Veins bulged. Wills withstood pressure that could have bent steel. It was the World Series...of sorts. As my father's arm started to buckle and fall toward the Table of Defeat, I began to understand why grown men would tackle each other after a victory of this magnitude.
I had just beaten my father in arm wrestling for the first time. For an instant after his defeat, I too wanted to run onto a field and pile on whoever was near me. Then, it hit me. I had just beaten Superman. This sobering thought took me off my imaginary field of victory and put me in the dugout of the losers. How could someone that powerful fall?
Twenty-one year old, Astros farmhand Koby Clemens may not be able to beat his father in an arm wrestling competition considering that it looks more and more likely that Pops used PEDs. But what must he feel at this moment? His father was not only a hero to him but millions of people around the world.
In high school and even now, spectators probably drew unfair comparisons to his father whenever Koby stepped on the field. Who would have thought that being compared to a future Hall-of-Famer at the age of 17 would be less difficult than the emotions he must have as his baseball season looms? Somewhere in his mind he must wonder if these same spectators will make parallels between him and his father when it comes to morals.
- B/R Ticket Guide
A 3rd basemen that belted 15 homers in A ball last year, the younger Clemens came to his father’s defense during a training camp held at the end of January. “It kills me that this is happening to my dad. What he's done for the game and what now is being turned back to him for what he's done for the game is tough. It's hard on me, but you can't imagine how hard it is on my dad."
Facing members of Congress would be tough for most people. Remembering which parts of your life are lies and selling out your family is tough for everyone except Roger Clemens. Less than two weeks after Koby attempted to defend his father, it is revealed that his mother, Debbie Clemens, was injected with HGH before a photo shoot. With almost no delay, Koby hears his mom admit to the report.
This is the time of year where Koby should be worrying about positioning himself on defense and staying back on curveballs. Instead, he is forced to worry about his father’s legacy. Maybe that’s the way Roger likes it; all eyes on him. Why else would he have retired and come back so many times?
In the unlikely event that this is some huge, contrived conspiracy, Brian McNamee, Clemens HGH provider, and Andy Pettitte, Clemens’ friend and fellow accuser, owe Koby and his siblings an apology.
When the results show Roger Clemens to be a cheater, he should beg for Koby’s forgiveness. Koby will have lost valuable time of development as a player. More importantly, he will be forced to see his father as a hypocrite for saying there is no substitute for hard work.
When I saw my father buckle under the pressure I created, I felt like a man beating a superhero. With Koby seeing his father crumbling under the pressure of his own lies, I wonder if he sees a boy, someone who needs to prove his manhood. Someone who should understand that any thoughts his son had of him being Superman as a baseball player and as a father will forever be tainted.
How difficult must it be to watch someone so important to you personally and professionally fall?
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9 months ago
While Roger tries to save himself, we can't ignore the wreckage that comes in his wake.
9 months ago
There's a balance to this Poppa Clemens - Koby situation. Long ago, Koby probably learned to stand away from the limelight in which his father basked. At the same time, he probably gained something from his father's star power, especially in regards to baseball. His father probably got his son access to some of the better trainers and coaches in the region, never mind that old man Clemens is a fount of baseball knowledge.
Yet Koby does not need the distraction of reporters' questions and Congressional grandstanding -- everyone acting as if this is a new issue. He should be allowed to step away from the limelight of this issue and to focus on his career.
Throughout the Congressional investigation and the Clemens' testimony, I have wondered why Congress has not investigated the role of owners as well as the Players Association. The use of PEDs has been common knowledge for many years -- long before MLB mandated testing in 2002. Yet prior of 2002, both the owners and especially the Players Association avoided the issue, the owners never pushing the concept of testing hard enough and the PA claiming that it was an invasion of privacy. In fact, the Mitchell report described the PA as being "largely uncooperative" and noted that the PA discouraged players from cooperating with Mitchell. MLB did not fair much better. Bud Selig described the Mitchell report a "call for action" this past December. Damn, Bud, what were you sniffing before the report? Baseball insiders told Mitchell that before the mandatory testing, anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the players were shooting up PEDs. Owners, managers, and coaches had to know that those players returning from winter break with twenty pounds of muscle were pumping more than iron, making management co-conspirators.
What troubles me more is that players, trainers, and others are getting a by. They sold, purchased, and used controlled substances. That is and was illegal. Why has not one individual been charged and prosecuted? Why do they get the by when dealers and users of grass pay a price? Even the Mitchell report downplays the illegality of their actions, claiming that the use of PEDs is bad for baseball. This double-standard is bad for everyone.
9 months ago
To me, the most telling detail about this whole situation is that Roger Clemmens and his legal team asked for this meeting in front of congress. The only reason to do this is to clear his name "under oath." Roger did not take into consideration anyone other than himself in this issue. He dragged his wife under the congress bus and by this article his son is not too far behind. He wined and dined the senators and it backfired on him. This legal session turned into two high schoolers taking swings at each other with no concern for the consequences. In addition, what a waste of tax dollars and congress' time.
8 months ago
I completely agree that congress has no business wasting tax dollars on Clemens, but I guess someone has to do it. This is definitely a bad situation for Koby, now he has to play well enough to get people to focus on his ability rather than his name. Very good article.
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