Deny 'Til You Die. Apparantly Roger Clemens has chosen to adopt Ari Gold's business philosophy with regard to his recent inclusion in the much publicized Mitchell Report. While the report doesn't indicate a conclusive determinent of guilt, it can certainly tarnish one's reputation in the public's eye. This is the area I suspect Rocket is most concerned about. Until recently he was being praised by writers, fans, and sportscenter anchors as the greatest pitcher who ever lived. With over 300 wins, 4000 strikeouts, 7 Cy Youngs (a record), an MVP, 11 all-star games, a pair of 20 strikeout games, and 2 world series rings, who's to argue?
Well, now many people choose to argue, much the way they did when the incomparable Barry Bonds became widely suspected of steroid use. Humans may be an ignorant bunch, but we aren't to blame. We accept the realities the world presents to us, and if the media doesn't report wrong-doings, we simply don't know about them. Major league baseball, from the higher-ups (Bud Selig) to the owners conveniently turned a blind eye when hallowed records started to fall. They were thrilled by the popularity boom baseball experienced during the summer of 1998, when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both broke Roger Maris' single-season homerun record. Jaws dropped when Bonds hit 73 homeruns just 3 years later. Did nobody think it was a little strange that a record which had stood for 37 years was shattered by 3 different men in a span in the span of as many years? And yet the visual evidence was there. Don't believe me? Visit your old shoeboxes filled with baseball cards and dig out the rookie cards. Skinny McGwire evolved into a Hulk Hogan clone, while the practically anorexic Bonds most closely came to resemble Ken Griffey Jr. after chugging the bottle of nerve tonic on the Simpsons. History has shown that production begins to decline, that bodies begin to breakdown once players hit their mid-late 30s. And yet, guys like Bonds and Clemens are hitting their peak at 40?
Clemens isn't an idiot. He's seen how reviled many of the 1990s superstars now are in the eyes of the fans. He knows that many athletes once considered first-ballot locks for the hall-of-fame now have zero chance of induction. Too many cynical sportswriters have already made up their minds for guys like McGwire, Sosa, and Raphael Palmero to come anywhere near the 75% needed for induction. He's seen what's happened to Bonds, how so many now want nothing to do with him. Remember those old debates about who was baseball's greatest, Bonds or Griffey Jr.? The results are in and Griffey's won in a landslide, self-induced animated head expansion aside. With no connection to BALCO and no subpoenas, Clemens is going with the old adage, "It's my word against their's." Unfortunately, too many precedents have been set for his word to hold much weight with the public. Afterall, Palmero sternly denied ever taking steroids on Capitol Hill, pointing an unwavering finger at anyone who claimed otherwise. That seemed to be good enough, until he became the highest profile player to test positive.
I seriously doubt Clemens will ever slip up like that, for many reasons. His career is winding down and he doesn't ever need to step on a pitcher's mound again. He wouldn't possibly risk alienating the few supporters he has left. He has a lot of pride and seems genuinely concerned about his legacy. His records and achievements alone would seem to indicate a spot on baseball's Mt. Rushmore (a really cool idea that needs to happen some day) were they not considered tainted. Additionally he has 4 sons, the oldest of whom Koby, plays in the minor leagues. I imagine he prays his sons don't think less of him nor does he want these allegations to follow Koby as he pursues his own career.
But the truth is Clemens has been the ultimate "me-first" guy for a long time. After a hugely successful tenure with the Red Sox, the Rocket posted back to back to back to back subpar seasons from 1993-1996, eventually convincing GM Dan Duquette that he was finished (some accused him of tanking). Clemens had already been pitching for 13 years and it became evident that his best was behind him. But leave it to Roger to finish his spinach (cue Popeye theme song) and off he went to Toronto, picking up 2 Cy Youngs in a short stint with the Blue Jays. Self-serving, disloyal publicity hound that he was, Clemen's next stop was the big apple for 5 years. It didn't hurt that they were throwing money at him like confetti. He won his rings and perhaps his highest acclaim, ironic since these are now the years most in question since his former trained revealed that Clemens likes to bend over and take it up the ass (pun intended). Prepared to go out on top, Clemens stopped in every major league city for choruses of rousing ovations on his endless farewell tour. But marvel that he was, he decided that he wasn't through. His body was stronger than ever and age is only a matter of mind anyway, so why not fool everyone again and join the Astros? He even had the nerve to do a second retirement tour while in Houston, soaking up the applause from Oakland to Beantown (I was never among the participants). And just as it was time to quit for good, Steinbrenner and Cashman came calling with the most insane pro-rated salary ever concocted.
Much to my pleasure, Clemen's final stay with New York backfired. But regardless of where he ended up, I take issue with the luxuries afforded him that fly in the face of of everything it means to be part of a team. Forget the money, ludicrous as it was. Clemens didn't have to travel with the team. He didn't even have to show up unless he was pitching! If Roger so desparately wanted to spend extra time with his family, couldn't he simply have retired? To my knowledge Clemens is the only player to buck the trend that you can't have it both ways. Ego and money drove Clemens to return, not that he needed more of either. But if you choose to be part of a team, than be part of that team. As a friend of mine once said in response to my telling him there's no "I" in team, "yah, but there's a me." Truer words were never spoken.
And alas we've come to the end of Roger Clemens. Was he a great pitcher? Absolutely. Did he cheat the game of baseball? Probably, though no more than several other major leaguers who chose to bend the rules to benefit themselves. And the truth of it all is that I don't care that much about the steroid issue anymore. Maybe it's because I'm sick of hearing about it. Perhaps it's because baseball could've stopped it at anytime, so I don't hold the players entirely responsible. I don't know how I'd vote if given a hall-of-fame ballot, but I do know this. If Bonds is going to be doubted by fans and sports reporters, his records accompanied by large black asterisks for the rest of time, than Clemens warrants the same fate. Roger, you've always wanted to be the center of attention. Mission accomplished.
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