Savannah Bananas player falls hard on CNN after a tough backflip try

Unexpected Stunt Goes Viral on CNN

So, maybe Robert Anthony Cruz miscalculated his approach. The Savanna Banana Sprayer, affectionately known as Coach RAC, had a rather embarrassing moment on Thursday during a live segment on “CNN News Central.” It was definitely one of those moments that leaves you both cringing and laughing.

Cruz stepped into the studio, ready to attempt a stunt. But as someone off-camera quietly urged caution, he clearly didn’t get enough lift on his flip, resulting in a thud as he landed awkwardly on the floor.

For a few moments, there was nothing but an awkward silence. Cruz sat there, seemingly unfazed for a second, then broke into an infectious smile.

“That’s a brand new twist on America’s favorite entertainment,” CNN host John Berman remarked, while Kate Borden stifled her laughter, covering her face in disbelief.

The clip spread like wildfire across social media, spawning a flood of jokes and commentary.

One user quipped, “It’s not the same scaffolding as that natural gas.” Another commented, “That’s pretty embarrassing,” adding, “I flopped like a banana.” A third user mused, “He should have been dead.”

Some viewers questioned if the moment was staged for publicity, but the genuine shock from both the CNN host and Cruz himself indicated that it was all real, albeit unexpected.

At 26, Cruz is a former Nationals prospect who played college baseball at Viola University before joining the Savanna Bananas, the well-known exhibition team that’s garnered attention in recent years.

They were on CNN to promote their team in a segment titled “Going Bananas.”

Later, Cruz shared his thoughts on the incident in a video on his Instagram, where he has around 755,000 followers. “They say all press is good press, right? Well, you probably saw the video. Your boy is bouncing around the internet like a beach ball at a Nickelback concert,” he joked.

He explained that he had told the producer he would perform a backflip. Cruz is known for seamlessly catching fly balls with flips during games. He mentioned he’s done “tens of thousands of backflips” throughout his life.