Everyone feel better now?
It’s been a long fortnight for Roger Clemens. Last week, he was chasing teenagers and repairing John Daly’s divots. This week, he was telling fans that we’ve all got our flaws. In between, he took the sort of media pounding that no battery of B-12 boosters could ever possibly ease.
But sometimes the real story’s the one nobody has the heart to tell.
And sometimes the real target’s the one nobody has the guts to face.
I’m not out to defend Clemens here, mostly because I know a lost cause when I see one. Getting busted for infidelity is bad. Getting busted for infidelity when you’ve already got Jeff Novitzky on your jock is worse. Still, some sinners get punished for crimes they never committed, and it’s hard not to feel for a guy who winds up on the business end of a ceremonial civic bloodletting.
Is Roger Clemens worthy of reproach?
Yes, obviously, of course.
Is that why we’re so keen on seeing him go down in flames?
That, Bubba, is another question entirely.
There’s a point at which principle becomes pathos and censure becomes sacrifice. I think we’re there with the Rocket. Initial reaction to the Mitchell Report was somber, even mournful. Now we seem to be rooting for the fall. Somehow, something tells me it’s not because we’ve been losing sleep over Brian McNamee’s legal fees.
When times are good, the faithful are quick to saint their heroes.
When times are bad, they’re even quicker to smash their idols.
God save that poor bastard who happens to screw up during a housing slump.
The ancients conceived of evil as a tangible force, a scourge from which the only hope for salvation lay in elaborate expulsionary ritual. Thus, then, did scapegoats get slaughtered; thus, now, do pitchers get pilloried. Maybe it’s the war that’s gnawing at the American psyche, or the economy, or the fact that those cutthroats at Costco won’t sell anyone more than four bags of rice. In any event, We are very much a People on the Edge—and if one of Us has to take the plunge, it might as well be the scumbag with the needle habit.
To err is human.
To forgive is divine.
To crucify in the name of some cheap and fleeting catharsis probably falls somewhere in the middle, which is about the best you can hope for when all your oaths amount to only just saying, is all...
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5 months ago
I like your article and where it comes from. I for feel Clemens is being tried in the court of public opinion with no real evidence before the court. I admitt to being a Clemens fan since the age of 11. I followed his career till today. I never knew so many people hated Clemens. When I was growing up, I only had to argue that he might be the greatest of all time, now I find myself argueing over his character. It flat out sucks, and I will forever take a man like Clemens at his word, he gave me wonderful memories, and I would never turn my back on him.
5 months ago
Beautifully written article. And heartfelt comment by "David." First time I've read something so fair and insightful regarding the Clemens story. I live in NY and I can tell you many people had an irrational hatred of Roger Clemens. The Daily News used the power of the press to make a deliberate effort to destroy a person, and in this case, attempt to destroy a family. I've stopped reading the Daily News. And in "tribute" to every player who didn't take a stand on the literary lynching in the Mitchell Report, the Daily News, and the amazingly nasty blogs and t.v. commentary, and especially those players who received an opening day standing ovation at the ball park for "manning up" or those who repeatedly mumbled "it's time to move on," I put my deep love of the game on hold this year and won't watch it, won't root for the home team, etc. By their willingness to devour one of their own to "save the herd," they have earned my profound disrespect. I thought we had learned with Joe McCarthy that "hunting down names" or creating a scapegoat does not solve a perceived problem. --- Mandelay, New York City
5 months ago
I agree that the article is well written but I don't see eye to eye with it.
5 months ago
Nice article...
"in the name of some cheap and fleeting catharsis"... I think you may have nailed it here. The real problem is that baseball (and many other sports for that matter) have become all about finding a quick solution (or a quick sacrificial bunt) for deeply embedded problems so they can get back to the real reason for the sport, which is making money at any cost. After all, the abuse of performance enhancing drugs is really fueled by the desire to make more money.
Look, baseball in particular, is all about stats. The league in general and the players in particular, would like us to believe that the Mitchell Report was some startling revelation. They would like us to believe that if they had known what was really going on, then they would have stopped it. Come on people. A fortune is spent every year keeping track of player stats and performance. In the last 20 years there were some changes to the game rules that made certain stats climb, but not as much as was normally, HUMANLY possible. Huge increases in stats by multiple players have to occur for a reason. The reality is that no one wanted to look for the answers.
A cheap and fleeting catharsis is what the corporate players are trying to sell everyone else on. The only way for any real change is for the fans to leave the stadiums empty. Clemens is not innocent by any means. Problem is, he is gonna be the guy the rest of baseball tosses to the wolves, hoping that they will then be ignored. If the fans buy into this, then it will be business as usual for the powers that be, making a buck at any cost and keeping up the disguise that the league as about the sport... and not about the money.
5 months ago
The point is that Roger did it to himself with all of the inane denials and heartfelt swears that he was innocent. Had he admitted he made mistakes in the beginning the public would have continued to be more somber in its view of Roger. But he was so smug, so dislikeful, that he has it coming I think.
Good work though.
5 months ago
Ryan, very good and insightful piece. But I say Clemens has been bashed far less for his possible misdeeds than for his self-righteousness in recent months in defending himself.
I think his willingness to throw everyone under the bus (including his wife) in the name of saving his own reputation is behind much of the piling on by the public and media.
I don’t know if Brian McNamee is worthy of much if any empathy, but what empathy or consideration has supposed friend Clemens shown him? If you heard their 17-minute phone conversation (taped by Clemens without McNamee’s knowledge), McNamee sounded like a broken man who was genuinely sorrowful for ratting out Clemens. He basically admitted that he was boxed in by the investigation and asked Clemens what he could do to make it up to him. Clemens’ response was to release the tape to the media.
5 months ago
Clemens is a scumbag because he spent most of his careers screwing every team he's played for. He got too fat to play for the Red Sox, then got back in shape won some rings and Cy Youngs with Toronto and New York. Then he went to Houston, then he screwed them so the Yankees could pay him $4.5 million dollars per month for about ten ineffective starts.
When he was finished with the teams, he decided to screw the game and its fans by his lying. You can only dig yourself so deep and still ask for people to forgive you. The Texas Con Man hit that depth about six months ago, and he's still digging.
5 months ago
We root for the fall with Clemens because of himself, because he has been so adamant that he never has done anything wrong - he is just a great family man, who cares about his family, and works hard and doesn't believe in shortcuts. everything that has happened to clemens, and will continue to happen, is all due to his own arrogance. that is why he is getting the reaction he has. i don't care about an athlete cheating on his wife - not that i condone it, but it isnt exactly news. but when you are as self righteous as clemens is, and he is standing there defiant while all around him burns, you deserve everything you get.
from 5 months ago
well said
5 months ago
To forgive is devine, but it would make it a lot easier if he actually admit he has done wrong.
Let's be honest, America just wants to see the bad guy lose; and when it appears obvious he did cheat the game and it's fans, yet he won't admit it, he becomes, and deservingly so, the bad guy.
5 months ago
Nice! I decided that since Roger Clemens (who I like and think is innocent) is being blamed for, pretty much everything, I might as well blame him too! It's too hot here in Florida, thanks Roger Clemens! The beaches are disappearing...thanks Roger Clemens! "Heroes" hasn't started their new season and I haven't seen any commercials for it yet, either...thanks Roger Clemens!
from 5 months ago
You're gonna be sooo disappointed ...
4 months ago
Excellent commentary Mr Alberti
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