Detroit - The Detroit Tigers have signed Iraqi right-handed pitcher Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, to a minor league contract. Zaidi, a Baghdad television correspondent, is currently under arrest for throwing his black dress shoes at American President George Bush during a press conference.

 

“In addition to showing a promising 4-seam fastball, ‘Munnie’ has become an instant folk hero among Arabs around the world,” said Tiger owner, Mike Illitch. “God knows we need pitching and fans, so we figured why-the-hell-not?”

 


Michigan is home to the largest Arab population in the United States.

 

One scout compared Zaidi to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. “He throws angry. There won’t be any comfortable at-bats against him, I guarantee that.”

 

“My little legal dust-up should be settled soon, and I’ll be ready for spring training,” explained an excited Zaidi in a telephone interview. “I heard Dick Cheney signed up for Detroit Tiger Fantasy Camp. I’d love to get a chance to throw a few pitches at him.” 

 

Dave Dombrowski, Detroit’s General Manager, opposed the signing: “What next? The Finnish cell-phone tossers again?”

 

Dombrowski was referencing a previous Illitch idea, in which the Tiger owner directed the GM to sign the 2007 Savonlinna Mobile Phone Throwing World Champion, Tommi Huotari, to a incentive-laden contract. Despite Huotari’s Gold Medal winning cell phone toss of 294 feet, Dombrowski refused Illitch’s directive.


With an ERA of 4.90, Detroit trailed only the woeful Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers in 2008 American League team pitching.