Shortly after John Wall had wrapped up his rookie season with the Washington Wizards in 2011, the speedy point guard was called upon by the Washington Nationals to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. In case you missed it (or forgot), it did not go well.
Fast forward to the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where newly-minted Wizards rookies Otto Porter and Glen Rice, Jr. saw their first professional basketball action. During a rookie dinner at P.F. Chang’s (seriously, guys?), Casey Phillips of Monumental Sports (with an assist from second-year sharp shooter Bradley Beal) decided to give the youngins’ a recent history lesson . Phillips played the video of Wall’s infamous pitch, after which Porter and Rice howled with laughter.
Something tells us this video will find its way back to Wall, who might have some clowning of his own to do once training camp rolls around. And, if either Porter or Rice ever find themselves on the mound at Nationals Park, they’d better get the ball over the plate, especially after this display. Be careful, rooks. Be very careful.
About John Ferensen