Blaine Hovenier recently went viral in the picklesphere for aggressively slapping his SoCal Hard Eights (MLP) teammates’ butts with incredible fervor and enthusiasm.

It was all captured on camera and shared on Instagram. 

This all happened as Hovenier and company celebrated their victory over the Phoenix Flames at MLP Phoenix, and it’s the kind of video you just have to see to believe. 

The wind up, the grimace, the comment section. It’s all MLP team camaraderie gold. 

Hovenier slapped Adam Stone and Ryan Fu so hard that both players winced, which made the video even more comical. 

“When I saw the video, I honestly didn’t think it was that hard, but I just died laughing,” said Hovenier. “I couldn’t believe they got it on camera.”

Hovenier is just incredibly passionate about the sport and his team.

Sometimes, though, it can come across as a little intense.

“I also have a bad habit of high-fiving really hard, so now I’ve been instructed to only high-five people on their left hand,” he added.

Stone also noted that Hovenier has since switched from slapping the left cheek to the right, alternating cheeks and giving his teammates a break. 

Though Hovenier’s butt slapping might be a little fierce, I think we all can agree we’d rather have a teammate hungry for success than someone who doesn't care at all.

For Hovenier, this is just an integral part of building team chemistry.

“MLP team camaraderie is key. I think I adopted it from college tennis,” he explained. “It’s like this unspoken rule that if you’re done playing your match, you have to help out in some way, and for me that’s cheering excessively.”

Hovenier is also incredibly vocal while playing.

While some pros stay quiet during a match, he's often talking and audibly hyping himself up with a “C’mon!” and a “Right now!”

“That actually helps me play better because it keeps me from overthinking,” confided Hovenier. “The pattern of repeating the same thing helps me stay focused and present.”

The Hard Eights even mic'd up Hovenier during MLP Daytona Beach to document just how vocal he can be. 

Hovenier might just rival Greg Dow’s personality and antics on the court.

Imagine if they were doubles partners? That would be a comedy act we’d all love to see.

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