Bryce Harper to reporter: 'That's a clown question, bro' [Video]

June 13, 2012|By Chuck Schilken

Bryce Harper has Twitter abuzz Wednesday morning. But all the fuss isn't just about the monster game he had Tuesday for the Washington Nationals -- it's about what he said afterward.

One line in response to a query from a reporter in Toronto following the Nationals' 4-2 win over the Blue Jays:

"That's a clown question, bro."

Harper had just posted his second straight three-hit game -- one that included the longest home run of his young career -- to help the upstart Nationals win their fifth straight game and pull to a four-game lead in the National League East.

But all one reporter wanted to know was if the 19-year-old emerging star was going to celebrate with a Canadian beer and, if so, which one is his favorite.

Now as the hard-core journalist diligently pointed out, Harper is of legal drinking age up there, but still the young outfielder wasn't about to play along. Instead, he just gave the guy a look that could kill and then delivered what is sure to be the catchphrase of the year.

Of course, Twittersphere is having a blast with the incident. The best tweet is a suggestion from @sportspickle: "A reporter needs to dress up as a clown tonight, but only ask Bryce Harper intelligent, hard-hitting questions."

Maybe Harper actually would have given an answer if the reporter had followed it with a Krusty the Clown-style laugh. Take it from a seasoned journalist who has asked plenty of clown questions in his day -- that's the proper way to do it.

ALSO:

Andre Ethier's new world order: The contented ballplayer

Dodgers fans' to-do list should be higher Stan Kasten priority

Angels' Albert Pujols credits better communication with surge

MORE: