Rock 'N' Fire Obama

President Obama is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at tonight's All-Star Game in St. Louis tonight, the first First Pitcher at the Midseason Classic since Ford.

Obama will become the fifth president to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star Game, but the first in 33 years. He is following in the footsteps of Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford.

Asked about plans to practice before the game, Obama said Tuesday, "I want to loosen up my arm a little bit."

"The last time I threw a pitch was at the American League championship series, and I just wanted to keep it high," the president said of his opening pitch at the 2005 Chicago White Sox-Anaheim Angels game.

"Now, there was no clock on it. I don't know how fast it went. But if it exceeded 30 miles per hour, I'd be surprised. But it did clear the plate," he said.

Naturally, if you think he can clear the plate, the sports world is already buzzing over it...and taking action at the betting window.

“Given Obama’s well-known athletic ability, I felt that he has as good of a shot as anyone to get the ball across the plate,” said Richard Gardner, sportsbook manager for Bodog, which is listing the bet.

“Past celebrities have crumbled under the pressure of 45,000 people watching them throw the first pitch, but Obama has experience in front of crowds, so I don’t think this will be a problem.”

The maximum bet Bodog is taking is $100 and 80 percent of the action is currently on “caught in air.” For what it’s worth, Bodog says that everything is off if the ball is dropped by the catcher.

Hey, just as long as Obama doesn't come off looking like Cincy Mayor Mark Mallory...

We're still looking for that damn ball 3 months later.