By Mychael Urban / MLB.com

Roger Clemens hopes to make his final Major League start a memorable one. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

MIAMI -- It isn't difficult to find Yankees fans in Florida, where transplanted New Yorkers are as common as lunar-module-sized bugs.

It's even easier to find fans of Roger Clemens, who made his first professional start in the Sunshine State and, in working Game 4 of the World Series at Pro Player Stadium on Wednesday, was set to make what he insists is his last one here, too.

"I think it's beautiful," said Frances Diamond, who was born in upstate New York but now lives in Hollywood, Fla.

Diamond, wearing a Clemens replica road jersey before Game 4, said she "adopted" the Marlins when she moved to Florida in 1999. But she still keeps close tabs on the Yankees, and while she wants the Fish to eventually win the World Series, she'd like nothing more than to see the Rocket go out in a blaze of glory.

Rocket's final ride

When Roger Clemens took the mound in Game 4, it was his 26th start in the playoffs, seventh in the World Series and 632nd of his career. In the biggest stage in baseball, it most likely was his last. Career highlights: 56K | 300K Clemens' postgame press conference: 300K Kacy Clemens sums it up: 300k • Clemens' last pitch:  56K | 300K Last pitch calls: NYY | FLA • Clemens' fifth-inning single: 56K | 300K   Audio • Own the Rocket's final start • Rocket finale, late rally upstaged • Final liftoff for the Rocket • Bauman: Over and out on good note • Clemens walks off to loud ovation • Matchup: Fish vs. Clemens' legacy • Contrarians: Should Rocket return? • Rocket fans aplenty at Pro Player • Roger Clemens notes • Clemens notches 300th win >

Diamond was right. Most of the Marlins fans approached for Rocket reflections copped to admiring the man. And yes, they said, it'd be pretty cool to see him pitch well in his farewell.

"He's a legend," said Kenneth Granger of Miami. "And not many legends get to go out on top."

"When you think of big-game pitchers, you think of someone like Clemens," said Diedre James of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. "He's one of the best, and you just have a feeling he'll be on top of his game tonight."

"It'd be nice if he had one more really special night in him," said James' husband, Tony, who grew up on Long Island but considers himself a "Marlins-slash-Yankees" fan. "I've never seen him pitch in person before, so to say I got to see him at his best in the World Series would be great."

Roger Clemens   /   P
	Height: 6'4" Weight: 238 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Astros site

"Yeah, it'd be nice to see him pitch well," added Cody Newton of South Beach. "He deserves that."

But as Daniel Singer of Coconut Grove, Fla., noted, pitching well and winning are two totally different alligators.

"Hey, Beckett was awesome [in Game 3] and he took the loss," Singer said. "Tons of guys pitch great games and lose. Look at Pedro Martinez in that Game 7 [of the ALCS]. So for me, here's the perfect scenario for tonight: Clemens pitches six or seven great innings, but [the Marlins] find a way to beat him. There's no shame in that.

"Do I respect Roger Clemens? Absolutely. The guy's a stud, and he's been one forever. Do I feel lucky to be here for his last game? Sure. Any true baseball fan would.

"But do I want the Fish to be down three games to one? No."

Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.