22 reasons why...

you have to love Roger Clemens...

22. He loves his number (so much that he returns on the 22nd of June).
21. Have you seen the HEB commercials?
20. He has a burnt orange Hummer.
19. That hummer plays the "Eyes of Texas" when you honk the horn....yes, it is true.
18. His best friend Andy was responsible for arranging the Hummer to be his retirement present from the Yanks....oh, the irony!
17. All his kids names start with K's.....(if you don't know baseball this one is lost on you...)
16. He could have made more money with any of the other teams courting him, but he went with the Stros....(sorry Amber, its not about the money.)
15. Have you seen the HEB commercials?
14. He is a fierce competitor.
13. At the mention (althought premature) of his return in the media yesterday the Astros pull off a three run victory over the Cards....
12. He might be all the Astros need to make it to the Big Dance again this year...(I did say might!)
11. He is 43....and quite arguably one of the most dominant pitchers baseball has ever seen.
10. He's not just hanging on because he loves the fame and money...he would only come back if he felt he could be dominant....
9. because of #10 he waited this long to sign with any team, everything with excellence.
8. He is a family man. He loves his sons...you have seen the HEB commercials, right?
7. He just looks good with the star on his hat...it just suits him.
6. He helped make Houston a baseball town
5. ...and thus helped our Astros make history bringing the World Series to Texas for the first time ever.
4. He understands the concept of "team."
3. He invests in other players, especially the "kids" of the team!
2. He pitched less than 24 hours after his mother died, in her honor, because she asked him to. She loved the game almost as much as her son...
1. because he didn't sign with another team...

In today's Houston Chronicle, Richard Justice wrote an article about Roger's possible return and he brought something to my attention that I think perfectly demonstrates why you can't be a Rocket-hater...

Justice talked about how Roger was going to play games in all of the minor league teams, and that he was looking forward to that as much as all other possibilities that faced him this season. Why? Because his oldest son is part of the Astros farm system. This means they will get to make their own part of history together. A father-son game. And, as Justice points out, Roger knows this game will be as highly publicized as a penant race game...which then will make it part of his baseball legacy.

You can't hate a family man....not in today's age of professional sports where so many professional athletes do the exact opposite with no apologies.

Welcome back #22, we are so glad you are home!