"I'll Confess To Being Somewhat Intimidated," Says Actor J.K. Simmons
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - A Detroit native making it big in Hollywood came back home to play a big part in Opening Day.
J.K. Simmons, named best supporting actor in the film Whiplash will live a role most kids who grew up in Detroit could only dream of ... being on the pitchers mound for the Tigers.
WWJ's Ron Dewey asked Simmons which event was bigger; winning an Academy Award or throwing out the first pitch on Opening Day for the home team?
"It's awful close," said Simmons about the excitement."I'll tell you when I got the call, that they'd asked me to do this - it was a gigantic honor and I will confess to being somewhat intimidated.
"Since the last 30 or 40 years of my athletic career has been limited to softball -- I don't know if I can get the pill 60 feet 6 inches or not but we'll see."
Simmons is also part of a fundraiser for one of his favorite local charities, the Neighborhood Service Organization, offering homeless recovery, addiction treatment and youth programs.
"When I watch the Tigers broadcasts and saw some ads for the NSO and learned a little bit more about them and the wide range of services they provide from the Bell Building to the services for disabled kids - it's just an organization that does a lot of good in Detroit," said Simmons.
The game's official first pitch is scheduled at 1:08 p.m. Monday as Detroit starts a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins.
Simmons portrayed the Tigers manager in the 1999 film "For Love of the Game" and received an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in "Whiplash."
The Four Tops will sing the national anthem. The legendary Motown group also performed the national anthem at Comerica Park before Game 3 of the 2013 American League championship series.
