On Sunday, April 3, baseball returned to America. The season began with the Saint Louis Cardinals taking playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at the beautiful PNC Park on the bank of the Alleghany river as America’s pastime returned. The Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves the next day in extra innings, and their young star Bryce Harper decided to use the added media of Opening Week to express his feelings towards the emotions of the game. Last season, Bryce told reporters that, “Baseball’s tired,” and that, “It’s a tired sport, because you can’t express yourself. You can’t do what people in other sports do,” as he tried to convey that baseball lacks the fire other sports have, saying that his fellow young stars can bring the flair back to baseball that America fell in love with for hundreds of years ago. Bryce referenced Miami Marlins pitchers Jose Fernandez, saying, “Fernandez will strike you out and stare you down into the dugout and pump his fist. And if you hit a homer and pimp it? He doesn’t care. Because you got him. That’s part of the game.” Bryce finished his interview by referencing how kids are following the fun, energetic sports, and the stars of those games, such as Steph Curry with his patented shimmy and Cam Newton with his flawless and consistent dabs, and states that this is what baseball needs to regain its dwindling fan base.

After the opening day game against the Braves, Bryce Harper broke out his “Make Baseball Fun Again” hat, grabbing the media and internet’s interests immediately. Parodying Donald Trump’s campaign tactics might have been enough for some, but Bryce decided to go after the full nine by taking shots at the game. Although baseball is still a game I thoroughly enjoy, I do hope Bryce and his fellow young stars are able to install a little bit more fire, more bat flips, and more fun.