Smirnoff will welcome those (21+) along the Las Vegas strip to experience the Smirnoff SMASH Pickle Bowl. Those who attend can play a few rounds of pickleball while tasting the bold flavors of Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda. Fans can hit the pickleball courts on Friday, February 9th- Sunday, February 11th, and play a game of pickleball, try the bold new flavors, and receive some Smirnoff swag.
Complex 360 host Speedy Morman spoke with us about his exciting new partnership with Smirnoff, hosting the first-ever Smirnoff SMASH Pickle Bowl, and what we can expect from him in the future.
Okay. So our first question, how does it feel to be partnering with Smirnoff?
Speedy: It feels great. I mean, it’s such a storied brand. I think we all have experiences, uh, with the liquor brand as big as Smirnoff. And so, it feels great. I’m excited when they reached out. I made sure we picked up the phone right away and, and we’re ready to rock.
So Smirnoff just released the Smash Vodka Soda with four new flavors. Have you been able to try them? And if so, what’s your favorite?
Speedy: My favorite is by far the pineapple orange. I like a sweet drink. And they’re all good, but if you’re asking my favorite, I’d have to rock with a pineapple orange.
Smirnoff is introducing unexpected combinations for their new flavors. Which one do you think will catch people by surprise the most?
Speedy: I think raspberry peach, probably because I think people are going to be surprised at how tasty they are. You know, you just see a lot of times flavors slapped on a bottle or slapped on a can and you think, Oh, whatever, It’s probably fake juice or, but knowing that it’s real juice and actually tastes good. I think that’s why the raspberry peach is the one that has surprised people most.
How cool is it that there are only a hundred calories?
Speedy: Super cool. I mean, everybody’s trying to watch their figure. We are all trying to get our summer bodies right? And you know, we all want to look our best, hundred calories, keeping things healthy and light.
So how are you preparing for the Smirnoff Smash Pickle Bowl?
Speedy: Oh, I’m getting in the zone mentally, physically, a thousand pushups a day, thousand burpees. No, I’m just playing. I’m excited. You know, between Lance and Scheana and Saweetie and the rest of the gang, I think they’ll be ready to rock.
So do you have a lot of experience playing pickleball yourself?
Speedy: I wouldn’t say a lot, but I definitely have some experience. I’m a pretty fast learner though. So it’s taking the world by storm it feels like – or at least America by storm. It feels like it kind of came out of nowhere. And now it’s like the fastest growing sport in America, it seems. So I’m excited to see how Saweetie is out on the court, to be honest.
And how does it feel to be hosting for the competition with these big names?
Speedy: It feels great. I mean, it’s like I said to one of my other colleagues, they should be glad I’m not playing to be honest, but it feels great to be hosting – just to be air traffic control and just kind of make sure we get to where we need to go safely. But I do know that I’ll be adding my little color commentary in there and I might have some fun and some things to say. So I’m excited.
So the Smirnoff Smash Pickleball is in Vegas. What can fans expect when they hit the Las Vegas Strip?
Speedy: Oh, man. I think the Strip is going to be a movie, to be honest. There’s going to be so much energy going on in the city. But no energy is better than this Smirnoff Smash Pickleball. I’m excited about it. I think that is really where the basis of all of the energy will be coming.
So with prior basketball experience, how are you preparing to play pickleball?
Speedy: I’m just kind of like a natural athlete. So, you know, basketball certainly helped me agility wise, but you know, I can pick up any football, baseball, basketball, hockey, you give me the tools. I’m gonna learn how to play.
Why do you think pickleball is so popular right now?
Speedy: I think the barrier of entry for the sport is really low, right? Like a lot of people think it’s less physically taxing than tennis. But also more stimulating and exciting than ping pong. So to me, it’s just like a perfect blend of a sport that anybody can play – any able bodied person can play. And so I’m excited about the future of pickleball and looking forward to seeing it permeate into other areas of our culture.
So what can we expect next from you as hosts for 360 with Speedy? Is there anything you can share that we can look out for?
Speedy: We just had an interview drop with one of the biggest streamers in the world and content creators in the world. His name is Duke Dennis. But I have a superstition. I don’t like to speak about stuff before the episodes come out so I can’t say too much, but we got some big A-listers on the docket this year. Some big movie stars and athletes. So, I think the people will be excited to tune in when those episodes drop.
And final question, are there any other projects we can look out for outside of Complex?
Speedy: Yeah I mean, I’m always working, you know, I host a show on Amazon Music. But honestly, I’m really most excited about the big game weekend in Vegas. The Smirnoff event is going to be a good one. And so, I’ve been just shaping up, getting in tune, and ready to rock out and see my fellow colleagues: Saweetie and Lance Bass and Kay and Vernon and everybody else in the rest of the gang in Sin City. I can’t wait.