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SCMP Reporter

It’s the new fad sweeping the online world and it was only a matter of time before sports men and women would take up the “Bird Box Challenge”.
Based on Netflix’s hit horror film Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes and John Malkovich, athletes – especially those who like to kick balls – have taken to social media to show how they have fared in pitting their wits against an unseen enemy.
The movie is about a menacing, invisible entity that makes people hallucinate if they are exposed to it, forcing the main characters to don blindfolds as they battle their way through the story.

Proving that grown-ups are very much influenced by popular culture, we gathered the best examples of sports people trying to conquer the invisible demons of failure as they wear blindfolds, put their trust in the force and say to themselves “I can do this with my eyes closed”.
The first is one of the best.
A user with the handle Alan Anaya ‘21 has his blindfolded friend tee up a gridiron ball with his nose, and the “best kicker in Mexico” – as he claims on his Twitter profile – also blindfolded, runs up and attempts to kick it between the posts. This was impressive.

Bird Box challenge completed #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/MlZzGKxrSv
— Alan Anaya ‘21 (@alan_anaya15) January 7, 2019

Also attempting a conversion for the extra point is Michael Hayes, who proves himself to be one heck of a kicker. The “SC Specialist of the Year” uses a tee to set up the ball and performs what is clearly a well-rehearsed run-up to send the ball sailing between the sticks.

#BirdBox Challenge pic.twitter.com/OnbXO8rMjU
— Michael Hayes (@wmhayes4_) January 9, 2019

Unfortunately, the Barbarians rugby team are not as efficient in blindfolded kicking as their American football counterparts. It was all they could do to actually touch the ball let alone kick it between the posts.

Rugby's version of the #BirdBox Challenge@Barbarian_FC pic.twitter.com/7hY4AlPqhk
— USA Sevens Rugby (@USASevensRugby) January 8, 2019

Here, Caitlin Hall shows that you don’t need to wear a blindfold to pass to someone you don’t see.

Nobody will beat @caitlinhall12’s bird box challenge #nolook pic.twitter.com/4zbwUIDMqB
— Stew (@MaddieStewart7) January 11, 2019

They even had mascots doing the Bird Box Challenge. Here, the unusual mascot of NHL team the Philadelphia Flyers, known as Gritty, is compelled to do the Bird Box Challenge by fans. And he passed with “Flying” colours.

WARNING: Do not attempt the Parkey challenge in Chicago!
Go Birds(Box)! pic.twitter.com/fS3slayUyJ
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) January 8, 2019

What is it with basketball players? Sam Kramer knows exactly where the basket is as she makes this Bird Box Challenge from the halfway line.

BIRD BOX B-BALL CHALLENGE @StagsWBball @samlewiss_ pic.twitter.com/6VH2nuN2JF
— Sam Kramer (@sam2kramer) January 9, 2019

The Los Angeles Chargers were mocked for conceding a ton of points in their 41-29 defeat by the New England Patriots in their NFL play-off game over the weekend. It seemed their entire defence was blindfolded.

Doing the Bird Box challenge eh @Chargers pic.twitter.com/l9OkDAMaCB
— Nbhanks27 (@nbhanks27) January 13, 2019

And finally, the original Bird Box Challenge, long before there was such a movie. It is the classic scene from the 2004 Ben Stiller movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Original Bird Box Challenge pic.twitter.com/nzlPNbSsIW
— Nate Sparks (@sparksy55) January 9, 2019



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Cinema

Bird Box Challenge: blindfolded sports stars kick and throw what they can’t see in tribute to Sandra Bullock hit horror flick

Bird Box meme at the expense of the Seattle Seahawks’ defence. Photo: social media

The family trying to escape the threat that is never explicitly shown, in "Bird Box." MUST CREDIT: Saeed Adyani, Netflix

Netflix warns viewers against Bird Box challenge meme: ‘Do not end up in hospital’

The family trying to escape the threat that is never explicitly shown, in Bird Box. Photo: Saeed Adyani, Netflix

Sport

Other Sport

American football kickers put on an impressive show but Barbarians rugby team fail miserably as they join new online fad


Bird Box Challenge: blindfolded sports stars kick and throw what they can’t see in tribute to Sandra Bullock hit horror flick

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}American football kickers put on an impressive show but Barbarians rugby team fail miserably as they join new online fad

American football kickers put on an impressive show but Barbarians rugby team fail miserably as they join new online fad