There was no doubt in Kenny Doyle’s mind about what should happen to Roger Clemens.
“When I heard about the indictment today, I thought it was awesome,’’ Doyle, 61, said as he stood in line with his three children and grandchildren outside Fenway last night. “If he’s proven guilty, he should absolutely do the time.’’
His grandson, Kenny Doyle III, 12, felt the same about the six-count federal indictment announced yesterday alleging Clemens lied and committed perjury by denying he had used steroids or human growth hormone.
“I hate people who use steroids,’’ the younger Doyle said, clutching his mitt. “It takes away from the real people, who should own all the records.’’
It was hard to find anyone around Fenway Park yesterday who didn’t have a similar opinion about the pitcher who made his Major League Baseball debut with the Red Sox in 1984 and became one of the team’s greatest pitchers, before earning fans’ ire by defecting to Toronto for the 1997 season, and then to the Yankees.
However, Chris Griffen, 42, a writer from Pleasanton, Calif., thought that no matter how damning the allegations, Clemens should still be inducted into the Hall of Fame. After several short-lived retirements, he pitched his last regular season game in 2007, in a Yankees uniform at Fenway Park.
“I think Roger Clemens has had a great career,’’ Griffen said. “In the end, this is all going to be a little blip in that career.’’
Full story: Boston Red Sox – For many at Fenway, Clemens now a candidate for Hall of Shame – The Boston Globe