Zoneboy
11-25-2008, 02:30 PM
Link (http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_29477.aspx)
There's little doubt American Idol has changed the landscape of television and music, turning no-names into sudden superstars with recording contracts.
Could that same philosophy be applied to big time sports?
It's already happened, as two men who never played professional baseball have been signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, after they won a reality game show in their native India.
It's not clear if Rinku Singh or Dinesh Patel will ever actually pitch in the major leagues but they're being given a chance based on what they accomplished on the Indian TV show.
The program, called "Million Dollar Arm," saw more than 30,000 people try out. The object of the game was to find gifted but undiscovered athletes who could hurl a baseball at 85 miles per hour or more. It was sponsored by a U.S. management company looking for new talent.
Neither of the victors actually won the $1 million prize but Singh did well enough to earn $100,000, while Patel cashed in to the tune of $2,500 and a trip to the U.S. But if things work out, their future paydays could be a lot higher.
Neither has has ever actually played a baseball game. They were taken to Southern California last May and mentored by veteran pitching coach Tom House on the intricacies of the game and honing their control.
Both staged their first public throwing matches in front of 30 major league scouts on November 6th and one of them - the Pirates - bit.
Pittsburgh G.M. Neal Huntington admits they're taking a chance signing such untested arms but feels there's low risk and the chance to get in on the ground floor of an untapped market. He claims to be intrigued by Patel's arm strength and Singh's future potential.
Both 20-year-olds were javelin throwers in India, accounting for their arm strength. Patel is 5'11", 185 lbs and a right hander. He hit 90 mph on a radar gun during his brief tryout.
Singh is 6'2", 195 lbs., a lefty and blew pitches by at 84 mph. Neither had ever left their small Indian villages or been to the States before this opportunity of a lifetime came to bat.
How raw were these rookies? House had to teach them how to use and wear a glove because they kept trying to catch the ball with their bare hands. They've been learning English by watching sports on TV.
But despite their obvious unfamiliarity, both have been signed by big time agent Jeff Borris, who figures it will be at least three or four years before they'll even be ready for major league consideration.
And like many rookies, they may not make it at all.
But at least they've been given a chance that few get. And they have a reality show - which is gearing up for a second season - to thank for it, while Major League Baseball has an entirely new talent pool to explore.
It means Cleveland may no longer be the only Indians in baseball.
There's little doubt American Idol has changed the landscape of television and music, turning no-names into sudden superstars with recording contracts.
Could that same philosophy be applied to big time sports?
It's already happened, as two men who never played professional baseball have been signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, after they won a reality game show in their native India.
It's not clear if Rinku Singh or Dinesh Patel will ever actually pitch in the major leagues but they're being given a chance based on what they accomplished on the Indian TV show.
The program, called "Million Dollar Arm," saw more than 30,000 people try out. The object of the game was to find gifted but undiscovered athletes who could hurl a baseball at 85 miles per hour or more. It was sponsored by a U.S. management company looking for new talent.
Neither of the victors actually won the $1 million prize but Singh did well enough to earn $100,000, while Patel cashed in to the tune of $2,500 and a trip to the U.S. But if things work out, their future paydays could be a lot higher.
Neither has has ever actually played a baseball game. They were taken to Southern California last May and mentored by veteran pitching coach Tom House on the intricacies of the game and honing their control.
Both staged their first public throwing matches in front of 30 major league scouts on November 6th and one of them - the Pirates - bit.
Pittsburgh G.M. Neal Huntington admits they're taking a chance signing such untested arms but feels there's low risk and the chance to get in on the ground floor of an untapped market. He claims to be intrigued by Patel's arm strength and Singh's future potential.
Both 20-year-olds were javelin throwers in India, accounting for their arm strength. Patel is 5'11", 185 lbs and a right hander. He hit 90 mph on a radar gun during his brief tryout.
Singh is 6'2", 195 lbs., a lefty and blew pitches by at 84 mph. Neither had ever left their small Indian villages or been to the States before this opportunity of a lifetime came to bat.
How raw were these rookies? House had to teach them how to use and wear a glove because they kept trying to catch the ball with their bare hands. They've been learning English by watching sports on TV.
But despite their obvious unfamiliarity, both have been signed by big time agent Jeff Borris, who figures it will be at least three or four years before they'll even be ready for major league consideration.
And like many rookies, they may not make it at all.
But at least they've been given a chance that few get. And they have a reality show - which is gearing up for a second season - to thank for it, while Major League Baseball has an entirely new talent pool to explore.
It means Cleveland may no longer be the only Indians in baseball.