That was my first reaction when I read the article on SI.com, highlighting the decision of 16 year-old Bryce Harper, a baseball prodigy from Las Vegas to forgo his last two years of high school. His plan: enroll in a community college in hopes of entering the 2010 MLB draft.
Sports Illustrated bestowed the honor of “Baseball’s Chosen One” on Harper in a recent magazine cover story. The article listed Harper’s stats, and included numerous scouts’ comments on how “mature and ready” he was for the Majors.
Some may argue that he should be spending his teenage years hanging out with his friends and having fun, rather than worrying about a hurry-up pro career. You know, living the well-balanced life. Well, he does. Harper is an avid snowboarder and played football up until his freshman year. There are just some athletes that love their sport so much they cannot live without it. Remember the shirts that said, “(insert sport) is life!”? For Harper, “Baseball is Life.”
Making fans an integral part of the equation is essential in having a successful career in professional sports. What team would want to sign a player without any fans? At U/S Sports Advisors, we advise our clients that fostering a strong relationship with fans is of the upmost importance — Harper gets that.
In another SI.com article, a coach mentioned how Bryce would sign autographs before, after and even during games, as to never disappoint a young fan. He would literally sign until every child or fan had an autograph, no matter how long it took after a game.
Finding a current MLB player that exhibits the same dedication to his fans is a steep task. I hope Harper’s attention to fans creates a ripple effect in the majors and sets a new example for talented rookies and seasoned veterans.
Posted by Robb Barbauld
