Little things really do mean a lot

From one of the many snarky year-end wrapup stories in the Chron comes this tidbit:

LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT: Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was ejected from his son's youth league game after an umpire accused Clemens of spitting a sunflower seed at him.

Strictly speaking, that is a true statement. However, one might get the impression from it that Roger Clemens did in fact spit a sunflower seed at the youth league umpire. If so, one would be mistaken.

David King, president of tournament organizer Triple Crown Sports, said “Mr. Clemens was a non-aggressor and a victim of mistaken identity and confusion” by an upset umpire.

Clemens was asked to leave son Kacy’s game Saturday in Craig, Colo., when a 22-year-old ump said the Houston Astros pitcher spit a sunflower seed at him. Moments earlier, Kacy was called out on a stolen base attempt — the fielder later admitted he missed the tag — and the Rocket watched the rest of the contest from a parking lot.

“Mr. Clemens never raised his voice, never physically confronted our official, nor was he ever on the field of play,” King said in a written statement, underlining those words.

“Mr. Clemens was unjustly asked to leave the field of play,” King said. “For all of this, we apologize to Mr. Clemens.”

Perhaps the word "erroneously" should have been inserted into that item, as in "Roger Clemens was ejected from his son's youth league game after an umpire erroneously accused Clemens of spitting a sunflower seed at him". I'm just saying.

Anne has some thoughts on this piece as well.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 27, 2004 to Elsewhere in Houston | TrackBack