Three years ago, Roger Clemens was considered an automatic first ballot hall of famer. Clemens was remembered as the 300-game winner, the ace who led the New York Yankees to back-to-back World Series’ wins in 1999 and 2000. Clemens’ was a clean-cut guy, the friendly Texan who seemingly got better with age. But fast-forward to December 13, 2007, the day “The Rocket’s” legacy was altered forever; the day the 409 page Mitchell Report was released, bearing the name Roger Clemens, alleged steroid user.
Throughout his career, Clemens was a bona fide powerhouse. Every time he stepped up to the mound, he had one intention only: to dominate. His statistical achievements match up with some of the greatest pitchers of all time, like Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, and Steve Carlton. Clemens was an eleven time all star, wining a record seven Cy young awards and amassing 4,672 strikeouts, the third most of all time. He was also named to the highly esteemed All-Century Team in 1999.
After winning two World Series championships with the New York Yankees, Clemens decided to move to his hometown Houston Astros’ for the twilight of his career. While with the Astros’ for three years, Clemens seemingly put the entire state of Houston on his back, electrifying Minute Maid Park night after night with incredible performances. His 2004 season turned to be one of his best. At age 42, he went 18-4, dominating the National League on his way to his record seventh Cy young award. Clemens also helped the Astros’ reach the World Series’ for the first time in the franchise’ history in 2005.
While Clemens’ success was applauded and greatly appreciated throughout Houston, there was something a little odd about it. Pitching into one’s forties is a feat rarely accomplished in baseball; Roger did that and pitched just as good, maybe even better than he had earlier in his career. Speculation first arose when former player Jason Grimsley named Clemens’ as a known steroid user. The Rocket was also accused of illegal drug use by known steroid abuser Jose Canseco. Finally, on December 13, 2007, Senator George Mitchell named Roger Clemens’ as one of several MLB players that had allegedly used illegal performance enhancing drugs. Trying to protect his celebrated legacy, Clemens immediately denied the allegations. But as more and more convincing evidence was amassed, it was clear that the great Clemens’ was nothing more than a cheat.
Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, had revealed in the Mitchell Report that he had injected Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch, and Clemens with performance enhancing drugs. While Pettitte and Knoblauch have both confirmed this, Clemens has not. On January 6, 2008, Clemens told 60 minute’s Mike Wallace that his great success was a result of hard work, rather than drug use. Obsessed with clearing his name, Clemens swore under oath to Congress that he had never used steroids or any performance enhancing drugs. The House committee in front of which Clemens’ appeared cited seven apparent inconsistencies in his testimony and on August 19, 2010, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance enhancing drugs.
Roger Clemens is a mess; his legacy is in shambles. The once proud baseball icon is now known as a pathetic, arrogant liar. He has disgraced the sport that made him famous, and has insulted the intelligence of every baseball fan that has ever followed him. To this day he still denies any use of steroids, although there is a staggering amount of evidence blatantly indicating otherwise. While his actions have robbed him of any dignity or respect he had left, he still has the opportunity to talk himself out of one more predicament: jail time. All he has to do is tell the truth. C’mon Roger, it’s not Rocket Science.
