Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki will throw out the first pitch of Game Three of the World Series in Arlington following a near-daylong controversy yesterday involving MLB and the Rangers. Nowitzki, a longtime supporter of the Rangers who threw out a first pitch earlier this year following the Mavericks' NBA Finals win, had been on a list of prospective designees by the club but did not initially make the cut. Later yesterday, news of the issue reached MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who gave Nowitzki's appearance his blessing. "The commissioner hadn't been initially aware of this, but he has no problem with Dirk throwing out the first pitch if that's what the Rangers want," said MLB Senior VP/PR Pat Courtney. While participating World Series teams have input into the selection of first pitch honorees, the final calls lie with MLB. "Dirk has been front and center at our games, and we'd love to have him involved," said Rangers Exec VP/Communications John Blake, prior to MLB reversing course. MLB said that the initial denial of Nowitzki did not have anything to do with Nowitzki himself or the NBA's ongoing labor troubles, as had been suggested in some media reports. But industry sources said that the league simply had preferred other names on the prospective list, believed to include Rangers President & CEO Nolan Ryan, Pro Football HOFer and former Cowboys QB Roger Staubach, and former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). Courtney said, "It's a nice problem to have that you get a list of 10 or 15 names and you work your way through them. We know Nowitzki's been at the games and that's wonderful. We're glad he's there" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 10/20). Meanwhile, YAHOO SPORTS' David Brown notes Baseball HOFer Ferguson Jenkins also is scheduled to throw out a first pitch at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/19). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said, "Only Major League Baseball could create controversy over the ceremonial first pitch of its championship event" ("PTI," ESPN, 10/19).
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: Selig yesterday visited the St. Louis VA Medical Center with First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden to participate in a family appreciation event and debut a new Welcome Back Veterans PSA. The visit continued an extensive three-year relationship between the league and military veterans, fueled by the Welcome Back Veterans charity, created in part by Mets Owner Fred Wilpon, who was also present. "I hope that our dedication of Game One of the World Series is a clear demonstration of our gratitude, and that you will be proud of the work we will continue to do to benefit veterans and their families," Selig told the assembled vets. Welcome Back Veterans has awarded more than $11M in grants since its '08 formation. At the event, Obama quipped, "Dr. Biden and I are happy to make our husbands jealous. We're at the World Series. Where are they?" More seriously, Obama added, "We want the country to know your stories, to know your sacrifice. Because if they know, they can't help but step up and help the cause" (Fisher). In Dallas, Eddie Sefko writes, "Strange that for the visit of first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden for Game One of the Series that there wasn’t an overreaction by Busch Stadium security." Sefko: "No bag searches. No pat-downs. No metal detectors. Basically, if you had a credential to be in the ballpark, you could stroll in with little or no security hassles. It was nice, for a change. There were, however, lots of dark-suited G-men hanging around, speaking into their collars" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/20). USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes fans "were asked to arrive a little earlier than usual" for Game 1, and "submit to airport-like security checks" (USA TODAY, 10/20).
FALL WEATHER: The first pitch temperature of 49 degrees for last night's Game One is tied for the third-coldest World Series opener since such records were kept starting in '75. The last time it was that cold for a World Series Game One was '04 in Boston. The last time any World Series game was colder was Game Six in '09 in N.Y., which recorded temperatures dipping to 47 degrees (Fisher). Meanwhile, USA TODAY's Gabe Lacques reports participants of Occupy St. Louis said that they have "found a happy coexistence" with the Cardinals during the team's World Series run. A "dedicated group of 75 to 100 people" are at the protest site two blocks from Busch Stadium for "at least part of the day, every day, with 30 to 50 sleeping overnight." For Game One, Occupy St. Louis "was planning to show the game on a projector" (USA TODAY, 10/20).
