Clemens will open restaurant next year

Sure, Roger Clemens gave the Astros the disguised finger, but that doesn't mean he harbors any ill will toward the Bayou City. On the contrary, he's going to give us just what we need: a restaurant.

Some time in May, the pitching phenom will open Roger Clemens' Rocket Sports Grill in Memorial City Mall, not far from his Memorial area home.

Clemens won't just slap his name on the place and stay away, according to people involved.

While he may not be in the kitchen flipping burgers, he will put a personal stamp on the concept and appear there regularly, said Randy Hendricks, Clemens' agent.

Given the way Hendricks talked in the days leading up to the 'Stros deadline for offering salary arbitration, Houstonist hopes he, too, will make regular appearances at the restaurant. Preferably if the Rocket Sports Grill offers a tray of rotten vegetables on its menu.

The two-story restaurant is a partnership between Clemens and MetroNational, the company that owns Memorial City and developed Saltgrass Steakhouse into a strong regional chain. A press release said the grill will serve some of Houston's favorite dishes — according to Hendricks, those include burgers because Clemens likes to grill, "just like he does in the H-E-B commercials." Nice plug there, Randy.

If all goes well at Memorial City, the Rocket Sports Grill could expand to other Texas cities.