Savannah Bananas baseball player RobertAnthony Cruz had an epic fail live on CNN when he tried to do a backflip, landing on his face as anchor Kate Bolduan exclaimed, “Oh, Jesus,” and co-host John Berman desperately tried to get the derailed segment back on track.
For background, on July 24, 2025, RobertAnthony Cruz (nicknamed “Coach RAC”) of the Savannah Bananas appeared on CNN News Central and got ready to pull off a backflip, one of the stunts his team is known for performing on the field. However, after getting off the ground, Cruz faceplanted, leaving the hosts, Kate Bolduan and John Berman, wondering how to move forward with the segment.
After Cruz’s failed backflip, the baseball player got up and, bewildered, said, “That never happens.” In response, Berman said, “That – that what you just saw there, is a brand new twist on America’s favorite pastime.” The show then cut to pre-recorded footage of the Savannah Bananas before Berman said, “And when we come back, hopefully we will hear from [Cruz] on all of his stunts.”
When the X user Eddie Scarry shared a clip of Cruz’s faceplant online, commenters were stunned. Scarry acknowledged that he did not know for sure if Cruz “did that as a joke,” and other X users responded with their thoughts. One commenter wrote, “First problem is….he’s on CNN.” Another chimed in, saying, “I’ve watched this 20 times and I still can’t tell why he fell like that.”
Importantly, Cruz and his teammates are known for stunts like backflip catches, and they are currently on a 39-game tour across the U.S. After his flop on CNN, Cruz reportedly did not sustain any injuries and is still slated to play in upcoming games. Cruz’s appearance on CNN was intended to promote the team’s tour, which features stops at MLB stadiums around he country.
After CNN returned from a commercial break, Berman told viewers, “All right. Our new friend Coach RAC, just so you know, is doing well.” Continuing, Berman said that Cruz’s flop “only adds to the legend of the Savannah Bananas, whom you should absolutely check out at a stadium if you can get a ticket.”
Speaking about the team’s formation and history, Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole said, “At first people were like, ‘Well you’re just the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.'” He added, “I do take that as a compliment because the Globetrotters fundamentally changed the game of basketball, and they’re going on 100 years.”
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Continuing, Cole said that the Bananas look at themselves as “building a sport,” adding, “We’re building something for the future generations to have fun with and really create something truly special. That is where this dream gets much bigger.”’
Watch the backflip gone wrong:
Featured image credit: video screengrab