OT: Nowitzki denied opening pitch for World Series
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:16 pm
The Texas Rangers nominated Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki to throw out a first pitch before one of their home games in the World Series, but the recommendation has been nixed by Major League Baseball.
Dirk Nowitzki threw out the first pitch before the Rangers' game against the Mets on June 24.
The Rangers confirmed that they sent Nowitzki's name as part of a list of first-pitch possibilities and that MLB decided not to use him. The club did not say why he was rejected.
Unlike regular-season games, all first-pitch assignments in the World Series have to be approved from a list of candidates by the league office.
Sources told ESPNDallas.com that -- with the NBA in the midst of a lockout that has spanned 111 days -- at least some hesitation stems from the idea that MLB executives want to stand behind their basketball counterparts and have notified the Rangers that they won't bestow first-pitch honors on an NBA player.
Major League Baseball insists that the NBA's labor unrest had no impact on Nowitzki not being selected to throw out the first pitch.
Looks like the MLB is in full support of the NBA lock out, I think this is stupid, but hey. Texas could have 2 championships in one year too..