Justin Haley (racing driver)

# Justin Haley (racing driver)

## Abstract

Justin C. Haley (born April 28, 1999) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing. He previously went by his nickname J. J. Haley, until he switched to his first name in January 2016 to avoid confusion with fellow competitor J. J. Yeley. Haley owns Darkhorse Racecars, a dirt late model and dirt modified chassis manufacturer.

Haley had a shocking win in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in just his third career Cup Series start due to being in the lead, through pit strategy, under caution when lightning and eventual rain hit the area. After scoring his first Xfinity victory in 2020, Haley became the 32nd driver to win a race in all three NASCAR national touring series.

## Racing career

Haley began his racing career at age nine, in Quarter Midgets at Kokomo Quarter Midget Club during the late summer months of 2008. In 2009 and 2010, he scored the KQMC, Indiana State Series and, in 2011, the Light 160 State Championships.

### Regional series

In 2014, Haley ran three K&N Pro Series East races, recording a best finish of seventh at Dover International Speedway. The next year, he joined HScott Motorsports to compete full-time in the Pro Series East, competing for Rookie of the Year honors. In 2016, Haley recorded his first career Pro Series East win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Haley won his first Pro Series East championship in 2016 after finishing in the top-ten in all 14 races, the only driver to do so in series history.

### Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

In 2015, Haley made his Camping World Truck Series debut at Bristol with Braun Motorsports, driving the No. 32 Chevrolet Silverado and finishing 14th. His following Truck race at Martinsville Speedway ended when he was involved in a crash on lap 119. At Phoenix International Raceway, Haley recorded his first top ten, when he finished in seventh. On December 9, 2016, it was announced that Haley would drive the No. 24 truck for GMS Racing in 2017, starting with the third race of the year.

Haley joined GMS full-time in 2017, driving the No. 24 Silverado. However, Haley missed the first two races – the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway and the Active Pest Control 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway – due to NASCAR's age restriction. Scott Lagasse Jr. and Alex Bowman replaced Haley at Daytona and Atlanta, respectively. He missed the playoffs and finished 12th in the final point standings. In 2018, he earned his first career win at Gateway in June, locking him into the playoffs for the first time. Haley would get his second win of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, after leaders Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson took each other out in the final corner. In Texas, he got his third win after race leader Gilliland ran out of fuel on the last lap. As a result of these two wins, Haley qualified for the playoff finale at Homestead. Haley finished third in the points standings, after finishing 8th at Homestead.

Haley returned to GMS and the Truck Series in July 2020 at Texas.

### Xfinity Series

In June 2018, Haley made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 23 for GMS Racing while filling for Spencer Gallagher. He would go on to finish 12th.

Haley drove the No. 24 car at Daytona in July 2018 for GMS Racing, where he unofficially won the race ahead of Kyle Larson and Elliott Sadler. However, it was revealed that Haley went below the double yellow line to pass both of the leaders just before the finish line and NASCAR ruled Haley's pass illegal after the race, giving Larson the win, while Haley finished 18th.

On December 1, 2018, it was announced that Haley signed a multi-year deal to drive the No. 11 full-time for Kaulig Racing in 2019, replacing Ryan Truex. He finished second in the 2019 Daytona July race to Kaulig teammate Ross Chastain. Haley qualified for the Xfinity playoffs, but was eliminated after the Round of 8. He ended the 2019 season 12th in points with 20 top tens.

In June 2020, Haley scored his first Xfinity victory at Talladega Superspeedway after starting on the pole and winning the first stage. He became the 32nd driver to win a race in all three NASCAR national series.

On October 19, 2020, Haley and Kaulig announced a third season together in 2021. Haley missed the Dover race in May due to COVID-19 protocols and was replaced by Zane Smith. On August 28, 2021, Haley scored his only victory of the 2021 Xfinity season by winning at the July Daytona race for the second year in a row; this time over teammate A. J. Allmendinger by.023 seconds. He ended up reaching the Round of 8 and finished the season sixth in points.

### Cup Series

In April 2019, Haley joined Spire Motorsports ' No. 77 for his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in tahe GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. With seven laps remaining, he was collected in a crash with Matt DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher, and Martin Truex Jr., finishing the race in 32nd. He returned to the team at Sonoma Raceway in June, finishing 34th.

For Daytona's 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400, he qualified 34th. In the race, with around 30 laps to go, Austin Dillon and Clint Bowyer tangled, causing " The Big One ". Haley, in 27th, narrowly avoided it and sneaked into 3rd. Race leader Kurt Busch and second-place Landon Cassill would pit under caution but Haley did not, inheriting the lead just before lightning struck near the race track, red-flagging the race. After hours of red flag conditions, the race was called, securing Haley's first Cup win in his third start and Spire's first win in their maiden season. Since Haley was accepting points for the 2019 Xfinity Series, and was not competing full-time in the Cup Series, he was not eligible for the 2019 Cup playoffs.

On January 10, 2020, Kaulig Racing announced Haley would drive for the team at the Daytona 500 in the No. 16. On February 9, Haley made the field by posting the fastest qualifying speed of all the non-charter teams (190.018 mph; 31st overall). After starting 33rd, he was involved in a lap 184 wreck that resulted in a red flag but finished 13th. In July, Haley rejoined Spire for the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol, having qualified via his 2019 Daytona win; he finished 14th.

Haley was offered a contract by Spire for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. When COVID-19 protocols forced him to miss the Drydene 400 at Dover, Josh Berry took over the No. 77. Haley ran 31 races during the season; 30 races for Spire in the No. 77 and one race for Kaulig in the No. 16.

In June 2021, Kaulig Racing announced in junction with going full-time in the Cup Series in 2022 that Haley will race full-time in one of the teams' two charters. On December 15, 2021, Kaulig Racing revealed that Haley will drive the No. 31 entry for the team.

Haley began the 2023 season with a 32nd place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. On March 15, 2023, the No. 31 was served an L2 penalty after unapproved hood louvers were found installed on the car during pre-race inspection at Phoenix; as a result, the team was docked 100 driver and owner points and 10 playoff points. In addition, crew chief Trent Owens was suspended for four races and fined US$ 100,000. On April 5, 2023, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended the penalty, upholding the fine, Owens' suspension, and 10 playoff points, but reducing the 100 driver and owner points deduction to 75 points. On April 19, 2023, the Final Appeals Officer rescinded all points deductions levied against the team. Haley nearly won the inaugural race at the Chicago Street Course, but lost the lead to Shane van Gisbergen late and was unable to pass him. On July 20, 2023, it was announced that Haley would move over to Rick Ware Racing in 2024, for a multi-year contract.

Haley started the 2024 season with a 26th place finish at the 2024 Daytona 500. At the Circuit of the Americas, Haley finished 17th, but was later disqualified after post-race inspection revealed his car did not meet the minimum weight requirement. At the Goodyear 400 at Darlington, Haley would put up a solid race and finish 9th, earning his first Top 10 with Rick Ware Racing. Two weeks later at Gateway he would score his second Top 10, another 9th place finish.

## Personal life

Haley is the nephew of Todd Braun, owner of Braun Motorsports. He lives in North Carolina. He is one of four children, with two younger sisters and an older brother.

Haley has gone vegan for stretches of time.

On November 17, 2023, Haley married Haley Mottinger.

## Motorsports career results

### Stock car career summary

As Haley was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Cup Series

#### Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

Season still in progress Ineligible for series points

### ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)


LAM (TV program)

# LAM (TV program)

## Abstract

LAM (previously called Los Angeles de la Mañana) is an Argentine television program broadcast by América TV from Monday to Friday at 20:00 (UTC -3). It is led by Ángel de Brito.

It was broadcast between 2016 and 2021 by eltrece under the name Los Angeles de la Mañana, although it was always known by its acronym LAM. In 2022, after the unexpected end of the program in the channel's morning slot, América TV reached an agreement to broadcast the program, with LAM as the official name and broadcast from the 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

## Synopsis

The cycle deals with current affairs, general interest and shows. It has the participation of columnists, guests, exclusive interviews and special reports.

## Guests

- Carolina «Pampita» Ardohain

- Dalma Maradona

- Alejandro Fantino

- María Valenzuela

- Florencia Vigna

- Aníbal Pachano

- Lizardo Ponce

- Carmen Barbieri

- Marcela «Enana» Feudale

- Alfredo Casero

- Anamá Ferreyra

- Majo Martino

- Karina Jelinek

- Claudio Belocopitt

- Ramiro Bueno

- Amalia Granata

- Analía Franchín

- Diego Maradona Jr.

- Augusto Tartúfoli

- Gimena Accardi

- Darío Barassi

- Graciela Alfano

- Ana Laura Román

- Mariana Fabbiani

- Jacobo Winograd

- Denise Dumas

- María Fernanda Callejón

- Laura Ubfal

- Agustín «Cachete» Sierra

- Luciana Peker

- Raquel Hermida Leyenda

- Alejandra Malem

- Fernando Burlando

- Florencia de la V

- Fabián Medina Flores

- Ximena Capristo

- Rocío Moreno

- Oscar Mediavilla

- Morena Rial

- Matilda Blanco

- Benjamín Rojas

- Martín Cirio «La Faraona»

- Laurita Fernández

- Ronen Szwarc

- Mar Tarrés

- Bárbara Vélez

- Fernanado Burlando

- Carlos Perciavalle

- Gladys «La Bomba Tucumana»

- Iliana Calabro

- Cristian U.

- Gabriel Usandivaras

- Luis Ventura

- Tamara Paganini

- Leo Alturria

- Victoria Vanucci

- Marina Calabró

- Beto Casella

- Marcela Baños

- Victoria Vanucci

- Martina «Tini» Stoessel

- Mariela «La Chipi» Anchipi

- Lali Espósito

- María Laura Santillán

- Daniela Cardone

- Lola Latorre

- Carolina Baldini

- Fernando Dente

- Mauricio D'Alessandro

- Nora Briozzo

- Fátima Flórez

- Leo Sbaraglia

- Karina «La Princesita» Tejeda

- Arturo Puig

- Roberto Castillo

- Ernestina Pais

- Ana Rosenfeld

- Natalie Weber

- Candela Ruggeri

- Wanda Nara

- Roberto García Moritán

- Juan Otero

- Sofía «Jujuy» Jiménez

- Kate Rodríguez

- Agustín Barajas Urquiza

- Hernán Piquín

- Lourdes Sánchez

- Pitty «The Numerologist»

- Martin Baclini

- Ángela Leiva

- Patricia Sosa

- Nicolás Vázquez

- Connie Ansaldi

- Nancy Duré

- Rocío Marengo

- Leonor Viale

- Martha Fort

- Leandro Penna

- Silvina Escudero

- Evelyn Scheidl

- Maximiliano «Chanchi» Estévez

- Nicolas Maiquez

- Luli Fernández

- Cinthia Fernández

- Carolina Molinari

- Dani La Chepi

- Rocío Oliva

- Mariana Brey

- Bárbara Franco

- Celeste Muriega

- Pablo Ruiz

- Paula Varela

- Belu Lucius

- Mónica Farro

- Carolina Oltra

- La Barby

- Facundo Mazzei

- Gonzalo Heredia

- Maite Peñoñori

- Dady Brieva

- Flor de la V

- Marcela Tinayre

- Bárbara Silenzi

- Noelia Marzol


NA-242 Karachi Keamari-I

# NA-242 Karachi Keamari-I

## Abstract

NA-242 Karachi Keamari-I (این اے-242، کراچی کیماڑی-1) is a constituency for the National Assembly of Pakistan that encompasses Baldia.

## Members of Parliament

## Election 2002

General elections were held on 10 Oct 2002. Muhammad Laeeq Khan of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal won by 26,812 votes.

## Election 2008

General elections were held on 18 Feb 2008. Syed A Iqbal Qadri of Muttahida Qaumi Movement won by 93,617 votes.

## Election 2013

General elections were held on 11 May 2013. Syed A Iqbal Qadri of Muttahida Qaumi Movement won by 95,584 votes and became the member of National Assembly.

## Election 2018

General elections were held on 25 July 2018.

## By-election 2021

A by-election was held in this constituency on 29 April 2021. The Election Commission of Pakistan stayed the process for consolidation of result and fixed May 4 as the date for hearing of Pakistan Muslim League (N) candidate, Miftah Ismail ’s application seeking a recount of votes. Upon accepting his request, lawmakers were asked by the ECP to reach the office of the returning officer (RO) on May 6 for the recount. On May 6 recounting of votes again started which held until 8 May and in the final result PPP candidate was again declared as the winner with the margin of 909 votes from its rival PML-N. On the other hand, all of the four main political parties (PML-N, PSP, PTI and MQM-Pakistan) boycotted this recount demanding the repoll again in whole constituency.

## Election 2024

General elections were held on 8 February 2024. Syed Mustafa Kamal won the election with 71,527 votes.


Mass Central Rail Trail

# Mass Central Rail Trail

## Abstract

The Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) is a partially completed rail trail between Northampton, Massachusetts and Boston along the former right-of-way (ROW) of the Massachusetts Central Railroad. It currently has 59 miles (95 km) open, and 94.5 miles (152.1 km) are open or protected for trail development. When complete, it will be 104 miles (167 km) long through Central Massachusetts and Greater Boston, forming the longest rail trail in New England. Many sections of the trail, including the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail and the Somerville Community Path, have been developed as separate projects but serve as part of the complete Mass Central Rail Trail. The Norwottuck Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the build and operation of the MCRT, maintains an interactive map of the MCRT and other Massachusetts trails.

## History

The first attempt to convert the former Massachusetts Central Railroad into a rail trail occurred in 1980 when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired the westernmost 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of the former rail ROW, and developed it into what was then known as the Norwottuck Rail Trail in 1993. In 1995, community leaders and volunteers formed the Wachusett Greenways, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed to create trails and greenways in the communities between Barre and Sterling, and began to build a hard packed stone dust trail over the rail ROW, naming it the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail. In 1996, the first plans to build out the MCRT from Berlin to Waltham on the ROW now owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) emerged, but stalled until 2010, when the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) executed a lease with the MBTA to build the Mass Central Rail Trail - Wayside. This work inspired other communities and land trusts to begin to build out their own sections of the MCRT.

### Efforts to complete the MCRT

In 1999, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management produced " Commonwealth Connections, A Greenway Vision for Massachusetts", including a call for a cross state multi-use trail reaching from Boston to the Berkshires. Since 1999, Wachusett Greenways, the Wayside Rail Trail Committee, or the Norwottuck Network have held Golden Spike conferences during various years to promote the MCRT and other regional trails. Since 2017, the Norwottuck Network has been issuing a monthly newsletter regarding MCRT development, as well as trail development in the region. In 2021, MassTrails produced "Shared Use Path Benefits Primer", which featured the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail as one of the case studies. In 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation produced a feasibility study of the 68.5 miles (110.2 km) mid-state section of the MCRT between Belchertown and Berlin. In 2023, MassTrails produced an interactive Priority Trails Network vision map for current and future shared-use path projects throughout the Commonwealth that will be prioritized, including all 104 miles (167 km) of the MCRT. In 2023, the Norwottuck Network produced "Envisioning a Statewide Connection Massachusetts Central Rail Trail Benefits Study", a report highlighting the benefits of completing all 104 miles (167 km) of the MCRT.

## Trail sections

### Northampton and Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail

The trail is fully complete and paved through Northampton. The Mass Central Rail Trail's western terminus is at Northampton Union Station, beginning a section shared with the New Haven Northampton Canal Line trail, maintained by the City of Northampton. It continues 0.9 miles (1.4 km) parallel with the Connecticut River Line, an example of rails with trails, to Woodmont Road. Next, the Norwottuck Branch of the Mass Central Rail Trail, runs 11 miles (18 km) from downtown Northampton through Hadley and Amherst going 1,300 feet (400 m) into Belchertown; it is a state park maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The connection from Northampton to Hadley is made by the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge, a 1,492 feet (455 m), 8 span, steel lattice truss bridge first built over the Connecticut River in 1887. The trail was built in 1993, first known as the Norwottuck Rail Trail, and was one of the last US formal paved bikeways at 8 feet (2.4 m) wide; in 2015 the trail was widened to 10 feet (3.0 m).

The 5-mile (8.0 km) section west of downtown, known as the Northwest Leg (Look Park Segment) of the Northampton Rail Trail System to Williamsburg, also known as the Francis P. Ryan Section, is maintained by the City of Northampton. It was formerly the New Haven & Northampton Company Williamsburg Branch, not part of the Mass Central Railroad, and is not included in the 104 miles (167 km) tally. Additional connecting trails in this section include the Arthur R. Swift Amherst/UMass Bike Connector, and the Manhan Rail Trail, which is part of the greater New Haven and Northampton Canal Greenway.

### Belchertown and East Quabbin

The rail ROW heads roughly southeast through Belchertown until the Ware River in Palmer. The remaining rail ROW in the East segment of the Quabbin Valley to New Braintree (and Barre) roughly follows the Ware River northeast.

#### History of Belchertown and East Quabbin

In 1997, Belchertown held an unofficial straw poll against further study of the trail. At that time, Massachusetts was the only state that required paving of trails if using federal funds, which was cited as a concern. Over the following years, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation generated updated guidelines allowing for non-paved surfaces on shared use paths and greenways. Other sections of the MCRT were built with a hard packed stone dust surface, such as the Wachussett Greenways sections. From 2000 to 2017, the Belchertown Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, purchased 6.8 miles (10.9 km) (72%) of the former ROW land as it became available and donated it to the Town of Belchertown for public use and to protect from development. In 2017 the Friends of the Belchertown Greenway was formed with the goal of building and maintaining the trail.

When 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of the rail ROW was listed for sale in Hardwick and New Braintree, the Central Highlands Conservancy LLC was established in 2005. It purchased the land, giving the East Quabbin Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, two years to run a capital campaign to purchase the land at cost. This preserved the trail section, including 3 historic bridges that would otherwise would have been scrapped.

#### Belchertown and East Quabbin trail details

From Warren Wright Road in Belchertown to Federal Street, the rail ROW is privately owned and has been largely obliterated by development. From Federal Street to Route 181, the trail ROW is owned by the Town of Belchertown and is open primarily as a snowmobile trail. It is unpaved, with some rough sections but is mostly followable on foot or mountain bike. The sections north of the US 202 overpass are more overgrown, with the southern sections clearer and better maintained. From Route 181 to the Palmer Town line, the rail ROW is privately owned and not accessible to the public. The trail just after Station Road in Amherst to after North Washington Street in Belchertown section runs parallel with the New England Central Railroad, an example of rails with trails.

The New England National Scenic Trail follows Federal Street and therefore connects with the MCRT. Additionally, there is a short on-road connection from the MCRT at Route 181 to the Chickadee Trail, with the southern terminus at Depot Street, a 2.3 miles (3.7 km) hiking trail following the rail ROW of the former Boston and Albany Railroad Athol Branch, roughly following the Swift River north.

The bridge over the Swift River was demolished after rail service was discontinued and there is no river crossing available. The rail ROW starting in Bondsville, Palmer is unused and overgrown, but still owned by Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER), the current shortline railroad, not the former railroad of the same name. Old rails and ties are still in place, as is the bridge over the Ware River, and no trail development has taken place.

In Palmer and Ware, the rail ROW is still in use by MCER. The bridge over the Ware River is missing, making the ROW between the river and the Gibbs Crossing shopping plaza unusable. From Gibbs Crossing to Robbins Road, a 1.56 miles (2.51 km) section is open. It has a hard packed stone dust surface and is usable by walkers and bikes. This section is owned and maintained by the Town of Ware. Past Robbins Road to the upper Ware River crossing, two river bridges are missing and the rail yard on the east side of the river is still active, blocking the trail ROW. After the Ware River crossing, though Frohloff Farm and Accessible Rail Trail, through Upper Church Street, almost to the Ware–Hardwick Covered Bridge, 2.7 miles (4.3 km) was completed as part of the Mass Central Rail Trail Expansion in 2022. The remaining section to the covered bridge is undeveloped and not open to the public.

The section from just after the covered bridge, at the Ware Town line, through the village of Gilbertville, Hardwick is owned by the Town of Hardwick. In 2022, the Town of Hardwick was awarded $133,000 in state funds to improve the section to MCRT standards. In 2023, the 1 mile (1.6 km) section at the covered bridge, into Hardwick, to the Saint Aloysius Cemetery opened, known as the Ware River Park in Gilbertville section of the Mass Central Rail Trail. A portion of this section is also known as the Gilbertville Fitness Trail, built in 2014.

The rail ROW paralleling Route 32 from Gilbertville to Creamery Road is no longer intact and has been lost to development and private ownership. In addition, the bridge over the active rail ROW is missing. This stretch is not open to public use. From Creamery Road, through a lattice truss bridge over the Ware river to New Braintree, and a pony truss bridge over the Ware river to Maple Street in Wheelwright, Hardwick, the 3 miles (4.8 km) section is complete and open to the public. The two bridges received a 2023 MassTrails grant to replace the timber decking. This stretch has a hard packed gravel surface and is open to all non-motorized use. It is owned and maintained by the East Quabbin Land Trust, known as the Mass Central Rail Trail, New Braintree and Hardwick. From Maple Street, into New Braintree again, to the Barre Town line, the trail ROW is obstructed by a missing bridge and the Tanner-Hiller Airport and is not open to the public.

### Wachusett Greenways

Wachusett Greenways has completed 20 miles (32 km) of the planned 30 miles (48 km) of the MCRT through the towns of Barre to Sterling, including eight bridges. All of these sections are hard packed stone dust or dirt, which helped accelerate construction dates forward. The first section of trail opened in 1997 in West Boylston.

From the New Braintree Town line to Barre Depot Road, the ROW in Barre is either obstructed by private development (south of Route 67) or part of an active section of railroad (north of Route 67). East of Barre Depot Road, the rail ROW is obliterated by development. The White Valley bridge over Ware River was constructed in 2013 to connect Route 122 to the beginning of the intact rail ROW and trail near the Oakham Town line. The trail departs the Ware River in Barre as it continues east to Boston.

A connection to the Ware River Rail Trail, a 15 miles (24 km) trail following the ROW of the former Ware River Railroad, is available by an on-road connection, roughly following the Burnshirt River. The southern terminus is on Route 122, 0.25 miles (0.40 km) from the White Valley bridge.

A 8.8 miles (14.2 km) section from Barre, though Oakham, to Glenwood Road in Rutland, is complete and open, including the Charnock tunnel installed in 2006 and the Pommogussett Tunnel installed in 2011. There is a connection in Rutland to the Midstate Hiking Trail, between Whitehall Road. The section between Glenwood Road and Wachusett Street is a privately owned section of the ROW, and not currently open to the public. A 1.2 miles (1.9 km) section continues from Wachusett Street to the Holden Town line. These trail sections are owned by the DCR and maintained by Wachusett Greenways.

From the Rutland/Holden Town line to Princeton Street, after the Providence and Worcester Railroad, the rail ROW is privately owned and lost to development. An on-road route is being used to fill the gap. From Princeton Street to Mill Street, a 1.84 miles (2.96 km) section is open with a stone dust surface. This section is owned by the DCR, and is the most northwestern semicircle of the trails labeled "DCR Authorized Bicycle Routes" on the DCR's Wachusett Watershed Bike Routes. This section was created by a 2019 MassTrails award for the first phase of construction.

The ROW from Quinapoxet Street to River Street is privately owned and lost to development. Instead, after a short on-road route north on Mill Street, a 2.2 miles (3.5 km) detour route from Mill Street, crossing Manning Street, to River Street, using trail along the Wachusett Aqueduct, has been developed to bypass this section, sometimes known as the Holden Connector. A MassTrails award in 2023 funded improvements from Mill Street at Wachusett Street to Manning Street, and construction began September 8, 2023. A 2024 MassTrails grant was awarded to complete this construction. From River Street to Thomas Street in West Boylston, a 3 miles (4.8 km) ROW is complete and open, roughly following the Quinapoxet River. The detour and trail ROW combined in Holden are both maintained by the DCR and are labeled "Mass Central Rail Trail" on the DCR's Wachusett Watershed Bike Routes. The trail in West Boylston is owned and managed by the Town.

From Thomas Street in West Boylston, through Sterling, to Clinton, an on-road route is used. The ROW remains in service as the Worcester Main Line of Pan Am Railways.

The Sterling Rail Trail, also known as the Mass Central Rail Trail Sterling Spur, is a 1.7 miles (2.7 km) trail located between Sterling Junction and Sterling Center. It is available by an on-road connection to the Gates Road southern terminus. It uses the former ROW of the Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad so was never part of the Mass Central Railroad and is not included in the 104 miles (167 km) tally. This trail is owned by the DCR and maintained by Wachusett Greenways.

### Clinton and Berlin

From the numbered DCR gate 39 on Route 110 and S Meadow Road in Clinton, the 1.2 miles (1.9 km) DCR spillway to the west side of the Wachusett Reservoir Dam is open to public use, but is a dead end as the dam crossing is not open to the public.

East of Route 70 to the Berlin Town line the rail ROW is still undeveloped. The Clinton Greenway Conservation Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, helped to acquire the ROW from Pan Am Railways, including the 1,100 feet (340 m) railroad tunnel under Wilson Hill between Boylston Street and Clamshell Road, once the longest in Massachusetts. In July 2020, the state awarded $112,000 for purchase of this section, which completed in December 2020. The trail will connect two Town owned parcels, the Maffei Conservation Area and the Rauscher Farm, and pass through the open space around the Woodlands Development. A further $397,000 MassTrails grant in 2022 will complete planning for the tunnel, and begin planning for the remainder of the trail east to the Berlin Town line. A further $162,400 MassTrails grant was awarded in 2023 to purchase a parcel of land off Berlin Street with trail access and a parking area. A 2024 MassTrails grant was awarded to construct Phase 1, access points at Rauscher Farm and 447 Berlin Street, and trail development between these two locations.

West of the Route 62/West Street intersection the rail ROW is undeveloped. It is partially owned by the Town of Berlin and partially still owned by Pan Am Railways. In 2024, a MassTrails grant for a feasibility study for all sections in Berlin was awarded.

A connection to the proposed Boston Worcester Air Line Trail (BWALT) will occur in Berlin.

### Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside

#### History of MCRT—Wayside

In 1976, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) purchased assets of the Boston and Maine (B&M) Railroad, including the right to operate rail over several tracks that no longer provided passenger rail service. B&M retained some freight rail obligations on some tracks for several more years. By 1977, the MBTA had acquired title of this land in fee simple for the purpose of providing and extending mass transportation services, a portion from the 1976 purchase and a portion by order of taking. In 1996, the MBTA produced the "Central Mass. Commuter Rail Feasibility Study", which advised reactivation of a commuter rail extension between Berlin and Waltham, which had no passenger train service since 1971 and no freight train service since 1980, would not be cost effective. In 1997, the towns and city from Berlin to Belmont (excepting Bolton, Stow, and Marlborough, the towns with the smallest sections) considered approving a 25 miles (40 km) mile rail trail over the former B&M railroad ROW, known as the Mass Central Rail Trail—Wayside, with state and federal funds. Berlin, Hudson, Sudbury, Wayland, and Waltham voted to approve by large margins, but Weston voted 698 against and 410 in favor, which derailed progress on the Wayside trail for at least two decades. In 2006, theft of a section of rail was discovered in Berlin, which encouraged the MBTA to take a more active role maintaining the property, and by 2010, the DCR executed a 99-year lease with the MBTA to build the Wayside trail, now 23 miles (37 km) from Berlin to Waltham. Under the terms of the lease, the MBTA retains the right to reactivate commuter rail. This arrangement is not railbanking because the MBTA neither began the required precondition of abandonment nor consented to the optional process of railbanking. In 2014, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) determined the Wayside trail did not require further Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review, simplifying permitting for the project.

In Wayland and Weston, by 1952, the Boston Edison Company (BECo) acquired an easement along this section of the B&M's ROW and built overhead power lines. In 2016, BECo's successor, Eversource, filed permits to build a gravel access road for the power lines over what had become the MBTA's ROW. This included a trail section running from Cochituate Road in Wayland to before the bridge over the MBTA Fitchburg Line in Weston. This significantly reduced construction costs of the trail, and in partnership, the DCR made the decision in January 2017 to build the trail by paving the access road and installing safe road crossings, which completed in 2019. While DCR's decision superseded the 1997 Weston Town vote, the Town of Weston assisted by constructing a Conant Road underpass not included with DCR's paving, officially stated thanks to DCR and Eversource for their contributions to the trail, and now supports the completion of the entire MCRT.

In Hudson, Stow, Marlborough, and Sudbury, in 2015 ISO New England issued a Greater Boston area needs assessment, directing utility companies to investigate a series of transmission projects to improve electrical grid reliability, including a connection of the Sudbury and Hudson power substations. In November 2015, Eversource held the first public forum on the proposed Sudbury to Hudson Transmission Reliability Project, noting the project could accelerate the construction of the MCRT—Wayside, as both could be constructed on the MBTA ROW. At that time, the proposal was for overhead 115 kV power lines over the MBTA ROW and under Hudson roads, and Eversource was asked by the Towns of Hudson and Sudbury to consider undergrounding the power lines along the MBTA ROW instead. In February 2016, Eversource identified an underground noticed variation design under the MBTA ROW and under Hudson roads. By January 2017, the MBTA negotiated an options agreement with Eversource for the underground route only, at the cost of forgoing approximately $2 million compared to an overhead option, and requiring Eversource to work with DCR to create a trail. In turn, in April 2017, when Eversource sought project approval from the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), Eversource preferred such an underground MBTA ROW route, though as part of the approval process, Eversource was required to evaluate alternative options. Only the preferred, underground MBTA ROW route was endorsed by the DCR, as the transmission project had the benefit of substantially reducing trail construction costs, and the underground route required Eversource to make several bridge improvements the trail required. The preferred underground MBTA ROW route was approved by the EFSB in 2019. The EFSB decision noted the associated benefits of the trail, but stated the EFSB's approval of the transmission project was independent of the trail benefits. Designed and permitted in partnership with the DCR, the project includes building a gravel sub-base for the trail, restoring or rebuilding three trail bridges, and building a trail tunnel on this section (Phase 1). After the Eversource work, the DCR will pave the trail surface, install safe road crossings, and restore selected historical railroad features (Phase 2). Phase 1 construction was originally expected to complete in December 2019, however the start of construction was pushed to October 2022, due to an unexpectedly lengthy permitting process. Many lawsuits and petitions were filed by the Town of Sudbury and various abutters alleging the overlapping and jointly permitted construction suffered from varied legal defects, including allegations that the MBTA-DCR trail easement was unlawful and void. However, in every ruling, all judges determined all plaintiffs could not succeed with any claim. In 2022 and 2023, abutters sued the MBTA in Massachusetts Land Court twice alleging property rights over the MBTA's land in furtherance of such allegations, but withdrew both cases before a judicial ruling.

#### MCRT—Wayside trail details

All 23 miles (37 km) of the Wayside trail, once built, form a state park maintained by the DCR, except a section shared with the Assabet River Rail Trail, which is maintained by the Town of Hudson. All completed sections of the Wayside trail are paved, and DCR plans to pave both all sections under construction and the only section that is currently stone dust in Wayland. Sections are typically 10 or 12 feet (3.0 or 3.7 m) wide with grass shoulders.

### Waltham to Boston

All sections of the trail from Belmont to Boston were developed as separate projects but serve as part of the complete Mass Central Rail Trail. All completed sections are paved.


Mono (manga)

# Mono (manga)

## Abstract

Mono (stylized in all lowercase) is a Japanese four-panel manga series written and illustrated by Afro. It began serialization in Houbunsha 's Manga Time Kirara Miracle! magazine in May 2017, and was later transferred to the Manga Time Kirara Carat magazine in December 2017. An anime television series adaptation produced by Soigne has been announced.

## Media

### Manga

Written and illustrated by Afro, Mono began serialization in Houbunsha 's Manga Time Kirara Miracle! magazine on May 16, 2017. After the final issue of Manga Time Kirara Miracle! was published on October 16, 2017, the series was transferred to the Manga Time Kirara Carat magazine on December 28 that same year. The series' chapters have been collected into four tankōbon volumes as of April 2024.

In June 2024, Yen Press announced that they licensed the series for English publication beginning in November 2024.

A collaboration chapter with Afro's other series Laid-Back Camp was published in the March 2021 issue of Manga Time Kirara Carat on January 28, 2021.

### Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 22, 2024. The series is produced by Aniplex, animated by Soigne and directed by Ryota Aikei, with Yoko Yonaiyama writing series scripts and Takuya Miyahara designing the characters.


Mono (manga)


# List of leaders of Middle Eastern and North African states

## Abstract

This is a list of leaders of Middle Eastern and North African states. It consists of the heads of state and government within the Arab League, and of other MENA countries outside it.

## Leaders of Arab League member states

Note: (*) means leadership is disputed.


Mount Maria, Queensland

# Mount Maria, Queensland

## Abstract

Mount Maria is a rural locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mount Maria had a population of 225 people.

## Geography

Baffle Creek forms the south-western boundary and the south-eastern and eastern boundary (but not the southern boundary). Euleilah Creek forms the north-west boundary of the locality; it later becomes a tributary of Baffle Creek.

The mountain Mount Maria is in the south of the locality (24°32′29″S 151°50′38″E / 24.5413°S 151.8440°E) and rises to 340 metres (1,120 ft) above sea level. It presumably gives its name to the locality.

Tablelands Road enters the locality from the south (Berajondo) and exits to the north (Taunton); it is the main road through the locality.

The land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation.

## Demographics

In the 2016 census, Mount Maria had a population of 193 people.

In the 2021 census, Mount Maria had a population of 225 people.

## Education

There are no schools in Mount Maria. The nearest government primary schools are Lowmead State School in neighbouring Lowmead to the west, Rosedale State School in neighbouring Rosedale to the south-east, and Wartburg State School in Baffle Creek to the east.


Die Fernfahrer

# Die Fernfahrer

## Abstract

Fernfahrer (title of the DVD edition: Die Fernfahrer) was a German television series in twelve episodes which, in addition to depicting cinematic adventures, is also a portrait of the everyday lives of long-distance lorry drivers in the 1960s.

It was produced by Süddeutscher Rundfunk in black and white for ARD and broadcast on Sunday afternoons in the first programme from 1963 to 1967, with four episodes each in early 1963 and 1964 and in autumn 1967. The length of the individual episodes varied greatly between 30 and 62 minutes. The main actors were Pit Krüger, Rudolf Krieg, Monika Berg, Gernot Duda, Edgar Hoppe and Charlotte Schreiber-Just; guests included Kurt Schmidtchen, Horst Naumann, Kurt Hepperlin, Flory Jacobi, Klaus Höhne, Sigurd Fitzek, Rolf Jahncke, Heinz Schimmelpfennig and Willy Semmelrogge. The film was directed by Theo Mezger.


Ron Welch

# Ron Welch

## Abstract

Brigadier General (Ret.) Ronald Paul Welch (born January 9, 1960) was an American Military officer and the former Director of the Joint Staff of the Connecticut National Guard. He began his military service in 1978 when he enlisted in United States Army and served as an NCO in 2nd Bn (Ranger) 75th Infantry. He was later commissioned, through Connecticut Military Academy in August 1984 through the Officer Candidate School.

## Education

1985: Mohegan Community College, Associate in Science, Norwich, CT

1992: Eastern Connecticut State University, Bachelor of General Studies, Willimantic, CT

2007: Eastern Connecticut State University, Master of Science in Organizational Management, Willimantic, CT

2011: U.S. Army War College, Master of Strategic Studies

## Military career

### United States Army

Ron Welch enlisted in the United States Army in on October 3, 1978, where he served on active duty with the 2nd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. During his active duty service he attained the rank of sergeant and completed Basic Airborne School, Ranger School, Jungle Warfare Course, USMC Amphibious Recon Scout Swimmer Course, Jumpmaster Course, Primary Non Commission Officer Course, USMC Scout Sniper Course, Emergency Medical Technician Course, Special Operations and Tactics Course, and the Pathfinder School. On May 4, 1981, he sustained serious injuries during an in-line of duty parachute accident. He left active service on October 2, 1982.

### Connecticut National Guard

After leaving active service, Welch joined the Connecticut National Guard, where he attended Officer Candidate School in 1983. On August 11, 1984, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He then served in numerous positions in the Connecticut National Guard's Infantry units as a rifle platoon leader, company commander and various staff positions. He also served as an operations officer in a Combat Engineer battalion. While as a member of the National Guard, Welch graduated from The Infantry Officer Basic Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Air Assault Course, Infantry Officers Advanced Courses, NBC Officer/NCO Defense Course, Rappel Master Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Israeli Defense Force Airborne Center, the US Army War College, Army Combat Lifesaver Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Dual Status Commander Orientation Course, Leadership in Homeland Security Course, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, the General & Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar.

### Operation Enduring Freedom

Welch deployed to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006 as a senior American advisor to an Afghan National Army, Infantry Brigade located in Eastern Afghanistan, providing training, advice and conducting combat operations. While in Afghanistan, he continued to advise units of the Connecticut National Guard in preparing them for their deployments to Afghanistan. His main advice was to learn the culture, the language and customs while continuing traditional military skills such as physical fitness and marksmanship.

### Soldier’s Medal

On December 11, 1992, during an intense winter storm, a dispatcher from the Fairfield, Connecticut, fire department called the Stratford Armory for assistance evacuating residents. Then Captain Welch and four others, Sergeants First Class Roger G. Barr, Douglas E. Bell, Raymond C. Spry and Specialist Chi Tranh Chong, drove to the scene in a canvas-covered military truck. They rescued 34 personnel, including a 94-year-old woman and students from nearby Fairfield University. The soldiers had to evacuate the vehicles, wade through chest-high water of 42 degrees and carry the victims to the truck. While attempting to leave the flooded area, the truck stalled in the rising flood waters. The team was able to secure some small boats drifting in the water and used them to hand tow the victims to a waiting fire boat. Others were brought to a small dry piece of land, where they were eventually rescued by helicopter.

## Assignments

- August 1984 – May 1985, rifle platoon leader Company B, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut

- May 1985 – March 1987, company executive officer, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut

- March 1987 – April 1988, battalion tactical intelligence officer, (BICC), 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut

- April 1988 – November 1988, battalion S-3 (Air), 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut

- November 1988 – November 1989, company commander, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut

- November 1989 – June 1990, battalion S-2, 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Manchester, Connecticut

- June 1990 – July 1990, battalion S-1, 143rd Forward Support Battalion, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Waterbury, Connecticut

- July 1990 – February 1991, battalion S-2, 2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Meriden, Connecticut

- February 1991 – March 1992, battalion S-1, 2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry, 43rd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, Meriden, Connecticut

- March 1992 – January 1993, battalion operations officer, Headquarters Company, 242nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Connecticut Army National Guard, Stratford, Connecticut

- January 1993 – April 1995, battalion assistant S-3, Headquarters Company, 242nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Connecticut Army National Guard, Stratford, Connecticut

- April 1995 – August 1995, instructor, Connecticut Military Academy, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut

- August 1995 – January 1996, senior instructor, Connecticut Military Academy, Connecticut Army National Guard Niantic, Connecticut

- January 1996 – February 1997, executive officer/operations officer, Northeast Leadership Training Brigade, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut

- February 1997 – October 1998, operations officer, Headquarters, 169th Leadership Regiment, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut

- October 1998 – August 1999, brigade S-3, Headquarters, 85th Troop Command, State Area Command, New London, Connecticut

- August 1999 – January 2000, brigade S-1, Headquarters, 85th Troop Command, State Area Command, New London, Connecticut

- January 2000 – August 2000, commander, 1st OCS Battalion, Headquarters, 169th Leadership Regiment, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut

- August 2000 – November 2003, brigade S-3, Headquarters, 85th Troop Command, State Area Command, New London, Connecticut

- November 2003 – March 2004, commander 14th Civil Support Team, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

- March 2004 – May 2005, J5/director of Military Support, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

- May 2005 – June 2005, brigade advisory team leader (ETT), FT Carson, Colorado

- June 2005 – June 2006, brigade advisory team leader (ETT), CJTF Phoenix, Afghanistan

- June 2006 – March 2007, J5/director of military support, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

- April 2007 – June 2008, J3/director of operations, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

- July 2008 – May 2010, chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

- May 2010 – August 2012, commander, 85th Troop Command, Connecticut Army National Guard, Niantic, Connecticut

- August 2012 – February 2014, chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

- February 2014 – present, director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters – CT, Connecticut National Guard, Hartford, Connecticut

## Awards and decorations


Churchyard

# Churchyard

## Abstract

In Christian countries a churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church, which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language and in both Scottish English and Ulster Scots, this can also be known as a kirkyard.

While churchyards can be any patch of land on church grounds, historically, they were often used as graveyards (burial places).

## Use of churchyards as a place of burial

After the establishment of the parish as the centre of the Christian spiritual life, the possession of a cemetery, as well as the baptismal font, was a mark of parochial status. During the Middle Ages, religious orders also constructed cemeteries around their churches. Thus, the most common use of churchyards was as a consecrated burial ground known as a graveyard. Graveyards were usually established at the same time as the building of the relevant place of worship (which can date back to the 6th to 14th centuries) and were often used by those families who could not afford to be buried inside or beneath the place of worship itself. However, many churchyards in Northwestern France and in the UK may predate the establishment of the Christian church there today. For example, existence of the Fortingall Yew, an ancient tree (Taxus baccata) in the churchyard of Fortingall, a village in Perthshire, Scotland, has been used to suggest pre-Christian activity on the site, although yews are difficult to date exactly.

Most headstones and other memorials are of the 17th century at the earliest, as ground would often be reused for further burials and only some families could afford any memorials.

The use of churchyards as burial grounds for the deceased was diminished all over Europe in various stages between the 18th to 19th centuries due to lack of space for new headstones. In many European states, burial in churchyards was outlawed altogether either by royal decrees or government legislation for public hygiene reasons and portions of churchyards were taken in order for roads to be built or expanded. The loss of part (or all) of the churchyard, often led also to the removal and permanent loss of centuries-old graves and headstones. In some cases the human remains were exhumed and the gravestones transferred. In other cases, all headstones have been removed, to create a park-like environment, or simply to facilitate the seasonal cutting and removal of grass or weeds. In at least one case in the United States, the headstones from a churchyard in Pittsburgh were used to help form the foundation for an addition to the church fifty years after the last burial in the churchyard took place (the foundation itself unknowingly went through fifteen graves), with the churchyard itself becoming a parking lot nearly forty years after that; the churchyard was largely forgotten until PennDOT purchased the church property via eminent domain for construction of Interstate 279 and subsequently unearthed 727 graves.

Some churchyards across the world are still used as graveyards today, particularly in most hamlets and small towns. Public cemeteries are primarily seen in major towns and cities.

### In France

Only four churchyards now remain in France.

## Ecology

Churchyards can be host to unique and ancient habitats because they may remain significantly unchanged for hundreds of years.


A. J. Milwee

# A. J. Milwee

## Abstract

Alan Jacob Milwee (born January 19, 1986) is an American football coach who currently is the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Texas at Austin. He also has stints as an assistant coach at Akron, East Mississippi Community College, and North Alabama. He played college football at North Alabama, where he broke program records in completions and touchdown passes and was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist.

## Playing career

A native of Boaz, Alabama, Milwee initially walked-on at Alabama in 2004, redshirting the season as a reserve quarterback. He then transferred to then- Division II North Alabama to play for head coach Mark Hudspeth. After spending the 2005 season as a backup quarterback, Milwee was named the starting quarterback in 2006 where he compiled a 33–5 record and broke several program records including passing yards, completions, and passing touchdowns. He was also a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, an award given to the top college football player in Division II football.

## Coaching career

Milwee worked as a graduate assistant at his alma mater North Alabama under Terry Bowden from 2009 to 2010, and later at East Mississippi Community College in 2011 as their quarterbacks coach.

### Akron

Milwee was named the quarterbacks coach at Akron in 2012, working once again under Terry Bowden. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013 at the age of 26, the 2nd youngest coordinator in FBS at the time of his hiring. He was not retained after the firing of Bowden in 2018 and was replaced by Tommy Zagorski.

### Alabama

Milwee was hired as an offensive analyst at Alabama. He was later hired to be the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State under former Alabama analyst Butch Jones before accepting a position at Texas.

### Texas

Milwee was hired away from Arkansas State as the quarterbacks coach at Texas under former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.


Roger Clemens

# Roger Clemens

## Abstract

William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962), nicknamed " Rocket ", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), most notably with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in major league history, tallying 354 wins, a 3.12 earned run average (ERA), and 4,672 strikeouts, the third-most all time. An 11-time MLB All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher in history. Clemens was known for his fierce competitive nature and hard-throwing pitching style, which he used to intimidate batters.

Clemens debuted in the MLB in 1984 with the Red Sox, whose pitching staff he anchored for 12 years. In 1986, he won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award, the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, and the All-Star Game MVP Award, and he struck out an MLB-record 20 batters in a single game. After the 1996 season, in which he achieved his second 20-strikeout performance, Clemens left Boston via free agency and joined the Toronto Blue Jays. In each of his two seasons with Toronto, Clemens won a Cy Young Award, as well as the pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Before the 1999 season, Clemens was traded to the Yankees where he won his two World Series titles. In 2001, Clemens became the first pitcher in major league history to start a season with a win–loss record of 20–1. In 2003, he reached his 300th win and 4,000th strikeout in the same game. Clemens left for the Houston Astros in 2004, where he spent three seasons and won his seventh Cy Young Award. He rejoined the Yankees in 2007 for one last season before retiring. He is the only pitcher in Major League history to record more than 350 wins and strike out more than 4,500 batters.

Clemens was alleged by the Mitchell Report to have used anabolic steroids during his late career, mainly based on testimony given by his former trainer, Brian McNamee. Clemens denied these allegations under oath before the United States Congress, leading congressional leaders to refer his case to the Justice Department on suspicions of perjury. On August 19, 2010, a federal grand jury at the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., indicted Clemens on six felony counts involving perjury, false statements, and contempt of Congress. Clemens pleaded not guilty, but proceedings were complicated by prosecutorial misconduct, leading to a mistrial. In June 2012, Clemens was found not guilty on all six counts of lying to Congress. These controversies hurt his chances for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He never received the 75% of votes required in his ten years of eligibility, ending with 65.2% in 2022.

## Early life

Clemens was born in Dayton, Ohio, the fifth child of Bill and Bess (Lee) Clemens. He is of German descent, his great-grandfather Joseph Clemens having immigrated in the 1880s. Clemens’ parents separated when he was an infant. His mother soon married Woody Booher, whom Clemens considers his father. Booher died when Clemens was nine years old, and Clemens has said that the only time he ever felt envious of other players was when he saw them in the clubhouse with their fathers. Clemens lived in Vandalia, Ohio, until 1977, and then spent most of his high school years in Houston, Texas. At Spring Woods High School, Clemens played baseball for longtime head coach Charles Maiorana and also played football and basketball. He was scouted by the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins during his senior year, but opted to go to college.

## College career

He began his college career pitching for San Jacinto College North in 1981, where he posted a 9–2 win–loss record. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, compiling a 25–7 record in two All-American seasons, and was on the mound when the Longhorns won the 1983 College World Series. He became the first player to have his baseball uniform number retired at the University of Texas. In 2004, the Rotary Smith Award, given to America's best college baseball player, was changed to the Roger Clemens Award, honoring the best pitcher. At Texas, Clemens pitched 35 consecutive scoreless innings, an NCAA record that stood until Justin Pope broke it in 2001.

## Professional career

### Drafts and minor leagues

The New York Mets selected Clemens in the 12th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, however, he did not sign. Clemens was selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 1983 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox and quickly rose through the minor league system. In 1983, Clemens pitched for two different teams in two different leagues and at two different levels. He pitched for the A-ball Winter Haven Red Sox of the Florida State League and the AA New Britain Red Sox of the Eastern League. Clemens started all four games he played with Winter Haven and pitched three complete games with one shutout and allowed no home runs. He posted a 3–1 win–loss record, a 1.24 earned run average, struck out 36 batters in 29 innings pitched and his walks plus hits per inning pitched was 0.759. Clemens started all seven games he played with New Britain and pitched one complete game shutout and allowed one home run. He posted a 4–1 win–loss record, a 1.38 earned run average, struck out 59 batters in 52 innings pitched and his walks and hits per innings pitched was 0.827. His combined minor league totals in 1983 included starting all 11 games he played and pitched four complete games with two shutouts and only one home run allowed. He posted a 7–2 win–loss record, a 1.33 earned run average, struck out 95 batters in 81 innings pitched and his walks and hits per innings pitched was 0.802.

Clemens started the 1984 season with AAA Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League. In seven games, he started six of them, pitching three complete games with one shutout. Despite posting a 2–3 win–loss record and a walks and hits per innings pitched of 1.136, his earned run average was 1.93, and he struck out 50 batters in 46 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings pitched.

### Boston Red Sox (1984–1996)

On May 15, 1984 at Cleveland Stadium, Clemens made his Major League debut. An undiagnosed torn labrum threatened to end his career early; he underwent successful arthroscopic surgery by Dr. James Andrews.

On April 29, 1986 at Fenway Park, in a 3–1 win over the Seattle Mariners, Clemens struck out a career-high 20 batters, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game. Following his performance, Clemens made the cover of Sports Illustrated, which carried the headline "Lord of the K's." Other than Clemens, only Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer have matched the total. (Randy Johnson fanned 20 batters in nine innings on May 8, 2001. However, as the game went into extra innings, it is not categorized as occurring in a nine-inning game. Tom Cheney holds the record for any game: 21 strikeouts in 16 innings.)

Clemens started the 1986 All-Star Game (played in his hometown of Houston) in the Astrodome and was named the Most Valuable Player of the contest by throwing three perfect innings and striking out two. He also won the first of his seven Cy Young Awards. In 1986, Clemens won the American League MVP award, finishing with a 24–4 record, 2.48 ERA, and 238 strikeouts. When Hank Aaron said that pitchers should not be eligible for the MVP, Clemens responded: "I wish he were still playing. I'd probably crack his head open to show him how valuable I was." Clemens was the only starting pitcher since Vida Blue in 1971 to win a league MVP award until Justin Verlander won the award in 2011. Clemens attributes his switch from what he calls a "thrower" to a "pitcher" to the partial season Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver spent with the Red Sox in 1986.

Facing the California Angels in the 1986 ALCS, Clemens pitched poorly in the opening game, watched the Boston bullpen blow his 3–1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 4, and then pitched a strong Game 7 to wrap up the series for Boston. The League Championship Series clincher was Clemens's first postseason career victory. He did not win his second until 13 years later. After a victory in game five, Boston led 3 games to 2 over the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series with Clemens set to start game six at Shea Stadium. Clemens who was pitching on five days rest started strong by striking out eight while throwing a no-hitter through four innings. In the top of eighth and with Boston ahead 3–2, manager John McNamara sent rookie Mike Greenwell to pinch hit for Roger Clemens. It was initially said that Clemens was removed from the game due to a blister forming on one of his fingers, but both he and McNamara dispute this. Clemens said to Bob Costas on an MLB Network program concerning the 1986 postseason that McNamara decided to pull him despite Clemens wanting to pitch. McNamara said to Costas that Clemens "begged out" of the game. The Mets rallied and took both game six and seven to win the World Series.

The Red Sox had a miserable 1987 season, finishing at 78–84, though Clemens won his second consecutive Cy Young Award with a 20–9 record, 2.97 ERA, 256 strikeouts, and seven shutouts. He was the first AL pitcher with back-to-back 20-win seasons since Tommy John won 20 with the Yankees in 1979 and '80. Boston rebounded with success in 1988 and 1990, clinching the AL East Division each year, but were swept by the Oakland Athletics in each ALCS matchup. His greatest postseason failure came in the second inning of the final game of the 1990 ALCS, when he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Terry Cooney, accentuating the A's four-game sweep of the Red Sox. He was suspended for the first five games of the 1991 season and fined $10,000.

Clemens led the American League in 1988 with 291 strikeouts and a career-high 8 shutouts. On September 10, 1988, Clemens threw a one-hitter against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Dave Clark 's one-out single in the eighth inning was the only hit Clemens allowed in the game. In a 9–1 victory over Cleveland on April 13, 1989, Clemens recorded his 1,000 career strikeout by fanning Brook Jacoby with the bases loaded in the second inning. Clemens finished second to Oakland's Bob Welch for the 1990 AL Cy Young Award, despite the fact that Clemens crushed Welch in ERA (1.93 to 2.95), strikeouts (209 to 127), walks (54 to 77), home runs allowed (7 to 26), and WAR (10.4 to 2.9). Clemens did, however, capture his third Cy Young Award in 1991 with an 18–10 record, 2.62 ERA, and 241 strikeouts. On June 21, 1989, Clemens surrendered the first of Sammy Sosa 's 609 home runs. On September 18, 1996 at Tiger Stadium, in a 4–0 win over the Detroit Tigers, Clemens had a second 20-strikeout game. This second 20-K day occurred in his third-to-last game as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Later, the Tigers presented him with a baseball containing the autographs of each batter who had struck out (those with multiple strikeouts signed the appropriate number of times).

The Red Sox did not re-sign Clemens following the 1996 season, despite leading the A.L. with 257 strikeouts and offering him "by far the most money ever offered to a player in the history of the Red Sox franchise." General Manager Dan Duquette remarked that he "hoped to keep him in Boston during the twilight of his career", but Clemens left and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The emphasis on the misquoted 1996 "twilight" comment took on a life of its own following Clemens's post-Boston successes, and Duquette was vilified for letting the star pitcher go. Ultimately, Clemens would go on to have a record of 162–73 for the rest of his career after leaving the Red Sox. Clemens recorded 192 wins and 38 shutouts for the Red Sox, both tied with Cy Young for the franchise record and is their all-time strikeout leader with 2,590. Clemens's overall postseason record with Boston was 1–2 with a 3.88 ERA, and 45 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 56 innings. No Red Sox player has worn his uniform #21 since Clemens left the team in the 1996–97 offseason.

### Toronto Blue Jays (1997–1998)

Clemens signed a four-year, $40 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays after the 1996 season. In his first start in Fenway Park as a member of the Blue Jays, he pitched eight innings allowing only 4 hits and 1 earned run. 16 of his 24 outs were strikeouts, and every batter who faced him struck out at least once. As he left the field following his last inning of work, he stared up angrily towards the owner's box.

Clemens was dominant in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, winning the pitching Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award in both seasons (1997: 21–7 record, 2.05 ERA, and 292 strikeouts; 1998: 20–6 record, 2.65 ERA, and 271 strikeouts). After the 1998 season, Clemens asked to be traded, indicating that he did not believe the Blue Jays would be competitive enough the following year and that he was dedicated to winning a championship.

### New York Yankees (1999–2003)

Before the 1999 season, the Blue Jays traded Clemens to the New York Yankees for David Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd. Since his longtime uniform number #21 was in use by teammate Paul O'Neill, Clemens initially wore #12, before switching mid-season to #22.

During the 1999 regular season, Clemens posted a 14–10 record with a 4.60 ERA. He logged a pair of wins in the postseason, though he lost Game 3 of the 1999 ALCS in a matchup against Red Sox ace Pedro Martínez, which was the Yankees' only loss in the 1999 playoffs. Clemens won the Yankees' Game 4 clincher over the Atlanta Braves, giving up only one run in 7 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings.

Clemens followed up with a strong 2000 season, in which he finished with a 13–8 record with a 3.70 ERA for the regular season. Though Clemens lost two games in the ALDS against Oakland, the Yankees won the other three and thus advanced. In Game 4 of the ALCS against Seattle, Clemens set the ALCS record for strikeouts in a game when he fanned 15 batters in a one-hit shutout. In Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, Clemens pitched eight scoreless innings against the New York Mets.

In 2001, Clemens became the first pitcher in MLB history to start a season 20–1 (finishing 20–3), and won his sixth Cy Young Award. Clemens started for the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he dueled Curt Schilling to a standstill after 6 innings, yielding only one run. The Diamondbacks went on to win the game in the 9th.

Early in 2003, Clemens announced his retirement, effective at the end of that season. On June 13, 2003, pitching against the St. Louis Cardinals in Yankee Stadium, Clemens recorded his 300th career win and 4,000th career strikeout, the only player in history to record both milestones in the same game. The 300th win came on his fourth try; the Yankee bullpen had blown his chance of a win in his previous two attempts. He became the 21st pitcher ever to record 300 wins and the third ever to record 4,000 strikeouts. His career record upon reaching the milestones was 300–155. Clemens finished the season with a 17–9 record and a 3.91 ERA.

The end of Clemens's 2003 season became a series of public farewells met with appreciative cheering. His last games in each AL park were given extra attention, particularly his final regular-season appearance in Fenway Park, when despite wearing the uniform of the hated arch-rival, he was afforded a standing ovation by Red Sox fans as he left the field. (This spectacle was repeated when the Yankees ended up playing the Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS and Clemens got a second "final start" in his original stadium.) As part of a tradition of manager Joe Torre, Clemens was chosen to manage the Yankees' last game of the regular season. Clemens made one start in the World Series against the Florida Marlins; when he left trailing 3–1 after seven innings, the Marlins left their dugout to give him a standing ovation.

### Houston Astros (2004–2006)

Clemens came out of retirement, signing a one-year deal with his adopted hometown Houston Astros on January 12, 2004, joining close friend and former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte. On May 5, 2004, Clemens recorded his 4,137th career strikeout to place him second on the all-time list behind Nolan Ryan. He was named the starter for the National League All-Star team but ultimately was the losing pitcher in that game after allowing six runs on five hits, including a three-run home run to Alfonso Soriano. Clemens finished the season with an 18–4 record, and was awarded his seventh Cy Young Award, becoming the oldest player ever to win the Cy Young at age 42. This made him one of six pitchers to win the award in both leagues, joining Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martínez, and Randy Johnson and later joined by Roy Halladay and Max Scherzer. Clemens was the losing pitcher for the Astros in Game Seven of the 2004 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing four runs in six innings. Although he pitched well, he tired in the sixth inning, surrendering all four runs.

Clemens again decided to put off retirement before the 2005 season after the Astros offered salary arbitration. The Astros submitted an offer of $13.5 million, and Clemens countered with a record $22 million demand. On January 21, 2005, both sides agreed on a one-year, $18,000,022 contract, thus avoiding arbitration. The deal gave Clemens the highest yearly salary earned by a pitcher in MLB history.

Clemens's 2005 season ended as one of the finest he had ever posted. His 1.87 ERA was the lowest in the major leagues, the lowest of his 22-season career, and the lowest by any National Leaguer since Greg Maddux in 1995. He finished with a 13–8 record, with his lower win total primarily due to the fact that he ranked near the bottom of the major leagues in run support. The Astros scored an average of only 3.5 runs per game in games in which he was the pitcher of record. The Astros were shut out nine times in Clemens's 32 starts, and failed to score in a 10th until after Clemens was out of the game. The Astros lost five of Clemens's starts by scores of 1–0. In April, Clemens did not allow a run in three consecutive starts. However, the Astros lost all three of those starts by a 1–0 score in extra innings.

Clemens won an emotional start on September 15, following his mother's death that morning. In his final start of the 2005 season, Clemens got his 4,500th strikeout. On October 9, 2005, Clemens made his first relief appearance since 1984, entering as a pinch hitter in the 15th, then pitching three innings to get the win as the Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS. It is the longest postseason game in MLB history at 18 innings. Clemens lasted only two innings in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series, and the Astros went on to be swept by the Chicago White Sox. It was the Astros' first World Series appearance. Clemens had aggravated a hamstring pull that had limited his performance since at least September.

Clemens said that he would retire again after the World Series but he wanted to represent the United States in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, which would be played in March 2006. He went 1–1 in the tournament, with a 2.08 ERA, striking out 10 batters in 8 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings. After pitching in a second-round loss to Mexico that eliminated the United States, Clemens began considering a return to the major leagues. On May 31, 2006, following another extended period of speculation, it was announced that Clemens was coming out of retirement for the third time to pitch for the Astros for the remainder of the 2006 season. Clemens signed a contract worth $22,000,022 (his uniform number #22). Since Clemens did not play a full season, he received a prorated percentage of that: approximately $12.25 million. Clemens made his return on June 22, 2006, against the Minnesota Twins, losing to their rookie phenom, Francisco Liriano, 4–2. For the second year in a row, his win total did not match his performance, as he finished the season with a 7–6 record, a 2.30 ERA, and a 1.04 WHIP. However, Clemens averaged just under 6 innings in his starts and never pitched into the eighth.

### Return to the Yankees (2007)

Clemens unexpectedly appeared in the owner's box at Yankee Stadium on May 6, 2007, during the seventh-inning stretch of a game against the Seattle Mariners, and made a brief statement: "Thank y'all. Well they came and got me out of Texas, and uhh, I can tell you it's a privilege to be back. I'll be talkin' to y'all soon." It was simultaneously announced that Clemens had rejoined the Yankees roster, agreeing to a pro-rated one-year deal worth $28,000,022, or about $4.7 million per month. Over the contract life, he would make $18.7 million. This equated to just over $1 million per start that season.

Clemens made his 2007 return on June 9, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by pitching six innings with seven strikeouts and three runs allowed. On June 21, with a single in the 5th inning against the Colorado Rockies, Clemens became the oldest New York Yankee to record a hit (44 years, 321 days). On June 24, Clemens pitched an inning in relief against the San Francisco Giants. It had been 22 years and 341 days since his previous regular-season relief appearance, the longest such gap in major league history. On July 2, Clemens collected his 350th win against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium, giving up just two hits and one run over eight innings. Clemens is one of only three pitchers to pitch his entire career in the live-ball era and reach 350 wins. The other two are Warren Spahn (whose catcher for his 350th win was Joe Torre, Clemens's manager for his 350th), and Greg Maddux, who earned his 350th win in 2008. His final regular-season appearance was a start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, in which he allowed two hits and one unearned run in six innings, and received a no-decision. Clemens finished the 2007 regular season with a record of 6–6 and a 4.18 ERA.

Clemens was forced to leave Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS in the third inning after aggravating a hamstring injury. He struck out Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians with his final pitch, and was replaced by right-hander Phil Hughes. Yankees manager Joe Torre removed Clemens from the roster due to his injury, and replaced him with left-hander Ron Villone. Clemens's overall postseason record with the Yankees was 7–4 with a 2.97 ERA, 98 strikeouts and 35 walks in 102 innings.

## Pitching appearances after retirement

On August 20, 2012, Clemens signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He made his debut for the Skeeters against the Bridgeport Bluefish on August 25, 2012, in front of a crowd of 7,724. It was the first time the 50-year-old had taken the mound in almost five years. Clemens pitched 3 + 1 ⁄ 3 scoreless innings and struck out two: former major leaguers Joey Gathright and Prentice Redman. He also retired Luis Figueroa, who played briefly with the Pirates, Blue Jays and the Giants. Clemens allowed only one hit and no walks on 37 pitches in the Skeeters' 1–0 victory. Clemens made his second start for the Skeeters on September 7 against the Long Island Ducks. He pitched 4 + 2 ⁄ 3 scoreless innings, with his son, Koby, as his catcher. He retired former New York Met outfielder Timo Perez for the final out in the fourth inning, and was named the winning pitcher by the official scorer. Clemens's fastball was clocked as high as 88 mph, and the Astros sent scouts to both of his outings with the Skeeters in consideration of a possible return to the team that season.

Roger Clemens joined the Kansas Stars, a group of 24 retired major leaguers and his son Koby, to compete in the 2016 National Baseball Congress World Series. The team was put together by Kansas natives Adam LaRoche and Nate Robertson, and featured eleven former All-Stars, including Tim Hudson, Roy Oswalt, and J. D. Drew as well as Clemens. Pitching just six days after his 54th birthday, Clemens started for the Kansas Stars in a game against the NJCAA National Team on August 10, 2016. He pitched 2 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings, allowing 3 runs with one strikeout in an 11–10 loss. On August 22, 2019, Clemens wore his Red Sox uniform and pitched in the Abbot Financial Management Oldtime Baseball Game, an annual charity event held at St. Peter's Field in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 2019 game benefitted Compassionate Care ALS, in memory of longtime Fenway Park supervisor John Welch, who died from Lou Gehrig 's Disease in December 2018. Facing mostly young college players, Clemens pitched two shutout innings in the game, then moved to first base.

### National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration

In 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, his first year of eligibility, Clemens received 37.6% of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), falling well short of the 75% required for induction into the Hall of Fame. He has garnered more votes in subsequent elections without reaching the 75% threshold: he received 59.5% in 2019, 61.0% in 2020, and 61.6% in 2021. With the inductions of Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in 2014 and Randy Johnson in 2015, Clemens is currently the only eligible member of the 300 win club not to be inducted into the Hall. He received 65.2% of the votes in his final year of eligibility, 2022.

Despite falling off the ballot, Clemens is still eligible for induction through the Hall of Fame's Today's Game Committee. The committee is composed of 16 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. (hence the nickname of "veterans committee") who consider retired players who lost ballot eligibility while still having made notable contributions to baseball from 1986-2016. The most recent voting by the committee was held in December 2022, and 12 votes were required for induction. Clemens received fewer than four votes out of sixteen cast and as a result was not selected for induction.

## Pitching style

Clemens was a prototypical power pitcher with an aggressive edge, especially early in his career. Clemens was said to throw "two pitches: a 98-mph fastball and a hard breaking ball. At 23, Clemens simply reared back and threw the ball past batters." Later in his career, Clemens developed a split-finger fastball. Clemens has jocularly referred to this pitch as "Mr. Splitty".

By the time Clemens retired from Major League Baseball in 2007, his four-seam fastball had settled in the 91–94 mph range. He also threw a two-seam fastball, a slider in the mid 80s, a splitter, and an occasional curveball. Clemens was a durable pitcher, leading the American League in complete games three times and innings pitched twice. Clemens threw 18 complete games in 1987 which no pitcher has since matched. Clemens was also known as a strikeout pitcher, leading the AL in Ks five times and strikeouts per nine innings three times. He is currently the only pitcher in Major League history to have thrown two 20-strikeout games.

## Controversies

Clemens has the reputation of a pitcher unafraid to throw close to batters. Clemens led his league in hit batsmen only once, in 1995, but he was among the leaders in several other seasons. This tendency was more pronounced during his earlier career and subsequently tapered off. After the 2000 ALCS game against the Mariners where he knocked down future teammate Alex Rodriguez and then argued with him, Seattle Mariners manager Lou Piniella, a former Yankee, called Clemens a "headhunter." His beaning earlier that year of Mike Piazza, followed by throwing a broken bat in Piazza's direction in the 2000 World Series, cemented Clemens's surly, unapologetic image in the minds of many. In 2009, former manager Cito Gaston publicly denounced Clemens as a " double-talker " and "a complete asshole". Clemens was ranked 14th all-time in hit batsmen after the 2020 season, although not far off from other pitchers of his era at 1 hit batsmen per 125 batters faced. Numbers reflect similar rate of hit batsmen to pitchers such as Nolan Ryan, Justin Verlander, and Greg Maddux.

Clemens has attracted controversy over the years for his outspoken comments, such as his complaints about having to carry his own luggage through an airport and his criticism of Fenway Park for being a subpar facility. On April 4, 2006, Clemens made an insulting remark when asked about the devotion of Japanese and South Korean fans during the World Baseball Classic: "None of the dry cleaners were open, they were all at the game, Japan and Korea". Toward the end of his career, his annual on-and-off "retirements" revived a reputation for diva -like behavior.

Clemens has received criticism for getting special treatment from the teams that sign him. While playing for Houston, Clemens was not obliged to travel with the team on road trips if he was not pitching. His 2007 contract with the New York Yankees had a "family plan" clause that stipulated that he not be required to go on road trips in which he was not scheduled to pitch and allowed him to leave the team between starts to be with his family. These perks were publicly criticized by Yankee reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Most of Clemens's teammates, however, did not complain of such perks because of Clemens's success on the mound and valuable presence in the clubhouse. Yankee teammate Jason Giambi spoke for such players when he said, "I'd carry his bags for him, just as long as he is on the mound."

### Steroid use accusations

In José Canseco 's book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, Canseco suggested that Clemens had expert knowledge about steroids and suggested that he used them, based on the improvement in his performance after leaving the Red Sox. While not addressing the allegations directly, Clemens stated: "I could care less about the rules " and "I've talked to some friends of his and I've teased them that when you're under house arrest and have ankle bracelets on, you have a lot of time to write a book."

Jason Grimsley named Clemens, as well as Andy Pettitte, as a user of performance-enhancing drugs. According to a 20-page search warrant affidavit signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, Grimsley told investigators he obtained amphetamines, anabolic steroids and human growth hormone from someone recommended to him by former Yankees trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee was a personal strength coach for Clemens and Pettitte, hired by Clemens in 1998. At the time of the Grimsley revelations, McNamee denied knowledge of steroid use by Clemens and Pettitte. Despite initial media reports, the affidavit made no mention of Clemens or Pettitte.

However, Clemens's name was mentioned 82 times in the Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball. In the report, McNamee stated that during the 1998, 2000, and 2001 baseball seasons, he injected Clemens with Winstrol. Clemens's attorney Rusty Hardin denied the claims, calling McNamee "a troubled and unreliable witness" who has changed his story five times in an attempt to avoid criminal prosecution. He noted that Clemens has never tested positive in a steroid test. Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, who prepared the report, stated that he relayed the allegations to each athlete implicated in the report and gave them a chance to respond before his findings were published.

On January 6, 2008, Clemens went on 60 Minutes to address the allegations. He told Mike Wallace that his longevity in baseball was due to "hard work" rather than illegal substances and denied all of McNamee's assertions that he injected Clemens with steroids, saying it "never happened". On January 7, Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee, claiming that the former trainer lied after being threatened with prosecution. McNamee's attorneys argued that he was compelled to cooperate by federal officials and so his statements were protected. A federal judge agreed, throwing out all claims related to McNamee's statements to investigators on February 13, 2009, but allowing the case to proceed on statements McNamee made about Clemens to Pettitte.

On February 13, 2008, Clemens appeared before a Congressional committee, along with Brian McNamee and swore under oath that he did not take steroids, that he did not discuss HGH with McNamee, that he did not attend a party at José Canseco's where steroids were the topic of conversation, that he was only injected with B-12 and lidocaine and that he never told Pettitte he had taken HGH. This last point was in contradiction to testimony Pettitte had given under oath on February 4, 2008, wherein Pettitte said he repeated to McNamee a conversation Pettitte had with Clemens. During this conversation, Pettitte said Clemens had told him that McNamee had injected Clemens with human growth hormone. Pettitte said McNamee reacted angrily, saying that Clemens "shouldn't have done that."

The bipartisan House committee in front of which Clemens appeared, citing seven apparent inconsistencies in Clemens's testimony, recommended that the Justice Department investigate whether Clemens lied under oath about using performance-enhancing drugs. In a letter sent February 27 to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis said Clemens's testimony that he "never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone warrants further investigation".

As a result of the Mitchell Report, Clemens was asked to end his involvement with the Giff Nielsen Day of Golf for Kids charity tournament in Houston that he has hosted for four years. As well, his name has been removed from the Houston-based Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine and will be renamed the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute.

After Washington prosecutors showed "a renewed interest in the case in the final months of 2008", a federal grand jury was convened in January 2009 to hear evidence of Clemens's possible perjury before Congress. The grand jury indicted Clemens on August 19, 2010, on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. The indictment charges Clemens with one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury in connection with his February 2008 testimony.

His first trial began on July 13, 2011, but on the second day of testimony the judge in the case declared a mistrial over prosecutorial misconduct after prosecutors showed the jury prejudicial evidence they were not allowed to. Clemens was subsequently retried. The verdict from his second trial came in on June 18, 2012. Clemens was found not guilty on all six counts of lying to Congress in 2008, when he testified that he never took performance-enhancing drugs.

In January 2016, after Clemens once again fell short of the votes required for election into the Hall of Fame, former major-league star Roy Halladay tweeted "No Clemens no Bonds" as part of a message indicating no performance-enhancing substance users should be voted into the Hall. Clemens countered by accusing Halladay of using amphetamines during his playing career.

## Filmography

Clemens has appeared as himself in several movies and television episodes and has also occasionally acted in films. Perhaps best known was his appearance in the season three episode of The Simpsons (" Homer at the Bat "), in which he is recruited to the Springfield nuclear plant's softball team but is accidentally hypnotized into thinking he is a chicken; in addition to his lines, Clemens voiced his own clucking. Clemens has also made guest appearances as himself on the TV shows Hope & Faith, Spin City, Arli$$, and Saturday Night Live as well as the movie Anger Management, and makes a brief appearance in the movie Kingpin as the character Skidmark. He also is shown playing an actual game with the Houston Astros in the film Boyhood.

He appeared in the 1994 movie Cobb as an unidentified pitcher for the Philadelphia A's. In 2003, he was part of an advertising campaign for Armour hot dogs with MLB players Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, and Sammy Sosa. Since 2005, Clemens has also appeared in many commercials for Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B. In 2007, he appeared on a baseball-themed episode of MythBusters (" Baseball Myths "). He has also starred in a commercial for Cingular parodying his return from retirement. He was calling his wife, Debra Godfrey, and a dropped call resulted in his return to the Yankees.

He released an early autobiography, Rocket Man: The Roger Clemens Story (written with Peter Gammons), in 1987. Clemens is also the spokesperson for Champion car dealerships in South Texas. In April 2009, Clemens was the subject of an unauthorized biography by Jeff Pearlman, titled The Rocket that Fell to Earth-Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality, that focused on his childhood and early career and accused Mike Piazza of using steroids. On May 12, Clemens broke a long silence to denounce a heavily researched exposé by four investigative reporters from the New York Daily News called American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime. Clemens went on ESPN's Mike and Mike show to call the book "garbage", but a review by Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times called the book "gripping" and compared it to the work of Bob Woodward.

## Awards and recognition

In 1999, while many of his performances and milestones were yet to come he ranked number 53 on The Sporting News ' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected by the fans to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 2005, the updated Sporting News list moved Clemens up to #15.

By the end of the 2005 season, Clemens had won seven Cy Young Awards (he won the AL award in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, and 2001, and the National League award in 2004), an MVP and two pitching triple crowns. With his 2004 win, he joined Gaylord Perry, Randy Johnson, and Pedro Martínez as the only pitchers to win it in both leagues and became the oldest pitcher to ever win the Cy Young. He has also won the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award five times, was named an All-Star 11 times, and won the All-Star MVP in 1986.

In October 2006, Clemens was named to Sports Illustrated ' s "all-time" team.

On August 18, 2007, Clemens got his 1,000th strikeout as a Yankee. He is only the ninth player in major league history to record 1,000 or more strikeouts with two different teams. Clemens has recorded a total of 2,590 strikeouts as a member of the Red Sox and 1,014 strikeouts as a Yankee. He also had 563 strikeouts for Toronto, and 505 strikeouts for Houston.

Clemens was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014, and was inducted into the Pawtucket Red Sox Hall of Fame on June 21, 2019.

## Personal life

Clemens married Debra Lynn Godfrey (born May 27, 1963) on November 24, 1984. The couple has four sons: Koby Aaron, Kory Allen, Kacy Austin, and Kody Alec —all given "K" names to honor Clemens's strikeouts ("K"s). Koby was at one time a minor league prospect for some MLB clubs. Kacy played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns. Kody also played college baseball for the Texas Longhorns and made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers on May 31, 2022.

Debra once left a Red Sox game, when Clemens pitched for another team, in tears from the heckling she received. This is documented in an updated edition of Dan Shaughnessy 's best-selling book, Curse of the Bambino. Debra was quoted in the book as saying that it was the poor attitude of Red Sox fans that prevented the team from winning the World Series (this was quoted prior to the team's 2004 World Series victory).

Clemens is a member of the Republican Party and donated money to Texas congressman Ted Poe during his 2006 campaign.

Debra posed in a bikini with her husband for a Sports Illustrated pictorial regarding athletes and their wives. This appeared in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition for 2003. Roger wore his Yankees uniform, with the jersey open.

On February 27, 2006, to train for the World Baseball Classic, Roger pitched in an exhibition game between the Astros and his son's minor league team. In his first at-bat, Koby hit a home run off his father. In his next at-bat, Roger threw an inside pitch that almost hit Koby. Koby laughed in an interview after the game about the incident.

### Adultery accusations

In April 2008, the New York Daily News reported on a possible long-term relationship between Clemens and country music singer Mindy McCready that began when she was 15 years old. Clemens's attorney Rusty Hardin denied the affair and also stated that Clemens would be bringing a defamation suit regarding this allegation. Clemens's attorney admitted that a relationship existed but described McCready as a "close family friend". He also stated that McCready had traveled on Clemens's personal jet and that Clemens's wife was aware of the relationship. However, when contacted by the Daily News, McCready said, "I cannot refute anything in the story."

On November 17, 2008, McCready spoke in more detail to Inside Edition about her affair with Clemens, saying their relationship lasted for more than a decade and that it ended when Clemens refused to leave his wife to marry her. However, she denied that she was 15 years old when it began, saying that they met when she was 16 and the affair only became sexual "several years later". In another soon-to-be-released sex tape by Vivid Entertainment, she claimed that the first time she had sex with him was when she was 21. A few days after the Daily News broke the story about the McCready relationship, they reported on another Clemens extramarital relationship, this time with Paulette Dean Daly, the now ex-wife of pro golfer John Daly. Daly declined to elaborate on the nature of her relationship with the pitcher but did not deny that it was romantic and included financial support.

There have been reports of Clemens having at least three other affairs with women. On April 29, 2008, the New York Post reported that Clemens had relationships with two or more women. One, a former bartender in Manhattan, refused comment on the story, while another, a woman from Tampa, could not be located. On May 2 of the same year, the Daily News reported a stripper in Detroit called a local radio station and said she had an affair with Clemens. He also gave tickets to baseball games, jewelry, and trips to women he was wooing.


Gender flip

# Gender flip

## Abstract

A gender flip is when a fictional character is created to have a different sex in another setting or in an adaptation of a work. The Internet meme Rule 63 predicts the prevalence of this.

## Notable examples

- Sherlock Holmes ' companion Dr. John Watson (male) is in some adaptations changed to females: Joan Watson in Elementary (2012 TV series) or Jane Watson in The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1987 film)

- Foundation (1951 novel) character Gaal Dornick (male) was changed to Gall Dornick (female) in Foundation (2021 TV series)

- Starship Troopers (1959 novel) character Dizzy Flores (male) was changed to a female in Starship Troopers (1997 film)

- Dune (1965 novel) character Liet-Kynes (male) was changed to a female in Dune (2021 film)

- Bedazzled (1967 film) character the Devil (male) was changed to a female in Bedazzled (2000 film)

- The Wicker Man (1973 film) character Lord Summerisle (male) was changed to Sister Summersisle (female) in The Wicker Man (2006 film)

- Dead Ringers (1988 film) characters Beverly & Elliot Mantle (males) were change to females in Dead Ringers (2023 miniseries)

- 12 Monkeys (1995 film) character Jeffrey Goines (male) was changed to Jennifer Goines (female) in 12 Monkeys (2015 TV series)

- The 2022 DreamWorks The Bad Guys, had Mr. Tarantula's gender swapped to a girl in the film from the children's book series of the same name

- My Friend Flicka (1943 film) based on the 1941 children's book of the same name with protagonist and 10-year-old boy Ken McLaughlin changed to a 16 year old teenage girl named Katy McLaughlin in the infamous 2006 remake loosely based on the book.