Clemens Dealing With Upcoming Trial 'Head On'
BOSTON (CBS) – Roger Clemens is a busy man these days.
In town this week for a charity golf event to raise money for the New England Roughnecks, a local baseball program, Clemens had a lot more on his mind than just baseball and golf.
After his first trial for perjury charges ended in a mistrial in January, the former MLB star will stand trail again in April stemming from his comments during the 2008 steroid hearings.
"I can't really comment; I'll have plenty to say when it's all said and done," Clemens told WBZ-TV's Dan Roche at the Charter Oaks Country Club in Hudson. "We're just dealing with it head on; it's really all you can do."
Clemens On Trial, Time In Boston
"If people go back and look at my statements and what I read and what I said, it was from the heart," said the seven-time Cy Young award winner. "I can't control what other people think, especially those that don't want to get inside and see what's going on."
Read: Clemens Trial Set For April
One demographic that Clemens does not worry about is the younger generation of sports fans, who he thinks understands his dilemma, and believes what he had to say back in 2008.
"I think they understand who I am as a person. Most of the people that take the time out and get to know who you are instead of see from afar are great," said Clemens. "Make no mistake, when I was out there working I was out there working. I wanted to do the best and hold up my end of the deal; give people something to cheer about when they came out to the ballpark."
With all the talk surrounding his use of performance enhancing drugs, Clemens' Hall of Fame campaign has taken a big hit. While some voters will not put an alleged steroid user on the ballot, the former shoe-in is not worried about that part of his future.
"I don't have any control. It's great if it happens, if people want to hold it over your head it's not going to change who I am or what I'm about," he said.
Clemens spent 13 seasons with the Red Sox, winning 192 games, three Cy Young awards and his only MVP award. While he did not leave on the best terms, he enjoyed the time he spent in Boston.
Read: Dan Roche's Sports Blog
"It was fantastic. Like I've always said, I loved it," said Clemens, who donned red socks from 1984 to 1996. You put all your heart and soul into and do it up right, and that's what we did. We did it to the fullest and the best that we could. We had some great years."
And with a vacancy on the Boston bench, is there any chance the Rocket could end up managing the Red Sox in the near future?
"I don't think I could manage. I really just enjoy watching right now," said Clemens. "It's fun for me, because it's a different view for me. Being on the field all the time, to be able to sit and watch from the stands is pretty cool."
