BobFinn*
10-21-2003, 09:53 PM
Oct. 21, 2003. 01:00 AM
RICHARD GRIFFIN
BASEBALL COLUMNIST- Toronto Star
Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens may announce his retirement at the conclusion of this World Series, but that doesn't mean he's done with baseball. In one man's crystal ball (albeit a little foggy), it looks a lot like the '04 Olympics are in his future and a final year with Houston, if he so desires.
The timing of this scenario seems right. There was a recent report in a Japanese publication, debunked yesterday morning in the New York Daily News by Clemens' agent, that the Rocket would start next season in Japan to prepare for a gold-medal run with the U.S. team at the Olympics. Wrong!
Think about it. If Toronto and New York kept him too far from his family in Texas, then Tokyo is out. But where there's smoke, there's fire.
When Clemens strode off the mound Thursday night after a failed three innings in Game 7 of the ALCS, fans thought that it was the swan song for a future hall of famer, the greatest pitcher of his generation riding off into the sunset. Wrong!
The Yankees rallied against Pedro and the Bambino-cursed manager, Grady Little, and the Rocket has a reprieve. Tied 1-1 in the Series, Clemens starts Game 4 tomorrow. Josh Beckett, a fellow Texan and Clemens worshipper who will start tonight for the Marlins, is considered the next Rocket. Beckett even wears No. 21 in Clemens' honour. It seems a nice touch for baseball, a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, yada-yada. Wrong!
Clip and save this column. As Jays fans are painfully aware, Clemens, since he left Boston, has always made sure he has options. Since, we're projecting two years ahead and the Rocket is busy with the Marlins; he will not be able to confirm or deny any future scenario.
Remember how Sherlock Holmes would postulate some out-of-left-field solution to a mystery and, just as everyone was saying bullspit, he would explain to Dr. Watson the clues and the deductive reasoning leading to his conclusions.
Like Holmes, I will now explain my theory on what fuels the Rocket. (Note: Even my personal Moriarty, David Wells, calls me "Dick." I believe it's for my sleuthing ability.)
Think about it. Clemens already has five Cy's, 4,000 Ks, 300 wins and a World Series ring, guaranteeing his place in Cooperstown. Next he wants an Olympic gold in Athens next summer, so he must retire from the Yankees. Unattached, he will be able to join the Olympic team from day one. His off-season goodwill trip to Afghanistan ensures his status as a patriot. They can't refuse his Olympic request, if that's what he wants.
Remember, the reason Clemens is retiring is to spend more time with family. He's in the best shape of his life, finishing '03 with a 15-7 record in 30 starts. If he signed with the Astros for one year in '05, plus a player option (he would be 43), he could live at home and have his sons with him at the ballpark every day. Nolan Ryan returned to Texas at the end of his career, retiring at 46. Clemens pays close attention to the great ones.
Astros owner Drayton McLane is a friend of agents Randy and Allan Hendricks of Houston. McLane has been trying to afford the Rocket since '99, but the Yankees outbid him. Two years hence, with an Olympic medal around his neck, Clemens would be willing to sign on as a third or fourth starter in the Astros rotation to help his hometown finally reach the pinnacle. Rocket's price would be around $5 million (U.S.) for one year, finally in the price range of the 'Stros.
If that Olympic/Astros/World Series scenario happened, Clemens would be as famous in Texas as Davy Crockett. Sources close to the Astros insist McLane will not give up even if Clemens does retire this year.
Even the Babe didn't finish his career in New York.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1066687810585&call_pageid=969907739730&col=970081600908
RICHARD GRIFFIN
BASEBALL COLUMNIST- Toronto Star
Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens may announce his retirement at the conclusion of this World Series, but that doesn't mean he's done with baseball. In one man's crystal ball (albeit a little foggy), it looks a lot like the '04 Olympics are in his future and a final year with Houston, if he so desires.
The timing of this scenario seems right. There was a recent report in a Japanese publication, debunked yesterday morning in the New York Daily News by Clemens' agent, that the Rocket would start next season in Japan to prepare for a gold-medal run with the U.S. team at the Olympics. Wrong!
Think about it. If Toronto and New York kept him too far from his family in Texas, then Tokyo is out. But where there's smoke, there's fire.
When Clemens strode off the mound Thursday night after a failed three innings in Game 7 of the ALCS, fans thought that it was the swan song for a future hall of famer, the greatest pitcher of his generation riding off into the sunset. Wrong!
The Yankees rallied against Pedro and the Bambino-cursed manager, Grady Little, and the Rocket has a reprieve. Tied 1-1 in the Series, Clemens starts Game 4 tomorrow. Josh Beckett, a fellow Texan and Clemens worshipper who will start tonight for the Marlins, is considered the next Rocket. Beckett even wears No. 21 in Clemens' honour. It seems a nice touch for baseball, a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, yada-yada. Wrong!
Clip and save this column. As Jays fans are painfully aware, Clemens, since he left Boston, has always made sure he has options. Since, we're projecting two years ahead and the Rocket is busy with the Marlins; he will not be able to confirm or deny any future scenario.
Remember how Sherlock Holmes would postulate some out-of-left-field solution to a mystery and, just as everyone was saying bullspit, he would explain to Dr. Watson the clues and the deductive reasoning leading to his conclusions.
Like Holmes, I will now explain my theory on what fuels the Rocket. (Note: Even my personal Moriarty, David Wells, calls me "Dick." I believe it's for my sleuthing ability.)
Think about it. Clemens already has five Cy's, 4,000 Ks, 300 wins and a World Series ring, guaranteeing his place in Cooperstown. Next he wants an Olympic gold in Athens next summer, so he must retire from the Yankees. Unattached, he will be able to join the Olympic team from day one. His off-season goodwill trip to Afghanistan ensures his status as a patriot. They can't refuse his Olympic request, if that's what he wants.
Remember, the reason Clemens is retiring is to spend more time with family. He's in the best shape of his life, finishing '03 with a 15-7 record in 30 starts. If he signed with the Astros for one year in '05, plus a player option (he would be 43), he could live at home and have his sons with him at the ballpark every day. Nolan Ryan returned to Texas at the end of his career, retiring at 46. Clemens pays close attention to the great ones.
Astros owner Drayton McLane is a friend of agents Randy and Allan Hendricks of Houston. McLane has been trying to afford the Rocket since '99, but the Yankees outbid him. Two years hence, with an Olympic medal around his neck, Clemens would be willing to sign on as a third or fourth starter in the Astros rotation to help his hometown finally reach the pinnacle. Rocket's price would be around $5 million (U.S.) for one year, finally in the price range of the 'Stros.
If that Olympic/Astros/World Series scenario happened, Clemens would be as famous in Texas as Davy Crockett. Sources close to the Astros insist McLane will not give up even if Clemens does retire this year.
Even the Babe didn't finish his career in New York.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1066687810585&call_pageid=969907739730&col=970081600908