Going Bananas...

 

A photo essay of last night's Savannah Bananas vs the Party Animals baseball game.  Well, to be more accurate, this is Banana Ball, which is baseball, with some twists to keep it feeling faster paced and more entertainment-centric.  It is a timed game: 2 hours or 9 innings, whichever comes first.  That said, Dan drove, so we were there early (Steph set the departure time)... I think we were there 15 hours before the game started.  Yes, I am exaggerating - we got there at 4:00, the game started at 7:00.  The gates didn't open until 5:30, so we had an hour and a half of "pre-pre-game entertainment."

 Most of the people there were sporting "merch"... and they were buying more.  The four of us all had shirts and jerseys from last year's introduction to Banana Ball.  My buddy Mark fixed us up with 4 tickets last year... you have to belong to their K-Club to buy tickets (and they sell out every game); Steph registered and was selected to join their K-Club, so she was able to buy tickets.  She and Dan went to a game last week and to this game with us last night.  The Savannah Bananas and Party Animals were here in the Phoenix area for 5 games.

We watched the pre-pre-game entertainment.  They travel with their own "Pep Band"...

 At 5:30, we joined the masses heading into the gates and found our seats...

 Three rows back, right behind the Party Animals dugout, along the 3rd base line.  Only another hour and a half before the game starts... time for people to stand in line to buy more merch and ballpark food.  We didn't feel the need for more merch, but did get in line for food.  "Don't look at the price," I was told.  I looked.  I shouldn't have looked.  Just over $40 for a hot dog, 2 pretzels, and a soda.

The players took the field...

 The Party Animals mascot...

The first pitch...

 Yes, baseball playing does occur.  They also travel with their own cheerleaders: the Man-nanas...

 From a higher perspective...

 The 4 of us...

Phone lights...

 More baseball occurring...

 The Savannah Bananas won!

 No, it isn't rigged.  In this 5 game series, it was 2 to 2 before tonight's game.  While the players all "act up" while playing, the playing level is good.  Last year, I described it as: I went to a rave and a baseball game broke out.  It is high energy, and volume at the level of a rock concert.  You know you've been entertained as you walk back to your car.

 A sample of some video...

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Sunday Drivers...

Superbowl Sunday at that.  I tend to avoid going out on a scoot on the weekend, but I was feeling it today.  Obviously, so were a bunch of other people.  The weather here has been spectacular - today is supposed to be in the upper 70s for a high, partly cloudy.  By Wednesday of this next week, temps will be in the low 60s and increasing chances for precipitation.

People want to get out (while the getting is good).

I expected traffic on the fun, twisty roads.  Double whammy: a car from Minnesota on my way up the mountain, then behind a car from Wisconsin on the way down.  The car from Wisconsin stopped at a stop sign and waved me around.  I shook my head "no."  You can't see traffic coming from the right at this spot, and sure as excrement, 10 seconds after the woman waved me around, a truck came from the right and turned... I would have been in that lane if I had taken the go-around offer.

So, the riding wasn't "spirited," but it was still a good ride (on the CTX).  Back in time to still watch hours of pre-game stuff before the big game.

Joan has The Eagles, I'm pulling for The Chiefs.  OK, I'm watching for the commercials.  Sure don't care about Kendrick Lamar for the half-time show.