Ask the PBA and You Shall Receive

I posted an entry the other day about PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi being slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cubs-Astros game at Chicago's Wrigley Field. Well, that event came to pass, even if it apparently didn't so much as make a blip in the media, bowling or otherwise. Indeed, I wonder how many people watching the game either in person or on TV even knew who the tall, lanky guy was who took to the mound to throw that pitch. And even if they knew who he was, did they even care the way they probably would if it were a pop star or top athlete from just about any other sport?

The PBA posted a video of Mika's pitch to their webpage soon after the fact. But I couldn't embed it here, so I wrote to them on Facebook and asked if they could create a YouTube version that I could embed. I was happily surprised over how quickly they obliged. Thanks PBA. Maybe that's one good thing about a sport not being too popular. It isn't too big to heed the comments and requests of the little guy. And there's none littler than me.

What do you think of Mika's pitch (see below)? Should he do like Michael Jordan a few years ago and quit his other job?

Mika Koivuniemi Will Be Looking for Another Kind of Strike on Memorial Day

I've posted many times that I think Walter Ray Williams, Kelly Kulick, and other great bowlers have not received the respect they deserve not only from the general public but also from bowling fans and the bowling industry itself. But at least 2010-2011's PBA Player of the Year Mika Koivuniemi has garnered enough respect in the sports world to be accorded the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at next Monday's Cubs-Astros baseball game at Chicago's famed Wrigley Field.

Koivuniemi and a bevy of other bowling stars will be in Chicago from May 29 to June 1 participating in this year's GEICO PBA Team Shootout at Chicago's luxurious 10-Pin Bowling Lounge. In the past, this competition has been held outdoors at amusement parks, but this year the PBA decided to go indoors and upscale. The action will be taped next Tuesday and Wednesday to be shown on ESPN beginning on June 25.

Given the fact that Mika grew up in Finland playing basketball, soccer, and hockey but has never so much as thrown a baseball, it will be interesting to see if he fires a perfect strike Monday night.

Here is the PBA press release about Mika.