Harper embracing other DC teams

Photo by USA Today

As Bryce Harper moves through his first full season as a professional athlete in Washington, D.C., he is starting to embrace the other sports teams in town. He sat down with Comcast SportsNet on Wednesday for his weekly one-on-one interview wearing a customized D.C. United jersey, a Black-and-Red No. 34 kit with ‘Harper’ on the back.

The Nationals star says he plans to start attending games of other Washington teams.

“They just sent [the jersey] to us,” he said. “Of course I’m going to rep anything I can from the D.C. area. I’m very excited to see them play, maybe sometime soon.”

Harper is one of several young superstars playing in D.C. right now. Over the last few years the city has seen a wave of young talent be drafted by local franchises, including Robert Griffin III and John Wall. 

Harper is aware of his place in that mix and is excited to be a part of it.

“I always want them to win. It’s something that you do when you’re in a town that has a lot of teams coming up,” he said. 

“The Wizards, they just signed John Wall to an extension, that’s huge for them. Of course the Redskins have RG3 and [Alfred] Morris, they don’t know who I am, but…”

Zimmerman gives advice to Wall on 1st pitch

Photo by USA Today

Given a chance to throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park as a rookie in 2011, Wizards point guard John Wall made one of the worst attempts in ceremonial first pitch history. That may not be official, but most would probably agree. He spiked the ball just a few feet in front of the mound and embarrassment ensued.

Here is how he described the unfortunate showing when reflecting on it this week:

“I tried to throw a bullet like I was really Strasburg or somebody & it didn't work,” he said. 

On Thursday Wall will have a chance for redemption before the Nats game against the Chicago White Sox and he says this time he will just try and lob it in to home plate. 

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was asked to offer some advice to Wall before his second try.

“I don’t know if I can help him with what he did last time. That’s a pretty tough fix,” Zimmerman said.