One shouldn't. I just wanted to get your attention.

I was prompted to write this after reading the following particular comment to this recent SI.COM posting ("Cubs' wanna-be tough guys embarrass sport and themselves") on the Cubs behavior on brawl night (Thursday night's game):

Harper's an ass! That showboating punk is gonna be a target his whole career!

It got me to thinking about the reasons for negative comments about Harper, sometimes hateful ones, coming from some baseball fans. Here are the reasons I came up with:

1. Harper's aggressive play sometimes out and out embarrasses the opposition and their fans. Stealing home on a pickoff play to first, taking second base on routine singles to the outfield, and scoring from third after being looked back on a fielder's choice play to first on the batter, are some examples. He plays a lot like Jackie Robinson played. It gets under people's skin who have to play against him.
2. His youth. Some folks just cannot get their head around his talent at 19 years old. Its ‘unfair' that he is this good at 19, so let's denigrate him on a personal level.
3. Envy. I really wish he was on my team, but the Nats have him for many years. Well, crap on them and him.
4. The publicity he has gotten, which he does not control, makes some people wanting him to fail. Society tends to build up selected individuals, then some have a desire to see them torn down. This relates back to envy.

I have not seen any showboating by Harper, have any of you? The only issue one could have about him is his temper directed at himself at times.