Bert Kreischer “delivers” in BP session at Jesuit
Prior to his sold out show at Amalie Arena on February 17, standup comedian and Jesuit 1991 alum Bert Kreischer visited with the Tigers players and hit batting practice.
By Brandon Wright, Staff writer
TAMPA – Bert Kreischer is the living, breathing definition of onomatopoeia.
Boom.
Pow.
Smash.
He walks into the room and it bows down. The noise, the thunder, the energy…all on full 4K display. You can almost see the cartoon text bubbles pop up all around him.
It’s what the guy does. He makes every story the best and biggest and funniest you’ve ever heard. Whether it’s the party, the Netflix specials or the casual fan interaction, one thing is clear.
Bert Kreischer delivers.
“This is literally,” Kreischer said, “a dream come true.”
Kreischer swung through his old stomping grounds of Jesuit High before his Friday night show at Amalie Arena on February 17th. Kreischer played for the Tigers prior to graduating in 1991 and ascending to his current status of arena-touring stand-up comedian. Couple that with his podcast network success and his soon-to-be-released movie “The Machine,” and it’s safe to say there aren’t many hotter comics in the world right now.
“It’s been one heckuva ride,” he said.
Click on the image below to see our video interview with The Machine!
Kreischer and his entourage slipped in through the Jesuit gates to little fanfare. The comedian kept this – almost ironically – low key. A handful of people in tow and the Tigers’ team made up the bulk of the audience. He toured the Hall of Fame section quietly, pointing out some of the alumni he played with, who now adorn the walls. Kresicher then popped into the locker room and immediately broke into his colossal persona of half carnival barker/half wheezing time bomb.
“I have the best story right now,” he said between breaths.
The tale involved something about an inspirational shirt designed for the team during his Tigers’ tenure and its questionable math and… well, who cares. It was Bert Kreischer on 11. Belly-laughing and giggling like he too was 17, morphing into his days holding court in Jesuit’s locker room, just like the current Tigers who were filtering in to witness the impromptu show.
The homecoming continued out to the field where he was presented a Jesuit baseball jersey. Kreischer made time for everyone – and I mean everyone.
“If you want a picture, just come on up and ask,” he said. “It’s totally cool.”
Jesuit hitters began lacing balls all over the field in batting practice, likely juiced to impress the Big Man. Then the calls started coming in from those shagging balls in the outfield.
“We want The Machine,” could be heard from afar.
True to his on-stage calling card, Kreischer ripped off his Lightning hoodie and stepped into the right-handed batter’s box shirtless. I asked him what the over/under was on home runs today.
“Uh, zero,” he said.
He banged a few off the top of the cage, then some grounders leaked out towards short before balls started reaching the outfield. He was getting loose.
“I seriously could do this all day long,” Kreischer said.
The smile got bigger, the focus got tighter and on his last swing, the hometown boy, who was about to be whizzed off to perform before a sold-out Amalie Arena crowd, lifted one deep to left.
“That’s got a chance,” he said.
The ball disappeared just over the green padding, but it’s likely when Kresicher told the story later that night to his friends it was out by 100 feet. Easy. In 10 years time it will have landed somewhere on Armenia Avenue.
“That’s how it’s done boys,” Kreischer screamed while circling the bases.
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Kresicher had come full circle. He was back home where it all started and the smile on his face told all those who bore witness this was indeed not a stage show. Just a Tampa kid soaking in a day at the ball field like when he was a teenager. And doing what he does best.
Deliver.
