Kris Bryant's Crazy Off-Season Included Surprises From Michelle Obama, Peyton Manning

The 2016 N.L. MVP had the season of a lifetime last year, helping the Cubs end their 108-year championship curse. And, predictably, he enjoyed a few perks.

Kris Byrant Reigning Champ Adidas Las Vegas 1
Adidas

Kris Byrant Reigning Champ Adidas Las Vegas 1

Kris Byrant Reigning Champ Adidas Las Vegas 1

How do you top the best year of your life?

That’s the enviable problem facing Kris Bryant, who last year became a World Series champion, the 2016 N.L. MVP, and a newly married man. But it’s a problem he’s happy to have.

“I’ve done some really cool things in my life so far,” says the 25-year-old.

Helping break the Cubs’ 108-year championship curse this past October, Bryant was bound to enjoy a few perks this off-season. Like becoming the last championship squad to visit the Obamas in the White House, fielding unsolicited congratulatory phone calls from Peyton Manning and other famous Chicago athletes, and pretty much getting a free pass anywhere in the Windy City. So life’s been good since he fielded the final out in Game 7. Now it’s time to talk about the encore.

Expectations for Bryant, and the Cubs, are sky-high entering the 2017 season. Chicago is the favorite to repeat and Bryant’s already gone on record saying he’s aiming to eclipse the 39 bombs he blasted in 2016. Can he follow-up his dream season with something even better? Are the Cubs a dynasty in the making? Can he explain what the hell Joe Maddon was talking about during the off-season?

Complex exclusively caught up with Bryant before spring training kicked off as he worked out in his native Las Vegas and shot spots for the Adidas Athletics x Reigning Champ line and its “Proving Grounds” campaign that debuts here. We talked to Bryant about the Cubs’ visit to the White House, Maddon-isms, and, of course, how he plans on topping the best year of his life.  

(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)

"He said he’s done over 50 hostings of teams winning it all and that was the first time his wife came out to greet the players too, so you got the sense they love the city of Chicago."

How wild, how amazing was 2016 and this past off-season?
Super crazy. Winning the World Series started this off-season, then obviously winning individual awards, going to the White House, and getting married, so much was going on. It was the best year of my life. That’s pretty easy to say.

It’s hard to put one thing that I really enjoyed the most. I’m only 25 years old and I’ve done some really cool things in my life so far.

Was the trip to the White House everything you expected it to be?
I actually went a couple of months before that. We got a really cool tour of it and I got a sneak peak. It was definitely an honor any time a president invites you to the White House.

Did you have any one-on-one time with President Obama?
We kind of just lined up and shook his hand and got to meet the First Lady, too. Not too much one-on-one time. But it was just an honor to shake any president’s hand.

Could you sense a special Chicago vibe?
Definitely. He said he’s done over 50 hostings of teams winning it all and that was the first time his wife came out to greet the players too, so you got the sense they love the city of Chicago. Our whole story from this year is just a fairy tale. It couldn’t have been written any better.

You’re the N.L. MVP and the prep for 2017 started a long time ago, but what changed in terms of your prep going into this season compared to last off-season?
The first thing would be, since our season ended so late, was to try and find some rest any way I could. This off-season was really busy for me. It’s such a long season so you want to make sure you’re rested for the next one. In terms of on-the-field and skills, I want to work on hitting to right field more. I did that really well in the minors. In the big leagues, they pitch you a little differently. But that’s no excuse not to use the other side of the field.

Did you set goals—the numbers you want to reach—yet for 2017? How much more ridiculous are they because the numbers you put up last year were pretty phenomenal?
My goals are always ridiculous. Half the time I never get them because you have to set your goals high. That’s what the greats do—they set their goals that are pretty unattainable at times. Usually during spring training I’ll sit down and talk with my dad, who has always helped me along the way in setting my goals, and that’s when I figure out what I want to do individually.

Kris Byrant Adidas Reigning Champ Las Vegas 2

I know at the Cubs Convention you said you wanted to hit more home runs this year. So that means you have to hit at least 40.
Forty would be a good number. Each year, I always want to improve every area of my game. I did a lot of that from 2015 to 2016.

Your manager, Joe Maddon, said the Cubs were going to be “authentic” next season. Then at the White House he said he wants you guys to be “uncomfortable.” Do you know which one you’re supposed to be when the season starts and do you know what he means by “authentic”?
I’m a little confused with it. In spring training, he’ll go over [it]. Last year, it was “Embrace the target.” As a team, we have our own sayings and he has his sayings. He’ll explain them both.

Watching Game 7, I think every casual baseball fan thought it was an instant classic. From your perspective, being in the thick of things, were you able to appreciate how ridiculous that game was?
Not during the game because you’re just caught up in the moment. But thinking back on it this off-season, it’s got to be one of the best baseball games ever played. It’s hard to argue it, on both sides. The Indians did a great job in coming back and ourselves persevering, coming back from down 3-1 on the road in Game 7. I don’t think either side disappointed. It was the best baseball game I’ve obviously been a part of.

Have you watched Game 7?
I don’t think I’ve watched the whole game, but they came out with that World Series movie and getting goosebumps the whole time watching it, realizing just how special what we were able to accomplish, something that hasn’t happened in 108 years. Goosebumps and chills the whole time.

The final out?
I’ve talked about it a ton. I still don’t know if I was smiling or concentrating; that’s one I will leave up for interpretation.

Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs Game 7 World Series 2016

Athletes often black out in certain situation and plays. Is that one that you remember very distinctly or was that a blur?
Because it was such a slow developing play, a slow roller, I had a lot of time to soak everything in and realize what was happening. I honestly didn’t think there was going to be any play on it. [Michael] Martinez, the guy who hit it, is a pretty quick runner. And we had a lefty on the mound that’s falling off to the third base side. The shortstop’s coming in. I’m playing the third base line so I didn’t think I had a chance on it. I got a good jump and the grass was wet and me slipping, I’ve talked about it so much, but it doesn’t get old to me. I remember everything about it.

How many famous Chicago athletes and other people associated with Chicago sports have reached out to you after breaking the curse?
Not just Chicago athletes. Scottie Pippen and Dwyane Wade. Pretty cool guys. Peyton Manning actually reached out to me, which kind of blew me away. I didn’t know if he knew who I was, or if he watched baseball. Aaron Rodgers texted me. Some pretty high-powered guys that have done some pretty cool things, which made it that much cooler.

Throughout the whole year the city supports us like crazy. There was a pretty good chance that any restaurant we went to was going to be free or a heavy discount. It just really shows you how much the city cares about their Cubs.

MLB is always trying to find ways to improve the game—which basically means attracting younger fans. You’re 25, so you probably have a good handle on this. What improvements do you think should be made to the game?
That’s a tough one. I think with this past year, baseball is definitely heading in the right direction. I think they could let us be ourselves more. There’s rules on the colors of cleats, and even in the NFL, too, guys show themselves through what they’re wearing on cleats and batting gloves or their arm sleeves. It just draws more attention from the fans and younger kids. When I was growing up, if I had my name on my bat or my shoes, I felt like the coolest kid ever. If kids can see that on players they idolize it makes them dream more of being on that stage one day. I think it’s trending in the right direction.

What is the Adidas x Reigning Champ campaign about?
Reigning Camp is infusing that sport and culture thing, which I like so much. The clothes they’re making is all Primeknit. You can wear it on the field, off the field. It’s really simple and classic. I love the whole idea of it. I’m certainly going to be rocking it during my workouts and a night out.

You’ve been with Adidas for years now. Why has the partnership worked out so well?
They let me be myself. And not just me. You look at some of the other athletes. You see some of their personalities through what they’re wearing, whether it be their shoes or batting gloves or off-the-field stuff. They're just supportive of the whole individuality. That’s something that attracted me. When you’re playing in the big leagues you can go with any company you want, but to be with the people at Adidas who not only care about the product but the relationships that they create with their athletes, it makes you feel more like a family. And they create some pretty cool stuff.

I had all the choices. The others were kind of pretty standard presentations, but sitting down with Adidas and seeing their spread, they just really impressed me. It was a pretty easy decision to make.

Carlos Correa, myself, and other young guys coming up. The NFL and Dak Prescott, the NBA with Harden. So many different personalities and great people. I think it’s no secret why they had the best year this past year. 

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