Comments on: Clemens-Pettitte. The Misremembered Conversation http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/ Curiously Long Posts Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:32:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: George Koppe http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-10329 George Koppe Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:57:39 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-10329 During down time at work I was reading your past blogs and came across one in December that included the observation about asking (or not asking) strangers for directions. For some reason I get asked for directions often. Since I travel frequently on business, this often happens in other cities. In those instances I usually have no clue, of course, as I am just praying I make it back to the airport on time and alive. But my best directions story is from Kansas City, long ago. Prior to the last Bartle Hall expansion there was an Amoco station on the southwest (I think) corner of 14th and Broadway. I'm second in line to pay for my gas and the person in front of me, clearly from somewhere else, asked the young girl behind the counter how to get to Bartle Hall. She looks at him and says "I don't know. I just started here last week." Keep in mind that Bartle Hall blots out the sky maybe about 150 feet from the windows of this station. When I point with my finger out the window and note that "Bartle Hall is right there, across the street," the stranger chuckles and is somewhat chagrined that he didn't realize this. The clerk, of course, gives me a blank look, not the least bit embarrassed at being a fool. I'm sure she is now a U.S. Senator or president of Amoco or something. During down time at work I was reading your past blogs and came across one in December that included the observation about asking (or not asking) strangers for directions. For some reason I get asked for directions often. Since I travel frequently on business, this often happens in other cities. In those instances I usually have no clue, of course, as I am just praying I make it back to the airport on time and alive. But my best directions story is from Kansas City, long ago. Prior to the last Bartle Hall expansion there was an Amoco station on the southwest (I think) corner of 14th and Broadway. I’m second in line to pay for my gas and the person in front of me, clearly from somewhere else, asked the young girl behind the counter how to get to Bartle Hall. She looks at him and says “I don’t know. I just started here last week.” Keep in mind that Bartle Hall blots out the sky maybe about 150 feet from the windows of this station. When I point with my finger out the window and note that “Bartle Hall is right there, across the street,” the stranger chuckles and is somewhat chagrined that he didn’t realize this. The clerk, of course, gives me a blank look, not the least bit embarrassed at being a fool. I’m sure she is now a U.S. Senator or president of Amoco or something.

]]> By: Dwight http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-9002 Dwight Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:58:41 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-9002 Clemens: You want answers? Congressman: I think I'm entitled to them. Clemens: You want answers? Congressman: I want the truth! Clemens: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has baseballs. And those balls have to be hit by men with bats. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Congressman? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for steroids and you curse HGH. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that HGH, while illegal, probably sells tickets. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, sells tickets...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that mound. You need me on that mound. We use words like fastball, slider, splitfinger...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent playing a sport. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and falls asleep to the Sportscenter clips I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a bat and dig in. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to! Congressman: Did you order the HGH? Clemens: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do. Congressman: Did you order the HGH? Clemens: You're goddamn right I did!! Clemens: You want answers?
Congressman: I think I’m entitled to them.
Clemens: You want answers?
Congressman: I want the truth!
Clemens: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has baseballs. And those balls have to be hit by men with bats. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Congressman? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for steroids and you curse HGH. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that HGH, while illegal, probably sells tickets. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, sells tickets…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that mound. You need me on that mound. We use words like fastball, slider, splitfinger…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent playing a sport. You use ‘em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and falls asleep to the Sportscenter clips I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a bat and dig in. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!
Congressman: Did you order the HGH?
Clemens: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
Congressman: Did you order the HGH?
Clemens: You’re goddamn right I did!!

]]> By: SoxSweepAgain http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8874 SoxSweepAgain Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:43:43 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8874 I love how some are saying "ignore this". Hell, since we can't catch all the shoplifters, should we ignore the ones we do? I love how some are saying “ignore this”.

Hell, since we can’t catch all the shoplifters, should we ignore the ones we do?

]]> By: Pefacommish http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8871 Pefacommish Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:42:26 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8871 The attention, time and money that America is wasting on this subject is ridiculous, though I'm sure Joe is happy with all of the columns he's been getting out of it. He probably feels like Bill Maher, who was sorry when his favorite foil, Rudy Giuliani (or 9iu11ani as spelled on Dailykos) quit the race because he was so good for comedians. When Roger starts pitching again, Joe will have to find real stuff to make us laugh about. The attention, time and money that America is wasting on this subject is ridiculous, though I’m sure Joe is happy with all of the columns he’s been getting out of it. He probably feels like Bill Maher, who was sorry when his favorite foil, Rudy Giuliani (or 9iu11ani as spelled on Dailykos) quit the race because he was so good for comedians. When Roger starts pitching again, Joe will have to find real stuff to make us laugh about.

]]> By: Oddibe Kerfeld http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8856 Oddibe Kerfeld Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:45:29 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8856 Remember the glorious 80s when it was controversial when guys like Mike Scott were accused of scuffing and Joe Niekro, Rick Honeycutt, and Kevin Gross got caught in the act? How about Billy Hatcher's bat being corked? Congress should have held hearings on that. I'm sure Tip O'Neil could have weighed in with something while not guest staring on Cheers. Remember the glorious 80s when it was controversial when guys like Mike Scott were accused of scuffing and Joe Niekro,
Rick Honeycutt, and Kevin Gross got caught in the act? How about Billy Hatcher’s bat being corked? Congress should have
held hearings on that. I’m sure Tip O’Neil could have weighed in with something while not guest staring on Cheers.

]]> By: Clayton http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8835 Clayton Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:28:28 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8835 Damn Joe, you write smart stuff too fast for us respond to it, even part time...you're gonna deserve your own wing...but I also think Hawk Harrelson and Joe Lovitto should be similarly enthrined... ...My good friends. Roger Clemens is making an absolute ass of himself, but I urge you (and all prosecutors) to ignore it. He's the tip of the tip of the iceburg, both in terms of drug use (mea culpa, different ones) and lying about everything ("I never had sex with THAT woman!", Bill CLinton)...well, yeah, ok, who wouldna lied about that too, except that he apparently repeated the task Roger Clemens was one of the really great (maybe 25?) pitchers in the history of the sport that we all love the most, so for God's sake let's let him go ranting off into the tall trees like we did Steve Carlton (who was even better, and definitely smarter, and way more embarrassing). On his best days Clemens wasn't Doc Gooden, and looking back on his best years he wasn't as dominant as the bookish Maddux, but dammit, the man was always pretty damn good, and ultimately reliable! Leave him (and Barry) alone, please. INvestigate Dan Burton for alien hormonal displants, something obvious like that. That all being the case...only Nine heroic and qualified (if you're reading this you're qualified) respondents have answered the challenge. Just looking at the information I have, you have to figure that at least half of us are vulnerable to some kind of indictment or another (don't worry about it, they usually go away) or from California (same thing, kinda, mainly) (1) go to http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/ (2) select the blue “Join a league” button, (3) choose the far left “custom league” option (4) plug in league ID: 44683 password: soulofbaseball But venture not near, should ye be of faint heart, for Power Chord Jihad always wins!!!!! Damn Joe, you write smart stuff too fast for us respond to it, even part time…you’re gonna deserve your own wing…but I also think Hawk Harrelson and Joe Lovitto should be similarly enthrined…

…My good friends. Roger Clemens is making an absolute ass of himself, but I urge you (and all prosecutors) to ignore it. He’s the tip of the tip of the iceburg, both in terms of drug use (mea culpa, different ones) and lying about everything (“I never had sex with THAT woman!”, Bill CLinton)…well, yeah, ok, who wouldna lied about that too, except that he apparently repeated the task

Roger Clemens was one of the really great (maybe 25?) pitchers in the history of the sport that we all love the most, so for God’s sake let’s let him go ranting off into the tall trees like we did Steve Carlton (who was even better, and definitely smarter, and way more embarrassing).

On his best days Clemens wasn’t Doc Gooden, and looking back on his best years he wasn’t as dominant as the bookish Maddux, but dammit, the man was always pretty damn good, and ultimately reliable!

Leave him (and Barry) alone, please. INvestigate Dan Burton for alien hormonal displants, something obvious like that.

That all being the case…only Nine heroic and qualified (if you’re reading this you’re qualified) respondents have answered the challenge. Just looking at the information I have, you have to figure that at least half of us are vulnerable to some kind of indictment or another (don’t worry about it, they usually go away) or from California (same thing, kinda, mainly)

(1) go to http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/

(2) select the blue “Join a league” button,

(3) choose the far left “custom league” option

(4) plug in league ID: 44683
password: soulofbaseball

But venture not near, should ye be of faint heart, for Power Chord Jihad always wins!!!!!

]]> By: Ben http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8823 Ben Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:59:49 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8823 RC: Honey, where did I put those new designer pants with the oddly placed red spot? RC: Honey, where did I put those new designer pants with the oddly placed red spot?

]]> By: Daniel http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8805 Daniel Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:15:51 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8805 Brian McNamee walks in. Brian: Wait...there's some old dude hawking TV's and selling on my turf? I'ma get that SOB! RC: Brian! Is it time for my B12? My mom said it will make me grow big and strong! AP (chuckling): Your mom... Brian McNamee walks in.
Brian: Wait…there’s some old dude hawking TV’s and selling on my turf? I’ma get that SOB!
RC: Brian! Is it time for my B12? My mom said it will make me grow big and strong!
AP (chuckling): Your mom…

]]> By: joeficarra http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8800 joeficarra Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:51:28 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8800 brilliant... brilliant…

]]> By: Justyo http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettitte-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8793 Justyo Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:52:48 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/02/14/clemens-pettite-the-misremembered-conversation/#comment-8793 Joe - I think you're obligated to turn this transcript over to Congress. Otherwise I fear you may be rendered and waterboarded at Gitmo. (At least we can laugh at it.) Joe – I think you’re obligated to turn this transcript over to Congress. Otherwise I fear you may be rendered and waterboarded at Gitmo.

(At least we can laugh at it.)

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