Everyone is talking about Jonathan Papelbon’s interview in Esquire where he calls Manny Ramirez a “cancer,” I for one, could care less. However, there was one small throw-away tidbit in the article I found particularly interesting. Since he left the team in 1996, Roger Clemens’ number “21” hasn’t been worn by a Red Sox player, but when the Sox were planning on reconverting Papelbon to a starter for the 2007 season “They…offered him the number 21, Roger Clemens’s old number, because they thought the favorable comparison might help Papelbon take to the idea. But the role didn’t sit right with him, and neither did the number.”
I like the Sox’ thinking here, it’s an interesting inspirational idea, but I also like Papelbon’s insistence on forging his own path, the “58” he wears was a random assignment, one he is turning into it’s own legendary number. Paps is building his own legacy, he doesn’t need to pick up on Clemens’.
[Esquire]
Poor Roger Clemens, first he gets outed for his use of HGH and steroids in the Mitchell Report, then he further destroys his reputation by starting a defamation suit against Brian McNamee where details about Clemens’ alleged affair with a 15 year old girl come out and a host of other embarrassing and lurid details. Now, Clemens’ reputation is completely in the toilet, a man who should be honored as the best living pitcher is relegated to the outskirts because of his own illegal actions and no one wants to acknowledge him. Fast forward to Sunday’s fellating of Yankee Stadium and the honoring of the greatest Yankees at each position and no mention of the Cy Young garnering, 2 World Series winning Rocket. Alas!
The Slanch Report 
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