Post by Coach on May 10, 2007 8:47:43 GMT -5
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4791172.html
Clemens needs to find better things to worry about.
Rocket adds fuel to a fire
Clemens angry about Garner's remarks on radio
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Roger Clemens has changed teams enough times in his stellar career to know he can't satisfy every fan base. So he's not disappointed that some Houston fans were upset Sunday when he chose to return to the New York Yankees, with whom he won two World Series titles and played from 1999 through 2003 before opting out of retirement in 2004 to play his first of three seasons with the Astros.
And even though he vows to keep working with the Astros' prospects in the future, he wasn't pleased with the comment manager Phil Garner made Tuesday regarding the freedom clause the Astros gave Clemens to entice him out of retirement in 2004.
"What sort of happened was we'd turn on the TV, and he's playing a golf tournament, so it evolved to be more than just seeing family," Garner said on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike Show during a long interview that was otherwise complimentary.
Clemens, who met with Astros general manager Tim Purpura in Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, knows what Garner said. And he wasn't happy.
"Again, the only comments that get out of a line a little bit (were from) my former manager down there, Phil," Clemens said. "I expect I'll wait. I don't even want to make a phone call to him. I want to see him face-to-face because he's made a comment publicly that the personal services (freedom clause) thing, going to see the kids, was (a problem). ... Again, evidently, he thought I was obviously not working when I was away from the ballpark. I was doing even more.
"Just like Tim said, it was more meaningful being here with these kids and working with these kids — and the one-on-one that I actually had in April with one of our kids down here that forgot how to throw his curveball and was thinking of walking away from the game. Just talking to kids like that about their careers and keeping them on the right page and on their path to trying to make it to the next level — I enjoy that.
"Phil makes the comment that they turn the TV on and I'm in Hollywood golfing. There's not one time that I was away from my ballclub, my team, that during the game I was out on the damn golf course. Then you make a comment like that publicly, and then it just takes a life of its own. ... That's the situation I'm talking about. It's embarrassing for me to sit here to defend that when somebody makes a comment like that. I don't appreciate that."
Garner clarified his comments after the Astros' win over the Reds on Wednesday in Cincinnati. Garner said Clemens' freedom to come and go as he pleased was never an issue inside the clubhouse and didn't affect the team negatively.
"It was not something that hurt our ballclub," Garner said. "I have no bones to pick about anything about Rocket. I enjoyed Rocket. The man did a lot for our ballclub. I didn't hear anybody say, 'We can't live with this.' I did not think that was an issue."
Clemens also dismissed the criticism he received from former teammate David Wells about his freedom clause with the Yankees. As Yankees manager Joe Torre did by checking with team captain Derek Jeter and other veterans on the club before signing off on that clause, Clemens spoke with Astros icons Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio in January 2004 to make sure they were OK with the deal.
At that time, Koby Clemens, the Astros' third base prospect at Class A Lexington, was in high school. Kory Clemens, the second of Roger and Debbie's four children, also was in high school. Kory is out of high school and is preparing to attend the University of Texas.
"The guys that are most close to me and close to my heart there (in Houston), to be able to do that, I talked to them firsthand before I even thought about doing it," Clemens said. "Again, I called them several times. As far as guys I played with before (such as Wells), I don't even really want to justify the comments. Like I said, they need to look in the mirror as far as respect in the game. I think I know exactly what this game has taught me and how I've respected it."
Clemens angry about Garner's remarks on radio
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Roger Clemens has changed teams enough times in his stellar career to know he can't satisfy every fan base. So he's not disappointed that some Houston fans were upset Sunday when he chose to return to the New York Yankees, with whom he won two World Series titles and played from 1999 through 2003 before opting out of retirement in 2004 to play his first of three seasons with the Astros.
And even though he vows to keep working with the Astros' prospects in the future, he wasn't pleased with the comment manager Phil Garner made Tuesday regarding the freedom clause the Astros gave Clemens to entice him out of retirement in 2004.
"What sort of happened was we'd turn on the TV, and he's playing a golf tournament, so it evolved to be more than just seeing family," Garner said on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike Show during a long interview that was otherwise complimentary.
Clemens, who met with Astros general manager Tim Purpura in Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, knows what Garner said. And he wasn't happy.
"Again, the only comments that get out of a line a little bit (were from) my former manager down there, Phil," Clemens said. "I expect I'll wait. I don't even want to make a phone call to him. I want to see him face-to-face because he's made a comment publicly that the personal services (freedom clause) thing, going to see the kids, was (a problem). ... Again, evidently, he thought I was obviously not working when I was away from the ballpark. I was doing even more.
"Just like Tim said, it was more meaningful being here with these kids and working with these kids — and the one-on-one that I actually had in April with one of our kids down here that forgot how to throw his curveball and was thinking of walking away from the game. Just talking to kids like that about their careers and keeping them on the right page and on their path to trying to make it to the next level — I enjoy that.
"Phil makes the comment that they turn the TV on and I'm in Hollywood golfing. There's not one time that I was away from my ballclub, my team, that during the game I was out on the damn golf course. Then you make a comment like that publicly, and then it just takes a life of its own. ... That's the situation I'm talking about. It's embarrassing for me to sit here to defend that when somebody makes a comment like that. I don't appreciate that."
Garner clarified his comments after the Astros' win over the Reds on Wednesday in Cincinnati. Garner said Clemens' freedom to come and go as he pleased was never an issue inside the clubhouse and didn't affect the team negatively.
"It was not something that hurt our ballclub," Garner said. "I have no bones to pick about anything about Rocket. I enjoyed Rocket. The man did a lot for our ballclub. I didn't hear anybody say, 'We can't live with this.' I did not think that was an issue."
Clemens also dismissed the criticism he received from former teammate David Wells about his freedom clause with the Yankees. As Yankees manager Joe Torre did by checking with team captain Derek Jeter and other veterans on the club before signing off on that clause, Clemens spoke with Astros icons Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio in January 2004 to make sure they were OK with the deal.
At that time, Koby Clemens, the Astros' third base prospect at Class A Lexington, was in high school. Kory Clemens, the second of Roger and Debbie's four children, also was in high school. Kory is out of high school and is preparing to attend the University of Texas.
"The guys that are most close to me and close to my heart there (in Houston), to be able to do that, I talked to them firsthand before I even thought about doing it," Clemens said. "Again, I called them several times. As far as guys I played with before (such as Wells), I don't even really want to justify the comments. Like I said, they need to look in the mirror as far as respect in the game. I think I know exactly what this game has taught me and how I've respected it."
Clemens needs to find better things to worry about.
