J.J. Watt has invited more than just his Texans teammates to this year's Charity Classic softball game.
The four-time All-Pro defensive end invited a few other friends too, like Arnold Schwarzenegger and two-time Olympic gold medalist and Houston native Simone Manuel.
"(Schwarzenegger's) not throwing out the first pitch, no," Watt said Monday. "He's a body-builder, not a pitcher so I think there'll be some sort of handoff. I believe we're going to have Simone throw out the first pitch so that will be great. But Arnold will be involved. I'll have him talk to the crowd. You can't have Arnold come and not have him talk so we're going to have him come and just speak on the importance of afterschool athletics because he has so much experience with it and he knows how special and important it is."
Watt's annual softball game features offensive and defensive Texans players competing on opposite teams. The series is currently tied 2-2 as the event heads into its fifth year.
"It's getting very heated," Watt said. "Now guys are starting to get practice sessions in for Saturday's softball game. We start to bring softballs and gloves out to NRG to practice in the practice fields at the end of the day. Guys are starting to get in – I've noticed shipments of like – Kareem (Jackson) has at least two brand new baseball gloves and at least two brand new pairs of cleats. It's unbelievable."
The 2017 J.J. Watt Charity Classic takes place Saturday, May 13. Events kick off with a home run derby at 6 p.m. followed by the softball game at 7 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.
Check out some of the best game shots from the 2016 J.J. Watt Charity Classic at Minute Maid Park.
