Chosen one? Well, one SI choseI have only one prediction about the future of Bryce Harper, the Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. High baseball wunderkind wun·der·kind n. pl. wun·der·kin·der 1. A child prodigy. 2. A person of remarkable talent or ability who achieves great success or acclaim at an early age. . HeÕs never gonna see another fastball. Not after Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated is the largest weekly American sports magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. It has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men, 19% of the adult males in the country. put him on the cover of its magazine this week. ItÕs not like he was getting good pitches to hit, anyway. But guys — or, in his case, 16-year-old high school sophomores — who get their picture on the front of Sports Illustrated do not get to whack at belt-high fastballs. They get their patience tested with slow curves and changeups that may float tantalizingly tan·ta·lize tr.v. tan·ta·lized, tan·ta·liz·ing, tan·ta·liz·es To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach. close to home plate, but seldom over it. Then, if they can develop the discipline of a Marine drill instructor, they trot down to first base. Chicks dig the long ball. IÕm not sure how they feel about semi-intentional walks. A generation ago there was a slightly older baseball wunderkind named Clint Hurdle Hurdle did not become that yearÕs phenom. He did not become next yearÕs phenom, or any year after thatÕs phenom. In five big-league seasons, Hurdle batted .259 with 32 home runs and 193 RBIs. ItÕs hard to become a phenom when you see a steady diet of slow curves and changeups that are wide of the strike zone. I have this theory that had they put Clint HurdleÕs picture in the Scorecard section or in Faces in the Crowd instead of on the cover, he might be in Cooperstown. Harper is the 11th high school athlete to be a Sports Illustrated cover boy (or girl). Some, as you will read in the sidebar, have gone on to achieve greatness. Some had solid pro careers. A couple flamed out, victims of the Sports Illustrated jinx jinx n. 1. A person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck. 2. A condition or period of bad luck that appears to have been caused by a specific person or thing. tr.v. . How else do you explain young Jon PetersÕ rotator cuff rotator cuff n. A set of muscles and tendons that secures the arm to the shoulder joint and permits rotation of the arm. Also called musculotendinous cuff. going poof! before he threw even one pitch in college? Only time will tell if Bryce Harper will go on to the superstardom predicted for him. But of all the high school stars IÕve had the privilege of watching over the years, I canÕt think of one who has a better chance. My copy of SI arrived today. I canÕt decide whether to give it to BryceÕs dad, Ron, to send to one of the relatives, or have The Kid sign it and hang it on the wall. Right now, IÕm leaning toward the latter. Ron Kantowski can be reached at 259-4088 or at ron@lasvegassun.com. Read Ron KantowskiÕs blog, ÒNow and Then,Ó at www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/now-and-then. 
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