But he doesn't have the right to have things both ways.
While the New York media blasted him (WHAT AN ASSTRO! the Post screamed) and some suggest there was a conspiracy between the Astros and Clemens' Houston-based agents, there is no reason not to believe Clemens' explanation:
He was swayed by overwhelming community support, the chance to play again with buddy Andy Pettitte and the promise of an accommodating scheduling, allowing him to spend some days he's not pitching with his family.
"I find it pretty far-fetched that people think this was planned or anything like that because I had no intentions of playing," Clemens said on New York sports-talk radio. "Then when Andy signed, that's when everything started changing. ... If Andy Pettitte was a Yankee, I'd still be retired."
Clemens professed his love for George Steinbrenner and said he always will be a Yankee at heart, he hopes to again wear the pinstripes, perhaps, as a spring training instructor, and he wants to go into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee.
"I still consider myself a Yankee," he said.
That might sound good now, but it's unlikely the Yankees will embrace him. While he didn't do them as wrong as David Wells, who agreed to a minor-league deal then signed with San Diego, Clemens did make the Yankees look bad, and Steinbrenner doesn't have a short memory.
Plus, his comments probably don't sit well with the Astros. In addition to a one-year, $5-million contract, Clemens signed a 10-year personal services contact with owner Drayton McLane.
JOB WELL DONE: Some say the Rays can be difficult to deal with, but once both parties focused on a three-year deal, talks with Aubrey Huff's agents went extremely well.
"Credit is due," agent Sam Levinson said. "Chuck LaMar was candid, forthright, fair, reasonable and aggressive. We appreciated very much the professional manner in which they conducted themselves."
RAYS RUMBLINGS: With deals in sight for Jeremi Gonzalez (about $1.7-million) and Damian Rolls (about $750,000), the Rays will spend about $21-million for their projected 25-man opening-day roster. ... After paying less experienced players the $300,000 minimum salary last season, the Rays have re-instituted a salary structure. Players with less than one year of major-league service will get up to $310,000, one-plus players up to $320,000, two-plus players up to $330,000. They also re-implemented a bonus package of up to $20,000 per player. ... Talks continue with left-handers Damian Moss, 10-12, 5.16 ERA for the Giants and Orioles, and Ron Villone, 6-6, 4.12 ERA for the Astros. ... Carl Crawford got a guided tour of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum by Buck O'Neil and received his James "Cool Papa" Bell Legacy Award on Friday in Kansas City. ... ESPN is expected to pick up the Rays-Yankees games from Japan. ... Nick Bierbrodt signed a major-league deal with the Red Sox.
GOING DEEP: Freddie Mitchell, who caught the fourth-and-26 pass against Green Bay on Jan. 11, could have been a Ray. Mitchell, an outfielder from Lakeland Kathleen High, was a 47th-round pick in 1997 but chose to go to UCLA.
GRINS FOR ZIM: Yankees manager Joe Torre said he was happy to see Don Zimmer hired by the Rays as an adviser. "He wasn't ready to walk away," Torre told James Brown on Sporting News Radio. "I think he just felt that he had his fill of the Yankees. He really was sensitive to what went on around our ballclub this year. ... I think the biggest thing is that someone called and wanted him. Even though Don is a gruff-looking guy and seems to be a barker all the time, there is a lot of sensitivity to him. I know being wanted by Lou Piniella and his guys over there made him feel good."
FALL DREAMING: It's obvious the Rays have improved, but are their sales people taking things a tad too far? E-mails to potential buyers tout one of the benefits of season tickets as "First rights to purchase Devil Rays postseason tickets."
MISCELLANY: Sports stars and celebs, such as hip-hop star Jay-Z, are arriving in Tampa for Monday's inaugural Derek Jeter Celebrity Golf Classic at Avila. ... Fred McGriff, 40 years old and nine homers shy of 500, is without a job but isn't ready to retire. "I'm still working," agent Jim Krivacs said. ... The decision to sell the Brewers could be an indication Bud Selig will remain commissioner past 2006 rather than retire as planned. ... Wildest rumor of the week: Pudge Rodriguez signs then is traded back to the Marlins, circumventing the rule that prevents him from playing for them before May 1. ... The Cardinals could end up with ex-Ray Marlon Anderson batting leadoff and Greg Vaughn, who will be in camp on a minor-league deal, second.
- Information from other news organizations was used in the report.
