Robert Anthony Cruz’s failed backflip on live television quickly went viral. The outfielder for the exhibition baseball team the Savannah Bananas poked fun at his own fall on TikTok and gave his audience permission to laugh.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
Robert Anthony Cruz knows a thing or two about backflips.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ROBERT ANTHONY CRUZ: I do flips all the time – while catching a ball, mind you.
RASCOE: He often breaks out the moves on the field for the Savannah Bananas, a theatrical exhibition baseball team. But when he showed up for a live interview on CNN, things didn’t go as planned.
(SOUNDBITE OF HEAVY THUD)
RASCOE: Oof. Cruz face-planted on the studio floor, leaving behind blood, losing a shoe and stunning the hosts. And of course, the video quickly went viral. Or, as Cruz said later on TikTok…
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CRUZ: Your boy is bouncing around the internet like a beach ball at a Nickelback concert. No offense, Nickelback. I love your stuff.
RASCOE: Coach RAC, as Robert Anthony Cruz is also called, revealed just how the stunt went wrong.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
CRUZ: I kind of just lost where I was in the air and wound up under-rotating. Plus, my feet slipped.
RASCOE: Like, on a banana peel? Savannah Bananas – get it? But Cruz took the fall like a champ.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
CRUZ: I ended up getting several stitches here in my lip and in my chin. But thank God, aside from my damaged pride, I didn’t sustain any, like, actually serious injuries. One thing I will say – the dad lore is going to go crazy.
RASCOE: Now, don’t worry – Cruz said he gave everyone permission to laugh. His fans on social media couldn’t help but indulge while wishing him a speedy recovery.
(SOUNDBITE OF SMASH MOUTH SONG, “ALL STAR”)
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