Sports

Clemens fires back at Piazza

HOUSTON — Roger Clemens shrugged off Mike Piazza’s comments in his autobiography that he took karate lessons after he was beaned by the pitcher, just in case they had another confrontation.

The former Mets catcher discussed Clemens in his autobiography “Long Shot,” which was published last Tuesday. Clemens, at spring training as a special instructor with the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., discussed the book yesterday.

“He needs to go get with Jesse Owens or somebody on his speed, I think,” Clemens said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “He chased some dude around the spring-training site one time, didn’t he, or something?”

The altercation Clemens apparently was referring to came during an exhibition game when Piazza was with the Mets. After getting hit by a pitch from Guillermo Mota, Piazza tried to confront the Dodgers reliever after leaving the field.

In 2000, Clemens beaned Piazza with a pitch during a Subway Series game. In Game 2 of the World Series, Piazza splintered a bat fouling off a pitch by Clemens, who picked up part of the bat and threw it angrily in front of Piazza as he ran toward first base.

“Like I said, there was no intent there,” Clemens said of the beaning. “And Mike’s a good hitter and I think he hit every breaking ball I threw to him and he hit them hard. But he’s not the first power hitter who’s got me. So, we had some good times.”

Clemens said Piazza wasn’t the only player who had a problem with him.

“He’d have to stand in line. I think there was about three guys on the Yankees that wanted a piece of me more than [he] did,” Clemens said. “But in all seriousness … I’ve gotten to know him at golf events. Some of these guys, once you get to know some of them, they’re fine.”