The Earth can resume its journey around the sun. The swallows can return to Capistrano. Britney Spears can wear underwear again. That’s right, go ahead and exhale… Roger Clemens has made his pronouncement. He will grace the diamond with his presence once again.
Baseball does not lack for egos, but I don’t know if I’ve ever witnessed the arrogance it takes to drop in and out of your chosen profession at whim just because you’re that good. Whatever happened to the adage, “To whom much is given, much is expected?” Clemens has a gift, but what does he do for the game in return?
I am no Yankee fan, but I will never forgive, nor forget, what he did to them in 2003, allowing that franchise to go through the motions of sending him on a farewell tour, practically ordering the sun to set perfectly for his departure, only to have him waltz back onto the Astros’ roster the following year and every year after that. It was the ultimate slap in the face that no fan base deserved, not even the Evil Empire’s.
And what about his teammates? Those guys who report to Spring Training in February, go through the work-outs, build the camaraderie, mingle with the faithful… those guys who sit through 162 games a year because that’s their job. Is he too good for them? Too good to do full-time duty? There are men, young and old alike, big talents and dreamers the same, who would give anything to spend one more minute or just one second at all in the game they love. Roger Clemens offends them by dropping in and out instead of putting in all of the effort others cannot.
Of course, none of the hype around Clemens’ return would be possible without teams falling all over themselves to give him special treatment by signing him to a shortened season. The Astros, the Yankees, and sadly, the Red Sox have all drooled over landing the Rocket this time around, but he doesn’t care about them. All he cares about is pumping up his own legend with Lazarus-like returns.
Someday he’ll retire for good, but when will we really know to start the countdown to Cooperstown? You can only cry wolf for so long before fans stop caring.
3 comments:
I've always wondered what is motivation is. Is it money? He's richer than rich by now. Is it to win the World Series? He's won two rings already. Is it to be the bext pitcher? He's got what, 5 Cy Youngs already. He's sure to be a first-time Hall of Famer (whenever that will be), so what is it that drives him to play half a season?
...I was thinking it may be easier to get chicks if you "still are" rather than "has been"...
Maybe he just gets bored gardening? I mean, what does a retired pro-ball player do in his downtime? Probably remember why you enjoyed having a job that kept you away from home for half the year. He's too old to really play full time. Maybe this is his retirement job. Maybe it's the pro-baller equivalent of being a Walmart greeter?
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