Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Los Angeles Dodgers' eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts has diversified into a new sport, bowling, as an entrepreneur even as his season in baseball this season is yet to kick off due to an unspecified illness as yet.
League Sports Company (LSC), with its Dubai-based owner Adi K Mishra, have revealed Betts as the first franchise owner for the upcoming World Bowling League (WBL) with many details and the lineup of franchises awaited. The financial terms also remain undisclosed.
Betts revealed in an interview only last year that his mother was good at bowling and that it is a sport in which he can roll the big ball underarm quite well in a lane if not as adeptly as pitching overarm on a diamond field in his baseball career. The avid bowler Betts is buying the team with Cam Lewis, his business partner with The One Marketing Group. They have named it Team OMG.
Though the itinerary of the series is also yet to be unveiled, the three-time World Series champion Betts indicated a few through the official statement. "Bowling has always been my home away from the diamond," the former American League MVP said.
"It's a sport of precision, mindset, and community – values I've carried my entire career. With Team OMG, we want to inspire bowlers and fans everywhere... we look forward to bowling along with our team in New York, Dubai, Singapore and more exciting locations."
After queries from Aletihad, the organisers revealed that the time since the announcement has been spent on finalising the format while trying to keep it simple and TV-friendly, athlete drafts and other logistics. LSC also announced an electric powerboat racing championship – E1 series – with star names from across sports picking up team stakes.
Following similar teething problems, the first season of the E1 series concluded after a shortened itinerary with NFL star Tom Brady's team sealing the title. Big names like Virat Kohli (cricket), Rafael Nadal (tennis), Didier Drogba (football) and Sergio Perez (Formula 1) have teams in the E1 series, and a similar franchise lineup is expected now in the WBL.
Since securing a 20-year rights partnership with the International Bowling Federation in early 2022, LSC decided on a format and is calling it the "Million Dollar Roll" concept. For the players, the task is simple: three minutes to knock down as many pins as possible for a chance to win a life-changing prize.
The concept also establishes a level playing field between all participants whilst stripping away scoring-related complexities surrounding strikes, spares and last-frame score adjustments that have even left enthusiasts scratching their heads in the past.
It is not known if Betts will be a playing member of his own team. In the 2024 last year, Betts claimed that he was a competitive bowler while growing up in Tennessee. And he still bowls. The morning after his 30th birthday party in 2022, Betts bowled a perfect 300.
The announcement of WBL comes a couple of days after the Dodgers began the 2025 season with a win against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo. Manager Dave Roberts said Betts will not play in the two-game Tokyo Series because he is still recovering from an illness that has caused him to lose 15 pounds and is suffering from dehydration.
"We are here to break boundaries, unite communities, and bring bowling into the spotlight," said Mishra. "Mookie is a world-class athlete, and a true ambassador for bowling. His passion for the game and his vision for its future align perfectly with what we're building at WBL."
