Clemens Cues Up the Violins

Roger Clemens was apparently "heartbroken" about being left out of the festivities for the final home game at Yankee Stadium, according to a relative. Not only did the Rocket's invite get lost in the mail, he was left out of the video montage of the organization's greatest pitchers.

See kids, the lesson here is this: Don't use drugs, or you'll be left out of video montages.

The report, posted on SI.com, also includes this passage: "Clemens was sitting at home in hurricane-ravaged Texas, in front of a battery-operated television on his living room couch, when the team delivered a final crushing blow to its former star. Clutching wife Debbie's hand on one side and mother-in-law Jan Wild's on the other, Clemens tuned in to his final team's last home game hoping for some recognition for helping win two World Series titles, Wild said."

Kind of odd how on one hand it sounds like he's squatting in a shanty watching the proceedings. I didn't know battery-operated TV to tune could get cable though, since the game and pre-game ceremonies were on ESPN and ESPN2. Sounds like a pretty nifty setup.

Friday Findings: To watch for this weekend

Not much new news that wasn't available last night, so here's what I'm going to be watching for today and this weekend.

• Will Brett Favre accept the Packers' blood money to stay retired.

• How will Manny respond as a Dodger. Will he play harder? And will hustle nazi Larry Bowa get on his case if he doesn't run out ground balls?

• How will the Brewers respond after being swept by the Cubs in four games in Milwaukee?

• How will the Yankees' pitching staff respond to a new catcher in Pudge Rodriguez? A lot of pitchers just get comfortable throwing to certain guys. Maybe this trade will end up unhinging some of the progress the staff has made over recent weeks.

• And in just a weird Washington headline, an alt-rock drummer got busted for growing weed in the weeds by a turtle. You have to read it to appreciate it.

Here are the links to the FCNP version of Splinters and "Press Pass."

Overdue Picking: Trades, Purdy and Judas Priest

Apologies to those that visited the site the past few days only to discover no new info. I've been busy settling into New York and a new job, but now I think we're ready to resume our schedule of regular updates.

The big news in baseball this time of year is on the trade front and there is no shortage of headlines this year. Mark Texeira to the Angels. Pudge Rodriguez to the Yankees. Manny Ramirez to the Marlins ... wait ... what???

Okay, so the last deal hasn't gone down yet, but there is a rumor the enigmatic left fielder will be dealt to the Marlins for some of their young talent like Jeremy Hermida and/or Josh Willingham. The Sox may then spin those players off to Pittsburgh for Jason Bay. If the Marlins make this trade I think they're nuts. Renting Manny (there's no way a franchise paying its entire roster $22 million coughs up $20 million for a lone player) isn't worth two valuable building blocks. If they are serious about investing in the team and finally ending their eternal rebuilding process, then it becomes a very interesting development.

With Manny in the lineup, the Fish would then sport a top of the order that looks something like this: Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, Manny Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Mike Jacobs. I can't even count up how many home runs that is.

And if that deal falls through, Manny has another proposal for the Sox ... trade me for Favre.

***

Spent Tuesday night on a concert cruise around Manhattan listening to Joe Purdy and The Beautiful Girls. Purdy, as usual, was wonderful, performing a solo acoustic set of "Goldfish," "You Can Tell Georgia," "Brooklyn I'm Calling," "I Love the Rain the Most," and a few more tunes I hadn't heard before giving way to the headliners.

Got a chance to speak with him before the show and learned it may be a little while before the next album, Last Clock on the Wall, comes out. He just moved back to Arkansas and is taking time to help his family build a boat and fence. When he's done with the manual labor, he'll deal with the record. In the meantime, listen to plenty of existing tunes at his website.

He also told a group of fans, including my girlfriend, that I was an amazing writer. When one of the best songwriters I've heard calls me a great writer, let me tell ya, it does wonders for the ego. Thanks for the compliment, Joe.

***

Spoke with KK Downing of legendary metal gods/band Judas Priest about the band's new album, Nostradamus and the perils of leather pants. You can read about the album and the tour in the Falls Church News-Press when "Press Pass" goes live on the website later today. In the meantime, you can enjoy this bit about the band's run in with PETA over their wearing leather on stage:

Mike Hume: You guys had a run in with PETA about wearing leather on stage. What's your current stance in regard to their request?

KK Downing: They'll be very pleased to know it's all synthetic. In the early days, we did actually go to people in London and have stuff made of genuine leather. We found it really didn't wear very well. It used to stink and when you washed it, it would shrink. So we found this guy, Ray Brown, in Los Angeles who told us he had this great stuff, looks like leather, feels like leather, but you can wash it and it won't shrink. So that's hopefully put that one to bed.

Bonds in Pinstripes? Giuliani Sues Devils

• The Yankees discussed acquiring Barry Bonds at a meeting of high-ranking Steinbrenners in Tampa, Fla. I still don't see it happening, but this sort of move that requires money instead of prospects, is the sort that would appeal to them. Of course, if you believe in the Bonds Conspiracy talk, you'll know it won't happen because the collusive owners won't allow it.

• The Post's Leonard Shapiro discusses the local radio changeover of Sports Talk 980 from a ClearChannel-owned Fox Sports station, to a Daniel Snyder-owned Redskinscentric, ESPN station. I am bummed about the replacement of Dan Patrick's show for the Colin Cowherd show. Listening to the infallible Cowherd is like a three-hour car ride with a know-it-all sibling. Unfortunately, like political talk shows that subscribe to the same Me-Smart-You-Idiot script, it somehow makes him highly popular. Doubtful that holds among UVA football fans though. I'll miss Patrick, who was never afraid to ask tough questions and bring on writers that were always on the ball with breaking news and insight. He wasn't afraid to jab at himself or his guests (like Reggie Miller's "full steam of head," gaffe). And his team in the production booth, Paulie, Seton, et al, were always entertaining. It's a good product, and now it's completely unavailable in Washington, D.C. (Baltimore's 105.7 FM) is the closest you'll come now.

• Rudy Giuliani's son was allegedly cut from the Duke University golf team for playing a team football game "harder than the other players liked." He's now suing the school, claiming the new golf coach manufactured reasons to kick him off the team. His reluctance to take a charge was not mentioned in the article, but is suspected by North Carolina fans.

• Chad Cordero is ticked at Nats GM Jim Bowden for spilling the beans about the non-tended contract on the radio before even discussing it with him. Cordero found out about the move from his father, whose friend heard the radio interview.