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Sportshour: Baseball goes bananas

Discussion & Talk

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01/04/2023 GMT

Baseball goes bananas

BBC World Service - Sportshour, Baseball goes bananas

Could Banana Ball be the future of baseball?

Jesse Cole, creator and owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team on how Banana Ball works, and why it's so successful

It’s the first weekend of the new baseball season, and despite having some of the most recognisable names in world sport playing the game, baseball has suffered a dip in popularity in recent years. Some suggest it's become too slow, even a bit dull. The MLB, the governing body, have introduced new rules this season to speed up the game, but could they take a few notes from the creator of the hugely successful and fast moving Banana Ball? Jesse Cole, is the creator and owner of the Savannah Bananas and explained to Sportshour's Katie Smith how it works, why it's so successful, and why he was wearing a bright yellow tuxedo for the interview!?

The Power of Ping Pong: French born Cameroon Olympic table tennis player Sarah Hanffou tells us about the work and remarkable results of her foundation ‘Ping Sans Frontireres’. The foundation uses the sport to create opportunities for communities all over the world to improve local economies and improve daily life. Sarah is also a passionate environmentalist and has made Ping Sans Frontireres a beacon of what can be achieved in sport and business whilst being ecologically friendly. A lawyer by profession she's tells us about her Paris 2024 Olympic dreams and how the her life changing work off the table is only just beginning.

March Madness, is the name of the tournament that ends the College basketball season. The NCAA's  billion dollar competition sees the very best of men's and women's college basketball compete in March Madness. It might be college level, but it will completely dominate the sports schedules in America 
So what puts the Mad into March Madness. Someone who knows and has been competing this year is New York University's Belle Pellecchia. She's has also been explaining about competing in the Inaugural EcoAthlete Collegiate Cup, a competition aimed at improving awareness around climate change and feeding off the natural colligate rivalries.

Running in a Man’s world: Lauren Fleshman had a long successful athletics career, winning the 5,000m at the USA championships, twice. Drawing on her lifetime of experience Lauren has just published her memoir 'Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World'. Lauren has been telling us about just how challenging it can be to be a woman running in a man's world, what's improved in recent years and what still need to be done.

Photo: Savannah Banana Malachi Mitchell flips in the air as the team cheers before the start of a banana ball game (CREDIT: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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