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I was at my grandparent’s house in tiny Bishop, Texas when I had my first glimpse of Roger Clemens. He was on the mound when the University of Texas won the 1983 College World Series.

The movie Flashdance had just been released and when the game was over, ESPN played “What a Feeling” to video clips of the tournament. Just like CBS does with “One Shining Moment” and the NCAA Basketball tournament.

I love “What a Feeling”. The movie – still a chick flick – is pretty inspiring in its own right, but the song makes you want to get up and dance, like the Rocky theme makes you want to get up and beat Mr. T down, knock Apollo into next week, and punch any Russian back to Moscow.

When I saw UT win the College World Series, I immediately went out and grabbed my brother to play catch. I think every kid in Texas wanted to be Roger Clemens that day. We wanted to put on the UT cap and uni and make our way to Omaha as well.

As the years went by and I grew older, my interests changed and I became more of a basketball junkie. But I still watched intently as Clemens won his first of many Cy Young Awards, American League MVP, made his way to a World Series and finally got his ring, got to wear a Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Astros jersey AND became entangled in this horrible damn steroids issue.

The mess continued recently, when some accused the good ole Texas boy of being a child molester, a child rapist, and a cheating husband.

What I believe is irrelevant. Whether country-star Mindy McCready was only 15 when they started up their relationship does not really matter (well maybe… if he eventually gets brought up on rape charges). What matters now, is Clemens’ legacy. Will he make the Hall of Fame, will anyone invite him to speak to kids about the game he’s played so long, will his family suffer, and will anyone give him the time of the day or even care that he’s got two World Series rings?

I know that his play on the field (before those last couple of questionable steroid years) deserves a place in Cooperstown and I know that his wife still looked great in her 2003 SI swimsuit gig.

AND I know this: When I hear “What a Feeling” now, I don't think about winning. Instead, I now think about losing.  I think to myself, “He had it all”.

When he won that College World Series he had the chance of a lifetime. He lived the good life and HE BLEW IT!

I wonder how Roger feels now. “What a Feeling”. He must feel like crap.

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