I was reading a recent column by Gene Wojciechowski on ESPN.com today and I had to just write a quick something about this notion that Clemens and the Yankees are joined at the hip.
In the column Wojciechowski comments that he hopes Mike Wallace, the venerable reporter for 60 Minutes on CBS who will be conducting an interview with Clemens on Sunday, will ask the pitcher tough, provacative questions. His premise is that Wallace is a self-proclaimed Yankee fan and someone who has praised Roger Clemens in the past, so he might be inclined to go light on Rocket when given the opportunity.
At one point in the column Wojciechowski exclaims "60 Minutes" wanted Clemens, and Clemens apparently wanted Wallace. Now that they have each other, let's hope we get something more than a Yankees group hug."
Here is my question: Why is it that Clemens apparent steroid use only sullies the Yankees? Why is Clemens looked at by the media simply as a Yankee? Why is there a constant insinuation that the Yankees have as much at stake in regaining Clemens reputation as he does?
The truth is that while Clemens has latched himself on to the Yankee train, he was never fully embraced by the Yankee fan. Of course he was cheered for, and he was respected and admired when his accomplishments seemed to come from hard work and natural, God given ability rather than performance enhancing drugs, but by my count Roger Clemens has pitched for four different teams during his career, three of them while supposedly using steroids.
Why is this simply looked at as a Yankee/Clemens situation? Why do people continue to assume that Clemens' indiscretions somehow only tranish the Yankees? No one in Toronto has been asked how they feel, having cheered him on to two straight Cy Youngs. How about Houston, who made the World Series for the first time mainly on the shoulders of Clemens. How do they feel today? Is their historic (for their franchise) accomplishment tarnished because of this?
The truth is that Clemens, ever since he was jettisoned by Boston in the mid 90's, has been a mercenary. He goes where the money and the chance to win has been. While he makes a big deal about having been a Yankee, Clemens has never cared about anything but himself.
So, as The Rocket prepares his defense of the realm this coming week, he should be looked upon as his own team. A team of one. The Yankees have no vested interest in seeing Clemens name tarnished or vindicated. Their wagons are not tied to him. He is all alone on this one, and only the most ardent Yankee haters are trying to somehow tarnish the franchise because of one mans mistake.
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