Harper

"Washington Nationals batter Bryce Harper #34 waits to hit against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning during their MLB interleague baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, June 24, 2012."

I'm not a baseball fan, I've mentioned it before. I blame my upbringing in Maryland where lacrosse owns the state in the spring.

But I've also said that I've learned to love the game over time. I do enjoy getting to the ballpark and its been an exciting season for the Baltimore Orioles.

With that said, I don't care what sport it is, it could be chess, but I am a sports fan and an admirer of gamesmen. Sure, there is a fine line of confident and cockiness, but let's face it, these men and women in the sports world are competitors and that sometimes can be a gray area.

This weekend I spent my time in the photo wells covering the the Washington Nationals taking on the Baltimore Orioles in the battle of the beltways. It was the first time I've seen the 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper play in person.

I'll go ahead and say it: The kid is such a fun athlete to photograph and watch. He has the talent, a tremendous passion and likes to take risks to put his team ahead.

I guess you can't call me a fan since I need to be an unbiased photographer, but Harper did put a smile on my face sliding into first, stealing bases and showing his emotion on the good and bad plays.

He sparked my interest in baseball and sometimes, young or old, no matter what the subject, that real love for something is good for everyone.