If you have been a regular reader at the Fan's place, then you would know the twenty year fan relationship I have had with Roger Clemens. As a transplanted Yankee fan from New Jersey who moved to first New Hampshire and then Maine, Clemens started his career with the Red Sox at that same time. His early career coincided with the Fan becoming the world's only Yankee AND Red Sox fan.

Then Clemens moved on to Toronto and that was okay too. Living in New England, our cable providers carry Canadian channels so I got to watch Roger pitch up north for the dreaded Blue Jays. All New Englanders hate the Blue Jays almost as much as they do the Yankees. But I was angry when the Red Sox gave up on Clemens and said he was past his prime. And I cheered every time he went in to Boston to win another game on those great back-to-back Cy Young Award, twenty-win seasons.

And then one of the best pitchers that ever lived went to the Yankees. Certainly, I was excited by that. One never knew whether or not he would hold up, but he had a great Yankee career and it was an emotional moment for me when Clemens reached his milestones.

I was ready to say goodbye at the end of last season. 310 wins, over 4000 strikeouts, he finished his twentieth season at 17-9! How good is that. And he was great in the playoffs and World Series. But the Yankees didn't win it and the Marlins did. Still, it was a great way to end a career.

Somehow, when Andy Pettitte signed with the Astros (A terrible blow to the Bronx cheering section), the thoughts first appeared that maybe Clemens would join his friend there. And you know what? It's okay. He reached his milestones as a Yankee. One of the greatest pitchers of all time pitched his last Yankee game to a gem and I cried when he got the standing ovation (even from his opposing players).

He did all that with the Yankees. He won his last Cy Young with the Yankees. He reached 300 wins with the Yankees. His last game in that great uniform was brilliant and a fitting farewell. And that was okay.

Now he is home and can spend time with his family and pitch one more year with his friend Andy. Good for him and good for baseball. I just hope he doesn't get rapped around in that band box of a stadium. I hope you win twenty, Roger, and lead your team to the World Series. I'll be watching just like always.