The Roger Clemens Bashing Needs to End

After months of speculation, Roger Clemens decided a few weeks ago that he would once again wear a Yankee uniform. In the time span between that decision and the present, he has received much criticism from ballplayers, baseball media, and fans for a clause on his contract. Many agree that Clemens' option to stay at home on road trips he will not be called to pitch is selfish.

The truth of the matter is that it is time for all of Clemens' detractors to shut up.

What has become apparent in the last few weeks is that there is some wacky double-standard held for Yankees players verses the rest of the league. Clemens had the same clause in his contract with the Astros for the past three seasons. Many of the same baseball commentators and fans were then saying how terrific it was that he found a situation where he could continue pitching and spend time with his family.

Now he has the same deal in pinstripes and it's a problem? C'mon.

It seems like every single Sportscenter that airs features a new player calling out Clemens for his selfishness. Where were these complaints a year ago when he did the exact same thing to Houston? Back then the media toted the situation off as giving the public a chance to watch a legend in the making. Almost every Roger Clemens start was covered extensively on baseball programs and the watching nation "oohed" and "aahed" at his every twitch.

But this season there are countless baseball and sports experts bashing the same player who brought them pitching gems to talk about in Houston.

The main complaint seems to be a delusion that Clemens somehow considers himself bigger than the game. If that's the case, he has been bigger than the game for three seasons now; working on four. Sports writers do not get to decide whether or not a player is, can, or will be bigger than the game.

The fact of the matter is that three teams were willing to meet with Clemens and listen to his demands. Three teams understood that they could refuse to meet such unprecedented requests and simply watch Roger retire. And three teams decided to make pitches to the seven-time Cy Young winner anyways.