On March 20, fans everywhere can read an interesting article in GQ that goes into a little more depth about the Bryce Harper most people don’t know. Harper is one of most interesting players in the game today.
The Nationals’ Harper is cocky, ornery, foul-mouthed and has one of the most violent swings baseball has ever seen — he seems to have emerged fully formed to piss off the baseball establishment. He is also exactly what baseball needs!
GQ caught up with the 19-year-old phenom in an interview for the magazine’s 2012 MLB Preview Package and chatted with him about his bloodthirsty approach to baseball, his taunts and what he misses most about being a “kid.” As an added bonus, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt weighed in on Harper’s approach to the game.
Harper on how he plays baseball: “I want to play the game hard. I want to ram it down your throat, put you into left field when I’m going into second base.”
… on what he misses most about being a “kid”: “Playing football … I’m getting chills just thinking about it. That first knock of the game, you are going on kickoff and you are just trying to smack somebody just as hard as you can. That’s how I play baseball. I want to hit you. I want to run your ass over. Sorry.”
… on blowing a kiss at an opposing pitcher in a minor league game: “It was an ‘eff you’ from the mouth.”
Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt on Harper: “I would think at some point the game itself, the competition on the field, is going to have to figure out a way to police this young man.”
To read GQ’s full interview with Harper, please visit: http://www.gq.com/sports/