This morning, Barstool Sports released one of the most anticipated pickleball documentaries of 2023. The Bad Boys of Pickleball: Big Cat and PFT takes viewers on a journey through the careers of two pro pickleball legends in a way that the world has never seen before.
Barstool Sports were able to sit down with Big Cat and PFT, and together they take a trip down memory lane of some of the duo’s most memorable moments.
I will always remember the day Big Cat signed that big sponsorship deal with New Amsterdam Vodka for 200 years, which is still one of the biggest brand endorsements pickleball has ever seen.
The Bad Boys of Pickleball pic.twitter.com/9WmN8agnhh
— Viva La Stool (@VivaLaStool) February 10, 2023
In the new documentary, PFT takes time to deeply reflect on the moment when he realized he needed to sever ties with Big Cat. One of the most difficult decisions of his career, PFT knew he needed to take a step back and realign his priorities with the game of pickleball.
“At a certain point in your career, the endorsements are nice, the championships, the women. But you gotta know when to just walk away and hit up the sweat lodge out in the Mojave Desert for a while, ya know?”
PFT on his breakup with Big Cat
Buff Cat pic.twitter.com/NfU87G3HDa
— Viva La Stool (@VivaLaStool) February 10, 2023
The pickleball world was devastated to learn that PFT had stepped away from pro pickleball. Big Cat took advantage of the publicity of the team’s breakup and went in with his sponsorships. Like, all in. Seriously, he made a lot of money.
Big Cat expanded his brand relationship horizons, venturing into the coffee world by starting his own brand called Stella Blue Coffee. He took it all the way to the big leagues, and now a Major League Pickleball team, DC Pickleball Team, is now officially partnered with Stella Blue Coffee.
When the world thought that the two legends would never be seen together on the court again, they reappeared onto the scene once more.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, PFT emerged from the Mojave Desert a new man and a new pickleball player. He challenged Big Cat to one last match, and Big Cat accepted.
As they say, the rest is history. Big Cat vs. PFT remains to be one of the greatest singles matches that the world has ever witnessed.
In the end, this is an age-old story of trial and error. The fall and the redemption. The pickle and the ball.
Big Cat and PFT have left their mark on the world of pickleball, and it’s up to current players at the professional level to pull wisdom from their legacy for the betterment of pickleball’s future.
