Alright, let’s talk about this Tony Vitello fella and that Bryce Harper boy. I heard some folks jabberin’ about ’em, so I figured I’d tell ya what I know, or what I think I know, anyway. Don’t expect no fancy words from me, I’m just tellin’ it like it is.
Tony Vitello, the baseball coach, seems like a good enough fella, I guess. They say he’s done wonders for that Tennessee baseball team. Folks are sayin’ he made ’em real good, one of the best teams ever, they say. Now, I don’t know nothin’ ’bout baseball, but if folks are sayin’ it, there must be somethin’ to it.
This Vitello fella, they say he’s got somethin’ called “self-belief.” Sounds like he thinks he can do anything, and I guess that’s a good thing if you’re teachin’ them young fellas how to hit a ball and run around. He works hard too, they say. Always workin’ with them boys, makin’ ’em better. That’s what a good coach should do, I reckon.
- Vitello is a coach.
- He works hard.
- He makes the team play well.
Now, this Bryce Harper fella, that’s where things get a bit more interestin’. See, Vitello and Harper, they’re buddies, best friends even. Can you believe it? A baseball coach and a fancy baseball player, thick as thieves. Folks say Harper wears that Tennessee jersey, even though he don’t play for ‘em. Some folks don’t like that, they say they “hate” Harper. I don’t know why. Maybe he’s too good, maybe they’re just jealous. Who knows with these young folks these days.
Harper, he plays for the Phillies, that’s up in Philadelphia I think. He’s a big deal, they say. One of the best baseball players around. But he’s got a soft spot for Tennessee, seems like. Got himself some land ‘round Knoxville way. Vitello says Harper was a fan of the team even before they became friends. Said Harper’s daddy, who used to coach him, told him all about Tennessee baseball.
This Harper boy, he didn’t even finish high school, not regular high school anyway. Left after his second year to go to some college in Nevada. Then he won some kinda award, the Golden Spikes they called it. Must be somethin’ special, ’cause right after that, he got drafted to play professional ball. First pick, mind you! That’s a big deal, even I know that.
He started playin’ for the Nationals way back in 2012, just a young whippersnapper then. Now he’s all growed up and playin’ for the Phillies. And all the while, he’s still friends with that Vitello fella. It’s kinda heartwarming, in a way. Shows you that even fancy folks can be friends with regular folks. Or maybe Vitello ain’t so regular anymore, bein’ a famous coach and all.
So, that’s the story, as far as I can tell. You got Vitello, the coach who made Tennessee baseball great, and you got Harper, the fancy baseball player who’s his best friend. And somewhere in between, you got a whole lotta baseball and a whole lotta folks talkin’. Me? I’m just here to tell you what I heard. Don’t take my word for it, go find out for yourself. But that’s the gist of it, as I understand it, anyhow.
They say baseball is America’s favorite pastime. I don’t know about all that. I prefer sittin’ on the porch and watchin’ the birds. But to each their own, I say. If them fellas wanna run around hittin’ a ball, let ’em. As long as they ain’t causin’ no trouble, I ain’t got no complaints.
Anyway, that’s all I got to say about Tony Vitello and Bryce Harper. Two fellas, different paths, but somehow connected by this baseball thing. It’s a funny ol’ world, ain’t it?
Tags: [Tony Vitello, Bryce Harper, Tennessee Baseball, Philadelphia Phillies, MLB, Coach, Self-Belief, Friendship, Golden Spikes Award]
