Yankees sign Iraqi hurler.....

[Roscoe]

Yankees sign Iraqi hurler

Jonco December 15th, 2008
Shoe-throwing Right-hander Impresses Scouts

In their latest bid to beef up their pitching rotation for the 2009 season, the New York Yankees today signed Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi to a three-year deal worth $32 million.

The right-handed al-Zeidi, 28, impressed the Yankee scouts with his performance in Baghdad yesterday when he threw both of his shoes at President George W. Bush.

While neither of the shoes hit their target, both throws “had great velocity and good movement,” said Yankee owner Hank Steinbrenner.

“The first shoe was high and outside but the second one was right down the middle,” Mr. Steinbrenner said.

The Yankee boss said that he was also impressed with Mr. al-Zeidi’s fighting spirit when Secret Service agents tackled him.

“That could come in handy when we have a series with Boston,” he said

Roscoe

[jams]

I didn't know there was a farm team in Iraq.

[wtm442]

Guy has a short memory. I wonder what would have happened if he had tried that 5 years ago and aimed his shoes at Saddam Hussein.

I hope the US Secret Service guys beat the crap out of him.

[Bill Bess]

I hope they use a pitching machine to pitch his shoes into his small intestine through the colonville site. Whind-up...smack...ka ching! ...size 10...strike one. What a game.

Bill

[blykins]

I'd like to know what took the S/S so long to get there....the guy got off two shoes at the Pres before he was taken down. If that would have been a gun, it would have been a different outcome.

[Don]

Brent....., the breakdown in security, the video did not show, I think, any Secret Service personnel up front facing the audience. The agent that jumped up from the first row had his back to the audience and was facing the President.

[Roscoe]

He may be a hero to millions of Iraqis but the “shoe man” has had to spend a second night in detention, during which he nursed a broken arm and ribs as well as cuts to his face, according to his brother.

Muntazer al-Zaidi rose to fame on Sunday when he threw his shoes at President George Bush during a Baghdad press conference, missing narrowly, in apparent protest at the actions of US troops over the past few years.

His brother, Durgham al-Zaidi, said he was told that Mr al-Zaidi is held by Iraqi forces in the heavily fortified Green Zone compound in central Baghdad, where the US embassy and most government offices are housed.

“He has got a broken arm and ribs, and cuts to his eye and arm,” he said. “He is being held by forces under the command of Muwafaq al-Rubaie [Iraq’s national security adviser]." Television pictures from the press conference show Mr al-Zaidi being carried away by prime ministerial guards but no sign of excess violence.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5352043.ece

[jams]

I don't think Obama wants any of these Secret Service guys. The guy even had time to reload--that is if he had more shoes or feet.