• Mike Forman •
• Originally published October 5, 2009 at 8:42 p.m., updated October 6, 2009 at 9:45 a.m.

• Enlarge Photo »

• For complete results from the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch Celebrity Am Golf Tournament see Page C2.

Roger Clemens put in a plug for his hometown team while passing out autographed hats to residents of the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch on Monday afternoon at the Victoria Country Club.

"If you're not Astros fans," Clemens joked, "you're Astros fans now."

Clemens autographed caps and balls for residents of the Yoakum youth home after participating in the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch Celebrity-Am Golf Tournament.

"You guys stay positive," Clemens said. "When I was playing high school baseball (in Houston), I was told I would never have the opportunity to play professional baseball."

Clemens, 47, pitched for the University of Texas and spent 24 years in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Houston Astros.

Clemens won 354 games, had 4,672 strikeouts and won seven Cy Young Awards before retiring after the 2007 season.

"I've always been a positive person," Clemens said. "I tell people I won 200 games because of my talent and maybe God-given ability. I've won 300 games because of my will and my desire to go out and compete and love what I do."

Clemens' exit from baseball was clouded by allegations he used performance enhancing substances during the latter part of his career. Clemens has consistently denied the allegations and doesn't believe they will damage his legacy.

"My legacy is quite simple if you've ever watched me work," Clemens said. "I'm very passionate about my work. I threw my heart and soul into it and I did it because I found an opportunity to take care of my family. It wasn't about going out there and making the Hall of Fame and making World Series games.

"The biggest thing that bothers me the most is when people talk about athletes having a silver spoon in my mouth. They don't take the time to really get to know you."

Clemens spends much of his time working with the Roger Clemens Foundation, which benefits children's charities, and he had the opportunity to follow his son Koby, who plays in the Astros organization, this season.

Clemens continues to work with pitchers at all levels of baseball.

"I'm even more busy than I was when I played," Clemens said. "I enjoy the teaching aspect of it. I think there's a difference between coaching and teaching. Sometimes you actually have to go out there and do it. It's not going to be my last time on the mound.

"I'm sure there will be footage of me on a side mound somewhere demonstrating to some kids how to break your hands over your knee or what have you. I enjoy doing that."

Clemens will be eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2012, but refused to speculate about his chances of being voted in.

"I get great reception from the fans and the people that know me," Clemens said. "The support I get at the foundation and what people do to help other kids is fantastic. You can't please everybody all the time, you hear that a lot. All you can do is really be yourself."

• Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• Favorite