A ceremonial first pitch is a ritual in baseball where the guest of honor stands in the pitcher’s mound and throws a baseball to a catcher in the home plate. This signifies the start of the game. Manny Pacquiao did just that before the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres game yesterday. Although Pacman looked like a golfer or billiards player with his black and white outfit, his pitch to Cy Young Awardee Tim Lincecum (who is half-Filipino) was pretty decent.
This happened during the celebration of Filipino Heritage Night at the AT&T Park San Francisco Giants Stadium where 42,000 fans were in frenzy over Manny Pacquiao. He was treated like a rock star! To think that most of the fans there were Americans, I can say that Manny’s influence has already spread around the world. Everyone at the stadium chanted his name. Everyone wanted a piece of him. Well, those who got themselves a limited edition bobblehead doll came close to having done so. Pacman is the first boxer to be honored by a Major League Baseball team with a bobblehead doll. This was also the second time he did a ceremonial first pitch. In 2005, he threw one before the Los Angeles Angels Anaheim and the Oakland A’s game.
Afterwards, Freddie Roach said,
“There’s going to be another bobblehead night on May 2. Only this time we’re going to use Ricky Hatton’s head.”
Now, that’s the kind of pitching Manny’s coach usually delivers.
Here’s the video of Pacquiao’s pitch and interview.
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UPDATE May 3, 2009: Freddie Roach’s words turn out to be prophetic as Pacquiao made Hatton’s head bobble via a stunning 2nd round knockout.
Please read my related posts:
- My Amateur Lens: Pacquiao Bobblehead When I visited Robinson’s Place GenSan’s soft opening last Wednesday, I dropped by the Team Pacquiao store owned by Filipino...
- Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton Bout | Result Forecast When Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton collide on May 2, Saturday (Sunday morning here in the Philippines) at...
- Manny Pacquiao Graces Time Magazine Cover Here’s another honor for Manny Pacquiao: he’s only the second Filipino to grace the cover of the prestigious Time Magazine...
- Manny Pacquiao is Nominated for 2009 ESPY Best Fighter and Best Play Awards Online voting for the 2009 ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Awards has already started. ESPYs as it is popularly...
- Manny Pacquiao is 2008 Fighter of the Year Yesterday in New York, Manny Pacquiao was awarded the 2008 Fighter of the Year given out by the Boxing Writers...
Tags: baseball, filipino, manny pacquiao, pacman
April 24th, 2009 at 3:11 am
I also had that observation regarding Manny’s outfit when I saw the picture on the newspaper for that ceremonial pitch. lol.
I think, next time somebody should advise Manny to wear appropriate outfit whenever he graced an affair.
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ark Reply:
April 24th, 2009 at 11:17 am
You’re right bro. Now I’m wondering who Manny’s fashion designer is or does he even have one?
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April 24th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Uy,ganda nung laruan! Saan kya makabili nian?
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ark Reply:
April 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Check mo sa eBay bro. I’m sure merong susulpot dun.
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April 26th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Sometimes it’s just impossible to figure out.
Have a great weekend…
It’s lovely here in Western New York.
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ark Reply:
April 26th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
What’s impossible to figure out?
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April 26th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
“Hakuna Matata”
hi your’s is a nice and interesting blog.
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ark Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Thank you. Please drop by here always.
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April 26th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Hope he’ll continue to inspire a lot of people, and wins the fight next week!
Go Manny!
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ark Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Let’s just hope so. Better things will come once he beat Hatton.
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May 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Bukas na laban ni pacman. Excited na ako!
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