AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > June > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USClemens pitches to own beat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
In addition to his unparalleled coverage skills, Deion Sanders excelled in one other important area: making money. When it came to gauging financial wind directions, nobody was better.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise Sanders tried to cash in on this un-retirement thing long before Roger Clemens. Unemployed but not unemployable, Sanders wanted to sign with the playoff-bound Oakland Raiders late in the 2002 season. But he was denied by the NFL because his waiver rights had been claimed by San Diego. Deion passed because, well, playoffs, financial windfall and a spotlight were not available in San Diego.
Sanders was ahead of his time. Clemens is defying time. But don’t be surprised if what the 43-year-old pitcher just pulled off suddenly becomes a staple on the professional sports scene.
I’m thinking a year from now. Barry Bonds is retired and sulking somewhere in luxury. But his body is rested. He has healed, thanks partly to some magical substances that accidentally fell into a flaxseed bottle (which Bonds followed up with a Masking Agent 99 Smoothie fresh from a P.O. Box in Thailand). The Red Sox and the Yankees each are in a pennant race. And they need a power hitter to DH.
I’m thinking there’s a market one day for a “retired” Shaquille O’Neal during an NBA playoff race.
I’m thinking a goalie certainly could do this in the NHL — if Dominik Hasek hasn’t already.
I’m thinking this has Terrell Owens written all over it. He’ll “retire,” because he’ll think the NFL blackballed him, anyway. He’ll be in studio for ESPN. He’ll skip mini-camps and training camp. In November, he’ll look around and contact three teams in a playoff run. And somebody will bite.
I’m thinking John Smoltz.
“No,” Smoltz said Thursday. “I’m not in Roger’s category. We’re completely different personalities. I’m in awe of what he’s done. But I can’t see myself calculating, ‘OK, this is my last year. I want to enjoy it.’ And then when it’s over, say, ‘It’s not over.’ I don’t think I can do that.”
Of course, we really don’t know. Smoltz says he has at least another year left. After that, who knows? But an athlete never knows how he’ll feel in retirement. He’s a power pitcher with a thirst for competition, and he’s a bulldog in the playoffs. How would he react if it’s June or August and the Braves are holding on line one, the Yankees on line two and the Red Sox on line three?
Smoltz smiled.
“It’s an interesting scenario,” he said. “I’ll say this: If it works, there will be a lot more guys who’ll think about it than guys who don’t think about it.”
Start thinking about it. Not everybody is Roger Clemens. It certainly takes somebody with a special talent, durability and, yes, salesmanship to miss two months of the season, show up only on pitching days and draw a $3.7 million monthly salary.
But every sport has a few athletes annually who could fit into this scenario. A wide receiver, a cover cornerback, even a running back could play this game in the NFL. Maybe even a quarterback. Further, several teams suddenly are $10 million or more under the salary cap, which has skyrocketed to $102 million.
In the NBA, a big man, even a 3-point specialist, is often coveted down the stretch.
Baseball teams may need a starting pitcher. Or a power hitter. Or a closer.
Smoltz: “To pull that off, it really depends on the personality of the guy.”
When asked about Bonds, he said, “That’s the guy.”
Clemens parachutes in for games. He’s not a full-time Astro. That’s the part Smoltz has a problem with — and he’s not alone.
“Any time you hear somebody say, ‘I have to go to a wedding,’ or something, somebody will say, ‘OK, Roger,’ ” Smoltz said. “It’s become a running joke around the league. It takes a special person to deal with that.”
Smoltz has taken less money to stay with the Braves in the past. He figures the fact he has “passed that period of temptation” lessens the chance he would end retirement to jump into a bidding war. And he warns this whole Clemens thing could backfire.
“If Roger can come back and the Astros can come back, I don’t know if there’s a better story,” he said. “But if it doesn’t work, I don’t know if there’s a worse story.”
For better or worse, I’m thinking it’s not the last story.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
Comments
By gdg73
June 1, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this
Seems to me that Roger Clemens is just as much a “team player” as Bonds is. As I recall, it was considered a crime when Deion was trying to come back. Only differance is Deion was chasing a championship, while Clemens is chasing dollars. Its funny how some players are glorified in the media, while others are crucified. If this part-time, money grabbing Clemens is not the poster boy of the greedy athlete club, I don’t know who is. However, you would never know by this article. By the way, can you get on the beat and write a decent article about the Falcons. I’m sure you can think of an angle.
By gdg73
June 1, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this
Seems to me that Roger Clemens is just as much a “team player” as Bonds is. As I recall, it was considered a crime when Deion was trying to come back. Only differance is Deion was chasing a championship, while Clemens is chasing dollars. Its funny how some players are glorified in the media, while others are crucified. If this part-time, money grabbing Clemens is not the poster boy of the greedy athlete club, I don’t know who is. However, you would never know by this article. By the way, can you get on the beat and write a decent article about the Falcons. I’m sure you can think of an angle.
By alan
June 2, 2006 07:08 AM | Link to this
Calm down folks. Little Roger is only participating in the “worlds oldest profession!”
By Craig
June 2, 2006 07:17 AM | Link to this
Here’s hoping Roger pulls a hammy in his first start and never comes back. He’s the best pitcher of the generation but probably a bigger jerk than Bonds. (I am a white man saying this). Maybe he won’t get hurt but puts up crappy numbers and winds up losing more than he wins.
And when is someone going to check into Roger’s fitness routine to see if there may be a chance that he took juice? As it stands now, he and Barry have similar stories and have both tested positive for roids the same amount of times……NONE!
By br
June 2, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this
Oh goody, another article twisted into a Barry Bonds, racial, and steroids thred! Just what we need…way to go Craig!
By Joe
June 2, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
He is The Rocket, just about the greatest ever and you whiney braves fans would kill to have a 7 time Cy Young award winner wearing an A on his cap. Comparing Smoltz to Clemens is like comparing chit to sugar. He doesn’t need the drugs McQuire, Sosa, and Bonds pumped into their bodies. Like any of you would refuse that kind of money. Get use to the Braves NOT playing post season this year.
By David
June 2, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this
I’m not surprised at all at what Roger Clemens has been able to pull off. He is just as selfish and arrogant as Bonds, Deon Sanders and Terrell Ownes all wraped up in one package. Roger Clemens is a very flamboyant personality and lives life in the fast line; he loves the attention, which is why he is the type of prima dona who wants the world to see how greedy and pompous he is. No one can kick Roger Clemens off of the Astros because he is the highest paid player with the highest level of skill. To say that he is unselfish is an understatement. If Clemens were making the major league minimum, he would not have come out of retirement to help the Astros make the playoffs. But he has an ego the size of the empire state building in New York, so he can honor his “mother” and make more money than any athlete in any sport. What the world needs is fewer Roger Clemens’ and more John Smoltz’ who is in his sport for the sake of enjoyment and not to stack dollar bills in his bank vault like the infamous Roger Clemens. If Roger Clemens has taken steroids to blow up to his enormous size, he should give back every dime of his equally blown-up salary.
By Uncle Fester
June 2, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this
Craig, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a blithering idiot.
(BTW, I can say that because I’m white.)
By chris
June 2, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Joe I suppose your team is always in the playoffs? Probably because you jump on a different bandwagon ever year. Whatever team you like this year I am sure they wouldn’t mind having crappie old Smoltz pitching for them. Why don’t you go post messages on your bandwagon I mean teams page instead of ours.
By Ryder
June 2, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this
Bottom line the man can still pitch. With some more run support he would have won the Cy Young again last year. As long as he can help the Astros win that’s just fine.
So what if other athletes plan on doing this? As they get older their bodies can’t handle the strains of a 162 or 82 game season. If they can contribute to their teams that’s fine.
By Jim
June 2, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this
You people obviously dont have a damn clue when it comes to Clemens. While I am an Astros fan and find it hard to believe that he couldnt come back for less than 3mil/mo. it’s not like he’s only going to be w/ the team when he’s pitching. The special deal was made so he could do things like take days off to see his kids play in their high school games. And to say he “lives life in the fast lane” is idiotic. He’s been married for awhile now and one of his kids just graduated high school. I don’t think the guy has “lived life in the fast lane” since his days in Boston. Grow up people.
By Penn
June 3, 2006 12:26 AM | Link to this
Jim, you are absolutely right. This crap of attacking Clemons is ridiculous. No one told the Houston owners they had to pay him that kind of money to pitch again. Damn, just damn.
Speaking of Smoltz not pitching for money is ludicrous. I guess $11 - $12 million a year is chopped liver.