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Some People are Blatantly Missing Bryce Harper’s Olympics Point, and it’s Likely on Purpose
By Nick Piccone
Published:
Bryce Harper made headlines over the weekend at the World Baseball Classic before Team USA began pool play:
“Obviously the WBC’s been great, but it’s not the Olympics, right? That’s no disrespect to the WBC or anything. But everybody knows that when the Olympics are on, everybody’s watching. Doesn’t matter what sport it is. It could be the most random sport and it’s got all of the fans watching it. I’m hoping LA ’28 happens. I’m hoping the next CBA agreement, something can happen where teams and players can come to an agreement on taking that two-week break, especially it being, you know, in our home country. It would be great for baseball. You talk about growing the game and being able to grow it at that, at the highest level would help out tremendously.”
The fact his comments are as polarizing as they seem to be – at least online – is ridiculous. We have the usual trolls who dump on Harper any chance they get finding their opportunity to do that just because he’s a rival. And, in a way, I think I respect it. I, too, am a hater. However, I don’t think I would imply Aaron Judge or Ozzie Albies had an attitude problem if they said they loved representing their country in a great baseball tournament, but it’s still not the same as the Olympics. Because it’s not. Yet:
That doesn’t mean the WBC is any less great for baseball fans.
Harper has said this before, the same exact thing about the Olympics a little more than two years ago during the MLB Playoffs:
“You talk about growing the game and that’s the way you grow it to the highest peak, you have guys who are playing in the league take that break, just like in the NHL, and see what happens… I think it would be really cool and a lot of fun.… I don’t know if they’ll ever go for it, but I would love to put ‘USA’ on my chest and represent it at the highest level. I know the WBC, and everyone loves that and it’s great for the game, but it’s not the Olympics.”
More responses:
I’m willing to bet the people criticizing Harper for his comments over the weekend feel the same exact way he does, but because he’s Bryce Harper, he’s an easy target. The fact he is advocating for MLB to allow its players to perform in the Olympics is in no way desecrating what the World Baseball Classic is. The excitement we’re seeing from players and fans alike would certainly be magnified with the added pomp and pageantry of the Olympics promotion. And while previous iterations of Team USA in Olympic baseball featured amateurs and minor leaguers, having the faces of MLB involved in something like that only helps the game.
That’s Harper’s point. People criticizing him for the comments due to the timing – while the WBC is in full swing – likely didn’t pay attention to when he said the same thing in the middle of the playoffs. There was no outcry then about dispelling the importance of the MLB Playoffs or World Series. Which is what makes the latest criticism he’s facing nonsensical.
It’s not like the WBC would be replaced, either. It’s co-existed with baseball being played in the Olympics. It doesn’t interfere with that schedule, so MLB stars could possibly play in both. Of course, MLB could allow players in one tournament or the other, but not both. But that’s a discussion for down the road.
The only criticism Harper should be facing is for his play on the field. He needs to stop chasing pitches out of the strike zone. He needs to catch up to fastballs. His defense is not an issue. At the same time, he’s advocating for MLB players to be allowed to play in the Olympics and those same players be allowed to earn as much as they possibly can without a salary cap.
But yeah, he’s got an attitude problem. Give me a break.
Nick Piccone has covered Philly sports and events for over 14 years with various outlets, including PhillyVoice and Philly Influencer. In 2015, he co-launched the Straight Shooters Wrestling Podcast. He's also a producer for Fox Sports Radio Philadelphia and the Villanova Sports Radio Network. He grew up in South Philadelphia and South Jersey, and is a graduate of Neumann University. Contact: picconenick@gmail.com