Yesterday, reports were swirling around that the Texas Rangers were interested in having Dirk Nowitzki throw out the first pitch before a World Series game in Arlington, but MLB put a stop to that. ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that in the mist of a NBA lockout MLB officials wanted to “stand behind their basketball counterparts and did not want to bestow first-pitch honors on an NBA player.”
But the MLB has denied that claim and has allowed Nowitzki to throw out the first pitch in game 3.
MLB spokesman Pat Courtney told ESPN that MLB commissioner Bud Selig wasn’t a part of the initial decision, and no doubt not liking the backlash that followed that decision, Selig ordered it reversed.
It made no sense to me why the MLB would stop Dirk from throwing out the first pitch because of another league’s work stoppage. Last time I checked the MLB has nothing to do with the NBA.
But that’s neither here nor there. Dirk is a big-name star and recent champion in Texas, so he is the perfect person to throw out the first pitch.
Kudos to Selig for making the right decision.