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Nowitzki throws 1st pitch for Rangers after jumper

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki is better with the stepback, one-legged jumper than throwing a baseball. He got to do both Friday night.

When the Dallas Mavericks star went out to throw out the first in a Rangers jersey just before Texas played the New York Mets, Nowitzki carried a basketball. Just before getting to the mound, with the crowd cheering wildly, Nowitzki fell back with one of his patented jumpers and sent the ball in the direction of home plate.

After that, the MVP of the NBA finals pulled a baseball out of his pocket.

Nowitzki walked to the back of the mound and kicked up some dirt. He then used a high leg kick and threw a fastball that Michael Young had to reach high to catch.

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