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Million Dollar Arm Hunt

By LIFS December 3, 2007 at 11:06 AM

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A Florida sports management company is launching a nationwide contest to discover India's fastest pitcher in a bid to jumpstart the sport in the country.

Organizers expect 20,000 to 50,000 Indians in 20 cities to compete for a $50,000 purse, a 12-month training camp in San Francisco and a shot at a major league contract.

The contest also offers a $1 million jackpot for anyone who pitches three consecutive strikes of more than 95mph in the final, scheduled on March 9.

Jeff Bernstein, of Seven Figures, who represents the baseball star Barry Bonds, and is behind the contest told the London Times: "We noticed the Major League teams were going through tons of pitchers and never finding the talent, so we decided to look outside the country. We surveyed the world . . . and immediately thought of India. Everyone who grew up with a cricket ball in their hand has a chance of translating."

Almost a third of India's one billion population is in the 15 to 25 age group and pro baseball sees prospects of cultivating hundreds of millions of fans for the sport in the country. The company is hoping to take a page out of the success of Yao Ming, the first Chinese basketball player to make the National Basketball Association. Ying's success has generated nearly 300 million Chinese basketball fans. "If the same thing happens with baseball here, you're talking about billions and billions of dollars," Bernstein said.

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Comments (3 posted)

Mohammed ali November 24, 2008 at 11:15 PM

Hi this is Mohammed Ali. i am in 23. i have forth position in all India million dollar contest since last year. i want to participate in this contest and win this contest and rise in this field through hard work and my efficiency. Give me one more chance if you need a successful player.

Pratik Patel March 11, 2008 at 8:54 PM

Hi i am 23 years old and I heard about this on TV and this really interested me. I am looking forward to this. I am in the US. I wanted to go to India to play and compete in this game. Please email me.

ASIT BHASKER December 15, 2007 at 3:26 PM

i m 23 yrs old indian boy. i am so ambitious and hard working fellow. i have heard about your contest and i feel that i can do big in ur contest if i will get a chance. plz guide me and sent the detail to my email as mentioned.