Photo credit: Savannah Bananas

When you think about Charlotte sports in the 2010s, the conversation usually begins — and ends — with the Panthers.

Cam Newton. Luke Kuechly. Jonathan Stewart. Greg Olsen. Maybe Kemba Walker if you’re branching out past the NFL. But for the most part, it’s heavy on the Cardiac Cats.

Olsen, in particular, has stayed visible long after his playing days. He made three Pro Bowls, became a reliable presence at tight end, and carved out a second act in broadcasting as Fox’s lead analyst until, of course, Tom Brady showed up with his $375 million deal and bumped him to the No. 2 booth. Olsen took the high road, as he always does, and stuck around. He and his family still reside in the Charlotte area, where he coaches and remains deeply involved in the community.

So when the Savannah Bananas rolled through town, it made perfect sense for Olsen to get involved.

Not because he’s some baseball savant, but the Bananas are less about the game and more about the spectacle, the show they put on for fans wherever they go. And part of that show involves bringing in recognizable names who mean something to the cities they visit. Eric Hosmer got an at-bat in Kansas City. Dabo Swinney led the team down the hill in Clemson. John Lackey threw an inning in Anaheim.

In Charlotte, it was Greg Olsen’s turn.

He trotted out to first base for the Bananas with two outs in the fourth inning, ready for whatever came his way. But there wasn’t much to do. The Party Animals immediately launched a three-run homer; then the next batter hit a comebacker to the pitcher. The inning was effectively over before Olsen had a chance to do anything.

“Where’s my moment?” Olsen quipped.

He almost had it.

The day before the game, heavy rain left the Bananas without a field to practice on. Olsen stepped in, inviting them to Charlotte Christian, where he now serves as a coach. So no, he didn’t get his moment in front of a sellout crowd at the stadium he used to call home. But he helped create one for the kids he coaches, who got an up-close look at the most viral team in baseball.

The Harlem Globetrotters of baseball are now selling out stadiums across the country, even packing massive college football venues with 80,000 fans. And now they’ve got the distribution to match, with ESPN set to air 10 games through August, simulcasting across ESPN+, Disney+, and more.

And some sports media figures, like Ryan Clark and now Greg Olsen, are part of that “more.”

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.