Über Desi gupshups with Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, the winners of the “Million Dollar Arm Hunt” and the first Indian athletes to sign with a MLB team. As our regular readers know, we like to keep it short, sweet and above all, “Keep it real – desi ishtyle”. So this Q&A session is being posted as-as in its unedited format. Thanks to Ash of “The Million Dollar Arm” contest for making this Q&A session possible.

The Million Dollar babas
img: via MLB.com

A few quick notes:
The first thing that will jump out to our readers is the fact that like their struggles to master the curveball, Rinku and Dinesh are also working on their English language skills. Presenting the conversation in it’s unedited format, we feel gives authenticity and brings out the real people in these athletes. The story of Rinku and Dinesh in a way mirrors those of a lot of non-desi immigrants to the US – they come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and this is truly the opportunity for them to advance themselves and their families.

They call everyone “sir”, especially their coaches (and me???!!!). Coming from rural India to Los Angeles, they feel Angelenos are good drivers, love pizza and Hollywood action movies.

Read on to learn more about these two young athletes from rural India with stars in their eyes.

Q. Congratulations on signing with the Pirates. How does it feel to be the first athletes from India to sign with a MLB team?

Thank you sir… To be first players from India makes us feel very excited. This is a very big opportunity for us and for India. Our parents are very proud but they do not understand baseball. Baseball is not played in india in our village.

Q. What has been the biggest difference you have experienced between cricket and baseball?

Dinesh not play cricket he only throw javelin. Only I (Rinku) play cricket but baseball is much harder. Very hard to pitch curveball. Very hard to throw with high speeds. Very hard to hit ball. Baseball is much harder than cricket. I think if Indian man learn rules of baseball then they like baseball more than cricket.

Q. Tell us more about life before the Million Dollar Arm contest? Where do you hail from? What was your family situation like? If not for this contest, what were your plans in life?

Rinku – I was training Lucknow at sports hostel to throw Javelin. If not come Million Dollar Arm, I would now be in India in Army. I am from Bhadoni in uttar Pradesh. My family all farmers and my father truck driver. We have hard life there, but contest change everything. My father, he no drive truck anymore. He stay at home with mother and brothers and sisters.

Dinesh – I am from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and my family too is farmers. Life in village is very hard for my family, so I hope to make some to help them too. I training with Rinku at Lucknow for Javelin also, and if contest no come to college I would be Indian Army.

Q. How has life changed since moving to the US? Culturally how is the adjustment going?

Everything has changed. In USA everything is good. We like Rules of Road… People follow rules, very good drivers. We like American food… many foods like Pizza and Pork Ribs. We also like American action movies. Not like movies in India. American movies with very good special effects and we watch many movies. Our favorite movie is Bad Boys with great action star will smith. Our house here at USC is very big and we have our own bathroom in our room, and not using fields like in village. We have very good life here.

Q. Who are your favorite baseball players and teams? Did you watch this MLB world series? If so, which team were you rooting for?

Rinku – My favorite pitcher is Cliff Lee. He is left hand like me, very good curveball. I watch him pitch (and) he throw many strikes. Favorite hitter is Jim Thome from Chicago White Sox. He is very dangerous hitter. Many home runs. I like to watch him hit. In World Series we watch Phillies play Rays. Very good games and Phillies have very good pitchers.

Dinesh – My favorite pitcher is CC Sabathia. Very strong man. He win many games and very hard to hit. We watch all games of playoff series with all teams. We surprised to see Boston losing by many runs in one match, and then we not watching. JB Sir, he tell us to watch game because Red Sox score many runs and create tie match. Red Sox win by scoring even more runs very late in match. I also like to watch Cole Hammels pitching. He has very good change up. I try and throw my change up like Cole Hammels. When he pitching in game while raining we were impressed. Very hard to concentrate and he pitch very good.

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