AMERICAN LEAGUE Clemens to make last regular-season appearance in Fenway

The Yankees' pitcher launched his career with the red Sox in 1984.
NEWSDAY
BOSTON -- The cheers already are etched in Roger Clemens' memory.
They cannot be erased by the boos he knows he'll hear today when he makes his final regular-season appearance at Fenway Park, where his career began with the Red Sox in 1984.
"The fans here owe me nothing and I gave them everything I had," Clemens said in a well-attended impromptu briefing in the Yankees' dugout before Friday night's game.
"The fans were great to me and to my family for 13 years. When you play for the visiting team, the fans have to react a certain way," Clemens said. "And I'm with the Yankees now. But the fans in this city have embraced me."
Clemens said he is used to such behavior from fans when he's on the road. In the streets, they love him.
On the days he pitches, he elicits the opposite reaction. "It's the same as when I played for the Red Sox and came to New York," he said with a laugh.
"I would see the fans in the city and they'd tell me how much they love me. Then they'd say, 'But we won't root for you tonight.' "
Recalls ovation
Clemens said he recalled the huge ovation he received in his last Boston start at Fenway in 1996, when it became clear that Red Sox management was not going to re-sign him.
"The cheers were so loud that I came back onto the field," he recalled. "I was already undressed. I just threw on a T-shirt and pants and came out and waved to everyone."
That's one of the reasons that despite some rough, raucous treatment by Boston fans during his Yankees years -- especially in the 1999 ALCS -- Clemens said: "I just love the city.
"We [he and his wife, Debbie] are going to visit our old neighborhood [this weekend] and some old friends. We made some great memories here, working hard and having a lot of success."
Joe Torre said he's certain all that will be forgotten Sunday when Clemens steps onto the mound.
"I think they'd rather boo the hell out of him, then say they appreciate him afterward," the manager said. "They're not going to give him an inch on that."