Probably, but I had no idea about the reference beforehand, and the "coconut" reading is still extremely unfortunate to say the least.

Which is to say that what they intended doesn't matter in the slightest; it's how it's read that matters. I'm sure a lot of people will take the bowling-ball reading (or an assassination reading, as soneone else has pointed out) but that also trivializes and denigrates the racial-slur aspect - a classic invisibilization effect.

Possibly I'm just a congenital non-bowler.