It’s fitting that the home of the St. Paul Saints hosted the biggest party in the Twin Cities over the weekend.

The pair of games at CHS Field in downtown St. Paul served as an unofficial passing of the torch between the local franchise founded on fun and the pop culture phenomenal taking the world by storm.

The St. Paul Saints walked so the Savannah Bananas could run.

Those familiar with both teams understand the connection.

In the early 1990s, the St. Paul Saints found their niche as an independent team entertaining fans out of Midway Stadium.

Though it wouldn’t be fair to the players to say the baseball took a backseat, the St. Paul Saints understood that in order to compete for eyeballs with the Minnesota Twins across the river, they had to offer more than the game itself.

To achieve that, the St. Paul Saints prided themselves on some of their gimmicks, which included having a live pig serve as the ball boy, duct tapping their intern to the outfield wall in the middle of the game, and starting the world’s largest pillow fight, among countless others that regularly went viral on social media.

The ultimate goal was making sure everybody in attendance walked away with a smile on their face.

It’s a similar vibe from the Savannah Bananas nearly 30 years later. Only they have taken it to the next level. Think the St. Paul Saints on steroids.

Maybe the most noticeable difference is the way their games are actually played. That’s because the Savannah Bananas have come up with their own set of rules designed to keep fans fully engaged.

It’s aptly named Banana Ball, and some of the changes include a time limit that ensures the game only lasts a couple of hours, a revamped scoring system, and an interesting wrinkle where a foul ball counts as an out if it’s caught by a fan.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg, however, as the Savannah Bananas truly separate themselves with the their trick plays, choreographed dance routines, and comedic sketches that make the game feel more like a Las Vegas show.

The smashing success of the Savannah Bananas paved the way for the Banana Ball World Tour, which also includes the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and the Texas Tailgaters. The spectacle needs to be be seen in person to truly appreciate its singularity across sports.

All of the teams were in action over the weekend as the Party Animals hosted the Texas Tailgaters at CHS Field in downtown St. Paul, while the Savannah Bananas hosted the Firefighters more than 1,000 miles away at Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore in a nationally-televised affair.

It was a complete sensory overload at CHS Field in downtown St. Paul, as every seat in the stadium was filled, and every inch of space overlooking the playing surface was occupied.

There were some stretches where the blaring music over the loud speakers made it feel like Lollapalooza. There were other stretches where fans singing along to “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey made it feel like biggest karaoke bar in the Twin Cities.

Meanwhile, the players on the Party Animals and the Texas Tailgaters kept the good vibes rolling throughout the game, whether they were riding a unicycle in the batter’s box, chugging a beer prior to their at-bats in the on-deck circle, or throwing hamburgers and hot dogs into the stands during a break in the action.

There was even some local flavor, as the the University of Minnesota dance team made a cameo, as did Minnesota Vikings mascot Viktor, leading a stadium wide Skol chant with the help of Party Animals outfielder Jake Skole.

It was impossible not to think of the St. Paul Saints in some of the moments of euphoria.

Though they have taken on a more formal approach since becoming the Triple A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins a couple of years ago, the St. Paul Saints and their kitschy antics helped make something like this possible.

Now it’s on the Savannah Bananas to keep it going.

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By JEFF AMY, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley on Monday announced his 2026 Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Georgia against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff.

The 57-year-old Dooley is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and has been teasing a bid since June. He joins a GOP field that includes U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, as well as activist Reagan Box.

Kemp turned to Dooley after deciding not to run for the seat himself. Georgia Republicans are looking to topple Ossoff, considered the Senate’s most vulnerable Democratic incumbent seeking reelection next year.

“Professional politicians like Jon Ossoff are the problem,” Dooley said in a two-minute launch video “Lawlessness, open season on the border, inflation everywhere, woke stuff, that’s what they represent. We need new leadership in Georgia. That’s why I’m running for Senate.”

FILE – Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley walks the sideline in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt on Nov. 18, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Kemp and Trump met and said they would try to agree on a preferred candidate. Anyone anointed by both would be stamped as the Republican front-runner. Kemp told Collins and others on July 24 that he would support Dooley, leading Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King to drop out of the race. But Trump isn’t ready to endorse yet and Dooley is moving forward without Trump’s blessing, an indication the joint effort may be faltering.

Dooley has never held elective office before. He says he’ll run as a political outsider, a lane David Perdue traveled in Georgia to win election to the Senate in 2014. Dooley said he would bring “good, old fashioned Georgia common sense,” and “work with President Trump, fight for you and always put Georgia first.”

Dooley is the son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and was a lawyer before he went into coaching. Derek Dooley was widely seen as a failure during his three years as head coach at Tennessee, compiling a 15-21 record with the Volunteers before he was fired in 2012. Since then, he has been an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys, the University of Missouri, the New York Giants and the University of Alabama.

As a teenager, Kemp was a frequent guest in the Dooley home, and he roomed with Derek’s older brother, Daniel Dooley, at the University of Georgia. Kemp has the most effective Republican political organization in Georgia, and Dooley has hired Kemp aides to run his race, including political strategist Cody Hall and fundraiser Chelsey Ruppersburg.

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But a number of Republicans endorsed Collins after he entered the field last week, including former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Also backing the congressman are state senators including state Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte. Even one of Kemp’s official floor leaders in the state House, Rep. Matthew Gambill, parted ways with the governor to endorse Collins.

Opponents have already lampooned Dooley for failing to publicly support Trump before now. Someone launched an anonymous University of Tennessee-themed website called “Dooley’s Volunteers” that criticizes Dooley for a lack of conservative credentials, interspersed with quotes from sports reporters panning Dooley’s coaching tenure.

It’s the latest high impact move to back a political novice for Kemp, who tapped Kelly Loeffler as a U.S. senator before she lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock in a 2021 runoff. Her campaign was plagued by conflict between Kemp and Trump, who preferred another candidate. Losses by Perdue and Loeffler to Ossoff and Warnock, respectively, handed control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats.

Then in 2022, Trump anointed Georgia football legend Herschel Walker as the Republican nominee. Walker’s candidacy proved flawed and Kemp only swung in to help in the runoff, which Warnock won.

Their effort to jointly screen 2026 candidates produced some results — U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene declined a Senate run after pressure from other Republicans.

Dooley would be far from the first football coach to run for office. His late father was frequently discussed as a possible candidate and his mother, Barbara Dooley, lost a Republican primary for Congress in 2002. Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020 from Alabama and is now running for governor. University of Nebraska coaching legend Tom Osborne served three terms in the U.S. House.

Dooley walked on at the University of Virginia and earned a scholarship as a wide receiver. He earned a law degree from the University of Georgia and briefly practiced law in Atlanta before working his way up the college coaching ladder, becoming head coach for three years at Louisiana Tech before Tennessee.

By CORA LEWIS and LINLEY SANDERS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The vast majority of U.S. adults are at least somewhat stressed about the cost of groceries, a new poll finds, as prices continue to rise and concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs remain widespread.

About half of all Americans say the cost of groceries is a “major” source of stress in their life right now, while 33% say it’s a “minor” source of stress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 14% say it’s not a source of stress, underscoring the pervasive anxiety most Americans continue to feel about the cost of everyday essentials.

Other financial stressors — like the cost of housing or the amount of money in their bank accounts — are also broadly felt, but they weigh more heavily on younger Americans, who are less likely than older adults to have significant savings or own property.

The survey also found that about 4 in 10 Americans under age 45 say they’ve used what are known as “buy now, pay later” services when spending on entertainment or restaurant meals or when paying for essentials like groceries or medical care.

Adam Bush, 19, based in Portland, New York, is one of those younger Americans who has used pay-later services for things like groceries or entertainment. Bush works as a welder, fabricating parts for trucks for Toyota, and makes under $50,000 per year.

“I just keep watching the prices go up, so I’m looking for the cheapest possible stuff,” he said. “Hot pockets and TV dinners.”

Everyone is stressed about groceries

Groceries are one of the most far-reaching financial stressors, affecting the young and old alike, the poll finds. While Americans over age 60 are less likely than younger people to feel major financial anxiety about housing, their savings, child care, or credit card debt, they are just as worried about the cost of groceries.

FILE – A customer shops at a grocery store in Glenview, Ill., July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Esther Bland, 78, who lives in Buckley, Washington, said groceries are a “minor” source of stress — but only because her local food banks fill the gap. Bland relies on her Social Security and disability payments each month to cover her rent and other expenses — such as veterinary care for her dogs — in retirement, after decades working in an office processing product orders.

“I have no savings,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s going on politically when it comes to the food banks, but if I lost that, groceries would absolutely be a major source of stress.”

Bland’s monthly income mainly goes toward her electric, water and cable bills, she said, as well as care of her dogs and other household needs.

“Soap, paper towels, toilet paper. I buy gas at Costco, but we haven’t seen $3 a gallon here in a long time,” she said. “I stay home a lot. I only put about 50 miles on my car a week.”

According to the poll, 64% of the lowest-income Americans — those who have a household income of less than $30,000 a year — say the cost of groceries is a “major” stressor. That’s compared with about 4 in 10 Americans who have a household income of $100,000 or more.

But even within that higher-income group, only about 2 in 10 say grocery costs aren’t a worry at all.

Women and Hispanic adults are especially economically anxious

Housing is another substantial source of worry for U.S. adults — along with their savings, their income and the cost of health care. About half of U.S. adults say housing is a “major” source of stress, according to the poll, while about 4 in 10 say that about the amount of money they get paid, the amount of money they have saved and the cost of health care.

About 3 in 10 say credit card debt is a “major” source of stress, while about 2 in 10 say that about the cost of child care and student debt.

But some groups are feeling much more anxiety about their finances than others. Women, for instance, are more likely than men to report high levels of stress about their income, savings, the cost of groceries and the cost of health care. Hispanic adults are also particularly concerned about housing costs and both credit card and student debt. About two-thirds of Hispanic adults say the cost of housing is a “major” source of stress, compared with about half of Black adults and about 4 in 10 white adults.

Some people are making changes to their lifestyle as a result of high costs. Shandal LeSure, 43, who works as a receptionist for a rehabilitation hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and makes between $85,000 and $100,000 a year, said she’s started shopping for groceries at less expensive stores.

“It’s an adjustment,” she said. “Sometimes the quality isn’t as good.”

Many US adults have used ‘buy now, pay later’ services

As they stretch limited budgets, about 3 in 10 U.S. adults overall say they’ve used “buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay or Klarna to purchase groceries, entertainment, restaurant meals or meal delivery, or medical or dental care, according to the poll.

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Bland, the Washington state retiree, said she’s paid for pet surgery with a pay-later plan.

Younger Americans are much likelier than older people to have used pay-later plans for entertainment, groceries or restaurant meals, but there’s no age gap on medical care. Black and Hispanic people are also especially likely to adopt the plans.

An increasing share of “buy now, pay later” customers are having trouble repaying their loans, according to recent disclosures from the lenders. The loans are marketed as a safer alternative to traditional credit cards, but there are risks, including a lack of federal oversight. Some consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves financially.

LeSure said she’s used pay-later services for things like new clothes, while she balances debt payments for a car loan, student loans and medical bills. She’s also turned to them to cover hotel costs after being evicted.

“That’s been able to help me stretch my dollar,” she said.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,437 adults was conducted July 10-14, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

Sanders reported from Washington.

The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, Associated Press Business Writer

Tesla is awarding CEO Elon Musk 96 million shares of restricted stock valued at approximately $29 billion, just six months after a judge ordered the company to revoke his massive pay package.

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The electric vehicle maker said in a regulatory filing on Monday that Musk must first pay Tesla $23.34 per share of restricted stock that vests, which is equal to the exercise price per share of the 2018 pay package that was awarded to the company’s CEO.

In December Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick reaffirmed her earlier ruling that Tesla must revoke Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. She found that Musk engineered the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent.

At the time McCormick also rejected an equally unprecedented and massive fee request by plaintiff attorneys, who argued that they were entitled to legal fees in the form of Tesla stock valued at more than $5 billion. The judge said the attorneys were entitled to a fee award of $345 million.

The rulings came in a lawsuit filed by a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musk’s 2018 compensation package.

That pay package carried a potential maximum value of about $56 billion, but that sum has fluctuated over the years based on Tesla’s stock price.

Musk appealed the order in March. A month later Tesla said in a regulatory filing that it was creating a special committee to look at Musk’s compensation as CEO.