Experts Say Country Probably Made Up On The Spot

Reds slugger Joey Votto, in a game of clubhouse one-upsmanship that went too far, invented an entire country out of whole cloth, said teammates at yesterday's All-Star Game.

The incident began Tuesday afternoon, when National League All-Stars Pablo Sandoval and Miguel Montero were reminiscing about growing up in Venezuela. "I think Joey heard us and wanted to be part of it, to feel like he was one of the guys," Sandoval said.

"But it got kind of weird, with him making up more and more outlandish details about 'Canada,'" Montero added.

"We all thought he was goofing around," said Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, "but then he became really insistent, yelling crazy stuff like, ‘We fought in both World Wars!’ and ‘We’re on your northern border!’ and all this other messed-up nonsense. It was really uncomfortable."

"I have a letter from our Prime Minister," Votto alleged, eliciting snickers from the assembled All-Stars.

"Yeah, and I suppose you have a queen who bosses you around, too," joked Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder.

At one point, Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday asked Votto "What does your flag look like?"

"It has a maple leaf on it," Votto replied, to gales of laughter from players and reporters alike.

"I tried to keep it together, but when he said that thing about the maple leaf, I just lost it," said San Francisco's Brian Wilson.

"Seriously, I think that guy might have mental problems," Wilson added.