The Mask & The Mic
The Mask & The Mic brings together two longtime voices from the sports world for real conversation beyond the game. Former NHL goaltender and Original Mighty Duck Guy Hebert and veteran broadcaster Kent French sit down to talk sports, entertainment, and life with honesty, humor, and perspective. From stories behind the scenes to conversations with athletes, entertainers, and influential voices, this is a space where experience meets curiosity — and where the talk continues after the final whistle.
The Mask & The Mic
Bananas and The Butter Cut
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The Mask & The Mic Podcast | Episode 8: Bananas & The Butter Cut
From celebrity golf fairways to Banana Ball chaos… this episode has it all.
In Episode 8 of The Mask & The Mic, Guy Hebert and Kent French recap a pair of unforgettable weekends — each filled with unique experiences, big personalities, and a few moments you can’t make up.
Guy takes us inside the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic, the marquee kickoff to Hoag Classic week, where over 70 professional athletes and celebrities come together for a one-day charity tournament supporting the Hoag Hospital Foundation. Paired with former Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller, Guy shares what it was like walking the fairways, engaging with fans, and teeing it up alongside icons — including NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. And yes… we break down the “butter cut” — that perfectly struck fade off the first tee.
Meanwhile, Kent heads south to Petco Park with his family for their first experience with the Savannah Bananas — and quickly discovers that Banana Ball is more than a game… it’s a full-blown phenomenon. From nonstop entertainment to fan interaction and on-field antics, Kent recaps the energy and magic that’s redefining what a baseball experience can be.
To close the episode, Guy shares a special update on his alma mater, Hamilton College, as the Continentals men’s hockey team heads to the Division III Frozen Four for the first time in program history — a moment worth celebrating.
Two different worlds. One great conversation.
Hey, I'm Guilla Bear, I know you know that. Former NHL goaltender. And I am the mask.
SPEAKER_00Yes, and I'm Ken French. I guess I could say former NHL broadcaster. And I am the Mike. And this is the podcast we like to call the Mask. And the Mike in Devo, it's all about what did we do this past weekend?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there's a lot to share. Uh we had a busy weekend between the two of us. Mine, as you can imagine, revolved around golfing and Frenchy entertainment. So tune in and make sure, hey, give us a follow.
SPEAKER_00Give us a follow, give us a listen, and then entertainment you talked about is the phenomenon known as Banana Ball. Yes, I paid a visit and it was uh a night to remember, a complete recap coming at you on a podcast we like to call the Mask and the Mike. We hope you enjoy the show and Geebo. Yeah, and good for us. Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of The Mask of the Mike. Kent and Ghee back with you for another uh rousing rousing edition of our podcast.
SPEAKER_01Yes, rousing conversation about everything that you must know and need to know and really want to know.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I guess everybody wants to know about the weekend, Gibo. That has really become the uh the top of conversation around here. So uh let's dive right into it. Without further ado, you, my friend, had a a weekend for uh for the ages when it comes to golf enthusiasts. Please divulge what happened over the weekend for you on the Lynx.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it was a great time. Uh so I'm sure every golfer in this area in the greater Orange County area knows about the Hogue invitational. So the the Hogue has the champions tour rolling in the town, and it it is a Sunday to a Sunday event now. It starts off with the Pacific Life Celebrity Athlete Classic, which uh I made my second appearance, played last year, uh again this year. Incredible time. The amount of athletes that are there, uh current athletes, uh, former athletes. Really, I mean, it's like, you know, who's who in the business of mostly football. Uh athletes first is uh a local sports agency, and they represent uh a lot of uh the top names in in NFL. So um there were you know guys Daniel Jones, Jerry Rice, uh I mean Indiana Jones was there? Yeah, Indiana Jones and Indiana Jones was there. Yep. Uh Odell Beckham Jr. Everybody wants to know what he's gonna do. Is he gonna stay retired? Did he retire? Is he coming back? Everybody.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, yeah, okay. Wow. This is a who's who? Look at you.
SPEAKER_01I mean, I could go down the list and uh, but I I don't want to miss anybody, but it it was it was a fabulous turnout. Uh all the guys just love and are passionate about playing the game of golf. Uh and it's funny because some of these guys are so big. Uh there's a local guy, Evan Moore, who played at Stanford and is uh a member at Shady Canyon, who I've gotten to know over the years, and he's a former tight end, and and he is just a monster of a guy, and he could just crush the ball. So the theme was that all these guys can hit the ball extremely far. The bad news is is that they kind of don't really know where it's going. Yeah. So uh so that's where my game came in handy. I just kind of, you know, I do the little butter cut down the fairway, keep it in play, and with a uh a two-man team with best ball net and gross scores, uh I kept uh another goaltender, former Anaheim duck, certainly uh team USA Olympian, Vesina trophy winner. Uh there was a lot of accolades uh for Ryan Miller, so I was I was announced first Frenchie, so I felt good about myself, and then I had to listen to all the accolades of Milsey. Um, but yeah, we had we had a great time. We played really well. Um I found out we were only about six or seven out of winning, and the course is set up so nicely that uh I think minus seven net won. Yeah. No, wait, can you like buy a mulligan?
SPEAKER_00Are we talking? I I don't understand. It's a little bit played.
SPEAKER_01This is this is uh the real deal. I mean, caddies uh scores with you. Really? Uh they got they got the kids uh out there with your name and your You walked the course, you walked in with the caddy? They they make us take carts because of the speed of play. They don't want us uh loitering too much, but we we had the caddy take the cart and we walked around a bit, but uh the course is just an incredible shape, as you can imagine. The greens lightning quick already, so I can only imagine what it'll be for the pros uh when they play. But hey, not only did I get to play in the celebrity tournament, I was actually invited, French. You love it. I was invited to play in the Pro Am as well. So I will be teeing it up tomorrow, Wednesday morning, 7:30 a.m. So if you're out there and you listen to the podcast when we release this, rush over to Newport Beach Country Club. Try to find me out on the course. And uh, we don't know who our pro is yet. Uh tonight is the pairings party. So um anybody is gonna be great just to be able to rub elbows with uh a champions tour player.
SPEAKER_00As you can tell, it's very difficult to get a hold of my broadcast partner, Guy A. Bear. It's like, where is Gee? What course is Ghee playing today? Uh so okay, hold on. I have I have questions, Ghee. Lots of questions. Seven days, you said Sunday to Sunday. Yes. How does that I mean that is like that's a party. It's not just golfing. We're talking about a full-on party with some of the top athletes in the United States, in the world, really, for that matter.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and it it kicks off with the celebrities, uh, and and it's mostly for the athletes first uh players that are that are there that they have an event the night before. They actually it's it's kind of like ducks and tucks. Well, they'll be actually waiters for a big dinner. So they'll do that uh the night prior to uh our golf tournament. So it was a Saturday night thing for them. But uh there's just a ton of stuff going on. You should see the cars that are there. Uh there are there's a boat, there's a Riva there on the grounds of Newport Beach Country Club, uh, as well as just lounges and bars and setups, and of course, you know, all the buildup that you have to have for the stands uh around certain greens. And I mean, it's really cool. It's cool to be a player inside the ropes and playing. And we play in front of fans. Uh a lot of fans came out to watch and watch us go out there and play around. So that was fun. A little bit of extra pressure when you're chipping up to a green or standing over a putt, and there's actually people in the stands. And uh not that they have high expectations for you, but if you chunk it or miss the putt terribly, uh, there's some cat calls out there, so I I did my best to try to keep that to a minimum. But um, if you have never been Frenchie, it is it's a fabulous event. A couple days of the Pro Am, and then there's three days of the uh champions tour tournament. And uh it's just a fabulous place. The weather's perfect, and if you've never been, I highly suggest you or anybody else to come down to Newport Beach Country Club, get out there and just kind of witness it, just stroll around the course if you don't have a seat to sit in, and that's almost more fun because you can kind of follow your favorite players.
SPEAKER_00Well, I told you I would caddy for you. I I think I think my invitation got lost in the mail. I I'm more than happy to wear a bear on on my jumpsuit, whatever they wear out there, and I'm good at getting out of hazards, just so you know. Maybe, maybe I wouldn't be helping you. I could help I could help your uh your other partners out there.
SPEAKER_01Well, I would love to have had you. Of course, I tried to get you, but because it's a legitimate tournament, uh, they actually legitimate is the key word. It's legitimate, yeah. So they actually had caddies uh for every single group. So we had uh two caddies. So for uh Ryan Miller and I, we both had our own caddy to share. And um and Gary Matthews Jr. and Greg Dobbs, both uh legendary baseball players in their own right, uh, were in our foresome, had an incredible time with them. Speaking of large men who can hit the ball extremely far, uh baseball players do have, I think, a little bit of an edge. But hey, Millsey, uh, you know, I mean, Millsey is uh tall, he's got that big, you know, wide turn, and he's got that uh ability to hit the ball a long way. So um, like I said, I was the guy just keeping it in play, making sure that uh we could at least get a net par. Mr.
SPEAKER_00Consistency. Now you mentioned pressure, which I can't imagine. I mean, golf is pressurized no matter what, but then Gibo, you get called up to the first T. Please describe to all of us what that is like to play in a quote unquote legitimate tournament with fans, and you get announced. Please, well, first of all, tell me, how were you announced? How was Gui A Bear announced?
SPEAKER_01Well, they do it, they do a tremendous job, and it's uh it's it's great. So this year, last year there were tea times, so everyone started on number one. This year, I think they were trying to retool it to keep it within like a five-hour round if they could. So it was a shotgun start. But no matter where you started, when you got to the first T, they got you. They introduced every single player, had a bio. And uh, it was great because I kind of know some of these uh the guys because you know, obviously being an Orange County uh Newport Beach guy, yeah, um over all these years. So I was actually signing some autographs as they started to announce me and trying to finish autographs and run up on the T. And uh, but you know, they're very gracious, uh, you know, quick bio. And um ironically, uh the the guy who was announcing was saying, Hey, years ago you used to write an article for like the whatever paper during the playoffs, and he goes, That was me, I was the editor, and I'm like, No way. So he's like, uh, I'm I'm retired now too. But he goes, That was great, and uh fondly remember you doing that. So you never know who you're gonna run into. Um, but standing over that first T shot, I mean, uh, you know me, I kind of yucked it up with the crowd, loosened everybody up, and then just stepped up, hit the butter cut down there, and then really you hit it down the middle. Yeah, well, you know, a little hit down the middle, it fades a little bit to the right, and then you know, hit my approach shot on the green and then promptly three-putted, but uh all in all, not a bad way to get off the uh that first T.
SPEAKER_00Preparation, Gibo. Do you go out and you hit some balls? Are you are you uh fine-tuning your game prior, or is it one of those things, hey, let's not uh let's not waste any good shots. Let's let's bring all the good shots to the links.
SPEAKER_01Well, you know me all too well. I usually just show up to a golf course, walk up to the first T and away you go. Uh here, because I wanted to see some of the celebrity athletes, I went down to the driving range and kind of milled around and uh got a chance to meet some of the other players, former players, and uh, you know, kind of hobnobbed around and it was a lot of fun to do that. And I actually did hit a few shots just because I was like, okay, I think my hole is number 16 to start, which is kind of a difficult par four. And then you go to the water hole par three on 17. So I wanted to make sure I hit what I thought I was gonna hit off of that T for the uh the par three. Didn't help because what did I do? Three three of us hit it in the water and Ryan Miller hit it to like 10 feet. So uh Millsy made a nice three for two for us on that hole. But yeah, so uh preparation for me in golf is just uh really unwarranted. I think I'm just better just going out there cold.
SPEAKER_00So I know that's you know, you obviously you live in those circles of professional athletes and get to do some of this stuff on occasion, but when you're when you're in that um in that arena and you get to see a lot of these guys, uh was there one athlete you're like, oh yeah, I want to go shake his hand, I want to go talk to him.
SPEAKER_01I mean, there were a ton of them, right? I mean, yeah, you're kind of milling through, going to your golf cart, especially as you're getting ready to go out to start the day and or having breakfast, and you're you're kind of looking around. And you know, for me, and and I it's terrible. I I'm I'm not a shy person, but I kept I I kept walking by Jerry Rice, and I'm like, okay, I gotta go up and say hello to him and introduce myself, and I gotta go, whatever. And I walked by him probably about five or six times, and it was just like and and he's such a superstar, right? So as Jerry's walking through, uh, you know, there's some some other players and players' kids and whatever, and they're they're running up to get autographs from him, and so I was just like, oh, there's my moment. Nope, there's my moment. Uh so I never got my moment. I and I just, you know, it's that one thing. I gave him his space because I know he's a good golfer and I know he loves golf. So I was like, okay, I don't want to get into his mind, like, you know, hey, I'm fanboying over Jerry Rice, but um, but he was definitely one that that I would have loved to have gone up to, and and then even afterwards, uh after for the you know, the award ceremony, which I I did not receive any awards. Uh he was he was milling around, but so next year that's how I'm gonna circle it and say, like, I'm definitely going up to say hello to Jerry Rice.
SPEAKER_00Well, Jerry Rice is a man of the people, as you know. And he is as as you are, but yes, Jerry Rice definitely is. Um, I can just picture you doing what you just described because I have done the same. We have seen people do it the same. When we were on set back in the day, we people, you know, like this this hang out about five feet away and just stand, and you're trying to get to everybody and talk to people, and I can just see you walking by doing flybys. Oh, nope, nope, that doesn't work. Nope, nope. It's like just Ghee just passing by. That's fantastic. Oh my gosh, we've all been there. Uh well, what a fun time, man. I mean, I can't imagine what it's like out there. I mean, I've been able to walk some golf tournaments and just the environment's awesome. This the uh hospitality tents obviously are second level, those are always fun. Uh, the weather was fantastic out there. I mean, I don't think you could have asked for a better really environment to be part of. And and how is Milsey, by the way? Because you are a terrific terrific ambassador for for the game for the Anaheim ducks, but also for the mask and the mic. Now, now is Milsey going to be part of this program at any particular point. Oh, I definitely cornered him, you know.
SPEAKER_01That was that's listen, five hours, five and a half hours together in a golf cart. I I was able to uh to kind of work the system and say, you know, hey, we would love to have you on the mask and the mic. And so he gave me a uh he might not remember, but he gave me a verbal yes. Okay. So look forward having him. Yeah. But I will say that uh there were a lot of ducks fans out in full force because Millsey and I ran into a bunch of fans, uh, had a chance to interact. That was one of the best parts of the tournament is that the athletes, you know, we're we're kind of thinking about playing golf, but as you're walking through or down the fairway and people are on the sides or by the greens, uh there's a lot of great interaction between all the athletes that were there and being able to just uh you know talk to fans, sign autographs for fans. And uh Millsey actually had quite a few Buffalo Sabre fans, and he was actually concerned because the Ducks were playing the Sabres at 5 p.m. puck drop, and we were finishing up oh, somewhere around five o'clock, and he was like, Okay, I I gotta go I gotta go see that game. I got a lot of people in Buffalo that are that are still with the organization I want to go and say hello to. So I won't burn all the Milsey's stuff. So when we have him on, he's got something to talk about. But uh it was uh it was great. I mean, we got a lot of great support uh from the fans, as did uh all the athletes did.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Milsey's uh former Buffalo Sabres make it a run this year, looking to end a playoff drought as well. So uh good stuff, exciting, exciting stuff. And and before we move on, which I read I could talk about the links in golf all day, you you got this for those of us watching on YouTube. What lid are you wearing right now? People are gonna want to know what what is the W that you have on?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, you know, you get some free stuff when you play in these tournaments. And so uh it's uh at one of the actually it was the part three number 17. There's a company called Wilbo. And actually, I got a couple hats. It's uh here's the other one. It's William Bowen hats. And so let's see. Okay. So I'm rocking kind of the younger version with the flatter brim. Uh, everybody says I can't really rock it. I don't think it looks great.
SPEAKER_00You're pulling off, especially with headphones on it, it looks great.
SPEAKER_01And so the other one is a little more traditional, but um great young guys representing the company and you know, passing out freebies to all of us. So I thought uh no better chance than to pop it on for this, and uh, and you never know. Hey, and good and good for them.
SPEAKER_00And you know what? And hopefully maybe good for us one of these days. Uh well, the uh the next podcast certainly be a recap of your round tomorrow. So I look forward to that as well. That's exciting stuff.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, if I can make a couple more putts, the the greens were tough, I'm telling you. Like I was on in regulation a lot, and uh all of us uh had a difficult time putting. So hopefully with a pro in the group, maybe he can give us uh you know some kind of idea of speed, break, any kind of help is warranted and certainly needed by us.
SPEAKER_00Those courses are pro tournament ready, as you know, as you experience not only the greens, the Gibo, but the rough. And yeah, I have a quick one, and I think it's the Honda that we played in Florida. Um on one of our road trips back in the day, we got to get on the course the week, was it right? I think it was right the week. No, it couldn't have been before, it might have been right after the tournament. It was still like tournament ready, the grandstands were still up. I kid you not, I lost over 20 golf balls. I am not that erratic. I have my moments, but you hit it into the rough, and I couldn't find the ball. Like it was it the rough was that um grown out, and then there was this uh there was a par three overwater, or there's yeah, overwater, and there's a huge grandstand, and I don't know why I I hit two clubs too many, and I put it up into the upper deck of the grandstand because no one's there and you hear it bouncing around up there. I mean, it was fun to be part of, fun to fun to play in a uh tournament ready course, if you will. Uh, but boy, I'll tell you what. I mean, I I bought a bunch of lake balls because I wasn't hitting those I wasn't hitting three ones. No way. Uh-uh. So that's that's some serious stuff there. Well, good on you. Yeah, okay. Well, certainly we will revisit uh your tournament tomorrow. Uh and again, remind me what the tournament is tomorrow, one more time.
SPEAKER_01So it's the Newport Beach Hogue. The Hogues tomorrow. Proam. So and it's not celebrity, it's just um just a regular Pro Am. They do that on Wednesday and Thursday, and then tournament, I believe, is uh Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
SPEAKER_00Will you play both days? Wednesday and Thursday?
SPEAKER_01Nope, just uh just Wednesday. Fortunate enough to uh get the invite. So uh yeah, I actually really looking forward to it. And like I said, I mean the course is in such great shape, French. If you're in the fairway, I mean there is not a bad place to be if you're in the fairway. So cool.
SPEAKER_00Oh, awesome. Okay, we'll forward to recapping it.
SPEAKER_01So I I mean I know that like listen, I'm not the only one who had uh kind of a fun couple days or whatever. I mean, there's there's a phenomena. Yes, phenomena, phenomenon. Phenomenon. Phenomena.
SPEAKER_00It's like an old SNL skit, phenomenon.
SPEAKER_01It's a phenomenon. There's a phenomenon out there that uh that you were able to take part in, at least, you know, I don't think you got on the field, but close enough, right? So yeah, tell me about your weekend because I saw some of your posts and it looks insane.
SPEAKER_00I was part of the phenomenon, if I'm saying that right, known as Banana Ball, the Savannah Bananas. Yes, in town at Petco Park. I didn't realize it was for two days, Saturday and Sunday. Um, and part of this, Gibo, like so Michelle, she wanted to to go and I was all in and take Everly with us, of course. And so you have to get into a lottery to get these tickets. Like it it's so tough to get these tickets. I did not know that. Yes, I didn't either. So you get in, and I so she's like, you got to be part of the lottery for Angel Stadium. I'll do Petco. She got into the lottery there. We we got three seats. They don't tell you what the seats are until like the day before the game, like where you're sitting. Um, so we made a road trip down to San Diego to Petco Park. I didn't realize it was two days. We got Saturday, unbeknownst to me. I thought it was just a one-day deal. Um, we get down there and it is nuts. I mean, it's everybody's in yellow and wearing bananas on their heads and and dressed in bananas, and it's a thing. There was over four, there's like 45,000 people packed Petco Park for this event. And it is an event, Gee. It's not it's not a game. They say the show will begin at 6 30.
SPEAKER_01I've seen I've seen clips. I mean I know there's singing, I know there's dancing and weird stuff that goes on pitching on stilts or yes. Whatever. I don't even know, right?
SPEAKER_00So we get there and um pro tip bring your own food, bring your own water. Because while the tickets are competitively priced for families, everything else still is ballpark prices. So you gotta Keep it down. So we packed PB and J's. We went in, brought our water. They let us bring it in and clear bags. We go to the back. And if if you know Petco Park, there's a park in the back. There's a Tony Gwynn statue uh behind center field. It's called Gallagher Square.
SPEAKER_01Which we which we know well from our sports days.
SPEAKER_00Our studio. I showed Michelle and Ev. That's our studio back there. It was overlooking that park. You're right. And uh Petco. So we go back there. It is packed. It's a beautiful day. We we eat our lunch around like five o'clock, uh, lunch, dinner, whatever you call it. Uh, people are just in a great mood. The music's blaring. Um, there's stuff going on in the field. The bananas, uh, the players are in the stands along with they played the uh uh what was it? The Loco Beach Coconuts were the team they played uh over the weekend. Uh they were in there and they're doing uh games, um, throwing bananas from the stands, and fans are trying to catch them in their pants on the field.
SPEAKER_01I mean, I don't know. Real bananas or like fake ones, you know?
SPEAKER_00Real bananas. I mean, yes, and we're watching the big screen and all this stuff happening, and so we get into our seats, and um about yeah, well, 6 30 is supposed to start, and then they had just build up to the game with just kids on the field, and they had um what was her name? I knew I was gonna forget about this. Princess Potassia for potassium. She goes up there, she's singing. We had the uh the mananas, the mananas are a uh are a dad bod dancing troupe, and they take dad bods to another whole level. They're wearing jerseys that don't fit. You can only imagine. I will not get into it, but they were dancing, uh, entertaining the crowd. Everybody's into it. And then the cool part about this whole thing, then they start they start educating people on what banana ball is, right? So there are 11 rules. You can't get out of the batter's box, there's no uh mound visits, you got to sprint to first base on a walk. Um, whoever wins the most runs in an inning, they win the inning uh and there is a two-hour minimum or maximum, two-hour maximum. So instead of saying play ball, Jesse, the owner who's in the yellow tuxedo with the hat, he comes out and says, start the clock. So literally at seven o'clock, it's a countdown. I can get on board with that. It's a countdown for two hours. And in that two-hour window that they have, it is music doesn't stop, nonstop music, and they have the walk-up songs and everything, but Gibo, I kid you not, like every 20 seconds was a new song. And that you don't know what's going on, and there's so much stimulation going on around you that there is a game happening, they get extra points for trick plays, the players are catching stuff between their legs, and you know, it's very much it's got a little globetrotter feel to it. Talented players out there, um, more defensively than offensively, a lot of foul balls. By the way, if a fan catches a foul ball of the opposing team, it's an out. Oh. So that was that was happening. And Michelle said to me, I think they're kidding, foul balls on purpose, so the fans are the fans are getting engaged, and it seemed like it at times. Um, I mean, they had uh called parent MVP, like skits were happening between innings. They had they're asking parents or little kid questions. He must have been like four years old, and whoever he said, like said, um, who is who is the best cook? Is it mom or dad? And the little boy says, Dad. And so they handed the kid a pie and he put it in his mom's face. He said, Who gives the best hugs? Dad. So he had his so the mom got three pies in the face. There was a bunch of guys out there look like they're holding exercise balls running into each other. Um, they did a thing with uh like the it was so the San Diego Zoo obviously is close by. So they had they call it the elephant run, and they had these kids who must have been five years old dressed in elephant outfits come out from center field and run all the way, all the way to uh to home plate, and they're tumbling in these outfits. I mean, it's just non-stop. I mean, you know, coming from the entertainment world in sports and watching what stage managers do, and they had they were a fine-tuned machine, man. It was it was it was impressive. But then, yes, like you said, they had the the music, they had the the players dancing, the walk-up songs, um, you name it. Oh, then they shut the lights off, and you know that song Yellow by um uh Coldplay? Yes. They uh they they started playing that song and everybody turned their cell phone light on. Look at the stars. I won't sing it to you. But yeah, yeah. It I mean, so it was yeah, ev Ev enjoyed it. She said there was she wished there was more dancing. Um, but it was it was family fun from beginning to end. And then there was an after party back at that Gallagher Square, and all the fans were going out there for a meet and greet. I mean, the players were signing autographs like two o'clock. We didn't get there till five, so I didn't get to see them. Um uh some talented guys, man. They are definitely showmen and show girls, by the way. I I had to write down Kelsey Whitmore. She was the number one overall pick for the women's professional baseball league. She got out there through to another uh WPBL um. Easy for me to say. Yeah, WPBL. Dene Benitez was the batter. She was playing for the coconut. So I mean it was like everything was represented. It was awesome, giving them props and and pumping the new baseball league. And um yeah, it was cool. It was a cool experience, man. But I like I said, I don't have any banana gear on us.
SPEAKER_01And I mean a little disappointed that uh apparently Everly didn't get any swag on the way out the door.
SPEAKER_00Well, let me tell you something. We got out of there for for 54 bucks. We didn't spend, we we that was parking. We didn't spend any well, obviously not tickets not included in that, obviously. But no, no, we we stayed away from beverages and water and food, and we tried to keep it as uh financially friendly as possible. So it was kid friendly and financially friendly.
SPEAKER_01Frenchy financial friendly. That's uh yeah, that that works. But no, I mean that sounds uh like incredible. I mean, way back in the day, I I got to see the Globe Trotters, and then we had the Globetrotters on our set many years ago, so it was kind of interesting to see what they do and all about the entertainment, right? I mean, talk about professional sports franchises in any sport and how competitive it is and how locked in players are, and and you don't have very few have the ability to show people they're enjoying what they're doing while they're doing it because you know it's so intense. So it's great to see there's an outlet where you can see incredibly talented athletes and performers enjoy what they're doing and and put on a show like that where you know you get 45,000 people that go home happy, right? There's not a loser, you know, there's no angry losers of that their team didn't win. It's I assume the bananas win all the time, right? Like globetrotters?
SPEAKER_00Pretty much. I you know, granted, it's my first you know interaction, but I think I don't think anyone really cares. Yeah, well that's I guess that's the point, right? Is that I I think yeah, and there's like a six-team league, and um, but yeah, like the Washington Generals, you know, they they always get close, but they never win. Yeah. Um, but yeah, it you know, the the players though, I give them credit because not only they're talented, you know, on the field, but they've turned into these show show men and women too, you know, with they're on microphone and they're dancing, and you know there's you know choreography involved, and there's skits and there's you know pre pre-taped stuff on the Jumbotron. I mean, there's there's a lot of time and effort put into to putting this together. And and the Savannah Banana story is certainly unique with Jesse is the you know the owner and and you know, buying the team and and you know, hitting rock bottom and trying to get fans there and coming up with creative ways and mortgaging his house and trying to all the different things that he had to do at the beginning to to put this together and and now it's this traveling entertainment phenomenon, as we said. Yeah, traveling the country, selling out not only ballpark, skebo, but they're selling out football stadiums, hundred thousand seat stadiums. And oh, by the way, you get the alumni show up, right? So so so the first time they did um they did Petco Park, I think it was Trevor Hoffman, came running out of the bullpen. So back in the day, they'd shut the lights off and he'd come out to Hell's Bells by AC DC. That was his song.
SPEAKER_01So the wild thing.
SPEAKER_00Uh yes, yes, yes, yes, from Major League for sure. And this time, um, all of a sudden, like all the players are out there and and they move, and it's Dave Winfield was out there on uh Saturday night. So that was pretty cool. Um and the bananas have a uh also you know, they kind of mix in all this cool stuff uh called Bananas Foster. It's their own charity for foster kids. They brought up this family that had fostered like 30 or 40 kids, and they brought all the kids out there, and so I mean it's just a feel-good, you know, environment. And um one of the one of the dancers for he's a dancer, I don't think he ever played for the bananas was on America's Got Talent. Like we start watching it as a family. He was there, so he's out there dancing. I mean, they're they're legit performers, and I'm writing down Instagram handles because I'm gonna reach out to them and we're gonna get a banana on our on our podcast. I mean, you're you know, like you're like, hey, French, you better do some work, man. I mean, you're talking to Millsey and I'm trying to get bananas, so I don't know how that works, but yeah, I'm certainly I'm certainly working on it. Definitely.
SPEAKER_01Well, um hey, I gotta interrupt because uh, you know, listen, I'm no stranger to reality TV, of course. And this season's episode, something or other on American Idol, they had one of the Savannah Bananas audition. And he really yeah, I think the auditions were in Nashville this year, and he came in with part of the entourage, and one guy performed wish I could remember his name. If I did my homework, I probably could have found it. But he performed and he had kind of uh probably like six, seven, eight other guys, and they kind of were there to support him. And uh he made it through that initial stage, and I know he moved on. Uh, I don't want to be a spoiler, so I won't tell anybody if he's still involved in American Idol or not. You'll have to tune in to watch, but uh, it was pretty incredible because I think like uh Kerry Underwood and you know Lionel Ritchie, they're they're like, and Blake Shelton, they're like, what is the Savannah Banana? And I think Kerry Underwood actually knew all about it. So it was uh, hey, and you're talking about marketing, great way to market, get yourself on American Idol.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and they've all been on Fallon, as you mentioned. Um, the guy is there is a guy in stilts, he's the world's tallest pitcher, and he went out there and he pitched. He was throwing strikes. I don't know how the heck he did it. The umpire is dancing behind the plate. I mean, it's like you can't, there's so much visually going on, you don't know where to look. I mean, it's it's crazy. But you know what? It's so funny, it just remember reminded me of a story. You mentioned the Globtrotters. Did you know that I played for the Washington Generals?
SPEAKER_01You know, there in the cyber world, there is a story about Kent French. So I I think we have to.
SPEAKER_00I I don't know. I wasn't going to go there, but now it's it seems apropos based on what we're talking about.
SPEAKER_01The teaser that, you know, I mean, now we we've all been teased.
SPEAKER_00So so back way, way back in the day, back with the ducks, they had the globetrotters come to town and they had a spot on the roster for someone in the media. And they would uh I think Johnny Ollers was also a Washington general at some point. So you go there. I had to go buy basketball. Yeah, we yeah, I know. I don't even know if we had film back then. Video, whatever. You might have pictures. Exactly, right? I mean, it's that that long ago. So I I go buy some basketball shoes at a five and dime. I show up and I'm in the Washington Generals locker room. I mean, the guys are as nice as can be. I'm suiting up with my my jersey, my shorts, the whole bit. And uh then I go out there and they said, Okay, you're gonna sit on the bench and the globetrotter is gonna call you out when you're when you're ready. And I'm like, Okay. Sure. Like, I had no idea what I'm doing. And it's packed, right? The arena's packed. I'm sitting on it on, you know, on a fold-out chair, like you know, a reserve would do. And all of a sudden, one of the globetrotters comes up to me and he starts yelling at me, and he points to me, he brings me out on the field, and he gives me the basketball, and he wants me to dribble, so I'm dribbling, and then he fouls me. I mean, it was an egregious foul, too, by the way. I think I fell to the court. Next thing I know, I'm on the foul line trying to shoot free throws, and I ever saw the pressure, right? Everything went to the right. It's like it was like it was not good. I don't even know if the ball was not it was it was it was yeah, it wasn't regulation. I think they gave me a bad ball. It must have been that. But then, so you know, they're heckling me and they're doing the whole thing, and and I I don't even remember it was a blur, but I remember I just I I do know the ball was floating to the right for whatever reason. Um, I don't even know if I hit the rim. Uh it wasn't a good showing, and then they sent me to the bench, and then our friend, Aaron Teets, who is there, and calls me over at the time and said, You're embarrassing the organization. Yeah. Not on purpose, but you are. Yes. So I think I embarrassed the organization that day, but uh I mean, again, just a show, right? They do everything, right?
SPEAKER_01You got no second chance. You that was it, man.
SPEAKER_00I wanted to get back in and redeem myself. I mean, I I wasn't really a baller growing up, so maybe it was best that I was sitting back on the bench and I didn't get a chance to go humiliate myself for a second time. Uh, but I do somewhere around here, I got a ball, I had it signed by the Washington Generals, and then uh a jersey signed by the Generals. And I have it, I had it framed, and it it's somewhere, it's not hung up because I have nothing hung up, but it then I have I have my stats. It's like 0 for two, five minutes of play or whatever I had. It was pretty funny. I had that put together. So yeah, that was uh that was my time. But I I will tell you, just kind of going back to the whole entertainment value of the that athletes and entertainers, they are so talented and they keep the crowd on their feet and so engaged and the kids are in it, and uh it's awesome. So again, going back to the bananas, I will say this if you have a chance to go out and see them, get yourself in the lottery, go out, um, you know, and hopefully, you know, if if some Savannah bananas are are listening to this podcast, we like to have you on the show.
SPEAKER_01Yes, yeah. Let let's let's pump you up. Well, hey, listen, we just gave people in Orange County a lot of stuff to do in the next little bit or for wherever you're listening to. Golf at Newport Beach for the whole classic and the Savannah bananas, you can't lose by going to either one.
SPEAKER_00You can't. That's that's our that's our promo right there. But I think too, I mean, this comes down to um I mean, both of us growing up playing sports, like you, you know, obviously took it to another whole level, but the pressure involved in uh you know playing sports and you know and performing and performing at a high level, I think it's it's good to establish some sort of foundation for these kids that you're supposed to be having fun, right? At the end of the day, yeah. Go out and have fun. And sometimes that's tough to do now with the money, you know, the betting and everything surrounding the world of sports in this day and age. But you know, we we we get into you know mentally how it is the store the stress on kids and you know, getting out there and starting playing golf at a young age or baseball at a young age in California, Gebo. You can play sports 24-7, 3 365. Yeah, uh club sports are so popular. So uh it's just refreshing to go to see, you know, another side of it that really just says, hey, it's fun, it's supposed to be fun. Um, you know, laugh, laugh at yourself, uh, and have a good time. Um, so yeah, it's it's cool to bring that other side of the equation and uh start, you know, give it to give something for kids to kind of understand at a young age. Yes, I want to go out, I do want to have fun, I do want to laugh, and that really that's that's what it's all about.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because we could go down the rabbit hole of you know what goes on in the world today about you know young kids, you know, trying to become pros at, you know, six, seven, and eight years old or ten years old, and how competitive all that is. That's gonna be a story for another time because um, I mean, I've heard you know, you know, private coaches at uh incredibly young ages and you know, parents all in. So we're gonna leave that there and we'll talk about that at another time because just the the sheer joy of what I just heard from you and your family having that experience with the Savannah Bananas, it's I I feel like when you leave a sporting event, we should all feel a little bit, you know, excited that we were able to spend some time, especially with friends or family, enjoying the moment, watching something live. And then, you know, whether it's um, you know, NFL, NHL, major league baseball, NBA, Savannah Bananas, whatever it is, that yeah, you you you take something really positive out of the experience and then you know be able to share it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and and one other um I I did take some notes. I had to talk to Everly to make sure I was hitting everything from that experience. But one thing I do, another another uh skit that was hilarious, and I want to ask you if you would have been able to do this because it involves it is so it's two dads running from home to first, they have to put all of this all of the beach toys into a bag, right? Yep. Then they go from first to second, their wives are at second base in a beach chair. The wives have to get out, they have to get the hold on to the beach chair, and their wives jump on their backs. Then they gotta run the third base, and that's when their kids are waiting for them. Grab their kid, and then they gotta run with their wife on their back, holding their child, beach gear in hand, they gotta run to home plate. That's I mean, that's like that.
SPEAKER_01That says parenthood right there, because I if you haven't done that and experienced that on a beach trip or a ski trip where you got everybody's gear, you're like a Sherpa, and uh just trying to make it from the car to the lift or to the beach and then back, yeah. That's uh but that's hilarious to think that yeah, to do that. It's uh it's a reminder to all of us that, well, thankfully, I don't think I have to do it anymore because of uh an adult child. So but for you, you're st you're still in that bandwidth of I am, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I am. I I my daughter's nine, and I attempt to carry her up the stairs and down the stairs each night and every morning. And I will I've said that I will do that until I cannot do it because I know once I can't, that will be it. Yeah, so I will I will make that happen for as long as I can. Um and you know what too, and as we uh speaking of sports, um, I know you and I are both in an NCAA, you know, March Madness pool.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm I'm still alive.
SPEAKER_00Um you're alive. I have eight teams of the 16 left. Um, but what a time for sports, right? When you look around and you it's like you got the the home stretch of the hockey season, as we touched on last time. We got the playoffs around the corner, you have March Madness, you have opening day is gonna happen um in a matter of time. A couple days, right? In a week. Yeah, I think so. In a couple days, it's happening. So uh it's it's crazy how, and then of course, hoops are the same, they're running towards the postseason, um, the NBA, the WNBA, the you know, it's just it's crazy how you know everything is happening. And if you are a sports fan, which most of us, you know, are or listen or listening to this podcast, I mean it is like again, talk about stimulation, Gebo. How do you focus? You know, or you know, what are you watching right now? What's what's an interest to you? I'm gonna assume hockey postseason, obviously.
SPEAKER_01But yeah, I mean, this is the greatest, you know, this is I mean, it is uh sensory overload for sure, like the TV or the internet never goes off because you're trying to keep up with everything, right? I mean, March Madness is just, you know, that it's madness, right? I mean, games just seemingly keep going and going and going, and teams are eliminated, and all of a sudden, you know, it whittles down to two, or at least the final four, pretty quickly. So, you know, you got that component. Uh, obviously, the last, you know, 12 or so games in the NHL season, a lot of teams are now really jocing for position, playoff position, home ice advantage. You know, where are they going to fit in? Are they battling for those wild card spots? Uh in both conferences, there are a lot of teams still alive. I mean, there's teams that if they go on a run in the last 10 or 12 games, all of a sudden they might be outside the wild card and end up being in the top three in their division and then get that automatic qualifier. So uh the hockey's great, you know, there's basketball. Oh, there's a little thing called the Masters golf tournament coming up in just uh I think two or so. Oh, how did I forget that? So probably one of my favorite things in the world to watch uh is is the Masters. So It's it's an awesome time to be able to kick back, enjoy maybe a uh frosty beverage and enjoy the the fruits of the labor because uh it it is you know it is crunch time for all these sports, you know, um marquee matchups, I mean some amazing upsets in the world of NCAA basketball. And uh I can't wait to watch. I mean, I I'm gonna be a couch potato as much as I can.
SPEAKER_00Okay, before we leave, if you obviously you know, we're listening to we're we're following GA Bear on Instagram, uh, a lot of posts about Hamilton College. Oh, yeah, yeah. I I was hoping I I mean I was bringing it up. Look at him. Just the I know I should have my Hamilton ad on. I know, I know, like what's going on here? Can you tell yes, can you please tell everybody, A, for those that aren't familiar with Hamilton College, where they're located, the division they're in. I and you're obviously you went there, but you're like to educate people on Hamilton College and what's going on right now, please.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. So Hamilton College is in Clinton, New York, uh, just kind of a small town village uh in central New York. Uh the school probably has about 1,800 students. It's a small liberal arts college, and it's part of the NESCAC. So the Nescaq is I keep thinking I'm talking to people who know. So I have never conference is the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and it has other schools very similar. Uh Bowden, Colby, Williams, Trinity, Tufts, Um Bates, Middlebury. Uh, so there's uh there's a number of schools, Amherst. So it's uh it's an incredible academic institution. Uh fortunate to be able to go there. Uh great competition, competitive college level. It's now Division III. When I was there, it was called Division II. But the uh I mean the kids are really good. I mean, the leagues are really strong, players are you know uh really good. I think there's a lot of outside pressure now because of what happened with major junior college, where they can actually play major junior, leave, come to American college. Uh that's put a lot of pressure on. So now Division I is so overloaded with talent that a lot of great players are looking to have another option, and that's Division III. So all that being said, uh Hamilton had a great season again. Uh they were the regular season champs of the Nescaq. Okay. Unfortunately, they lost in the NESCAC playoffs, but still were seeded, I think, number four in the nation, and uh got an automatic bid to the NCAA. And so they've been able to kind of cruise through the first two rounds. Uh they had a huge win the other day in OT, knocking off the Norwich Cadets.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01And that's Norwich University in Vermont. And so they have now moved on for the first time in the program history to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four, which will be Really? Yep. They'll be in uh Utica, New York. So it's almost a home game for Hamilton because Utica is only 20 or so minutes away from Clinton, and uh it's gonna be an incredible weekend. The irony is, is my daughter went to a very similar school in central New York called Hobart and William Smith. Hobart is currently the three-time defending champion in men's ice hockey at Division III. So they won it the last three seasons. A little interfamily conflict going on. Interfamily Hobart is currently 29-0. I think 29-0 and oh on the season. Oh my goodness. So if they were good the last few seasons, they're even better this year. Uh, they are in opposite brackets, so there could be a potential Hobart Hamilton final. So if that happens, um it's gonna be it's gonna be awesome. So, but we're just hoping I don't really care if Hobart gets in there. They won three times, but I really want Hamilton uh to get to the finals and and have an opportunity to win the national championship. It'll be uh an incredible moment for the college. Uh hockey's been at the college for for a hundred years, over a hundred years. Uh, we had a hundred years celebration for uh hockey in the Clinton area and at Hamilton uh a few years ago. So uh it's overdue. And I uh I will say that when I went to Hamilton, uh unbeknownst to me, we weren't allowed because of academic reasons to uh play in the national. So if we were good enough, we couldn't even advance to the national tournament. Um which I think the coach left that out when he recruited me. But but nonetheless, it's yeah, I'm so excited. There's uh a lot of uh hockey alumni, a lot of texting going back and forth. Uh everybody's super excited. I know that I I've already looked, my wife who went to Hamilton as well, a classmate of mine. We've actually looked at flights immediately to see if we could get back there. So the semifinal games are on Friday, so we'll know who will advance to the finals on Sunday. So we're we're we're looking. We're looking to see if we can get back there. Uh obviously, in the world of travel right now, it's not the easiest. And to get from Southern Cal to central New York requires a connection or two. So uh stay tuned. I hope I have good news to share uh next week. In the next week.
SPEAKER_00You took the words right out of my mouth. I was gonna ask if you're gonna try to get get back there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, when I have uh hopefully a uh national chip hat on. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00By the way, uh if I were to go to a game at Hamilton College, a home game, and I looked up into the rafters, would I see something familiar?
SPEAKER_01Yes, you would. So um, yeah, uh an incredible memory and uh you know, certain something I will uh cherish forever. I was the first ever Jersey retired uh in the college's history for uh men's hockey. So my number was number 30 back then in college, and so that is up in the rafters. Um, they've actually uh retired another jersey since then, Mike Marta, Sparky Marta. Still, he was in there a couple of years before me. So I'm gonna say probably like 80 to 84 was his four years at Hamilton. Still holds all the records for scoring. Really? Yeah, so uh he's he set the bar uh extremely high for everybody else. So uh those are the two jerseys right now in the rafters. And if you go to the Sage Arena, you can check it out. There's uh some some great stuff there.
SPEAKER_00Love it. Well, what a way to uh bring this podcast to an end. Congrats on the honor, congrats on your uh on Hamilton making as far as they have thus far. Keep our fingers crossed. Yes, my goodness, that's good stuff right now. See, I mean it just gets better and better when it comes to sports. So much going on. Tough to keep track of it all. But you know what? We will right here on the mask of the mic, because that's what we do. Um Gebo, good stuff as well. Golf, banana ball, Hamilton College. I think we hit it all. Go Continentals. Well, don't forget, uh, if you want to watch us uh our smiling faces, you can see us on the YouTube channel at The MaskTheMic. Of course, we're on Spotify and Apple Podcast as well. And we are Instagram handle is at the Mask and The Mic. Uh, so thanks so much for tuning in on this episode of As You Can Tell. We have a lot to talk about next time. Um, but uh it's been a lot of fun, Gebo, and look forward to seeing you and talking to you next week.
SPEAKER_01Frenchie, it is always a pleasure. And we never know what lane we're gonna go down, but it's always very interesting. And hey, stay tuned. You never know who our next guest might be.
SPEAKER_00You never know. Uh I can guarantee that it'll be in the fast lane, for sure. We'll see you next time.