The Rule Is: Curse an Umpire, Pay the Penalty

Roger Clemens violated a rule, and the umpire administered the penalty phase of that rule violation. Nothing else matters. Not the time of day, the weather, player emotions or the fact that it was in the early innings of a playoff game. Clemens was wrong, and the umpire was right. But the message to the kids watching was that the umpire was wrong and Clemens was right. Now what adult is going to take responsibility for that?

DAVE KOOYMAN

La Verne