Bryce Harper Sportsmanship

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:
What is it about Harper?

Lets start with:

pompous, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, arrogant, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

quote:

pompous, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, arrogant, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

Sounds like the President

quote:

Originally posted by junior5:
I can't wait until he makes it to the HoF and his speech is this " I made it! Lets hear what you have to say now!" and walks off the stage.

When he makes the HOF, he will, do doubt, have matured beyond making such juvenile remarks.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
When he makes the HOF, he will, do doubt, have matured beyond making such juvenile remarks.

Bold prediction Jimmy. I'll bet your crystal ball also predicts peace on earth and a balanced budget.

quote:

Originally posted by MN-Mom:
justbaseball,

Thank you for sharing that in-person account. Most of us are only seeing a 30-second clip here and there. Your story provides a lot more context for the young man's actions.

Thanks,

Julie

I agree and I can't believe some of the comments made here by adults about an 18,19 year old.

Bingo! Give Bryce some time to grow up. If he was working full time at McDonald's no one would be saying he should act like he's 35. This is nothing more than class warfare.

My crystal ball says that in 10 years a mature Bryce Harper is going to cringe with embarrassment at the highlight reel of his youthful behavior.

Everyone grows up at some point.

Harper's character aside, I believe he will be a HOF'er when it's all said and done.

I know that sounds asinine to say about a kid his age, but I am confident the kid has the desire and focus to do so, not to mention the freakish talent.

I saw him as a 15 year old playing in one of the most competitive tourneys around against 17 and 18 year olds. He was playing on one of the best 5-10 teams in a 170-some team field and he hit 3rd and caught for them. In the 2 I saw him he hit a home run (among other hits), threw a guy out from his knees, and hit 94 from the mound.

Then go ahead and look at what he's done in his short pro career. It's close to unprecedented.

And say what you want about this young kid's character that has been under such a spotlight for the past few years. If I was in the same situation and had the same success, I'm sure I would be all this and more:

quote:

pompous, assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, arrogant, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

---------------------------

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
I agree and I can't believe some of the comments made here by adults about an 18,19 year old.

Therein lies the difference of opinion.

While age may be the reason for some behaviors, it is not an excuse.

In the time I followed my son through the rookie league, short season A, long season A, advanced A and now AA, and in my experiences umpiring A and AAA ball, I have seen hundreds of 18 and 19 year olds who, on the field, knew how to act appropriately when hitting home runs and being called out on strikes.

One of my players who graduated this spring was drafted by the Yankees. He will be reporting to Florida in about a week to go to their instructional league. He's 18 years old and was raised by some great parents who did teach him right from wrong. His dad taught him how to act on the field and was supported by our coaching staff in how to act on the field. All that being said he still does stuff on the field that he shouldn't and I have no doubt that he will still do things that he shouldn't.

The thing is he's getting better and controlling his emotional outbursts and immature behaviour. When I came on board his sophomore year he had way more than he did this past year. I chalk that up to him having the right support. There were times he did something stupid on the field and we would address it in the dugout. Sometimes it was in a nice way and sometimes it was ripping him a new one but almost every time later in the game he would tell me "My dad is going to kill me when I get home". It shows that over time he started thinking before acting but he will make more mistakes. But knowing who he is and where he comes from I have no doubt he will continue to learn and grow as a person.

My question is does Harper have this same support system in place to help him learn and grow? Has there been a decrease in situations like this or are there more or the same? I hope he figures it out and starts acting the way he should but if he doesn't then it's a shame. Maybe his talent will keep him from fading away or maybe due to immature outbursts he never makes it - we won't know until this story unfolds.

You can't judge someone based on emotional outbursts because heavens know I've had plenty of them and I've done stuff I shouldn't. I remember my first pair of Air Jordans got ruined because I got mad and kicked a can of paint way back in the day. Stupid on my part and my parents were there to tell me I screwed up and the punishment was I lost my pair of Jordans. What you can do is help them learn from the mistakes they make.

While it does make for a great discussion we really need to hold judgement until it all unfolds.

Jimmy I agree 100% with that post.

Bryce Harper received a $6.25m signing bonus as part of a $9,900,000 5 year deal. These are big boy dollars and it seems reasonable to expect him to behave like a big boy. Instead, he has a pattern of behavior most of us would find unacceptable in 14 year olds.

He has already been paid more money than most Americans will make in their lifetimes. Some people would find that humbling. In any event, being rich and famous doesn't make otherwise poor behavior acceptable.

It will make a great story if he wakes up and decides to change his ways. Then you give the guy another chance.

quote:

He has already been paid more money than most Americans will make in their lifetimes.

There's the real issue....the green eyes of envy.

I find it funny that some of the same people that have been all over a 12 yr old LL'r because of the "pose" are giving Harper a "kitchen pass". This is his "make-up", we all have one, some stink, some are embraced. He will probably have a good career, but, will also be remembered as having an attitude toward teammates, fans, and baseball management, and I don't find those attributes of a future role model. People can sit back and give him a pass because of his youth but we need to remember that he has a posse of resources that should be leading him the right way and he seems to be ignoring the suggestions that would repair his public image.

Most 18 yr players start learning to be professional baseball players in complex ball, short season and work their way through the system.

Mr Harper is at a much higher level of baseball in his 1st yr of pro ball and plays his game using his prior experience as a HS and Jr college player.
He is learning to be a professional and I think after this season you will see a more mature(professional) player on the field.

TOO MANY TIMES THEY DO NOT GROW UP---HE IS NOT SHOWING ANY POSITIVE SIGNS OF MATURITY

quote:

These are big boy dollars and it seems reasonable to expect him to behave like a big boy. Instead, he has a pattern of behavior most of us would find unacceptable in 14 year olds.

If I acted out like he does at work, I'd get fired.

Don't be so sad

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
Most 18 yr players start learning to be professional baseball players in complex ball, short season and work their way through the system.

Mr Harper is at a much higher level of baseball in his 1st yr of pro ball and plays his game using his prior experience as a HS and Jr college player.
He is learning to be a professional and I think after this season you will see a more mature(professional) player on the field.

I am not sure that some understand the above, he's 18,19 playing with 23,24,25 year olds. I brought my kid up to respect the game and others, I am going to go out on a limb to say most likely he would exhibit the same behavior if in the same situation.

What positive signs of maturing? He's 19. Mine wasn't so mature at 19 either. Because he's a millionaire you want him to act a certain way?

I am with Tx, lots of green going on in this topic.

WHY DO PEOPLE SUPPORT HIS BEHAVIOR/ THERE IS NO EXCUSE

Harper's not having the same success in AA as he was in A ball. I wonder how that's affecting his psyche?

He's obviously not emotionally mature and stress on top of it may bring more frequent outbursts. Maybe some anger management classes would help him some.

quote:

Mine wasn't so mature at 19 either.

And neither was I! I'm thinking back now to some of the mistakes I made in the beginning of my professional career, as a 23-24-25 year old managing workers older than myself (some a generation older). I worked hard and did a lot of things right, but made a few inexperienced mistakes that make me cringe now. I'm thankful my mistakes weren't broadcast on TV and youtube, and I am also thankful that the decades taught me a lesson or two.


Julie

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:

What positive signs of maturing? He's 19.

Again, being 19 is not an excuse. Many, many 19 year olds are doing their jobs in Afghanistan and Iraq, professionally. And I thank God for them and pray for them every day.

Many, many 19 year olds play professional ball, professionally.

Many first and second year umpires are 19. Would you accept immature behavior from them? Their supervisors dont...even off the field. There are release every year for immature behavior.

quote:

he's a millionaire you want him to act a certain way?

He has chosen to work in professional baseball, in the spotlight and where his behavior matters to the public and his team. His compensation is irrelevant

While I don't think that Bryce is acting in a sportsman like manner, he is far from the only one who acts in this manner when an ump rings them up on a called strike three.

Remember this from a few weeks ago?

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ml...mpire-after-ejection

Yadier Molina is a heck of a lot older and more experienced than Bryce - and acts in a much worse manner. Yet I don't see a Yadier Molina Sportsmanship thread...

How about this one from earlier this year?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEEyArM3aZA

BJ Upton, again, allegedly older and wiser, again goes off worse than Harper...

08

How about all the sportsmanship managers show when they run on to the field to argue with an arbitrator? And all the chirping that comes from the dugout? What's the difference?

Spitters can get in the HOF now. What's the big deal?

You may not have seen threads about Molina, et al here on a site mostly dedicated to younger players, but there were many threads at other sites especially calling out Molina for making contact with the umpire four times.

Those who act like this get called out like this regardless of age, just not always at a high school/college dominant site.

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
How about all the sportsmanship managers show when they run on to the field to argue with an arbitrator? And all the chirping that comes from the dugout? What's the difference?

None, and if you look around you'll find those discussing it.

quote:

Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
Spitters can get if the HOF now. What's the big deal?

Alomar who was roundly criticized for his behavior, much more so than Harper has ever been, publicly apologized for his behavior and he and the umpire became very good friends and worked together on charitable causes. Alomar invited the umpire to his HOF induction.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
Alomar who was roundly criticized for his behavior, much more so than Harper has ever been, publicly apologized for his behavior and he and the umpire became very good friends and worked together on charitable causes. Alomar invited the umpire to his HOF induction.

He did what he did on the field. He did what he had to do off the field to get in the hall.

Let me clarify my position - I am not a fan of umpire abuse - nor do I ever want to see anyone spitting in anyone else's face.

However, I do think that having a thread with more than 3 pages of comments on Bryce getting ejected is unfair and holding him to a much higher standard given that other players act in a similar manner or worse and are not called out in this manner.

Would I be pleased to see Bryce behave in a more sportsman like manner? Absolutely.

But do I think that his behavior is getting fair treatment here? Absolutely not.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
Alomar who was roundly criticized for his behavior, much more so than Harper has ever been, publicly apologized for his behavior and he and the umpire became very good friends and worked together on charitable causes. Alomar invited the umpire to his HOF induction.

That says more about the umpire.

quote:

Yadier Molina is a heck of a lot older and more experienced than Bryce - and acts in a much worse manner. Yet I don't see a Yadier Molina Sportsmanship thread...

Is that because it happens what once a year? Once every two years? Yadier Molina has little history of this kind of behavior. Bryce has a thread because he as LONG history of it in high school, JUCO, and pro baseball.

Harper is just another player... doing what players do....
If we picked out any other minor league and followed him around with cameras I think you would see much of same thing....
Minor league players cuss, throw helmets, bats,gloves, balls and get ejected from games.They punch things, walls, water coolers, other players.
They work hard, they play hard. while they are doing it they have thousands of people watching...commenting on their ability,their looks, verbally abusing their families.... then asking for autographs. Yes they some times lose their tempers!

oh and they spit

Agree TR. Looks like there are the bleeding hearts and the hardliners. No in between opinions. Lets put the blame where it belongs, Scott Boras and MLB. Both condone his behavior because he draws a crowd and they bring in the $$$. It can be very lonely at the top.

Here is part of an interview with Tim Pahuta who is Harpers team mate.



GM: Bryce Harper nearly hit a 500-foot home run to win Friday night's game. Why don't you guys hit 500-foot home runs every game?

TP: “Baseball is *******' hard. It's not easy to hit a baseball. Plus the guy on the mound isn't bad. He's good at what he does, too.”

GM: Speaking of Harper, his ejection Wednesday drew national exposure. You earned a similarly passionate ejection earlier this season. What if your ejection was played on MLB Network and ESPN?

TP: “It's totally different. He's under a microscope. Almost everybody in this game gets ejected. If you play with passion like myself or Harper, you're going to get ejected. His was on ESPN just because of who he is. They made it seem like he was out of control. He is not.”

GM: If you could change anything about the media, what would you do?

TP: “I just wish they wouldn't make a big deal out of stuff that isn't a big deal.”

GM: Harper joined you and Alex Valdez with walk-off home runs this year for the Senators. What's the proper way to celebrate a walk-off?

TP: “There's really not a bad way to celebrate aside from showing up the other team. You don't want to rub it in because they're out there trying to win as much as you are.”

quote:

Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
Agree TR. Looks like there are the bleeding hearts and the hardliners. No in between opinions. Lets put the blame where it belongs, Scott Boras and MLB. Both condone his behavior because he draws a crowd and they bring in the $$$. It can be very lonely at the top.

Over the years, my son has played with and against some high profile players whose behavior you would also deem undesirable, young and old, have never said a word in public.

Yes these kids get paid lots of money, and will continue to forever because they are special, and in doing so will be treated as such, that is the way it is. When they are in the game, everyone else fades into the background.

There are some players that are just "different" than others, they are different from mine, yours, and just about everyone else here, they have been given a gift over others in their sport and sometimes they don't know what to do with it because they are so young. Unsportsman like, I could name you a few right now that you are familiar with that displayed poor behavior in milb (one player numerous ejections) while on the way to the top. It's just not as interesting as Harper news.

Harper will always have a target on his back, like Arod. Everything he will do will be watched, scrutinized and analyzed. I would not ever expect you or some others to understand. Same way for raising teens, it's tough, imagine the parent of a famous one in the spotlight all of the time? No different, except the stage.

Harper and his antics have gotten more discussion here than Padres first round pick Matt Bush ever did (look him up). Do I agree with his behavior, heck no way. Don't you fret about it, when he gets to MLB and everyone still thinks he is out of control his vet teammates will take care of business.

My own player has had some "words" with umpires on several occassions over the years. He's done some other stuff others may deem as unsportsman like, so he falls in that category as well? Are you suggesting that means he needs anger management? They all have been guilty, at every level. This game is about passion and the most talented have more of it than you can imagine. And it's tough on the young ones, like Justin Upton who also got press everytime he messed up. This is bringing up baby in proball, it's not easy, I would imagine. No one is saying that this behavior is acceptable.

Here is a thought for you, DK, 25 going on 26 in AA, Harper at the same level, different league, how old is he, 18? I think AA league average is 23-25. That's like a 5th grader in HS?

My philosophy has always been not to worry about the superstar that will be involved in the game until he grows old but rather worry about our own, who most likely will never be involved in that level of the game at all. It's always easy to look at others and find fault.

Some play the game with extreme passion, yet are extremely classy.

It has to do with basic character and--most important-- upbringing.

My guess is that if we could have spent a few days observing how Mariano Rivera was parented when he was five years old, we could have predicted his classiness as a pro in the spotlight.

By the same token, observing a few days of Harper's upbringing probably would have been predictive.

his teammates need to straighten the kid out