Roger Clemens Visits Minor League Game, Leaves Path of Destruction in Wake

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Minor League Spotlight is the MLB FanHouse's look into baseball's minor leagues. But you probably figured that out already.

Roger Clemens made a surprise appearance at a minor league game on Saturday, watching the Worcester Tornadoes of the independent Cam-Am League play from the dugout and bullpen. Why were the Tornadoes graced with his presence? Presumably because they're managed by Rich Gedman, Clemens' friend and former catcher with the Red Sox.

It's not everyday that a former player of Clemens' stature shows up at an independent league game, so beat reporter Kevin O'Malley of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (via LBS) justifiably saw it fit to mention his appearance in his game recap:

Followed by an entourage of police officers, Clemens walked from the dugout to the Tornadoes' bullpen midway through the fourth inning. Before leaving the field, he signed autographs for team employees but not fans. He was also introduced by the public address announcer and waved to the crowd of 3,153, who responded with a chorus of cheers and boos.

This is where things get interesting. Gedman read O'Malley's recap in Sunday's paper and thought it was overly negative, especially the depiction that Clemens was booed, required police protection and didn't sign autographs, which Gedman all disputes. So the next time Gedman saw O'Malley, he called him an (expletive) and a (expletive) and kindly requested he (expletive) himself.

"You had a chance to do something special yesterday and you couldn't (expletive) do it, could you?" Gedman said, according to a taped transcript of the exchange. "Clemens shows up here and you dog him in the newspaper. Shame on you; you're (expletive) and then you have the nerve to ask me about the game, right. You're a (expletive), get the (expletive) out of here."

O'Malley also said that Gedman challenged him to a fight; O'Malley acknowledged yelling back at Gedman and walking toward him before the clash was broken up.

Sigh. If only all of Clemens' friends and former colleagues could be so loyal.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-26-2008 @ 11:13PM

bigflyer said...

Rich Gedman was a local boy and an inept, slow witted poor hitting, overweight catcher who bought into Fat Boy Rajah the Roid's glamorous image.
Now Gedman is struggling; managing in the minors and so he takes out all his frustrations on a lowly reporter who by all accounts described accurately the Lying Fat Boy's "appearance" at the Worcester Tornados game.

8-26-2008 @ 11:18PM

Fat Boy Roid User Rajah the Liar makes an appearance with his slow witted overweight poor hitting catcher as Gedman wants to cap an underachieving major league career by managing the Worcester Tornados. Gedman takes his frustration out on a reporter who probably described the appearance of Roid Ass quite accurately.

8-27-2008 @ 12:55AM

George B Vieto said...

Birds of a feather do flock together.

8-27-2008 @ 4:00AM

ron p sr said...

When are you going to learn Roger--------Stay HOME ---thats where you belong.

You made your life ,now leave everyone else alone.

STAY HOME

8-27-2008 @ 4:12AM

Doc said...

Figure's an O'malley from Worcester....someone looking to get some print and its not Roger. Worcester telegram....right up there with the New York Times. Right. Gedman should have flattened the hack...that would have been something.

8-27-2008 @ 11:04AM

naddo said...

good thing babe ruth wasnt playing the last 20 years he would be hated too. remember babe had a baby with his mistress and then he and his wife adopted the girl and never told his wife that he was the real father. quite a role model. like barry "being blackballed" bonds mentioned during an interview, he wondered how all the media would fare if they wrote about the skeleton in their own closets. drugs are part of the game but the media has ruined it. im glad babe lived when the media covered just the games. we cheered roger as a player so let the past go and let him live his life how he chooses....................................

8-27-2008 @ 5:46PM

Jack said...

Barry Bonds,Mark McGwire,Rafael Palmeiro,Marion Jones,Roger Clemens and the list only continues to grow.Sadly our society is conditioned to forgive and forget but not our American sports society.Why wasn't Gedman at that senate hearing next to Roger for moral support?

8-27-2008 @ 10:52PM

Harleyman said...

Good for Rich for coming to thedefense of a buddy. Hey what are friends for? Put aside the past, both guys made a presence in a game adored by boys of all ages. Moving on, Hey wasn't Clemens happier in pin stripes and bashed the Red Sox? Hey let him blow a kiss tothe Babe in NY, I for one don't need to see him around the Red Sox nation anytime soon.