The fact that professional sports are opening at all this year is nothing short of a miracle. Part of that is thanks to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has consistently been a voice of reason guiding the USA through the pandemic.
He definitely chose the correct field to go into when it comes to "flattening the curve," though.
Fauci, who was invited to throw the first pitch at the MLB season opener, certainly flattened the curve ball.
He threw a ground ball that completely missed home plate.
Fauci, who is a baseball fan, definitely did his best and showed how one skill set—in this case, flattening the curve—does not always apply across professions.
NOBODY MAKE FUN OF FAUCI'S PITCH HE DID HIS BEST— Mina Kimes (@Mina Kimes) 1595545190.0
*runs panting in an hour late* of course dr fauci didn’t want anyone to catch anything!!!— Alexandra Petri (@Alexandra Petri) 1595547639.0
@minakimes My guess is no one is more amused at Fauci’s pitch than Fauci. Capable, self-aware people can laugh at… https://t.co/MuNq36tFl6— Bob More (@Bob More) 1595601509.0
@minakimes Its a long way from that mound to the catcher, let the person saving peoples lives have fun with his team!— Garrett (@Garrett) 1595548135.0
The puns between pandemics and baseball are endless.
Fauci, in an exchange with player David Zimmerman before the pitch, revealed he was incredibly nervous to be there.
"Okay, well don't worry about it," Zimmerman said.
"If you bounce it, there's nobody there to boo you. So, you'll be good to go."
Dr Anthony Fauci, threw out the first pitch to restart baseball. He's a doctor, not a pitcher.😁 https://t.co/aZr0js3IWP— Bill Maxwell 😷 (@Bill Maxwell 😷) 1595545512.0
Anthony Fauci’s horrendous first-pitch is what Americans need right now. https://t.co/yu8lguQcVE— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈) 1595546982.0
#BREAKING #news Dr. Fauci threw the perfect first pitch of the baseball season - he doesn't want anyone to catch an… https://t.co/NijfKlvHYM— 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 (@𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰) 1595611847.0
Fauci then stuck around to watch the game in the empty stadium.
He made light of his pitch later on to TheWashington Post:
"It went in the wrong direction. I joked around after and said I used to be a shortstop when I played ball as a young boy and I thought I was supposed to throw to first base."
@JohnFugelsang @grammyhome Dr Fauci screwed up his pitch last night but laughed about it and enjoyed the moment! Pl… https://t.co/9wWSqYr4E7— susan wilson 3 (@susan wilson 3) 1595611645.0
Dr. Anthony Fauci. Top 5 worst ever ceremonial 1st pitch, no? I mean BRUTAL. https://t.co/eJV12DNCGT— TJ Eckert (@TJ Eckert) 1595545330.0
The ceremonial first pitch thrown out by Dr Anthony Fauci...juuuuust a bit outside https://t.co/grmyfNw2nz— Anna Kagarakis (@Anna Kagarakis) 1595545248.0
Dr. Anthony Fauci's first pitch was socially distanced from home plate— Matt Zahn (@Matt Zahn) 1595545208.0
It's a nice moment of levity in an otherwise crazy and difficult year, and a nice way to make light of terms like "social distancing".
No doubt sports will undergo several difficulties as they try to adapt to the ongoing pandemic. But some semblance of normalcy is nice.