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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bryce Harper
Thursday, June 14, 2012 | 11:01 a.m.
TORONTO — Bryce Harper's comebacks look ready for the big leagues, too.
The 19-year-old Washington Nationals outfielder quipped "That's a clown question, bro" to a Toronto TV reporter who asked if he planned to take advantage of Canada's lower drinking age after belting a long home run in a win over the Blue Jays.
For a brief time, the highest trending topic on Twitter was Harper's response: "That's a clown question, bro." The outfielder's name was also among the site's most popular subjects.
Twitter users have been reformulating the phrase to fit different contexts, too.
In Ontario, the drinking age is 19, not 21 as in the United States. Following the game, a reporter asked Harper whether he planned to celebrate his huge homer with a beer, and what his preferred brand would be.
Harper is a Mormon, a religion that forbids alcohol. A Nationals PR staffer suggested the reporter try a different line of questioning, but Harper was ready.
"I'm not answering that," Harper said. "That's a clown question, bro."
Sure enough, by Wednesday morning, online retailers were offering T-shirts emblazoned with Harper's comment, while fans far and wide were posting tweets about the latest baseball catchphrase.
Sorry, didn't know everyone knew or even had to know he was Mormon. Maybe he should wear a sign, so that people won't forget. Not up to speed with Mormonism, but can someone point out where in the book of Mormon it says "ye shall be able to act like an a$$ha+"?
All he had to say is something like, "I'm not a drinker"... got any baseball questions?"
Instead he gives it that snarky response... Bryce really has an opportunity to be something BIG, his talent is incredible, but he's kind of a jerk. I really want to like him, but it's a struggle. He needs a PR person to help be likable. I can see him on cereal boxes, big shoe contracts, etc... but only if he's likable as well as a talent.
Of course, he could say to hell with that... I just want to be a baseball player, have a great career and win some championships. Charles Barkley proved you don't have to be a role model to be a successful athlete.
I think the kid (a 19 year old kid) handled himself pretty well. I'm just wondering how many times he's watched Bull Durham. It almost seems like Crash Davis has taught him how to handle interviews; "You're gonna have to learn your cliches. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends." Although "that's a clown question bro" seems more like it was taught to him by Justin Bieber.
When I take someone fishing and ask them if they want a cold one and they respond Thats a Clown Question Bro, I would hand him one.
That's a clown comment, Bryce.
I've been following Harper for a couple of years now and didn't know he was Mormon so ya can't expect a Toronto reporter to know.
Besides, I know many Mormons who will have a beer with you (U of U fans at the Mountain West Tourney, for example) but are probably considered jack-Mormons by the BYU crowd.
So, if Bryce is such a strict Mormon, I suppose he'll be going on a 2-year mission soon, eh? Yeah, right...
Hey Bryce what kind of whisky do you like? Thats a Crown question Bro.
I just read a great book on Bryce called "The Last Natural" by Rob Miech - After reading this book, It is easy to understand where Bryce is coming from.