When Baseball Went Bananas: The Banana Ball Takeover

Banana Ball didn’t just arrive on the sports scene — it literally detonated like a rock‑and‑roll pyro blast behind home plate. Born in 2018 as a wild experiment from the Savannah Bananas — a scrappy summer‑league team founded in 2016 — the game grew from a near‑bankrupt idea into a full‑blown touring spectacle that now packs MLB stadiums coast to coast. 

Founder Jesse Cole, the yellow‑tux showman who sold his house to keep the team alive, built Banana Ball on one core belief: baseball should move fast, hit hard, and entertain like a stadium tour. Two‑hour time limits, points for innings, walk‑off dances, sprint‑style ball‑four chaos — it’s baseball re‑wired for adrenaline junkies and sports fans who want action, not downtime.

The popularity boom came from pure spectacle: choreographed player dances, the Party Animals rival squad, TikTok‑melting walk‑ups, and a fan‑first philosophy that treats every game like a rock show. Media outlets from ESPN to Sports Illustrated jumped on the story, and suddenly Banana Ball was selling out 17 MLB parks, NFL stadiums, and launching its own championship league. Jesse Cole himself is a walking fun fact — he proposed in a yellow tux, lives by “Fans First,” and channels equal parts P.T. Barnum and sports‑mad ringmaster. 

Click on pic to enlarge

To catch the madness live, check out these links for more info about the madness of the bananas. 

The Bananas on Facebook

Jesse Cole

The Bananas Ticket Exchange

The Bananas on Instagram

The Bananas on YouTube

Watching Banana Ball is pure fun — a neon‑bright, high‑octane blast of athleticism from finely tuned players who perform with the swagger of rock stars and the precision of elite competitors. As the Bananas like to say: “If it’s not fun, why do it?”

{My Take}

After 58 years of writing about every sport under the sun — pro leagues, minor leagues, dusty backfields, neon‑lit arenas, you name it — I thought I’d seen every curveball the sports world could throw. But one night, sitting in my living room with the TV humming in the background, I stumbled onto a game that didn’t just catch my eye… it grabbed me by the collar. Banana Ball wasn’t baseball as I knew it — it was baseball with a jet engine strapped to its back, a rock‑concert heartbeat, and athletes who move like they’re powered by lightning. I’ve covered champions, dynasties, heartbreakers, miracle seasons — but nothing hits quite like this!

Jesse Cole truly is doing everything right—with his bright yellow tux and larger-than-life enthusiasm, he’s become a role model for kids and adults alike. It’s not just about the game; it’s about creating joy and community, and he’s absolutely someone you can look up to for that! I hope to catch a game, or two the next time that the bananas are in Vegas!

So here it is, straight from a Vegas‑based lifer of the sports beat:

Banana Ball rules!

I Love The Bananas!

~Gary England~

#NationalNewsMedia #WorldwideEntertainmentNetwork #Baseball #sports #professional

The Power Of One Shot Under The Spotlight: How Greatness Reveals Itself!

Chances to step into the spotlight don’t come around often, and for some, they never come at all. So, when a musician, entertainer, or athlete finally finds themselves in the right place at the right time, there’s only one move: show up at your absolute best. Nail the audition. Crush the tryout. Deliver the moment that people can remember!

Just look at Anika Nilles and her debut performance with Rush earlier this year at the Juno Awards, a pressure-cooker situation where the whole world was watching, and she absolutely killed it! That’s what it looks like when preparation meets opportunity, and the universe says, it's "Your turn, go get it.”

Anika's not alone. History is full of musicians, artists, and athletes who got one shot at the big stage and made it count. Here are more killer “right place, right time, don’t-blow-this” spotlight moments across music, entertainment, and sports. These are the people who stepped into the heat and walked out legends!

Dave Grohl stepped into Nirvana at 21 and instantly redefined the band’s sound.

Bruno Mars turned a single SNL performance into his launchpad for global superstardom.

Kurt Warner went from stocking grocery shelves to Super Bowl MVP the moment he finally got his chance in professional football.

Lady Gaga transformed a last‑minute VMA performance slot into a career-defining shockwave.

Queen at Live Aid 1985. One 20‑minute set that turned them from musicians into immortal rock stars.

Tom Brady stepping in for an injured Drew Bledsoe and never giving the job back! Seven rings later, the rest is history.

Prince performed the Super Bowl halftime show in the rain and somehow made it look intentional.

Simone Biles At the 2016 Olympics, the moment she became the greatest gymnast of all time.

Metallica opening for Ozzy in 1986, the tour that turned them from underground thrash kings into mainstream monsters!

The pattern is clear. Greatness doesn’t wait for perfect timing; it erupts the moment preparation meets opportunity. These moments remind us that the spotlight doesn’t create greatness — it reveals it.

{My Take}

In every generation, a few performers rise not because the world handed them an easy path, but because when the spotlight finally swung their way, they were ready. They stepped up, locked in, and delivered the kind of moment that rewrites careers and cements legacies. From Anika Nilles’ explosive debut with Rush to the countless artists and athletes who turned a single opportunity into a lifetime of momentum, the message is the same: when your moment comes, you don’t just show up — you show out. And in the end, that’s what separates the memorable from the legendary, the ones who seize their moment and never let it go!

Gary England

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Motivation Behind the Fame What Fuels Las Vegas Top Musicians Athletes And Celebrities To Push On In Their Careers

 I've been around professional athletes, very talented musicians, and awesome celebrities almost all of my life. I first started in the media field in the summer of 1968 and never looked back. A lifetime of being around exceptionally talented people who possessed motivation, inspiration, and a drive far beyond that of mortal men and women. 

Being the Entertainment Capital Of The World, Las Vegas is home to many famous people, whether they’re top musicians, celebrities, show talent, or professional athletes. They all draw motivation and Inspiration from somewhere or something. "It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it", right?

After talking with many of these exceptional people, here are some of the motivators that drive them to push on in their careers.

Above all, most famous individuals start with a genuine love for what they do. Whether it's performing, competing, creating, or entertaining, passion is the engine that fuels long-term success.

Famous people often use their platform to influence culture, spark conversations, raise awareness, or support causes they care about. The ability to reach and inspire others can be a major motivator.

Many of these people are highly competitive and goal-oriented. They want to reach the top of their field, break records, win awards, or create a legacy that stands the test of time.

Fame often opens the door to wealth, and financial independence can be a powerful motivator, especially for those who came from humble beginnings or want to take care of their families.

Being seen, admired, or celebrated for one’s work can be deeply rewarding. For some, external validation from fans, peers, or critics becomes a major source of motivation.

Fame gives people the freedom to be themselves, share their story, and shape their image. Many are motivated by the opportunity to express who they truly are, or who they want to become.

Staying relevant is not easy. Famous people are often driven by the thrill of reinvention, proving themselves again, exploring new roles, or redefining their public image.

Many celebrities find purpose in giving back, whether through charity, mentoring, or using their voice to amplify others. Once they reach a certain level of success, impact often becomes more important than applause.

In the end, what motivates these special people is a powerful blend of passion, purpose, and persistence. While the spotlight may shine brightly on their success, it's the love for their craft, the desire to connect with others, and the drive to leave a lasting mark that truly fuel their journey. Fame might open doors, but it's the fire within that keeps them moving forward, creating, evolving, and inspiring the world around them.

What's my inspiration or motivation for writing as long as I have? My mother was a nurse and loved helping out people through her medical career. My father was a professional musician who loved music most in his life. Guess I can say that my motivation and inspiration for me being a music and entertainment journalist for all these years is because of my parents. 

What's your motivation or Inspiration for doing what you do?

Comments welcomed :-)

GE