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SPORTS
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Photos by TIM MANDELL
Members of the Cincinnati Bengals were at the Elk Creek Hunt Club
on June 6 for a day of relaxation on the sporting clay shooting
course. At top, starting defensive end Robert Geathers takes aim
at a shooting clay. Above, second string tight end Tony Stewart
takes his turn shooting. Last year Stewart caught four passes
for 26 yards. On June 7-8 at Elk Creek, Boomer Esiason held the
Boomer Esiason Sporting Clay Shoot for Cystic Fibrosis, and from
Friday through Sunday, the Zone 3 NSCA Zone Shoot championship
was held at Elk Creek. That competition featured the best sporting
clay shooters from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and West
Virginia.
State
baseball tourney set to open
Youth
soccer
Hooping
it up
skills
competitors
Sports
briefs
On
the sidelines
Seeing a piece of history
TIM
MANDELL
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Photo by TIM MANDELL
Roger Clemens pitches from the stretch on June 6 at Applebee’s
Park in Lexington.
Most baseball fans who
have been to a big league park have a story or two to tell.
In my limited adventures to Major League Baseball stadiums —
I’ve been to about 20 games — I’ve seen my share
of memorable moments.
From Wade Boggs’ 3,000th hit at Tampa Bay to Tony Gwynn
going 5-for-5 at Wrigley Field to 1998 Memorial Day weekend in
Phoenix during the Diamondbacks’ inaugural season, I’ve
been lucky enough to be a part of baseball history.
I’ve had a chance to see all the familiar faces I’ve
grown up watching, including Roger Clemens, whom I saw pitch when
he was on the New York Yankees.
I haven’t been to a Major League Baseball game in several
years, and my wife and I adopted the minor league system as our
new favorite league, after we discovered the Lexington Legends.
We went to one game last year just to see what it was like, and
we just can’t seem to stop going.
It’s only about 30 minutes from our home, parking is cheap
and only a short walk to the stadium, excellent seats are cheap
and available just before game time, and it isn’t a hassle
getting out after the game.
It’s the exact opposite of the big leagues.
Plus, I’m getting closer and closer to finally taking home
that elusive foul ball I’ve been coveting since I was a
kid.
We had already been to four games this season when it was announced
that Clemens had signed with Houston.
And since his son plays for the Legends, it was a lock he would
make a comeback appearance in Lexington.
Thus began the mad scramble to find out which day he was pitching
and secure a ticket.
Because no matter how many big league games you’ve been
to or how many big moments you’ve seen, there’s still
something special about watching someone like Clemens play in
a minor league ball park.
To see someone like Clemens pitch in a small stadium in a place
like Lexington, Kentucky.
That’s something that might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Maybe it doesn’t rank up there with seeing Barry Bonds break
home run records or witnessing a perfect game, but for us Legends
fans, seeing Clemens take the mound at our stadium, for our team,
is our version of seeing perfection.
So, there we were, at the game, with more then 9,000 fans and
tons of media, waiting for Clemens to make an appearance.
And when he did, some kid behind us said “he’s fat.”
With all eyes on him, and the big screen watching his every move,
Clemens went about his pre-game routine, stretching and running
in the outfield.
Then he warmed up in the bullpen.
Then he took the mound.
He did give up three hits, including a home run, but he fanned
six batters in three innings, and left the field to a standing
ovation, tipping his hat to 9,000 people that were witnessing
a small piece of history.
Then he took a curtain call.
Then he was gone.
But for three innings, we got to see one of the greatest pitchers
in the history of the game, at our ballpark, on our mound, pitching
for us.
And it was worth it.
Because it may never happen again.
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