The Hungry Journalist

It was the coolest, most important moment of my young career.

I was covering the University of Texas alumni game in 2007, where there are always some recent players and a few of the classic Texas Exes. But Roger Clemens was usually too busy or being too careful to attend.

But that year the Rocket was there.

I’d always liked Roger Clemens, and after coming to his alma mater his status in my book was about as high as it gets. A day before the game, legendary Longhorns coach Augie Garrido said Clemens had been at the annual golf tournament. I was still skeptical, but when the Texas people announced five minutes before game time that he would be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch it finally hit me – I’m going to meet the great Roger Clemens.

My reporting partner, Brad Gray, and I hauled ass down to the field to try and score an impromptu post-pitch interview.

So, after watching him warm up with his youngest son and a very soft first pitch, Brad and I looked at each other and wondered what to do. We were used to working with media relations, who – while they had the power to tell us who we could and couldn’t talk to – would bring players to us.

“Can we just go up there and ask to talk?” Brad asked.

“He’s a pro … so … yeah, I think so,” I replied and hoped he wouldn’t just walk past us.

We approached him, introduced ourselves as reporters for The Daily Texan and asked if he would be kind enough to talk with us.

“Sure, c’mon down here to the dugout,” he said.

Clemens put on his leather jacket and answered our questions, some of which were tough ones about if he would pitch that season and Nolan Ryan’s hospitalization. Though he talked through us just a little, he was courteous and didn’t cut any answers short.

Immediately after the interview, I called my father and told him I’d just talked to THE Roger Clemens. I’m sure I sounded like a 12-year-old and it wasn’t a very manly thing to do, but I didn’t give a shit. My entire season was made.

After that interview, I wrote a story for the Texan. The quotes from that story was picked up by the Associated Press (which put it in most major newspapers) and ended up in Sports Illustrated’s “Clemens Watch” box the next week.

I was absolutely stoked. I saw him a few more times on the Texas sideline during some games last year. By that time the steroids talk had just started, but I still had faith that he was telling the truth.

It’s easier to do when you’ve actually met someone, trust me.

Obviously I don’t believe a word that comes out of this guy’s mouth anymore. The most recent news that there are receipts that show he received HGH in the mail just makes me even more angry that I ever looked up to him.

I obviously don’t look back on that story in the same light anymore. While it was still a big deal in my professional career, meeting Roger Clemens is not a personal highlight anymore.

Now hearing his name just pisses me off.