Dear Savannah Bananas,
This weekend you are filling historic Wrigley Field for three days.
But that's not what you are really filling.
You are filling the imaginations of thousands of kids who will walk trought those gates believing sports can be joyful. That competition can be kind. That excellence and laughter can coexist on a field. On a stage.
As a parent, I believe that every child deserves the chance to be an active participant in both athletics and the arts. I am tired of them being pinned against one another as an "either/or" option. As opposites of one another, when nothing can be further from the truth.
Sports build teamwork. Arts build confidence.
Sports teach discipline. Arts teach creativity .
Sports are serious. The arts are fun.
Except, that is not entirely true is it? That is only PART of the actual reality.
For the next three days "Banana Ball" is going to unfold on a historic stage. They will dance. They will sing. They will improvise. They will connect with the fans. And they will play exceptional baseball.
Day after day they are reminding generations that baseball isn't just a game to watch, but rather an experience to share. "Fans First" is not just a catchy marketing slogan. It's a culture, a philosophy, that says people, joy and memories matter more than perfection and a final score. It's a reminder that joy is contagious, not childish. Entertaining people is a skill worthy of respect.
As the parent of two future adults, we don't just focus on "sports skills" or "theatre skills" (and if you know us, we do spend a lot of time embracing both sports and performing arts) but we encourage these experiences so our kids can have life skills. Teamwork, resilience, confidence, creativity and the ability to adapt to whatever is thrown your way and in any setting.
Chicago is about to witness what can happen with talent meets imagination, when athletics embraces the arts and the whole crowd is given permission to dance between them both.
Sincerely,
A parent who believes every child deserves a stage & a playing field
