Sports

Clemens cap much ado about nothing

The Mendoza Line

Ed De La Garza

It would be so easy to root for Roger Clemens. The Katy product is a throwback pitcher, someone who wouldnit be out of place pitching against some of the best flamethrowers from past eras. He works tirelessly during the offseason to survive the regular season. He finally earned his 300th win and became just the third pitcher to pass the 4,000 strikeout mark.

But he has to keep wearing that burnt orange and flash that damn "Hook ‘em" sign. And heis acting like a whiny … T-Sipper.

The Rocket made news not just because of his milestones, but because of comments he made regarding which teamis logo heid prefer to wear in the Hall of Fame. Clemens spent his first 13 years with the Boston Red Sox. He won 192 games, three Cy Young Awards, an American League MVP award and struck out 2,590 batters in Boston. With the Yankees, heis been just an above-average pitcher (67-31, 853 Ks). It doesnit seem like there should be any controversy about which logo should adorn his cap in Cooperstown.

If a pitcher earns nearly two-thirds of his career wins in one jersey, he should be probably be affiliated with that team -- unless that team all but throws him aside in the twilight of his career. Granted, Clemens hadnit been pitching like the Rocket of old, but at 34, he wasnit over-the-hill. He proved Dan Duquette wrong by winning back-to-back Cy Youngs in Toronto before signing with the Yankees in 1999.

Clemens is dead-set on being inducted as a Yankee, possibly because of his two World Series rings, but probably because of his hatred for Duquette and a perceived lack of respect.

But the Hall of Fame is at least five years away. Clemens earned the right to be mentioned among baseballis best and his moment in the national spotlight, but crying about which cap he wants to wear only detracts from his achievements.

Given time, he may realize the Hall wonit consider disagreements with general managers. It will consider his wishes, but in the end, itill make a decision based on his career. At least he wonit go in with a pair of horns on his cap.

Shooting All-Stars

When last seasonis All-Star Game ended in a tie in Commissioner Bud Seligis hometown, you just had to know Major League Baseball would try to make sure it didnit happen again. But baseball canit change things quickly; itis not in the MLBis nature. Changes come across as knee-jerk reactions, case in point this yearis extravaganza.

Thereis nothing wrong with letting the team with the best regular season record have homefield advantage in the World Series, other than it makes sense. Thereis no reason to make a game thatis supposed to be fun, thatis supposed to be an exhibition, one of the most important games of the season.

Up until interleague play began, the All-Star Game was the only chance (other than the World Series) for NL fans to see their favorite players beat up on AL pitching. That, not the outcome, made the game worth watching.

Next thing you know, itill make the players wear distinct NL and AL uniforms.

Going to extremes

Itis almost as if the Astros canit stomach too much success. They can be on top of the sports world after no-hitting the Yankees. Then theyill lose four straight.

Houston sunk back into second place after an extra-inning loss to Boston on Sunday. Jeff Bagwell realized a childhood dream when he hit one out of Fenway on Saturday. Itis too bad he followed that up with an error that led to a collapse.

How bad is Houstonis starting pitching situation? It re-called gas can Ron Villone from the minors.

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