1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Is this a great game or what with the Hall 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: of Famer Tim Kirkshen. I'm his son, Jeff Kirkshin, and 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: our guest today is none other than the ringleader of 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: the biggest thing in the world right now, Jesse Cole 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: of the Savannah Bananas. Jesse, thank you so much for 6 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: joining us. 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 2: My friend fired up, My man, what a great intro. 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: I'm feeling energy. Let's do this. 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 3: Jesse, you are wearing yellow today. Do you wear yellow 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,639 Speaker 3: every day? Do you have anything else with your wardrobe that. 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 4: Is not yellow? 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 2: Surprisingly? I do when I'm in full dad mode and 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: not in a run this crazy baseball circus mode. I 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 2: am not wearing a yellow tuxedo, but I do have 15 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 2: nine yellow tuxedos. Now, I have a full closet. I've 16 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,599 Speaker 2: got about seventy I've got about seventy top pats. Everywhere 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: you're came into my house, people be like, what is 18 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: wrong with this guy? And I got that question every 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: day regardless. But yes, this would definitely cement that with 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: my attire these days. Right. 21 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 4: How old are your children? 22 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: Jesse seven seven and three turning four soon. So we 23 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 2: are Yeah, we're foster parents that we adopted our two 24 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: young girls, and we had biological sons. So they are 25 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: running around. They travel the country with us at all 26 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: these cities and it has been a wild ride, to 27 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: say the least. 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: Dad, the bananas are so helpful to communities. And I 29 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: went to and we're going to get into me going 30 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: to the game in Philadelphia. 31 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 4: It was amazing, it was incredible. 32 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: But all of a sudden, they take a break between 33 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: the innings to talk about their charitable effort. 34 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 4: Banana's Foster. 35 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: Of course, what else would we call it? Of course 36 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:42,279 Speaker 2: it's Banana's Foster. 37 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 4: How great is that? 38 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,279 Speaker 1: So doing good for the community, and it's a pun 39 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: we're here for it. 40 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 2: Well, I appreciate that. That's I'll tell you, that's my 41 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: wife's heart. And you know, she she realized there's four 42 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: hundred thousand kids in the US that don't have a 43 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: permanent home, and we're like, we got to do something, 44 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: and so yeah, we decided. You know a lot of 45 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: nonprofits they talk about all the bad and we say, 46 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: every single night, we highlight a foster family in that 47 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 2: community that's had like we got something that up one 48 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: hundred kids that come in their home. They've adopted four 49 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 2: kids and so they get standing ovations and so but yeah, 50 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: there's only one name for it, and of course Bananas Foster. 51 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: So that's a fun moment that you know, changes the 52 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: tone a little bit in the game and understand that, Hey, 53 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: our job, just like Bananas Foster, is to bring people 54 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,839 Speaker 2: together and make them feel like, you know, that they're 55 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 2: a part of something, and so we really proud of that. 56 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 3: Jesse, when I met you a few years ago in 57 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 3: West Palm Beach, which was I'll tell the whole story 58 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: a little bit later in the podcast. 59 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 4: But you told me help me here. 60 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 3: You told me when you started this venture, it's like 61 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 3: you and your wife, who you just mentioned, had like 62 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 3: no money to do this with and now things are 63 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 3: going great. Explain that again, like what a financial risk 64 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 3: this was for you and your wife to put this together. 65 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I think you know, everyone sees all the 66 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: social media and the national attention now, but yeah, when 67 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: we first started Savannah, I mean, we only sold two 68 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 2: tickets in our first three months, and yeah, it was 69 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: a wild venture. You know, I had run a team 70 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: in Gasconia, North Carolina for ten years that was failing. 71 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 2: See you guys don't know. I mean I started as 72 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: a GM of a team at twenty three years old, 73 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 2: and the only reason you get a job as a 74 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: GM at twenty three it's the worst team in the country. Like, 75 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 2: no one wanted the job, so like we took it 76 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: over and there were two hundred and sixty eight dollars 77 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 2: in the bank account, two hundred fans coming to a game. 78 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: So I ran that team for ten years. Now, luckily 79 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: we brought in a fourth in the country and attendance 80 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: made them very successful, and so I learned a pretty 81 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 2: good amount over those ten years. But they were like, 82 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: all right, let's start a team from scratch, Savannah, Georgia. 83 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: And then we proceeded to fail miserably. I mean, we 84 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 2: were getting hung up on every day. You know, they 85 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: had minor league baseball for ninety years and we were 86 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 2: back then a college summer baseball team, so like, why 87 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: are we giving these guys a chance? We had professional baseball, 88 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: you guys aren't even professional, and so yeah, on January fifteenth, 89 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen, we got the phone call that we overdrafted 90 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: our account. We were out of money, we had nothing left, 91 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: and so Emily turned me and said, Jess, we have 92 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: to sell our house. We just got married that October. 93 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: So what a great husband I am. You know, we 94 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: can three month out of money and we got to 95 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: sell our house. What a great provider I am? And yeah, 96 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: so at that point we had to sell our house 97 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 2: and we got a we found a little dump that 98 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: was it was an old garage that like they said 99 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: it was a studio, but it was the nastiest place 100 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: I ever imagined. And we got an airbed, a twin airbed, 101 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: not even a queen or a kid, a twin And 102 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: we were grocery shopping with just thirty dollars a week 103 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,239 Speaker 2: for forty two meals, and guys, that's not real food. 104 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 2: We were eating like this was like you go to 105 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 2: like what these things on the boxes and like, yes 106 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: we have ram and noodles when we were lucky. But 107 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 2: that went on for months until we started we changed 108 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: what we were going to do. We got to get 109 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: attention and we had to get people to believe in 110 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 2: the experience. Well how did you do that, Jesse? 111 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 3: What was the epiphany that you had that this other 112 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 3: than having no money left, when did you decide we 113 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 3: have to be entertainers here completely? What went on in 114 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: your head for that? 115 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: Well, for ten years in Gastonia. We you know, we 116 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: in that, yes, I mean we started doing Grandma Beauty pageants, 117 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 2: and our team in Gastonia we had we had flatulence 118 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 2: fun nights, we had got underwear nights. I mean, guys, 119 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: we tried it all. Dig to China. Knights were actually 120 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: buried in the infield dirt a trip to China, but 121 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: it was just a one way flight to China and 122 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: no accommodations and no flight back. We're gonna get China. 123 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: So I learned everything behind me. Guys, there's probably two 124 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: thousand books. I've read every book, PT. Barn and Walt Disney, Circus, La, 125 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 2: Jeff Bezos, Amazon, just obsessed. And for ten years in 126 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: Gastonia we did it. But we went to Savannah. We 127 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 2: were a little timid. You know, there was professional baseball 128 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 2: when we first started, and so we were marketing like 129 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: everyone else. We were trying to kind of fit in 130 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 2: as opposed to stand out, which we did in Gastonia. 131 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 2: And at that point no one had ever seen our games, 132 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 2: so they just hear, oh, yes, our players are going 133 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: to dance. You know, there's gonna be a banana baby 134 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 2: that we lift up in the air. Before every game, 135 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: and they were they were listening to it, but they 136 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 2: hadn't experienced it. And so because we were all talk 137 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: it was just like sure, every team says they're going 138 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 2: to be successful coming to Savannah, and then it never happens. 139 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 2: They failed. So for us, it was like we got 140 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: to take a chance. We got to name the team 141 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: something so different, so not generic, and think big. And 142 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 2: so when we named the team the Bananas, that's when 143 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: we got the first level of attention. And people don't 144 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: realize that our first ship and a T shirts we 145 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: misspelled our own name. We had too many n in Bananas, 146 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: Like we failed every step of the way. People don't 147 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: know this, but luckily, luckily that got attention and we 148 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 2: were on like Sports Center set, is this the logo 149 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 2: of the year, And nationally people were like, this is 150 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: a fun name. Locally, you're an embarrassment to the city. 151 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: You'll never sell a ticket. How dare you call us 152 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 2: the Bananas. We were crucified on Saint Patrick's Day. We 153 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 2: were literally they have a huge Saint Patty's Day parade 154 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: in Savannah, like a couple hundred thousand people. We were 155 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: walking down the streets wearing green banana shirts. We were 156 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: getting booed. Imagine walking down the streets just getting booed. 157 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: I was like, this is a whole new feeling, like 158 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 2: we hadn't hear anything, and that's but we had got 159 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,799 Speaker 2: enough attention. And then we knew the name of our companies, 160 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: Fans First Entertainment. So we made every ticket all inclusive, 161 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: every ticket all your hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, sandwich is soda, water, popcorn, dessert, 162 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 2: no ticket fees, no convenient fees, no service fees. We 163 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: built our own ticket planner for fifteen dollars total, and 164 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 2: so we convinced enough people to come out to the 165 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 2: opening night because they released getting all the food they 166 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: could want. And yeah, we were wearing green uniforms because 167 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: we weren't quite ripe, and which is true. Literally opening 168 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 2: night we worked green uniform and we played terrible. But 169 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: they watched the Banana Nanas Dance, they watched the Banana Baby, 170 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: they watched the Banana Band, and then after that they 171 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: just started telling everyone, this is unlike anything I've ever seen. 172 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: And that's really it started to change for us. 173 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: Jesse, you're an author, and I want to all of 174 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: this is so evident to what you guys do now 175 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: on this big stage playing at Major League Park. 176 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 4: So I want to dive into that mission. 177 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: But I read one of your books in which you 178 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,239 Speaker 1: talk about your dad being a coach of yours around 179 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: that twelve year old year, right, And that's a such 180 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: an important for kids because twelve of you baseball, that's Cooperstown, 181 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: that's Williamsport, that's everything, and your dad was your coach. Now, 182 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: obviously we're a father son podcast, so I want to 183 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: hear a little bit about the fun that your dad 184 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: brought to the team. 185 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: Well we'll just put in perspective. So I was an 186 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 2: only child. My dad was an old child. My dad's 187 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 2: dad's dad was an old child. My dad's dad's dad's 188 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: dad was an old child. So something's going on with 189 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: just having boys. And so my dad my parents got 190 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: divorced and my dad raised me. And you know, I 191 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: was a very shy, introverted kid. So you know, he 192 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: got the opportunity for me to be bat boy for 193 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: the Red Sox as an honorary when I was five 194 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 2: years old. And I was that shy, introverted kid, didn't 195 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 2: like baseball just five years old, you know, just trying 196 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: to figure it out. And I said, and the doug 197 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 2: out waiting for my moment. You know, you tip your hat, 198 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 2: you wave to the camera, whatever. And then a player 199 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: sat dad next to me, and he spent twenty minutes 200 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: with me, and he gave me my first fans first moment, 201 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 2: and it was Hall of Famer Lee Smith. Really and 202 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 2: there's a picture of that. And after that moment, I 203 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: went to my dad. I said, Dad, I want to 204 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 2: play baseball. I want to play at Fenway Park. I 205 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 2: want to play for the Red Sox. I had this 206 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 2: big dream and I was all fired up and I 207 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 2: changed everything at one moment, and my dad became my coach, 208 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: but as a tee baller, he wasn't coaching. And I 209 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: came that shy, introverted kid walking up to the plate 210 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 2: that first time, dragging my bat, but my dad yelled 211 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 2: from the sideline, Jess, swing hard in case you hit it. 212 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 2: And every time I came up, my dad would say, 213 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 2: swing hard in case you hit it. And that mindset 214 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 2: stayed with me, and so yes, he coached me when 215 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 2: we were twelve years old and literally a little tiny 216 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 2: town and situate, Massachusetts. He had all our shirts say 217 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 2: Williamsport team. He had us believe that we could go 218 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 2: to Williamsport. There was no chance we could ever go 219 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 2: to Williamsport. But somehow we went to the state finals 220 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 2: and we were a couple pitches away from going to 221 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 2: winning a few more games and going to the actual 222 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 2: little road Series. And so he built this belief in 223 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 2: doing things big, doing things differently. And you know, I 224 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: want to be here today if it wasn't for him 225 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 2: and his support. 226 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 4: And I think it was so cool, Jesse. 227 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: What he instilled into you was it's about the team, son, 228 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: It's about the team. It's not about you. You would 229 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: do interviews, you would throw a no hitter and he 230 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: would go, well, remember and you were talking about the defense, 231 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: not talking about your slider, right at twelve years old. 232 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: I think that's so important because the bananasar a team. 233 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 4: That's what it's all about. 234 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 2: I'm impressed you found that. That's what you're referring to. Yeah, 235 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: because we went all the way to the state finals, 236 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: were begetting media and yes, I threw a no hitter, 237 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: hit the home run. I was like, the team played 238 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 2: great defense today, you know, we really And my dad 239 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: always taught me to talk like that, which is so 240 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 2: funny because now I teach the guys to celebrate over 241 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: the top more than anything, because it's the exact opposite. 242 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 2: Like my dad was like, Jesse, you know, you hit 243 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 2: a couple of home runs, act like you've done it before. 244 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 2: I'm like, no, if you hit a home run, I 245 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 2: want you tumbling, doing backflips. I want you doing everything 246 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 2: to create as much attention as possible. So it's the 247 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 2: exact opposite my dad taught me. But in retrospect, my 248 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: dad is converted. He goes, no, because you want to 249 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: have more kids look up to these guys, and because 250 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: baseball players back in the day, you know you'd have 251 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 2: a Dio Nomo. You know, you would have Ken Griffy Junior, 252 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 2: the hat backwards. Every guy had this unique thing about them. Now, 253 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 2: unfortunately a lot of the players they're all throwing one 254 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: hundred miles an hour, but they're all there's not the 255 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 2: intricacies as much as there was. I want guys right now. 256 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: We've had thousands of kids dress up as our players 257 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: at Halloween and they do the different things, the different outfits, 258 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 2: the different tire, the different looks. I think that's good 259 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: for building fans is to give them the opportunity to 260 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 2: see things and do things differently. So we've converted completely 261 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 2: from the way I used to be. Jesse. 262 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 3: I was impressed the first time I met you that 263 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 3: you had a playing background beyond a twelve year old. 264 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 2: So you played collegiately, Is that correct? Yeah, it was, 265 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 2: you know, very different times back then. You know, you 266 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 2: threw ninety miles an hour twenty five years ago, and 267 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: you stood out a little bit. So I was very fortunate. 268 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 2: When I was in Massachusetts, I was one of only 269 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 2: a handful of guys throwing ninety miles an hour, and 270 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: so Boston College offered me a scholarship. Northeastern offered me 271 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 2: a scholarship, but then Wafford came out of nowhere with 272 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 2: a huge scholarship to go play Division one down South 273 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 2: and they're like, we play South Carolina with Clemson. We 274 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 2: played Texas A and I was like, this will give 275 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 2: me opportunity to get better, and so I went down there. Literally, 276 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 2: I was so can player of the month my first 277 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: month as a freshman. I was two way. I was pitching, 278 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 2: I was hitting. I would pitch him that fourth and 279 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 2: I was on top of the world. I threw ninety 280 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 2: plus innings as a freshman, batted three hundred, and then 281 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 2: they started putting a lot of pressure on myself. You know, 282 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: I was the biggest scholarship guy Wofford ever had. I 283 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 2: was pitching every Friday night. I threw so many innings 284 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 2: i'd go in the summer, and I was MVP of 285 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 2: a collegent league. So I started hearing from scouts. I 286 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: started getting letters from four or five teams. I was like, 287 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 2: I'm gonna hit this opportunity. And then on my my 288 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 2: senior year, I tore everything in my shoulder and doctor 289 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 2: Andrews actually gave me my surgery, so they got me 290 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: in with doctor Andrews trying to get me back. I 291 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 2: pitched against South Carolina my last time. They were number 292 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: two in the country, and I threw my last change 293 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 2: up justin smoke popped up in foul territory, and I 294 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 2: walked off the mound and coach trailer hugged me, and 295 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 2: I knew that that was the end of my career. 296 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 2: And luckily it was the best thing that ever happened 297 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 2: to me, because it was then that I got into 298 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 2: the front office shortly after and see where we've gone 299 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 2: with that, Jesse. 300 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 3: The other thing that's really impressed me in the game 301 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 3: I went to in West Palm Beach was it was 302 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 3: clear to me that these were baseball players first, and 303 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 3: then entertainers, carnival acts, whatever you want to call second. 304 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 3: And is that has that been the philosophy of yours 305 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 3: from the beginning. 306 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 2: You have to be a baseball player first one percent. 307 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: And I think you know, Jeff Bezos says this all 308 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 2: the time, is you have to be willing to be misunderstood. 309 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 2: When you're doing something dramatically different, you're going to be misunderstood. 310 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 2: And I think most people when they see us on 311 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: TV or the social media, they're like, Oh, it's just 312 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 2: it's all a circus. You know, they're just dancing, they're 313 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 2: doing this. These guys are unbelieva talented. We have first rounders, 314 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 2: second rounders, third rounders, fourth rounders. We have numerous guys 315 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 2: that have been high draft picks that are playing for us. 316 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 2: And yeah, and it's a bunch of college guys and 317 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: you guys both know think about this. There were fifty 318 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 2: rounds in the MLB draft. There's only twenty rounds. Now 319 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 2: there's thirty rounds of guys that would be drafted playing 320 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 2: in all these they're minor league teams that don't exist 321 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 2: anymore that are now playing banana ball and learning how 322 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 2: to entertain and put the fans first. So yeah, I mean, 323 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 2: and I'll say Tim, the level of baseball in the 324 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,719 Speaker 2: last two years. We're getting one thousand plus players to 325 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: reach out. Numerous guys in double A, Triple A, some 326 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 2: guys even have contracts are reaching out. What's happened over 327 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: the last two years. The level of ball is dramatically increasing, 328 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 2: and I think it's going to continue to So Jesse. 329 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: When my dad called me and said, hey, I'm in 330 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: spring training and I ran into these guys in an elevator, 331 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: they say they play for the Savannah Bananas. Now this 332 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: is a self serving question, so Dad, I apologize for 333 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: it by self serving them and serving to you. 334 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 4: Did those players come to you and say, we ran 335 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 4: into Tim Kirkschen, we invited into the game. 336 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: Can we get him in the booth with Beico, who 337 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: is a friend of mine of Syracuse University? 338 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 4: Right, how did that connection get made that quickly? 339 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: Exactly? They said, They said, Yester Dramas, I said, yes, 340 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 2: one hundred percent bring them out because I love people 341 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 2: to see it in person. Once you see it in person, 342 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 2: it's it changes a lot of things. And that's why 343 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 2: you guys have seen We had what one hundred professional 344 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 2: players play with us. Now. I remember having MVPs cy 345 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 2: young or winners all start. Once someone else sees it, it 346 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: tells him like, no, this is this isn't a joke. 347 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: This is the real deal. And so I was very 348 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 2: grateful for you to be able to come out and 349 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 2: see the crazy. That was the first game of the 350 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 2: year for us. We hadn't even we hadn't done anything like, 351 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: we were not in rare form right then, and to 352 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 2: see and I thought the guys did a pretty good 353 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 2: job for the first time out here. 354 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, so Jesse this. I did an inning on the 355 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 3: radio that night and not knowing all the rules of 356 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 3: banana ball, a guy, I'll be close to this. A 357 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 3: guy hit a home run to lead off the bottom 358 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 3: of the third inning, and everyone ran off the field 359 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 3: after a leadoff homer in the bottom of the third 360 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 3: and I have to ask the play by play guy 361 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: what's going on here because I've never seen it before. 362 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: And then he explained on the air, this team won 363 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 3: the inning. But so those things. 364 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: Happen all the time. You confuse people a little bit, 365 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: like me correct one hundred percent. You know. The formation 366 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 2: of the rules is really crazy. How it happened. It 367 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: was it was us watching many years ago how people 368 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: reacted during baseball games, and so what people don't realize. 369 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: It's like we'd just like, oh, that'd be a fun rule. 370 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 2: I watched the fans and reactions. We were actually one 371 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 2: year we took videotape and pictures of the grandstand the 372 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: entire season, every thirty minutes to see when fans were 373 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 2: getting up and when they were leaving. And what we 374 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 2: realized was that at nine o'clock there was a big 375 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 2: influx of fans leaving at the two hour limit, and 376 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 2: then at two thirty, good luck, you'd lose twenty thirty percent. 377 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 2: And you, guys, watch a regular baseball game, it's not playoffs. 378 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 2: The same thing happens. They get there later, they leave earlier. 379 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: So we watched that and I just kept looking at 380 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 2: I was like, all right, a blowout. I'll never forget 381 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 2: the night that I proposed to Emily, my wife. We 382 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 2: were a college summer team in Gastonia, North Carolina. We 383 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 2: didn't have our new Savannah team, and I had this 384 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: big proposal, was a sold out crowd. I had her 385 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 2: family there, my family, all our friends, and they scored 386 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 2: nine runs against us in the first day. So fans 387 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 2: are already like this is the worst, Like everyone's sitting there. 388 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 2: I'm like, I'm not proposing till the seventh inning, Like 389 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 2: people are gonna leave, They're not gonna be here. This 390 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 2: is a thirty five minute half inning. And so that moment, 391 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:15,880 Speaker 2: I was like, I never want to see a blowout 392 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: that people think the game's already over again. And so 393 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 2: we said, what if every inning counts for a point? 394 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: And we make it so every inning and it always 395 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: comes down to the last inning, because you can never 396 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 2: have a blowout, and so you have to experience things. 397 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 2: And I was experiencing even that from the fans point 398 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 2: of view, thinking about Emily's family, thinking about my family, 399 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: my friends. I was like, They're like, you got to 400 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 2: be kidding me. This is the seventh inning and I 401 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,239 Speaker 2: got to sit through the next six innings for this. 402 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,399 Speaker 2: And so it's that mindset that really guides us in 403 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 2: every decision we make, and that's how we come up 404 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 2: with all our rules, right. 405 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 3: How many of these ideas, Jesse, are yours? Or do 406 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 3: your players occasionally say how great would it be if 407 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 3: I wore a diver's helmet in center field today? Which 408 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 3: just made me laugh out loud. 409 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 2: Well to talk about that when we were in Salt 410 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 2: Lake City. I'll never forget this. Rees alexiatis a guy 411 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 2: who had twenty nine home runs the year before in 412 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 2: the Frontier League. MVP of the league, was unbelievable. We 413 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 2: go to Utah, and you know they're known for their skiing, 414 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 2: so we work with the US Ski team and they 415 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 2: get him a full ski outfit, like full sea boots, everything, 416 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,239 Speaker 2: and we're towing him in and he's skiing. He's never 417 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 2: skied before in his life. He's from California, all right. 418 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 2: So he's skiing in all the way in bending over. 419 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: Luckily he fell when he did this rehearsal, I was like, 420 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 2: please don't fall, please don't fall. And he's wearing ski boots. 421 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 2: He's skiing all the way in, all right. Then he 422 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 2: kind of walks up to the plate in his giant 423 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 2: ski boots. First fastball like ninety two swings and misses, 424 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 2: no chance. Next one, the guy tried to throw a 425 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 2: fastball by him. Again. Somehow he gets his timing hits 426 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 2: a ball four hundred and thirty feet straight away center 427 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 2: over the over off the back batters one and I'm 428 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 2: in the stands because I'm getting ready to do a 429 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 2: sing off. I'm jumping up and down. Fans are kind 430 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 2: of cheering. I'm like, you don't realize how hard that was. 431 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 2: That was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. 432 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 2: And so yes, it's like I think about all these 433 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 2: moments when that happen and these guys and so yeah, 434 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 2: the players to answer their question, the players probably are 435 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 2: involved in the ideas. At first, I was very it 436 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 2: was me and like our creative team like three or four. 437 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 2: Now we have a submission form every Tuesday, like Saturday 438 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: Night Live, which they're Mondays, they have their pitch session 439 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: Tuesday today is our pitch session, so they sent We 440 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 2: have probably two hundred ideas sent for our two tours 441 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 2: right now, players, broadcasters, marketing, interns, content. And then we 442 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 2: go through a pitch session. Then we start writing, then 443 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: we do a table read, then we start doing our scripts. 444 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 2: Then we start going through the rehearsals. Every week, we 445 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 2: go through this creative process, and now everyone's submitting ideas. 446 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: I went to the game as Citizens Bank Park Dad, 447 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: and I genuinely can say I did not look away 448 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,239 Speaker 1: for one second. I didn't want to miss anything that 449 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: was happening. I mean, when you think about what the 450 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: human being. I work in radio, Jesse, So I played 451 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: country music on the radio, and I'm on a morning show, 452 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: and then I do this podcast, right, and our whole 453 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: thing is like, don't don't lose the people, right, if 454 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: you're going to play a song, tease, what's gonna come 455 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: up next? You guys, don't miss a beat. You don't 456 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: give me a second to look down at my phone. 457 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 4: You don't give me. 458 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: A second to even look at my wife and say 459 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: that was amazing. 460 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 4: Oh, something else is happening. Hold on that. 461 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: It's just incredible. What you guys do you You mentioned 462 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: the former major leaguers that have come up to play 463 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: for the Bananas, to pitch and bat for them. I've 464 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: seen so many great clips of them. I saw the 465 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: ones that happened in Philadelphia. What was the biggest reaction 466 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: from a crowd and what was the biggest result did. 467 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 4: You ever have a guy go yard like, what are 468 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 4: those stories? 469 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: This is going to shock you, all right. So first, 470 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 2: the biggest reaction was last year. The biggest reaction last year, 471 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: but now we have new one was Ryan Howard and Philly. 472 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 2: So Ryan Howard, we had him as the golden batter, 473 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 2: which Tim, I don't know if you know this rule 474 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 2: as well. But again Major League Baseball further with it 475 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 2: this earlier this year. We have been doing it for 476 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 2: two years. So I think in basketball and football you 477 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 2: can get the ball in your best player's hands at 478 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 2: the end of the game. Right in baseball, your best 479 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 2: hitter David Ortiz doesn't automatically always come up in the 480 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 2: ninth inning. So we changed it so now any hitter 481 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 2: can come up at any point once a game, so 482 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 2: you can get out in the ninth inning and then 483 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 2: come right back up right after. And so we had 484 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 2: Ryan Howard be the golden batter. So you got this 485 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 2: big gold cloth on with the lights turn off, and 486 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 2: no one knows who it's going to be, and it 487 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 2: comes off and it's Ryan Howard. The place went absolutely 488 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 2: not MVP obviously, Rookie of the Year, et cetera. This year, 489 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 2: shocking now we've had you know, Adam Wainwright was huge 490 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: in Saint Louis. Obviously he was loved, you know, Burley 491 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 2: and Prazinski. We've had Gloss. We've had so many guys 492 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 2: in each city that have been that have been great. 493 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 2: But in Anaheim, Ham Porter, the Great ham Bino from Samlott, 494 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 2: Patrick Rennan, I'm telling you, it was unbelievable. The place 495 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 2: lost their mind. 496 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 4: The Samloe, my dad, Sam Line, I know the movie. 497 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 2: That's unbelievable. They went nuts and he went to the 498 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 2: bat and he called his shot just like he did 499 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,239 Speaker 2: in the movie. I mean it was it was an 500 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 2: epic moment that and it was was really crazy. And 501 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 2: then this past weekend Mister Beast obviously the four hundred 502 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 2: million plus describers, Mister Bean's got a huge, huge pop. 503 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 2: So the players, it's really interesting, like like guys that 504 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 2: were so big if it's ten, fifteen, twenty years down 505 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 2: the road, our crowd is so young that sometimes you 506 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 2: all the guy I'm like he was an MVP, Like 507 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 2: that guy's a cy young world winner. How are people 508 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 2: not going great? So you just never know, But most 509 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: guys get a big, big ovation. Todd Frasier was huge 510 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 2: in Cincinnati. I remember that one. That one was a 511 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 2: very big one. So because he's younger, because I would 512 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 2: say his might have been even bigger than Scheung. They're 513 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: both really big. But you know, it's the younger guys 514 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 2: that people really resonate with. 515 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, Jesse, we've had Todd. I work with Todd Fraser, 516 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,719 Speaker 3: of course, and he's become one of my best friends. 517 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 3: And nobody, but nobody makes me laugh like Todd Fraser. 518 00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 3: He's the biggest twelve year old in the world. 519 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 4: He embraced every second of this. 520 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 2: I assume right he was. The guys are great, you know. 521 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 2: I think what people realize is that, you know, it's 522 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 2: my biggest thing. I tell every player that joins us. 523 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 2: Not many people get to have the Derek Jeter Fairwell 524 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 2: Farewell Tour, you know, where they get to go to 525 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 2: every stadium, they get to say goodbye. Everyone knows they're done. 526 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 2: Most these players have a tremendous career. They worked their 527 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 2: entire life for this, and then that last time, just 528 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 2: like me, walk off the field, give a few people 529 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: a hug, and no one knows that's it. And so 530 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 2: for me, the moment I'll never forget Jason Kidness. This 531 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 2: is where it really started to hit home. Jason Kidness 532 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 2: and Shane Victorino. Jason Kipness obviously in Cleveland, loved three 533 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 2: time All Star, etc. And I'll never forget. So he 534 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 2: told me he retired in twenty twenty. He never got 535 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 2: a tip of the hat, never got any moment when 536 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,880 Speaker 2: we went out last year at Progressive Field and gave 537 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 2: him a shoutout the place, gave him a standing ovation 538 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 2: and you could see emotion in his eyes. He got 539 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 2: to tip his hat. One more moment for me every 540 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 2: night that we get to do that for a guy. 541 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 2: I believe every major players should have a moment where 542 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 2: they get get a response from a crowd when they 543 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 2: play their whole life in the dedication one hundred and 544 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 2: sixty two games plus spring training every single year. The 545 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: fact that we can do that, or with Shane Victorino, 546 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 2: that his kids for the first time can see him 547 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 2: play and when he got to walk off hit, to 548 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 2: walk off an inning, his kids run out in the 549 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:19,160 Speaker 2: field and celebrate with him, that brings me the greatest joy. 550 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 2: I love that, and that's what we've built so many 551 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 2: great relationship because they get that final moment. A lot 552 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:24,959 Speaker 2: of guys I get a text message after everyone thank you, 553 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 2: like Jack Wilson this past weekend on what that meant 554 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,880 Speaker 2: for him in Pittsburgh, and just those things are really 555 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 2: really sweet, so cool. 556 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 3: Now, this is very self serving, Jesse, but I've been 557 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 3: on sixty minutes one time in my life and I 558 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 3: had no idea this was coming. I know, I interviewed 559 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 3: with sixty minutes. They called me on the phone. Leslie 560 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 3: Stall didn't call me, but somebody did. 561 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 2: And then I'm not even watching it. 562 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 3: That night, I must have gotten thirty text messages. 563 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 2: I can't believe it. You are on sixty minutes here. 564 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 2: I've been on television. 565 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 3: For thirty years and nobody cared about that. They only 566 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 3: cared about a quick appearance on thirty on sixty minutes, 567 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 3: and it was all because of the Savannah bananas. 568 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 2: What does that tell you about what you're doing. I'm 569 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,199 Speaker 2: not mentally prepared to answer what that tells me. But 570 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 2: the reality is no, it's it's it's it's special, man, 571 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 2: It's it's it's you know, we had a big dream. 572 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 2: I'm very Walt Disney's inspired everything in me and that 573 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 2: we try to do, and the fact that we can 574 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 2: bring joy and a lot of people to react to 575 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 2: it is great. The crazy thing is, I feel like 576 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 2: we're just in the first inning, you know, we're just 577 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 2: getting started. I really believe that there's a huge opportunity 578 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 2: to bring this joy to more people in and I 579 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 2: think MLB is going to continue to get stronger, and 580 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 2: I think we can continue to get stronger and build 581 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 2: fans all over the world. So I mean, I never 582 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 2: thought we'd be selling on football stadiums, I mean NFL 583 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 2: stadiums back to back nights, Like that's crazy, one hundred 584 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 2: and forty eight thousand people like you can't expect that. 585 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 2: But what we folk on every day is working on 586 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 2: a craft. How do we get better? How do we 587 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 2: get better? How do we get better? And so like 588 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 2: what you saw Tim two years ago, I'd be embarrassed 589 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 2: to show right now, I want to look back at it. 590 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 2: Something last week that I'm embarrassed to show. It's that 591 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 2: continuous improvement that I think all teams should do, not 592 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 2: just on their players, but also their fan experience. And 593 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 2: if you make the fan experience better, everything else takes 594 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 2: care of itself. And that's that's my obsession, so sixty minutes. 595 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 2: You know, all these shows that we've been on, the 596 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 2: Today's show, Good Morning America is it's great, but it's 597 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 2: just a byproduct. I think of what we're trying to 598 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 2: do for our fans. You know. 599 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 4: It's so funny. 600 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: My buddy had tickets to the game for this year's 601 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: tour at Nationals Park and he texted me and he said, Hey, 602 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: I know you live in Philly, but do you want 603 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:41,640 Speaker 1: to come down? And then he texted me quickly back 604 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 1: and said, wait a minute. Didn't you see them last year? 605 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: And I wrote back, I said, unfortunately, I'm not able 606 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,959 Speaker 1: to make it that weekend, but I know that that 607 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: is not going to be even close to the show 608 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: I saw last season. Because you guys never stay stale, 609 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: You never let yourself get boring. You always try to change. 610 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 4: Up the product. I can't. 611 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: I mean, you're having a pitch meeting just to keep 612 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: things fresh every single week. I think that's incredible. 613 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 2: And of course, I mean the league starts next year, 614 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 2: the Banna Bal Championship League. If people don't realize right now, 615 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: the Party Animals, they have over six million followers. They 616 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 2: sold out their tour in a couple hours their entire tour, 617 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 2: and then the Tailgaters in Texas. You know, they've about 618 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 2: to hit a million followers. They just launched a few 619 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 2: months ago. And so we're building each team to build 620 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 2: a league of Banannabaal so we can bring it to 621 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 2: different parks all around the country and build fans of 622 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 2: the game of banannibal but also get fans to come 623 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 2: out to watch at a baseball stadium to become fans 624 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 2: of the game as a whole. And we think that's 625 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 2: a responsibility of ours and to do that, we got 626 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 2: to make sure it's fresh and not a fat jesse. 627 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 3: Have you ever tried something and you thought this is 628 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 3: going to be great and it didn't work. 629 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 4: It was either too dangerous. 630 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 3: Or it wasn't funny or something. Well, give you an 631 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 3: example of something you thought. 632 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 4: This is a great idea and it didn't work. 633 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 2: The living pinata, the idea of putting someone in a 634 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 2: costume and having kids with you know, little plastic bats 635 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 2: hit them while I throw candy. You know, that was 636 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 2: an hr disaster. You know, I could go. 637 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 4: What happened there? 638 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 3: Could they not knock them? 639 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 2: They were just it was just it was just candy. 640 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 2: Everywhere and guys getting hit, but it was just payoffs 641 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 2: and keep going. I mean, in Baltimore we did a 642 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 2: promotion called Crab My Pants and we actually put we 643 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,680 Speaker 2: put crabs in people's pants as they ran the basis. 644 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 2: That just didn't even make sense. 645 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 1: We've done Blacks just the name it was I'm a 646 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: radio guys of the name, You're like, we got to 647 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 1: make that work because that name. 648 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: Is too good. The night before I said, I said, 649 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 2: Who's Got Crabs? We did a promotion called Who's Got Crabs? 650 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 2: We did in Baltimore. We hit home with that. I mean, 651 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: we did Razorback. We went to Arkansas with the party animals. 652 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 2: We did the Razorback promotion, but we actually put shaving 653 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 2: cream people's backs and shaved their backs running braces like 654 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,239 Speaker 2: that's extremely dangerous. So that was the Razorback promotion. I mean, 655 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 2: I could go on Brotherly Shove in Philly, Philly, where 656 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 2: we actually had four brothers and they had to do 657 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 2: musical chairs, but they had to shove the other brother 658 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 2: off the chairs. These are very very physical. On the 659 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 2: Boston Tea Party in Boston, I mean, I could keep going. 660 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 2: There's a lot but no, but that's what's fun about it. 661 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 2: We do things every night that fail. We do ten 662 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 2: to fifteen things every night in front of a live 663 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 2: crowd nine to eleven don't go the way we plan, 664 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 2: but we learn faster that way. I'm fascinated With's trying 665 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 2: to be the fastest learning organization in the world. And 666 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 2: the only way you can learn faster is if you 667 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 2: do more, and you try more, and you experiment more. 668 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 2: The teams that do the same firework shows every Friday night, 669 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 2: the same bobble height giveaways, they don't learn as fast 670 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 2: enough as us. Who we're willing to try crazy things 671 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 2: and that are wild and like, that's what I love doing. 672 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 2: I love learning from them. 673 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 3: Jesse, you are where does this energy come from? 674 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 2: This energy? 675 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 4: Is this from your dad? 676 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 2: Was this from your mom? 677 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 3: How do you explain that being like a complete lunatic 678 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 3: like this at the compliment at your age? 679 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 2: You know, first you said this is the stupidest thing 680 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 2: I've ever seen. I love it, And now you said 681 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 2: you're an absolute lunatic, but it's good. I love how 682 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 2: you taught. You put your compliments in between saying things 683 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 2: that are very crazy and perfect. 684 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 4: Imagine being his son. 685 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I can only imagine. I can only imagine. I'll 686 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 2: answer that truthfully. When I was in Gastonia my second year, 687 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 2: so I was the GM kind of president running the team. 688 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 2: I was burnt out, I was miserable, I was struggling. 689 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 2: And I realized why I was very fortunate twenty four 690 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 2: to twenty five years old. I realized why, very simply 691 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 2: I was doing. I was selling tickets, I was who 692 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 2: I'm all the hiring. I was doing concessions, I was 693 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 2: doing operations, I was doing the numbers. I was doing everything. 694 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 2: And what I realized is those things gave me very 695 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 2: little energy. And when I started, I didn't ought to. 696 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:45,640 Speaker 2: I said, what gives me energy? It's like coming up 697 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 2: with ideas, creating, sharing, going on podcasts, speaking in front 698 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 2: of people, growing, learning from the PT Barnums, the Walt Disney's, 699 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: the Jeff Bezos, and so I started filling my days 700 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:58,959 Speaker 2: with things that are on my energy list. So I 701 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 2: created my own energy and our team does it as well. 702 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 2: What gives you energy? So right now, guys, I'm fired 703 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 2: off pund energy because you're given it to me because 704 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 2: we're doing my three things, creating, sharing, and growing with 705 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 2: learning from you. And so like, that's that's it, And 706 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 2: so I can have great energy at the end of 707 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 2: the day to be great for my wife and my 708 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 2: kids because all day I try to fill my day 709 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 2: with things that give me energy. Wow, that is wonderful. 710 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 4: Trust me. 711 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: Growing up with my dad, Jesse, he always loves He's 712 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: like a sour patch kid. 713 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:28,959 Speaker 4: He's sweet, then he's sour. He sour, then he's sweet. 714 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 4: You know, but he means it in always good jest. 715 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:33,160 Speaker 2: Right. 716 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:37,160 Speaker 1: Him calling you a lunatic means there's nobody, nobody who 717 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 1: could have created what you've created in the years you've 718 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 1: created it if you don't have a little bit of crazy. 719 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 1: All these guys that you're talking about, Jeff Bezos, Walt Disney, 720 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: they're all. 721 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 4: A little bit crazy. 722 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: And that's a great thing because you need the crazy 723 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: in order to come up with crab my pants. 724 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 3: Okay, all right, so Jesse, we'll let you go. We 725 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 3: could keep you here for hours. How do you think 726 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 3: I would look in what you wear every day? Yellow hat, 727 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 3: yellow tucks. I think I would look idiotic, but you 728 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 3: look great in it. How do you think I would 729 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 3: look in one of those? 730 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 2: You know, I've worn it so much that people got 731 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 2: used to it. I'm sure when I first put it 732 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 2: on back and people don't realize I wore this yellow 733 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 2: tuxedo in Gastonia before the bananas, people don't realize. So yeah. 734 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 2: And I also did dunk the GM and ing. So 735 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 2: I used to get in the dunk tank and the 736 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 2: sixth inning every game, and fans used to get a 737 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 2: chance to dunk me. The record was sixty seven times 738 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:30,920 Speaker 2: I got dunked in one inning that was I still 739 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 2: have water in my right ear. So you have to 740 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 2: do things that are a little crazy, a little crazy, 741 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 2: and people get used to it. So I'm not going 742 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 2: to answer your question. But what I'm saying is if 743 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:44,400 Speaker 2: you wear something that's fun, you do something fun and 744 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 2: you own it, it works. And I own this because 745 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 2: this is me. Like this, this like literally is me, 746 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 2: and I believe it gives permission to our team to 747 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 2: have fun. If your owner's running around in a yellow 748 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 2: tuxedo throwing dulce and banana underwear, which we actually go 749 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 2: into the crowd, then I think why not, why not 750 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:01,959 Speaker 2: everyone else have a little fun, And that's what our 751 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 2: Mannnons do. Our dad bought chewing squad to our calendar crew, 752 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 2: to our party starters, to every team's different characters. They 753 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 2: have fun and that's what's all about. 754 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:11,480 Speaker 1: I want to tell one quick story about Jesse and 755 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 1: there's not really a question here, but it's one of 756 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 1: my favorite videos I've seen that came out and I'm 757 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 1: not even sure if it came from your guy's accounts 758 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 1: or somebody else's. 759 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 4: And it's in a parking lot after. 760 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: One of your games and you're signing autographs and there's 761 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: a security person who's trying to do their job, but 762 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, they were trying to 763 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 1: get you to get the fans to disperse and get 764 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 1: Jesse away from the situation when you were signing autographs, 765 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 1: and you sternly but confidently said, we're not going anywhere 766 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: until we sign up. Everybody gets a signature. Everybody gets 767 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: a signature, And there was this look in your eyes, 768 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 1: like you gotta be kidding me. This is what it's 769 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 1: all about. This is that fans first mentality. You're gonna 770 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: have to drag me out of here, kicking and screaming 771 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: to get me to not sign autographs. And I just 772 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 1: I want to commend you because I think that's such 773 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 1: an important attitude and you started this in each one 774 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,520 Speaker 1: of your players on social media and in person look 775 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: to you and embody the fans first mentality because they 776 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 1: have a great boss to look up to. 777 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,080 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thank you. Remember this is a guy coming 778 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 2: from only selling two tickets in our first few months. 779 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,719 Speaker 2: I will fight for every fan to do whatever. We 780 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 2: tend to keep every fan and make every fan. So yeah, 781 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,240 Speaker 2: every single night I signed to the last fan leaves, 782 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,759 Speaker 2: and it's usually eleven eleven thirty at night after our game. 783 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 2: And you got to set the tone from the top. 784 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 2: And I've learned that from my wife. She is the 785 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 2: most caring. She will do anything for our team and 786 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:33,319 Speaker 2: anything for the fans. So yes, we do it. The 787 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 2: players do it. We will go the extra mile because 788 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 2: it's worth it and that's what we're trying to do. 789 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 2: So thank you for sharing that. 790 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 4: Is it true? 791 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: What I'm reading that you're going to announce two more 792 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 1: teams next month in October? 793 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 2: Yes, the Banana Bolt Championship League twenty twenty six with 794 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 2: six teams, and we can't wait. 795 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:48,879 Speaker 1: Oh can't wait for that announcement. You'll have to come 796 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:52,879 Speaker 1: on next year, Jesse our podcast. We Love having repeat guests, 797 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: and we could, as Dad said, talk to you for 798 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: another hour. Next time you're in Philadelphia, I'm going to 799 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 1: be there with my daughter, with my wife. My wife, 800 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 1: who is a recent baseball fan, had just as much 801 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 1: fun as I did at the Bananas, which goes to 802 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:06,879 Speaker 1: show what you're doing. 803 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 4: So Jesse Cole, everybody, thank. 804 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 3: You, Thank you Jesse. 805 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:11,320 Speaker 2: That was an inspiration. 806 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 4: All kidding aside, that was tremendous. 807 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you. You guys are the best.