TEMPE, Ariz. — The ASU Sun Devils beat out Wyoming, but the real winner was this 9-year-old kid and his amazing yo-yo skills.
“It was so cool, I was so excited,” said Christian Harper. “(Yo-Yo) it’s fun. You can bring it anywhere.”
And Christian brought it to the big screen. When one of the cameramen spotted him doing tricks in the audience, he was an instant hit. Christian's skills first showed up on national TV, then made an appearance on the jumbotron over the field.
He was an instant viral hit during ASU’s week 1 win over Wyoming.
“I told my friends but I don’t think they believed me,” said Christian.
Christan's mom, Mandee Friberg, quickly found out how her son's hobby made a splash.
“I had people like tag me on Instagram posts or text me that they saw him on TV,” said Christian’s mom Mandee Friberg. “Then he got the nickname yo-yo kid, so that was really cute.”
Everyone in attendance was so impressed that the crowd starting chanting for him in the 4th quarter.
“Then my dad pointed out the cameraman right there, and then I tried to get his attention,” said Christian. “Then we got his attention, and I got on TV and on the jumbotron.”
What started out as a cool plastic gift from dad a couple of years ago turned into a real passion. His skills are number one for his age group in Arizona, and he's a regular at the local Yo-Yo factory in Chandler.
“Sometimes he can't put the thing down,” said Mom. “I'll take him grocery shopping with me, and he's (yo-yoing) down the aisles I'm like, “little busy right now. We got to put it in the pocket.” He's putting a whole lot of hard work.””
Don’t get it twisted (he never does), Christian has put in a bunch of practice hours, and he’s got an impressive collection. He’s allowed to yo-yo in the house, but there are two rules: Don’t break anything and don’t yo-yo into his baby brother.
“Nothing quite gets broken,” said Mom. “Sometimes he'll have a couple bruises on his face. He just has to be careful around his little brother.”
Going forward, Christian is going to be at every game, yo-yo in hands, performing at some tailgates on his way into the stadium, maybe on the field during games, but especially in the stands.
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