THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030534
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Paul White
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 46 lines
For the first time since he signed a professional baseball contract in 1983, Roger Clemens is a man without a team.
``When people ask for my business address, I have to tell them I don't know what my business address is anymore,'' said Clemens, a three-time Cy Young Award winner entering free agency after 13 seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
``It's going to be an exciting winter, but it's scary, too. You don't know what the future holds.''
Clemens was at Scope Wednesday as part of the Healthsouth Sports Medicine Roadshow, a nine-city tour that allows star athletes to appeal to children on the virtues of education and a healthy lifestyle.
Approximately 1,000 4th-8th graders from Virginia Beach public schools heard from Clemens, tennis star Mary Joe Fernandez and six-time Ms. Olympia bodybuilding champion Cory Everson Wednesday.
The Roadshow's final session today will feature gymnast Dominique Dawes and professional wrestler Lex Luger.
``I made a commitment to this program a couple of years ago to help get the word out,'' Clemens said. ``As soon as the season was over, I came straight down.''
But where he goes from here, professionally at least, is anyone's guess. Despite Clemens' league-leading 257 strikeouts, the Red Sox held firm on their policy of not negotiating contracts during the season. Boston also doesn't give pitchers guaranteed contracts longer than two years; Clemens, 34, is insisting on four years guaranteed.
``I respect Dan (Duquette, the Red Sox general manager), but this is a business and he's a businessman,'' said Clemens, who expects to sign a new contract by Christmas.
Clemens cautioned against reading too much into his actions Saturday, when he scooped up a pile of dirt from the mound after an ``emotional'' outing at Fenway Park.
``The future's uncertain, so I pitched like it was my last start,'' Clemens said. ``But I got a big kick out of the media making a big deal about how I cleared my locker out. I clear out my locker every year.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens is a free agent after
13 seasons with the Red Sox. by CNB