When you own a professional athletic team – like the White Sox, you do everything in your power to court the players that you want during the Hot Stove season.
When you own two professional athletic teams, like Jerry Reinsdorf does, you can literally use your basketball “court” (the Chicago Bulls) to get your dream free agent to notice your baseball team (the White Sox).
It appears that Reinsdorf’s crew is doing exactly that in a sly effort to get the most exciting MLB 2019 free agent to notice the greatness that is Chicago.
Bold move created buzz
In an unexpected move, someone at the United Center (where the Reinsdorf’s Bulls play) set up the marquee to feature Bryce Harper and his #34 along with the Sox logo. It looked good, too. Mike Axisa with CBS Sports shared the news that had Chicago buzzing with excitement.
CBS Sports shared a photo of the marquee:
Hey, so why was Bryce Harper's name next to a White Sox logo on the United Center marquee in Chicago?https://t.co/2C2RKiCoSp pic.twitter.com/BKRz6OrsV3
— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) November 8, 2018
It seems like #34 is on the minds of more than just the employees at the United Center. On October 30, Michael Kopech posted his thoughts about #34 on Instagram:
Where Harper lands is the talk of MLB fans all over the US. As a native of Las Vegas, pundits predict that he will choose a West Coast team like the Dodgers. If he joined the Dodgers, he wouldn’t be the star – Clayton Kershaw has that honor. Just like Max Scherzer holds that honor in Washington.
But, if he joined the White Sox, Harper would be the biggest name on the marquee. There is no denying that Harper likes the spotlight and Chicago is a huge market. It may get colder in the Windy City than it does in the City of Angels, but that doesn’t dim the spotlight. Chicago was good enough for Michael Jordan. It’s good enough for Bryce Harper, whose fame is nowhere that of Jordan’s.
Too flashy for Chicago? No way.
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I’ve read comments by fans who say that Harper is too flashy for the White Sox. Yes, he’s flashy. But, he’s exactly what the White Sox need. His flash is what makes him so much fun to watch.
Even though he’s flashy, he’s still good to his fans. I took my son to see him in Spring Training in Florida last March. Harper signed a baseball for my son – passing it back and forth through the netting that surrounds the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
We attended several games at Guaranteed Rate Field (and other stadiums) this past summer and no one signed anything for my son, despite him always asking and being very polite about it. (The new nets make it harder for fans to get autographs … but that’s for another day).
More flash in Sox clubhouse
You know who else is flashy? Michael Kopech. Have you seen his Twitter? His Instagram? His girlfriend? Imagine how much fun it would be to watch Harper and Kopech in Chicago in 2020. Sign me up for season tickets.
I’d love to see Harper become a White Sox before the Hot Stove is over. He’s good for baseball, especially for younger fans who like to see players with a personality. It also looks like Kopech is ok with getting a new number in 2019.