BIEBERMANIA HITS MARK TEAHEN… AND THEN THE JOCKOSPHERE

The last thing I want to see while checking twitter feeds all around TheJockosphere is a tweet from Mark Teahen (or any other jock) about Justin Bieber. Even something like this:

RT @InsideTheSox: #JustinBieber is scheduled to throw out ceremonial 1st pitch before 2nite's #WhiteSox game.

But that's what I saw yesterday.  And here's why I'm writing about it now (apologies in advance — but stick with me, there's a payoff, I promise).

Up until now, Jockosphere has been jock-full (a little play on words for ya there) of tweets and posts from athletes and coaches.  So, what I'm about to do will make me somewhat of a revolutionary leader.  Kind of like Gandhi.  With puppets.  (A Forgetting Sarah Marshall reference for all you bros out there). But before I totally lose you, I want to talk about everybody's new teen heartthrob, Justin Bieber.

Bieber was in Chicago to film an upcoming interview with Oprah, and was invited to throw out the opening pitch at a Chicago White Sox game.  On top of that, Bieber had seats in a suite to view the White Sox- which I guess is more of a punishment than a perk of being Justin Bieber, but that's neither here nor there.  As he tweets:

Just finished oprah rehearsals, and I'm throwing the first pitch at the whitesox game.. Let's go!

I remember when I was sixteen.  You know what I was doing- failing Honors British Literature- not kickin it with Oprah and throwin my curveball at U.S. Cellular Field.  Score 1 for Bieber.

Of course, athletes don't pay attention to this stuff... right... right Mark Teahen... ah, apparently I'm wrong, since Teahen also tweeted out:

Is it Normal 2 b mildly excited about this RT @InsideTheSox:#JustinBieber is scheduled 2 throw out ceremonial 1st pitch b4 2nite's game.

If you're a 28-year old male?  No— totally normal to be excited.  But Teahen got really into it- even having his "coming to bat song" (for lack of better words) be Bieber's smash-hit "Baby."  Reliever J.J. Putz was quite amused.

Ok @ESPY_TEAHEN came out to Justin Beiber song Baby. Taking a poll. Like it or dislike. Let me know.

I'm going with a big "like."  Big props to Teahen for getting into the spirit.  The fans of Chicago however...

Heading off to bed. So far the dislikes have a commanding lead. I hope things turn around for teahen. I personally like it.

@ESPY_TEAHEN as much as it pains me to tell you, the tweeple have spoken. They mostly dislike the song choice. Sorry buddy

What's this, the 2000 Presidential Election in Florida?  Surely, J.J. is being a putz (play-on-words number two), and is yanking our leg- there is no way this can be accurate!  People NOT LIKING Justin Bieber?  What is going on?  Teahen defends himself, by responding:

I'm gonna go with "like" like it a lot. Don't knock it til you've tried it. @JJPutz20

So, how did Bieber enjoy the game?

Awsome time at the whitesox game, caught a foul ball and gave it to a fan.. Oprah tomorrow.. Cheahhhh

HE CAUGHT A FOUL BALL!  Are ya kiddin me?  Kids' probably been to one ball game in his life and is already going Jeffrey Maier on all of us.

But Justin did the right thing when he caught the foul ball- he gave it away.  As a diehard Rays fan, I did the same exact thing last year when my Rays visited the hated Yanks at Yankee Stadium, and a member of the Rays bullpen tossed me a ball.  Thinking I could buy some good karma, I gave the ball to a young kid sitting near me.  Lo and behold, the Rays lost.  In Bieber's case, Jake Peavy pitched his best game in a White Sox uniform, and they won big.  Score 2 for Bieber.

I need to work on my curveball. Hey Im Canadian we play hockey. Haha. I love Chicago -http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=7808393

Okay- this kid is awesome.  He actually attached a video of him throwing a ball to White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, and makes fun of himself too.  Plus- he even uses one of my favorite excuses in the book- The famous "I'm a Canadian, we play hockey," ploy.

I know many of you guys out there are appalled I'd use this space to talk about Justin Bieber, but let me be the first to admit it: I'm (and supposedly Mark Teahen as well) an unabashed fan of Justin Bieber.  Some may say "I Belieber in Justin," (and that's three play-on-words for those keeping score at home).  So maybe he can't pitch, but he can sing and dance.  Oh, also, he's friends with Ludacris. And he parties at Usher's house.  Yep- he's certifiably cool in my book.