‘That’s a clown question, bro’: Bryce Harper pushes back after Canadian beer question

And a catch phrase was born:

"I'm not answering that. That's a clown question, bro."

If he ever makes it to Cooperstown, that quote has to go on Bryce Harper's Hall of Fame plaque. It won't be long before we see the phrase on T-shirts, hopefully decorated with a clown in a Washington Nationals uniform asking if anyone wants to smell his squirting flower.

The question itself — would Harper, as a 19-year-old, take advantage of the lower drinking age in Canada and go out for a postgame beer after helping the Washington Nationals beat the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night — seemed harmless enough. Jovial. Not an attempt to bait him into controversy. But if you take into account that Harper is Mormon, a religion which forbids alcohol, it's easier to see how it might ruffle his young feathers (and his PR bodyguard, as well). Plus, and this might be reaching, but Harper seems to have a sense of honor about him. Not only is it against the word of God for Mormons to drink, it's simply against the rules. Teenagers aren't allowed to drink alcohol in the U.S., and even though a majority do from time to time — even crossing into Canada so they can partake legally —Harper is not your average teenager. So he's like, "Of course I don't have a favorite beer. I'm not allowed to drink." Just a thought.

Now, as to clown questions in general. It also reminds me of Prime Minister's Questions, that show on BBC broadcast from the House of Commons where bombastic Britons in parliament pepper the head of government with disorderly questions about the politics of the moment. Let's do that here, only with people dressed as clowns.

Now, everyone to their corner and come out using the phrase until it's driven into the ground.

Love baseball? Even like it a little?
Follow @AnswerDave, @bigleaguestew, @KevinKaduk on Twitter,
along with the BLS Facebook page!