Okay, I know I'm on sports a bit today, but while I'm at it...

Roger Clemens is simply the greatest pitcher of my generation. This guy was winning playoff games when I was in high school (class of '87), and he's still one of the best.

Greg Maddux has done more with less than anyone I've ever watched. He's never had particularly great stuff, but pinpoint control has put him within striking distance of the magic 300-victory mark. Randy Johnson is more imposing on the mound than anybody since perhaps Bob Gibson. Pedro Martinez is a dominator.

But none of them is The Rocket. To rack up 300 wins and 4000 strikeouts in an era when the strikezone is the size of a pea, the ballparks have all shrunk, and an average power hitter knocks 30-40 dingers out of the park is simply stunning. By comparison, Bob Gibson, who was perhaps the best big-game pitcher of his era, retired with an excellent 2.91 ERA over 17 seasons. But in Gibson's best season (1968, the "Year of the Pitcher"), only six guys hit over .300 in the National League, while in (arguably) Clemens best season (1986), 20 guys did it. And in 1990, Clemens had a 1.93 ERA while 19 guys hit over .300. The man has a career ERA of just over three, and he's in his 20th season.

Martinez is the only guy on the horizon who I think even has a chance of reaching Clemens' career numbers, but even with Pedro's incredible career, he's still only just over halfway there at the age of 31! Same with Mike Mussina. Mussina has impressive numbers, but already being 34 years old he will have to perform at a similar level into his 40's in order to reach Clemens. He has a much better shot at the 300 victories than he does the 4000 strikeouts.

A Roger Clemens only comes along once in a generation or so, at best. Enjoy him while you still can.

By the way, Barry Bonds is the best overall player I've ever seen, and probably one of the three or four best ever. But that's a discussion for another day.