So, I'm on my elliptical machine yesterday morning. I started channel surfing, and listened to the interview Roger Clemens gave to ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike. It was the first interview - in depth interview - that Clemens had given in about a year. The interview also took place on the very same day that the book "American Icon" came out. To say the book wasn't flattering to Clemens would be an understatement.
So here was Clemens, on the air with a national radio show, doing his best imitation of a politician. He had his talking points - ones probably given to him by his new PR people - and he did his best to stick to them. Despite what I thought was a good effort by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, there was nothing - nothing at all - earth shattering that was said. Greenberg and Golic asked most of the questions that needed to be asked. Clemens was deft enough to always go back to his talking points. The Mikes couldn't really get anything new out of him - though again, they did a good job of asking the right questions. Certainly a better job that Peter Gammons did when he sat down with Alex Rodriguez.
Why would Clemens talk now? Why would he talk when others have not?
The answer is pretty simple. Clemens wants to win the media over. He wants to get the writers on his side. He wants the TV and radio people on his side as well.
It's not as if he has to win the fans over at this point. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The fans have long ago gotten over steroid use in big league baseball. The sport was riddled with performance enhancing drugs (and in some ways probably still is). Fans might have been shocked at first, but there is no outrage anymore.
There's no outrage because of the amount of people that were doing steroids and other drugs like HGH. Fans just figure that everyone (in one way or another) is dirty. Once they came to that realization, it then came down to whether or not players - clean or dirty - could help their team win. If they did, hey - it was for the greater good of winning.
Fans have continued to show their support for this game and its players by going out to the park in droves and buying all the pieces of clothing with the logos on it. Again, steroidd use in Major League Baseball might have shocked fans at first, but the shock is gone.
Clemens knows this. He also knows that it is the media that has been banging the drum against him for the better part of a year now. And it's the media will ultimately pass judgment on Clemens. It's the writers that have the votes for the Hall of Fame. Clemens probably figures if he can win the hearts and minds of the writers, then he can go to Cooperstown. Which is all it's about for him right now.
Clemens thinks he has the numbers for the Hall of Fame (and he does, frankly). He also knows that getting into the Hall of Fame would benefit him financially. If an athlete can sign autographs with "Hall of Famer" included, he will earn more money than he could if he wasn't a Hall of Famer.
Certainly, Clemens has seen how the silence of some of his peers has backfired against them. Mark McGwire has become a hermit. He has steadfastly refused to address his suspected (but never proven) steroid use. He also hasn't gotten into the Hall of Fame as of yet. He might never get in, considering the amount of votes he has gotten over the last three years.
Rafael Palmeiro is another player who hasn't been heard from since his positive steroid test four years ago. He made his accusation against Miguel Tejada, and then disappeared. Palmeiro's numbers are certainly Hall worthy, but he's not going to get in. Part of the reason for that is his silence.
Barry Bonds has kept quiet as well. I doubt he will ever do interviews like Clemens did yesterday. But, the voters (media) will have a tougher time keeping him out of Cooperstown because of his numbers. Not only because of all the home runs that he's hit. But, the numbers he put up before he (allegedly) started using performance enhancing drugs in 1998 are Hall worthy as well. Bonds, though, might be the exception, rather than the rule.
My gut tells me we're not done hearing from Clemens. I think he'll do a bunch of interviews when he gets back from the vacation that he referenced on Mike & Mike yesterday. You'll hear him pop up on FOX Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio. You'll see him on ESPN, and probably on FOX News Channel as well.
Keep in mind that he's doing it for one reason and one reason only. To convert the critics (media). To get their support for his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Again, it's all about Roger.
So here was Clemens, on the air with a national radio show, doing his best imitation of a politician. He had his talking points - ones probably given to him by his new PR people - and he did his best to stick to them. Despite what I thought was a good effort by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, there was nothing - nothing at all - earth shattering that was said. Greenberg and Golic asked most of the questions that needed to be asked. Clemens was deft enough to always go back to his talking points. The Mikes couldn't really get anything new out of him - though again, they did a good job of asking the right questions. Certainly a better job that Peter Gammons did when he sat down with Alex Rodriguez.
Why would Clemens talk now? Why would he talk when others have not?
The answer is pretty simple. Clemens wants to win the media over. He wants to get the writers on his side. He wants the TV and radio people on his side as well.
It's not as if he has to win the fans over at this point. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The fans have long ago gotten over steroid use in big league baseball. The sport was riddled with performance enhancing drugs (and in some ways probably still is). Fans might have been shocked at first, but there is no outrage anymore.
There's no outrage because of the amount of people that were doing steroids and other drugs like HGH. Fans just figure that everyone (in one way or another) is dirty. Once they came to that realization, it then came down to whether or not players - clean or dirty - could help their team win. If they did, hey - it was for the greater good of winning.
Fans have continued to show their support for this game and its players by going out to the park in droves and buying all the pieces of clothing with the logos on it. Again, steroidd use in Major League Baseball might have shocked fans at first, but the shock is gone.
Clemens knows this. He also knows that it is the media that has been banging the drum against him for the better part of a year now. And it's the media will ultimately pass judgment on Clemens. It's the writers that have the votes for the Hall of Fame. Clemens probably figures if he can win the hearts and minds of the writers, then he can go to Cooperstown. Which is all it's about for him right now.
Clemens thinks he has the numbers for the Hall of Fame (and he does, frankly). He also knows that getting into the Hall of Fame would benefit him financially. If an athlete can sign autographs with "Hall of Famer" included, he will earn more money than he could if he wasn't a Hall of Famer.
Certainly, Clemens has seen how the silence of some of his peers has backfired against them. Mark McGwire has become a hermit. He has steadfastly refused to address his suspected (but never proven) steroid use. He also hasn't gotten into the Hall of Fame as of yet. He might never get in, considering the amount of votes he has gotten over the last three years.
Rafael Palmeiro is another player who hasn't been heard from since his positive steroid test four years ago. He made his accusation against Miguel Tejada, and then disappeared. Palmeiro's numbers are certainly Hall worthy, but he's not going to get in. Part of the reason for that is his silence.
Barry Bonds has kept quiet as well. I doubt he will ever do interviews like Clemens did yesterday. But, the voters (media) will have a tougher time keeping him out of Cooperstown because of his numbers. Not only because of all the home runs that he's hit. But, the numbers he put up before he (allegedly) started using performance enhancing drugs in 1998 are Hall worthy as well. Bonds, though, might be the exception, rather than the rule.
My gut tells me we're not done hearing from Clemens. I think he'll do a bunch of interviews when he gets back from the vacation that he referenced on Mike & Mike yesterday. You'll hear him pop up on FOX Sports Radio and Sporting News Radio. You'll see him on ESPN, and probably on FOX News Channel as well.
Keep in mind that he's doing it for one reason and one reason only. To convert the critics (media). To get their support for his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Again, it's all about Roger.
No comments:
Post a Comment