In his 10 years with the Boston Red Sox, Roger Clemens established himself as one of the all-time best pitchers. But a few off years in his early 30's caused the general manager to cut him loose, saying "we wish Roger well in the twilight of his career." He was only 34! Always a fan of the resilient old guy, I was thrilled to see him bounce back with four more Cy Young awards and two World Series championships with the Yankees in the years that followed. It's too bad that those achievements have been tarnished by his connection with steroids. Then again, pride and the determination to prove the doubters wrong can sometimes cause you to take on some drastic and regrettable actions.
I work hard, I earn my pay, and I do the best I can. In Boston town it's sweat and blood that makes a man a man. But the years are cruel; they take their toll and they get you on the run. 34 and the boss, he said my time here was done.
But it's all right, I'll carry on. I will persevere. They wished me well and they let me go in the twilight of my career.
Spent some time up in Canada before I was New York City bound. They got no time for losers in that big city town. So I took some chances, I bent some rules, and I made some ugly ties. The fountain of youth becomes a poisoned well when you fill it up with lies. But it's all right, I'll carry on. Now I'm in the clear. I had to prove them wrong, I guess, in the twilight of my career. In the twilight you'll do some things that you would never do again, but you were just a young man then...
Now my time is done and no one dares to speak my name. Forgotten, a pariah, I'm a ghost that walks this game. I meant no wrong but wrong I've done. It's easy to forget -- you sell your soul piece by piece until there's nothing left.