Harper’s girlfriend no longer mystery
Former Green Valley High soccer star Kayla Varner got a taste of instant celebrity this week after a website identified her as the mystery girlfriend of Bryce Harper, the Washington Nationals' prized rookie.
The story went viral Thursday after the website www.bustedcoverage.com pieced together photos and Twitter postings that appeared to link the two.
The photos, some of her and Harper and others of her in bikinis with girlfriends, apparently came from her Facebook page, which is marked private.
A 5-foot-5 sophomore forward at Brigham Young University, Varner was Nevada's high school soccer Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011.
"Off to DC to see my boo" (which was followed by a smiley face next to a heart), she tweeted Aug. 17 under a photo that showed a Los Angeles-to-Washington, D.C., plane ticket with her name and flight information.
She added, "#itsabouttime."
That weekend, Harper hit one of his 22 home runs that have put him in the mix to win National League rookie of the year.
Harper, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2010, turns 20 on Tuesday. He put up some of the best regular totals for a rookie in 45 years.
Harper has struggled in the postseason, however, going 1-for-18 (.056) while battling a 100-degree-plus fever that originally was believed to be strep throat.
The Nationals tied their best-of-5 series with St. Louis at two games on Thursday on a home run by Jayson Werth for a 2-1 victory. Harper was in the on-deck circle.
In another development, author Rob Miech is adding a chapter to the book on Harper that was titled "The Last Natural."
Miech, who spent a year following Harper's exploits as a 17-year-old playing at the junior college level for the College of Southern Nevada, said the book is being edited down and renamed "Phenom: The Making of Bryce Harper."
It will be released during spring training.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon on Dec. 2 is looking for a celebrity couple to take part in a three-minute run-through ceremony on the Brooklyn Bridge in front of New York-New York. Nearly 100 couples get married or renew their vows each year in the "Only in Vegas" experience. Organizers want a celebrity couple to participate in the race and either exchange or renew vows. Las Vegas' "running reverend" Jaime Firzlaff will be officiating.
SIGHTINGS
Michael Buble, at Elton John's "Million Dollar Piano" show (Caesars Palace) on Thursday. ... Southern Wines co-founder Larry Ruvo and his wife, Camille,came away from Cee Lo Green's Christmas special taping on Wednesday at Planet Hollywood Resort with a wedding anniversary keepsake. They had Rod Stewart sign a copy of the sheet music for his 1977 hit "You're in My Heart." It was the Ruvos' wedding song on April 7, 1990, at The Mirage. Stewart sang "Merry Christmas, Baby" for Green's Christmas show. It's on Stewart's upcoming Christmas album, his first.
THE PUNCH LINE
"I feel bad for Lindsay (Lohan). But it's time to stop blaming her mother. We should blame her grandmother for the way her mother turned out." - Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
