Oh, hi! How are you? How have you been the last 1,346 days? (Or 3 years, 8 months, and 8 days if that’s easier.) I hope this finds you well! It’s been a minute since I posted and I couldn’t think of a better comeback post than talking about the best (and most fun) base, er, BANANA BALL team on the planet.
I was fortunate enough to snag tickets to a coveted Savannah Bananas game when they went on sale in January. Tickets sell out immediately and I was excited to finally see what all the brouhaha was about. When March arrived, three of my friends and I caught them in Montgomery, Alabama, for their 2023 Banana Ball World Tour. It was my first time seeing the Bananas and they exceeded all expectations…from the party they throw while you’re waiting in line to get in (that was at least a mile long) to the very last pitch (and all the tricks, dancing, and band music you could ask for in between). The show/game lasted 2 hours (Banana ball rules) and I was sad when it was over. I took hundreds of pictures and clips of all the shenanigans, registered for giveaways, and laughed so much I cried.
Fast forward to April when I received notification that I was the grand prize winner of the 2023 Golden Ticket Sweepstakes from the Bananas and their amazing sponsor, Zappos. Working in IT, I immediately thought it was a scam. I emailed them back to “accept” the prize and see what was next. It was not, in fact, a scam. It was A MAJOR AWARD! Executive Rock Star Tara Whiddon (her real title!!) responded that I had won the big prize in their contest which was airfare, hotel, and VIB (Very Important Banana) tickets to see them during their stop in Las Vegas in May. I immediately passed out. 🤣🤣
Tara lived up to her Rock Star title in getting me and my bestie set up with our plane tickets, hotel reservations, and everything we would need for the trip. I am not the easiest travel companion, especially on planes, so Tara went above and beyond in accommodating us to make sure we (I) were extremely comfortable and I am forever grateful to her (and the Bananas and Zappos) for that. We got in pretty late at night and Tara the Rock Star was waiting there to pick us up and take us to our hotel (Rock star status for me: Unlocked. Felt like it anyway). Once we got to our room, rock star status went into overload. There were gold lamé balloons on the wall spelling out “Welcome Sherri and Liz”, banana balloon creations, and lots of Savannah Bananas and Zappos swag for us. I don’t know the last time I felt so special.
Liz (bestie) and I spent the next 2 days running around, exploring Vegas. It was her first time so we tried to cram as much into our long weekend as possible. In my humble opinion we managed quite a bit. The Bananas were staying in the same hotel so we constantly ran into them in the halls and elevators and during breakfast in the lobby. I fangirled every time I saw one and probably embarrassed poor Liz to pieces.
It was finally the day of the game and Tara again showed off her Rock Star skills by picking us up in the tour version of the Bananamobile and whisked us away to the mountains of Nevada to the Las Vegas Ballpark. We were greeted by another pair of SB rock stars who knew exactly who we were and where to take us (to hang with the other VIBs). VIBs get early access to the games and get to meet all the players, coaches, and more before the game (and get to take all the pictures with them they want). They also get to choose their seats before regular GA ticket holders are permitted in. I had mentioned to Tara in a phone conversation early on that I LOVED watching the umpire at the Montgomery game – he is the BEST dancer. Unbeknownst to us, she had passed along the message and as we descended onto the field I heard someone yell “SHERRI” at the top of their lungs. I turned to see Vincent, the Dancing Umpire, running toward us. He grabbed me in a huge hug and I thought my face was going to permanently freeze into the biggest smile I’d ever had. I am STILL smiling. After the greatest hug ever, we took tons of pictures with the players and got them to autograph our SB poster. Vincent actually signed my VIB laminate and I fangirled all over again. The game was so much fun with 20 new tricks we hadn’t seen before. I don’t know how they keep coming up with fresh material, but they DO👏🏻IT👏🏻EVERY👏🏻NIGHT. We also met Jesse Cole – the owner, always wearing a bright yellow tux with hat at the games, the Banana Band, the Man-anas (their Dad Bod Cheerleading Squad), the official SB magician, the SB mascot Split, and more.
The game, players, coaches, crew, and everyone on the SB team were all amazing and we couldn’t have asked for a better time. It did start raining and lightning at one point so Liz and I headed out in order not to die (though we would have died happy). I’ve posted some photos of our epic adventure and have to thank the Savannah Bananas, Zappos, and the entire SB (and the Party Animals!) team for making this the trip of a lifetime. And of course, Vincent..the sexiest dancing umpire alive.
