http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...for_roger_clemens_spring_fling_with_astr.html For Roger Clemens, spring fling with Astros looks over BY CHRISTIAN RED DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Tuesday, January 13th 2009, 10:27 PM The Roger Clemens media circus won't be around when the Houston Astros begin spring training next month. That's because Astros owner Drayton McLane - a longtime Clemens supporter - all but ruled out the Rocket returning to pitch to minor leaguers, like Clemens did last year. "He kind of came on his own last year and I thought that presented too much confusion, with all the media around these 19- to 25-year-olds," McLane told the Daily News Tuesday. "That's putting a lot of pressure on these young men. As far as pitching to minor leaguers this year, I'd have to sit and talk with him, but I think most likely not." When Clemens arrived in Kissimmee last February, the minor-league portion of Osceola County Stadium morphed into a media frenzy. Clemens was pitching to minor-leaguers - including his oldest son Koby, a Houston farmhand - on Feb. 27 when Congress handed up a criminal referral to the Justice Department, kicking off a perjury investigation of the seven-time Cy Young winner. A grand jury has been convened in Washington to consider evidence and hear testimony on Clemens, the next phase in the perjury probe. Clemens, 46, pitched three seasons for the Astros (2004-06) and part of his contract with the club included a 10-year, personal services contract that kicks in once he retires. Clemens has not officially retired and last pitched in the majors in 2007, with the Yankees. McLane said he has not made any decision on Clemens' personal services clause, because the Rocket has not given any indication he's done with baseball. "(The clause) would not go into effect until he's ready. And then I'd talk with him and Alan and Randy Hendricks (Clemens' agents). Neither Alan or Randy has contacted me in the last two years," said McLane. "We'll let the case develop, but I haven't yet pursued that avenue (of voiding the personal services clause)." McLane said he expected Clemens would come to watch Koby play. The elder Clemens went to many of Koby's Salem Avalanche games last summer.
i would never condone clemens' conduct, not as a player and certainly not his reaction to the mitchell report... but i've never understood or agreed with MLB's decision to name names in the mitchell report - what did it accomplish other than legitimizing a document that didn't really need legitimizing? i don't feel sorry for clemens, per se - much too much of this is the bed he made himself. at the same time... has naming clemens (or any of the others) had even a remotely positive impact on... well, anything? did it bring about sweeping reform? usher in a new era of baseball? did it allow players to shed their burden and move into a new life? the names felt witch hunt-y; unnecessary; it's turned a retired player who helped build MLB's legacy into a pariah, even in his own hometown - who benefited from that? i wish clemens had handled it better. but more than that, i wish the damn thing had never mentioned names at all.
my lord, i had no idea we would agree on something that otherwise was so divisive here for a while. i agree entirely. i never understood the purpose of it...and felt a lot of it was MLB taking the shared blame away from itself. they knew the media focus would be all about the names.
I think we can forgive and move on. Mind you this guy stood up my 99' highschool art class by not showing up to his own house! i'll never let that go. =) Is it the steroids or his affair with the singer that bothers Mcclane? I'm still more upset at the owner for not standing up to the league during Ike week.
I understand that. And my thoughts really aren't born out of great sympathy for Roger. It's more just the approach that MLB took.
I'll third Ric and Max's sentiments, and I'll add another echo that I've heard here and elsewhere: I'm additionally annoyed that Congress EVER devoted money, labor, justice department time and energy, and any resources whatsoever to this. It's been a busy 8 or 9 years for America since 9/11, and regardless how you feel politically about the direction things have gone or are about to go, Congress has had much more on its plate to worry with than grown-ups who play a child's game. This most recent Congress just finished the most inept, unaccomplished term in Congressional history. But they stuck it those 'roiders!
Actually Clemens is welcomed to Spring Training, he just can't pitch to the minor leaguers. He'll be a spectator like me. Hmm, I wonder if Uncle Drayton will let me...
I know they are illegal and all, but it's not like MLB specifically banned performance enhancing drugs during the time the names mentioned in the report purportedly used. So can you really fault the players to find an extra edge...that's what athletes do...that's what they always will do. Players may have been wrong in using, but MLB was wrong in allowing it. I can't believe they didn't just clean up their act and move on instead of drudging up the past. In any case, good move on Clemens. The team's need to probe his baseball experience/expertise is far outweighed by the media circus he'll create.
This. Roger threw his family, friends, ect...under the bus to save his own ass. I used to be a huge fan (and for the record he's always been a nice guy when I met him), but I gave all the stuff he signed for me away. I could deal with him admitting it and move on (they all did basically), but he handled himself with no class. He doesn't even talk to Pettite anymore because he told the truth. Clemens is a joke
as stated, i don't condone his behavior, especially over the course of the past year. i think he either made some truly awful choices or was given equally awful advice in the aftermath of the mitchell report. why he didn't owe up to it and apologize, i'll never know. but i don't understand what was gained by naming names. what did MLB accomplish? everyone knew players were doping; we have a pretty decent idea which ones (and most of us would have included clemens in that suspicion) - the report didn't need any legitimizing. and now clemens' life has been irrevocably ruined. sure - he brought it on himself by doing something he knew was illegal: i don't sympathize with him in that regard, nor am i defending him. he cheated. but the punishment will NEVER fit the crime. his reputation has been shattered, his name run through the mud, his career - all of it, even his drug-free accomplishments - has been tainted and he'll never set foot in cooperstown without first buying admission... had he been caught red-handed - he would have got what he deserved. but to be MLB's fall guy... it just disgusts me, really. not sure the league could have handled it any worse.
