Clemens calls and Houston media flocks

I have nothing against Roger Clemens (shown here playing in an over-50 men’s senior softball league on Wednesday), but I need him as far away from a baseball field as possible. He’s making my hometown media look like clowns. (Photo by Associated Press)

I have nothing against Roger Clemens. Absolutely nothing at all. As a Houstonian, I admire and respect his skill as a baseball player, and I can’t think of a more mesmerizing season (maybe aside from the ’94 and ’95 Rockets seasons) than that 2005 Astros campaign. The last time the Astros were relevant, Clemens was playing a vital role and was arguably the face of the franchise. So what I’m about to say is really reflective upon the Houston media and coverage of Clemens since his comeback to baseball, and how it has gone gaga and completely undermined its professional responsibilities to hometown hero Clemens.

Last week, Clemens announced he will sign with the independent club Sugar Land Skeeters to pitch this Saturday. It sort of came from out of nowhere, and there is no doubt “The Rocket” is riding high on good graces, mowing down the feds recently after walking out of a courtroom  free, another victory in his books after he was acquitted on all charges that he lied to Congress when he denied using PEDs. Despite the fact that he was one of the centerpieces of the Mitchell Report that came out late last decade, the bottom line is the bottom line. Clemens is not a cheater, at least not by the law, and he got his day in court and won. Good for him.

(By the way, if you honestly still believe Clemens never once dabbled in PEDs, well, uh, good luck with that).

I have no problem with Clemens wanting to play baseball again. That’s his right; that’s what’s so great about America. We can do as we please; the opportunities are limitless. It’s up to us whether or not we choose to take advantage of what’s placed before us. What I do have an issue with is the plethora of ungodly media attention provided by Houston “journalists.” Ever since Clemens announced he was bound for Sugar Land, everyone has seemingly dropped what they were doing to hang onto his every word, to watch his every move.  We’re talking about a 50-year-old man who last pitched in the majors five years ago and clearly has no future in the game, at least on the field. Really? This is the big story right after the Astros made significant coaching changes and the Texans are weeks away from kicking off what many hope to be a run to the Super Bowl?

Quick trivia question: What was the centerpiece of today’s Houston Chronicle sports page? Was it, A) Feature/news story on the Texans and their plethora of storylines this preseason; B) an advance on the Dynamo’s Champions League opener tonight; or C) gamer on Clemens’ Over-50 men’s softball game he participated in Wednesday night. Take a good guess.

If you guessed C, kudos! Congratulations on having a grasp on the madness that’s been birthed. For the people who say journalism today is a complete joke, well, there’s their ammo. Tough to argue with them on that one, and it’s doubly annoying when national media like the AP is scoffing at this whole scenario to begin with, but of course the guy’s hometown paper is drinking every sip of the kool-aid. Unbelievable, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Houston has never really been home to hard-hitting sports journalists who don’t cater to the city’s big stars. Journalists in Houston have biases and allegiances. That’s just the way it’s been, and they’re far from the only ones who are that way, but, whatever. It’s still discouraging.

Here’s another question: why is Jose Canseco laughed at for his ventures into minor league ball and Clemens is applauded? I am far from a Canseco apologist, but whatever you want to say about his buffoonery, he opened eyes in baseball with his book. And he was right: juicing was very much a problem back then, and apparently still very much is now. So why is he some abomination and Clemens is adored as soon as he announces he wants to play baseball at the indy league level? And why are people looking down upon Canseco’s chosen Indy ball venues like Laredo and Worcester and yet Sugar Land is hailed as some king of the minors. Indy ball is indy ball. It’s the minorest of the minors. That’s right. I said “minorest.” That’s how perplexed I am. It doesn’t make sense. It’s unfair. It’s hypocritical. It’s two-faced. In this certain case – a former stud Major Leaguer who has been linked to PEDs looks to stay in the game at any level and even flees to play indy ball – Jose Canseco should be treated no differently than Roger Clemens. It’s just not right. Clemens, at least to me, has made Canseco look almost like a sympathetic figure. Almost. Maybe. OK, perhaps not, but it’s close. It’s made me think twice, that’s for sure.

You have every right to argue that, “Dennis, well, it’s not only Houston media that thinks this is a big deal. CNN, ESPN … they all do too.” And I get that. CNN, I don’t understand at all. Whatever. ESPN will broadcast Clemens’ start on ESPN Classic on Saturday, but is that really a big deal? I don’t think so. This is an entity that glorifies little league baseball, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit that it would broadcast Clemens’ start for an obscure indy ball team in Houston. What else better is there to broadcast on ESPN Classic on a random Saturday afternoon anyway? Look, I get that there is an interest in this. But there is no need to hail Clemens’ every move, to thirst over his every word. There are much bigger fish to fry. Much bigger. And I have a big hunch that the whole Clemens return is a bigger deal to Houston media than its actual audience and readership. You’re telling me that readers would really care about how Clemens fared in a senior softball game than if Trendon Holliday is going to make the Texans’ roster or how the Dynamo might look against Champions League competition? I have my doubts.

The story of John Odom

Gorgeous Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.

This weekend, I covered a couple of Double-A baseball games here in Corpus Christi. There is something serene about covering the sport. I don’t watch it much because I think games are way too long, but I do love covering the game, keeping a scorebook and always being alert, knowing I could miss anything at any given time.

I watched the Hooks entertain the RockHounds from Midland. The Hooks won both games I covered, and it brought back to mind the plethora of storylines that often accompany minor league ball, which I’ve been well acquainted with in my seven years in sports journalism. Some of the greatest people I know I met while covering the sport. But it also presented some of the most heartbreaking as well.

In Laredo, I was the beat writer for the Laredo Broncos, an independent club that was in existence from 2006-2010. It was while assigned the beat that I covered one of the most mercurial and tragic stories I’ve ever done, that of pitcher John Odom. In 2008, Odom was acquired by Laredo from Calgary for 10 maple bats. It was a unique, odd story, though not one unusual in the world of minor league ball. However, the story made national news, with ESPN, The Associated Press and other national entities filling their space with details of this former San Francisco Giants draft pick who was traded away for wood, delivered from Canada to a border town deep in South Texas.

Odom was an interesting character. He showed up late to an interview with ESPN. He was very laid back, chill, and seemed to take the whole thing well. When asked what he thought of the trade, his response was, “Well, I hope it’s good wood!” He said that with a smile and a laugh. I never once saw him down; he was always in good spirits, boasting a smile.

However, over the coming months, a shady past would be exposed, from battles with alcohol, to family issues, to past criminal episodes. He was someone no one completely understood, especially the Broncos. It was clear they were dealing with a troubled soul with a fragile state of mind. Yet it was never clear how troubled or how fragile. Eventually he left the club not long after his arrival in late May to attend to some family issues, and he was never heard from again until months later, when it was discovered what was initially ruled a suicide ended up as Odom overdosing on pills.

Here are some of the stories I did on Odom that offer more depth:

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It really is a tragic story, and one I will never forget. The last story of the batch is the most revealing, how harsh the taunts of opposing crowds were toward Odom, who was given the name “Batman.” He seemed like a good guy. He was just, well, troubled. And no one helped. Even his death was a secret. When I talked to his manager and teammates for the last story, none knew he had passed. Even the AP learned about his passing when I did.

In reflecting, it’s tough not to blame Calgary, the team that traded Odom to Laredo. Surely they were aware of his issues. Surely they had to have known that dealing this particular individual for 10 bats was not the smartest idea, certainly not in his best interest. If you don’t have the funds to get the bats you need in the first place, perhaps you shouldn’t be fielding a professional outfit. Alas, this was Odom’s fate. That Broncos team was a good group of guys with a sensible manager in Dan Shwam. It was just a misguided fit. Odom did not know how to handle his new fame. The Broncos did not know how to handle Odom.

It just goes to show that many fans or even media types will encounter some players that they never truly understand. Did those opposing crowds in Amarillo or wherever know they were affecting Odom’s state of mind when they catcalled “Batman!” each outing? I doubt it. It’s a thin line. I’m sure it was all done in harmless fun.

Sometimes, however, you just never know.

 

 

 

Lemurs release 2012 schedule

The Lemurs released their 2012 schedule of games on Wednesday, along with the American Association’s announcement that it has allied with the Can-Am league to form interlocking, 100-game schedules.
The Lemurs begin their inaugural campaign on May 17 with a seven-game homestand against division rival Grand Prarie and then Winnipeg before taking off on a seven-game road trip.
The season wraps up on Sept. 3 when Laredo plays at Gary (Ind.) Southshore, with their last home game coming on Aug. 26 against El Paso.
The Lemurs’ 2012 season schedule, with home games in italics:
May
May 17-20: vs. Grand Prarie, 7:30 p.m.
May 21-23: vs. Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
May 24-27: at Amarillo, TBD.
May 28-30: at Lincoln, TBD.
June
June 1-3: vs. El Paso, 7:30 p.m.
June 4-6: at Grand Prairie, TBD.
June 7-10: vs. Amarillo, 7:30 p.m.
June 11-13: at Grand Prairie, TBD.
June 14-16: vs. El Paso, 7:30 p.m.
June 18-20: vs. Gary, 7:30 p.m.
June 22-24: at El Paso, TBD.
June 25-27: at Amarillo, TBD.
June 29-July 1: vs. Worcester, 7:30 p.m.
July
July 3-6: at El Paso, TBD.
July 7-10: vs. Grand Prairie, 7:30 p.m.
July 11-14: vs. Amarillo, 7:30 p.m.
July 16-18: vs. Wichita, 7:30 p.m.
July 19-22: at Amarillo, TBD.
July 23-25: vs. Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
July 27-29: vs. Wichita, 7:30 p.m.
August
July 31-Aug. 2: at Lincoln, TBD.
Aug. 3-6: at Grand Prairie, TBD.
Aug. 7-9: at El Paso, TBD.
Aug. 10-12: vs. Grand Prairie, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 14-16: at Sioux Falls, TBD.
Aug. 17-19: at Kansas City, TBD.
Aug. 21-23: vs. Amarillo, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24-26: vs. El Paso, (6 p.m. on Aug. 24; 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 25-26).
Aug. 28-31: at Fargo, TBD.
September
Sept. 1-3: at Gary, TBD.

Laredo baseball/sports complex update

On Sunday, Nov. 6, LMT reporter Kenny Ryan went out to the site where the new Laredo baseball stadium is being built.

The stadium is supposed to be ready by May 2012, when the Laredo Lemurs, who have yet to reveal the league which they will play in, are scheduled to begin play for their inaugural season.

Here are some of the pictures Kenny took when he made the short trip out there to the site:

Kenny reported that, by his observations, the stadium was neither behind nor ahead in its progress.

As for the Lemurs, different people I’ve talked to still think they head to the American Association, even though team president Mark Schuster explicitly expressed a little less than two weeks ago that his interest in that league had significantly waned.

It’s my feeling, while I have no insider knowledge, that Schuster and the Lemurs head for the North American Baseball League, which, if the Broncos were still alive, would be the league they would be playing in (with Edinburg, Rio Grande Valley and San Angelo). That would obviously be a massive PR failure.

But as far as facing minimal dues and travel subsidy, which is what I think Schuster would prefer, that league fits those preferences. Schuster told “The Bryan Benway Show” that he expects something to be known by Wednesday, though he told me something would be known by last week.

Far from OK on Lemurs’ assumed move to AA

Lemurs President Mark Schuster (left) may find himself in a different league that what he initially thought.

Somebody’s hiding something. That’s the only logical conclusion to the current situation with the Laredo Lemurs.

Only a little more than three months ago, Lemurs President Mark Schuster explicitly said the following to me: “We are going to the AA (American Association).” For those not in the know, the AA is one of the top leagues in independent minor league ball. The Atlantic League is the top league, with the AA second due to its premier stadiums and strong owners.

But today, Schuster all but implied that the AA is no longer an option. He says there are currently four total options as destinations – with the AA indeed being one. He says it was wrong for people to assume the Lemurs would be going to the AA … even though he clearly said as much.

The reason he told me today for that declaration was, at the time, Schuster was a part of the AA as he had not yet sold his rights to El Paso. Now that that’s over and that Laredo is his only gig, he says, “I’m doing my duty as to what’s the best choice for Laredo and us.”

So what we have here is an interesting conundrum. While AA Commissioner Miles Wolff said Thursday that the league has “very high interest” in Laredo, Schuster said it was fair to say that his interest in the AA has waned.

He would not go into details on the record. All he said is that he hopes to be introducing a league within the next two weeks, and he left it at that.

Well, this is quite the turnaround, no? After all, one of the attractive traits when Schuster and his Ventura Sports Group were awarded the rights to the new ballpark is that a new, more established league would be brought in. That league was very widely assumed to be the AA, since Schuster was one of its founding members, and indeed was verified when Schuster declared as much in June.

But what happened between now and then? All there remains is speculation. At one point, Schuster and Ventura owed the AA money from their time as owners of the Grand Prairie and El Paso franchises. And while Wolff said Thursday that “they (Schuster) owe the league nothing and everything is settled,” Ventura and Schuster do have history with debt. It’s why they’re no longer in charge of Grand Prairie or Ventura.

While all signs show that they have paid meticulous detail to the Laredo franchise, it’s entirely possible Wolff is covering up for an organization he is interested in. After all, who wouldn ‘t want to have a team with a brand new, $18 million ballpark; a team that has the undying support and help of city officials? Anyone would jump on that boat.

Looking at the options that Schuster has on the table, we know this: The Atlantic League is not in the picture, boasting teams with rosters of primarily triple A and Major Leaguers. Another option is the North American Baseball League, the league the Laredo Broncos would have been in had they remained alive. The Mexican League is also a possibility, albeit a long, long shot. So realistically, if it’s not the AA, it’s likely to be the NABL, which is said to play a better brand of ball than the AA but lacks the variety of opponents and exposure. Familiar names like San Angelo, Harlingen and Edinburg would again be rivals, opposed to the likes of St. Paul, Winnipeg and Kansas City, among others, in the AA.

Still, there’s a possibility the Lemurs end up in the AA. As long as the AA is showing interest (they even extended the Lemurs’ deadline which to submit a formal application), anything can happen. That door will continue to be open – and I assumed quite a tempting lure – until Wolff and his league close it.

But it’s also a possibility that the Lemurs end up in the NABL or somewhere foreign like that. And for a franchise that made a couple of quick splashes with the hiring of Pete Incaviglia as manager as its controversial nickname, this would be considered a move backward in light of so much work being done to make sure it gets off on the right foot.

Lemurs stay quiet

It’s been a quiet few weeks for the Laredo Lemurs.

I spoke to team president Mark Schuster last week and he pretty much confirmed what we all figured: There’s a whole lot of nothing going on at the moment.

There was a “mini-splash” of sorts last week when the Lemurs made their first big front-office move by bringing in Ruben Navas as executive vice president.

Navas will oversee all aspects of Lemur sales and marketing and strategic initiatives.

In a press release, he stated: “I couldn’t be more excited about this great opportunity. Being a young Hispanic, I understand our culture and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the Laredo community and its leaders to find innovative ways to bring the best value and family entertainment experience to our region.”

Navas was recently Vice President of Marketing and Development for the Central Florida Sports Commission. Prior to that, he spent 11 years with the Orlando Magic & RDV Sports, where he served as the Director of Multicultural Sales & Marketing for the franchise.

Aside from Navas’ hiring, however, it’s been slow for the Lemurs, who are currently in the midst of their “Name the Mascot” contest (which was poorly publicized since it, you know, wasn’t). Schuster said he expects the mascot to be named in November.

You can read details of the contest here.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Navas earned a bachelor’s degree in Phycology and Business from Southeastern University.  He now lives in the Laredo area. 

The Lemurs invade Twitter

Lemurs President Mark Schuster craves the attention. He craves being the talk of the town.

He’s certainly gotten it.

Earlier tonight, a new Twitter account appeared: @LRDLemurs.

It essentially mocks the team and the name, but in a lighthearted way. At least for now.

Here are a couple of Tweets:

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Lemur is a Latin word and means spirits of the night, which is good because it’s so hot in Laredo you can only come out at night!

Boy is it hot in Laredo! In Madagascar where I am from it might be a high of 72 today!

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This has taken the city by storm the last couple of days. Whether in a positive or (mostly) negative light, the Laredo Lemurs are at the forefront of conversation.

The indoor football Rattlesnakes once held all the momentum in regard to being at the front of Laredo’s attention. The Lemurs, however, have undoubtedly snatched it back. At least for the time being.

Let the games begin.

The Laredo Lemurs

Ladies and gentlemen, your Laredo Lemurs.

As LMT’s Adam Geigerman first reported this morning, the Lemurs are the latest minor league sports emblem of the city.

A young 13-year-old girl by the name of Meagan Castro picked the winning name, earning lifetime season tickets and a hat.

Here’s team president Mark Schuster on the name:

“Kids are our market,” Schuster said. “And kids are ecstatic about it. We want to have the kids enjoying it and dancing and having a good time. We want to entertain everyone, starting with children. There will always be negative feedback, but overall and over time, I think people will love it.”

So far, public reaction has been far from positive. In fact, of about 25-30 Facebook and Twitter responses I’ve seen, maybe one has been optimistic.

Not a good start so far.