The "Rocket" Rocked It!

So, my life in retirement is really quite boring. I volunteer in my community, play a little golf, participate in a men’s Bible study group, and do a little community theater. However, in my previous life, I did a lot of traveling and I was blessed to have met some of the world’s most famous people; what I call my “brushes with greatness.” 

At the encouragement of Tom Marks, my friend and this website’s founder/creator, I’d like to relate a few stories and I invite my fellow contributors to share their encounters with the “rich and famous!" 

For much of my professional career, I was responsible for planning and coordinating incentive travel programs for top producers, with destinations both here in the US and abroad. 

While with a Midwest company, we had a major trip planned to London for the bulk of the group and then to Switzerland for our highest-producing people. However, when a TWA flight was bombed by terrorists, the President of my company decided the risk was too great and therefore, we would NOT travel abroad. With only about 25 days before the trip was to take place, I was sent on a mission to find an alternate location and plan an appropriately similar trip. We ended-up choosing Boston as the destination for the main group. 

Being a baseball fan, I suggested it would be a great experience to take the group to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox play in person. By sheer coincidence, we were live in the stands the night Roger Clemens set the major league strike out record. Being a resident of Omaha at the time, I spent many a night at the College World Series in the old Rosenblatt Stadium where I had seen Clemens pitch for the Texas Longhorns. One of our top producers and a good friend was a graduate of UT and so the two of us, realizing mid game that we might be watching history, were on the edge of our seats counting strike outs as they occurred. (As a side note, the game ended with a 1-0 victory for Boston and as a result, my wife declared it one of the most boring games she had ever seen). 

Now, jump ahead a few years. I was in Orlando to coordinate the final details of an upcoming incentive trip and I was working with Steve Moore, the Sales Manager at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Steve and I had become friends and when he asked if I would like to play a round of golf following our business meetings, I jumped at the chance. 

As Steve and I approached the first hole, the "Starter" said, “Mr. Moore, do you want to go off as a two-some or would it be OK for the two of you to play with the "Honeymoon Couple" up ahead?” Steve did not hesitate, we would gladly play with the couple already standing on the first tee. But, as we approached, I whispered to Steve that I recognized the guy’s face. I could not tell you who he was, but I was sure I had seen him before. 

Steve and I got out of the cart and the man bounded over to us, thrust out his hand to shake ours and said, “Hi. I’m Roger Clemens and this is my wife, Debbie.” Holy Smokes, I thought I'm going to play 18 holes with one of the greatest baseball pitchers ever!!!! I was invited to tee-off first and I can distinctly remember my knees shaking with excitement. I had to concentrate hard, not wanting to miss the ball. 

I remember that Roger was not a great golfer, but he could hit a golf ball a country mile. On one hole, his drive did not meet his expectations and he asked if he could hit a mulligan. It was a par 4 close to 350 yards and his second drive ended-up about 15 yards off the green. 

Both he and his wife were delightful people, a pure pleasure to spend time with. Not once during the round did either of them act like they were all hoity-toity, or deserving of special treatment. They were gracious and down-to-earth. 

When the 18 holes were completed, Roger asked if we would like to get a beer in the clubhouse before heading home. This was my chance and I took it. My speech went something like this, “Mr. Clemens, I know you are down here for Spring Training and I know this is your day off, so to me it seems like you are on vacation. For that reason, I have purposely refrained from bothering you by talking “baseball. But, if we go have a beer, I am definitely going to want to talk baseball. Is that OK with you?” 

We ended-up spending nearly two hours over a pitcher of beer, the three of us, talking about his college career at Texas and his pro career with Boston. I told him about being at the ballpark that night in Boston and he described in detail his last strike-out that set the major league record, pitch by pitch, an incredible memory. He was humorous, insightful and thoroughly captivating. 

And, despite his obvious fame, he could not have been nicer to Steve and me. He was just a regular guy. 

I know that most of America believes Roger Clemens cheated by taking steroids. Although never conclusively proven, the “evidence” stacks-up against him. But, having spent the day with him and experiencing him as a person, I continue to give him the benefit of the doubt and will always believe he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.