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James's Reviews > The Rocket That Fell to Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality
The Rocket That Fell to Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality
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This is a well written book about someone that I used to idolize.
Roger Clemens was was an intimidating pitcher that dominated well into his 40's. He was known for his work ethic, and his longevity was attributed to his hard work in the gym while off the field.
It turns out that this, in fact, was too good to be true. There is ample evidence that when Clemens started to show signs of aging, and he lost his zip, he turned to steroids.
This, unfortunately, was not that unusual. Baseball was riddled with performance enhancing drugs. What is amazing is the arrogance, deceit, and malignant competitiveness. Clemens was a great pitcher, because that is all he did. It seems that his development was arrested in almost every other way. The praise and worship that he received from fans, and even other players was constant, and he began to believe it. The myth overshadowed the reality so much that even Clemens was under its spell.
When the allegations of steroid use were made public by the Mitchell report, he unraveled much like he often did while pitching in high pressure situations. Instead of owning up to his transgressions and settling with a modicum of dignity, he took the low road and feverishly (and at times comically) denied steroid use. This escalated all the way up to lying under oath before congress and exposing himself to the real risk of doing some serious prison time.
This was a captivating story that made clear the dangers inherent in fame and fortune. Excellent summer reading.
Roger Clemens was was an intimidating pitcher that dominated well into his 40's. He was known for his work ethic, and his longevity was attributed to his hard work in the gym while off the field.
It turns out that this, in fact, was too good to be true. There is ample evidence that when Clemens started to show signs of aging, and he lost his zip, he turned to steroids.
This, unfortunately, was not that unusual. Baseball was riddled with performance enhancing drugs. What is amazing is the arrogance, deceit, and malignant competitiveness. Clemens was a great pitcher, because that is all he did. It seems that his development was arrested in almost every other way. The praise and worship that he received from fans, and even other players was constant, and he began to believe it. The myth overshadowed the reality so much that even Clemens was under its spell.
When the allegations of steroid use were made public by the Mitchell report, he unraveled much like he often did while pitching in high pressure situations. Instead of owning up to his transgressions and settling with a modicum of dignity, he took the low road and feverishly (and at times comically) denied steroid use. This escalated all the way up to lying under oath before congress and exposing himself to the real risk of doing some serious prison time.
This was a captivating story that made clear the dangers inherent in fame and fortune. Excellent summer reading.
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Reading Progress
June 2, 2009
– Shelved
Started Reading
June 7, 2009
–
Finished Reading
