fantasy Factory and on Ridiculousness, and was impressed so much by the guys that he was the natural choice for them to do their new TV show, which I have been enjoying around my Trifecta schedule.

   Premiering back in April, The Dude Perfect Show is a mix of live action and comedy that has seen the guys meet up with the likes of those famous people above and of making these videos with them, along with some of what happens behind the scenes in how the guys do their work at their DP Headquarters in Dallas. It also showcases the hilarious side of the guys when they're not making these videos, such as when they have to look for a pet to keep their intern company while they're away making a video, the difficulties of selling beef jerky, having to cure one of the guys' nausea, and finding how to separate the twins' personalities. That's also the hallmark of another series of videos called "Stereotypes," where they get to put on their comedic side and poke fun at stereotypes in and outside the sports world.

Dude Perfect is the latest digital sensation to make the transition into the TV world, and are on the verge of becoming the next big thing in the rapidly-changing world of sports media. Men in Blazers started as a simple soccer podcast under the Grantland umbrella and have seen Roger Bennett & Michael Davies bring their hilarious passion for English football to NBC's successful Premier League coverage. Katie Nolan was an internet favorite among sports fans before being hired by FOX Sports and is becoming a key figure for the fledging FS1 network - now with her own Emmy. And The Starters began as The Basketball Jones podcast and blog before J.E. Sheets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby and Leigh Ellis brought their talents to NBA TV.

   But amidst all this, the guys are as humble, wholesome and as down to earth as you can get for those who have become digital stars. When the guys' 2nd video - trick shots from a summer camp which has garnered 15 million views - was released, they partnered with Compassion International to sponsor a child for every 100,000 views to help send aid to poverty-affected children worldwide; and have also partnered with Make-A-Wish. That explains the group's roots of being faithful to their Christianity and, where possible, promote a family-friendly image where kids can enjoy their videos without parent supervision. That's why you don't see any alcohol or violent video games sponsor their videos because they feel that with their large following among 6-13 year olds, it's best to make these videos that the whole family can enjoy; hence, their show also airs on the Nick Kids channel too.

Coby, Cory, Tyler, Cody and Garrett began this journey eight years ago when it was just a simple hobby they got to do for fun in their backyard. They had absolutely no idea at the time when they were Aggies that this hobby would turn into a passion and a business they pursue everyday. They've turned a relatively niche segment of the sports world of trick shots and made it mainstream in a time where web videos have become a regular part of our media culture. They have youthful energy and hilarity, the camaraderie of being brothers and best friends, and yet stay being grounded in putting faith and family above fame, fun and all else - Cody just recently welcomed a new baby into his family last weekend. With a top YouTube channel, several world records, and a worldwide following of nearly 25 million fans & followers, Dude Perfect has proved that you can go big and make the impossible possible, and making it look oh so easy too.

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Be sure to bookmark DCBLOG for our Summer of Sports series all throughout this summer of 2016 as we go beyond the highlights, hype and headlines for our unique look at the sports world at large. Posts to come in the weeks leading up to Rio will include a look at the misery that Cleveland sports fans endured until Game 7 of this year's NBA Finals, and a primer to the sport of Canadian football as it begins play this weekend north of the border.

   We'll also have a look at how a few of those Cavaliers fans got to celebrate that long-awaited title, and that will be part of this week's posts covering the week on Rivals III and Are You The One?, for which our MTV Trifecta coverage continues here tomorrow. As always, you can tweet your thoughts on my posts to me on Twitter @DC408Dxtr, and of course for live tweets of all these events, follow my DCNOW live twitter hub at @DC408DxNow. Thank you for reading and see you then.

- I AM DC

Bibliography: CMT, Wikipedia, Twitter