Prior to this spectacular run through Major League Baseball's postseason, The Cleveland Indians were best known (for fans outside the Mistake on the Lake) as the team featured in the 1989 comedy Major League -- and its subsequent sequels. In the film, the owner pulls a page from the current Philadelphia 76ers, tanking games on purpose so they can move the team. Only, the lovable losers fight back, and they win. Now that the real team is winning, a major Major League star wants in on the action. That's right, Charlie "Wild Thing" Sheen wants to go to the World Series.
CBS Sports is reporting that there is a social media wave of support trying to get Charlie Sheen, who played lights-out relief pitcher Ricky Vaughn, to throw out the first pitch in Game One of the World Series. Vaughn was an erratic pitcher, mainly because he was blind without his glasses, and that style earned him the nickname "Wild Thing." Naturally, Charlie Sheen's behind this idea 100%, Tweeting:
And really, why wouldn't the Cleveland Indians do this? As a casual baseball fan who knows NOTHING about the history of the team, I admit that I immediately think of Sheen, Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes and "Fuck you, Jobu! I do it myself!" when I think of the Indians. And that's all due to Major League.
Also, imagine this scenario. Game One of the World Series potentially could be played in Cleveland (their opponent is still unknown, and the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers are still duking it out). The crowd's in a frenzy. The lights go down, and as Charlie Sheen walks from the bullpen to the pitcher's mound, this happens:
Chills!! And if the Indians end up playing the Dodgers (sorry Cubs fans), imagine the irony of throwing a cinematic reference in the face of the team that calls Hollywood home? It's beautiful.
Major League starred Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes, Corben Bernsen, Rene Russo and a young Charlie Sheen as the prototypical underdog sports losers who had no business competing in the big game, only to go the distance. Written and directed by David S. Ward, it would go on to produce two sequels on Major League II and Back to the Minors, though neither ever approached the success of the original. We'll keep you posted if "Wild Thing" Vaughn will ride again in the World Series next week.
