Rihanna and Matt Kemp Spotted Together, Dodgers Fans Everywhere Cringe

Before he was a leading candidate for the National League's Most Valuable Player award, Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp was a promising young prospect who looked like he was going to be an MVP one day.

There is also a middle part to the tale of Matt Kemp's major league career, one that most Dodgers fans would just as soon forget.

From late 2009 to late 2010, Kemp was in a relationship with pop superstar and mega-hottie Rihanna. At the time, they formed one of the most high-profile couples in sports and the rest of the world at large.

And they may or may not be through.

Per Bossip.com, we know that Kemp and Rihanna were spotted together in London not too long ago. That wouldn't necessarily have to be significant, but the story goes that they were spotted in and around a nightclub.

Which makes one go "Hmmm...."

Now, it would be great if I could offer a definitive yes or no answer to the question of whether or not Kemp and Rihanna are back together are getting back together. I can't. And to be honest, I'd rather not speculate.

But for the sake of Dodgers fans, I kinda hope that these two aren't back together. After all, my guess is that we are all aware of the strange correlation between their relationship and the rotten season Kemp had in 2010.

If you don't remember what happened last year, allow me to refresh your memory: Kemp hit .249 with a .310 on-base percentage. He did manage 28 home runs, but he failed to drive in 100 runs and stole just 19 bases.

By most standards, this wasn't really a bad season, but it certainly looked bad compared to his 2009 season, his second full year in the bigs. That year, Kemp hit .297 with 26 home runs, 101 RBI and 34 stolen bases. It was a season that established him as a budding superstar.

That's what made 2010 so disappointing. And in many ways, it's also what made Kemp's 2011 season so great. A year after falling flat in just about every category, Kemp rebounded to hit .324 with 39 home runs, 126 RBI and 40 stolen bases. He was a lone bright spot in what was otherwise a very forgettable season for the Dodgers.

To be sure, it would be unfair to chalk up Kemp's great year to the absence of Rihanna...but that's not an entirely illogical conclusion. In 2010, the perception was that Kemp was distracted, and some went so far as to suggest that he cared more about being an LA star than he did about being a baseball star.

It's safe to say that Kemp cared a bit more about baseball in 2011. In fact, I daresay it's self-evident that he did.

So, we'll see where this little reunion takes him. Dodgers fans, cross your fingers that this is all much ado about nothing.