Look up clear in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Clear may refer to:

Media[link]

• Clear (visual novel), an adult Japanese visual novel

Music[link]

• "Clear", a song from the 2007 Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus album Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus
• "Clear!", a 2009 single from the Kardinal Offishall album Mr. International
• Clear (band), a vegan straight edge hardcore group from Utah
• Clear (Bomb the Bass album), a 1995 album by Bomb the Bass
• Clear (Christian band), an American CCM group from Cambridge, Minnesota
• Clear Entertainment (also C.E. Music), a record label owned by Worldwide Pants Incorporated
• "Clear" (song), a 1983 single from the Cybotron album Clear
• Clear (Spirit album), a 1969 album by Spirit

Technology[link]

• Citizen Law Enforcement Analysis and Reporting, a system of relational databases used by the Chicago Police Department
• Clearwire, wireless internet service products provided in the United States, Belgium, and Spain marketed as CLEAR
• CLEAR Framework for Enterprise Architecture, an Enterprise Architecture meta-model
• Unknown extension tag "syntaxhighlight" (Unix), a standard Unix computer operating system command which is used to clear the screen

Other[link]

• Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR), a United Kingdom political party which campaigns against cannabis prohibition
• Clear, an airport registered traveler program
• Clear, Alaska is an unincorporated community in Denali Borough, Alaska, United States
• Clear (Scientology), one of two levels a practitioner can achieve on the way to personal salvation
• Tetrahydrogestrinone (also "The Clear"), an anabolic steroid developed by Patrick Arnold

See also[link]

• Claro (surname)
• Clear channel (disambiguation)
• Clearance (disambiguation)
• Clearing (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Tino Martinez
First baseman
Born: (1967-12-07) December 7, 1967 (age 44) Tampa, Florida
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 20, 1990 for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2005 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics
Batting average	.271
Home runs	339
Runs batted in	1,271
Teams
Seattle Mariners (1990–1995) New York Yankees (1996–2001) St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2003) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004) New York Yankees (2005)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (1995, 1997) 4× World Series champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) Silver Slugger Award winner (1997) 1997 Home Run Derby winner

Medal record
Baseball
Competitor for the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1988 Seoul	Team
Pan American Games
Silver	1987 Indianapolis	Team
Baseball World Cup
Silver	1988 Rome	Team

Constantino "Tino" Martinez (born December 7, 1967 in Tampa, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman.

Martinez was the first round draft pick for the Seattle Mariners in 1988 out of the University of Tampa where he starred during his time on campus. He began his Major League career in 1990 and has played for the Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and rejoined the Yankees in the 2005 season. During his 16-year MLB career, he scored 1,008 runs, drove in 1,271 runs, and hit 339 home runs. He had 100 or more RBI in six different seasons and was twice named to the All-Star team.

Early life[link]

Tino Martinez was born and raised in neighborhood of West Tampa in Tampa, Florida. His grandfather owned a small cigar factory in which Tino, his brothers, and childhood friend and fellow future major-leaguer Luis Gonzalez worked as young boys ^[1]. Tino attended St. Joseph School in West Tampa until 8th grade, then attended Tampa Catholic High School for 9th and 10th grade before transferring to Jefferson High School for his final two years of high school. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Tampa.

Playing career[link]

1988 Olympics[link]

Martinez, along with other future Major Leaguers Jim Abbott and Robin Ventura, won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, the seventh time that baseball was part of the Olympic Games and its last year as a demonstration sport. In the final game, Martinez belted two homers and drove in four runs and Abbott pitched a complete game, leading the USA to a 5-3 win.

Seattle Mariners[link]

The Seattle Mariners drafted Martinez in 1988. Martinez began his career playing under Lou Pinella, who had also grown up in the West Tampa neighborhood and knew his uncle and mother. Martinez had several mediocre seasons, but broke out in 1995 when he drove in 111 runs, hit 31 home runs and batted .293. The Mariners clinched the AL West and went on to play in the first season of divisional post season play against the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees[link]

Martinez in the on-deck circle during a late 2001 game at Edison Field

Following that season, he was acquired in a trade by the New York Yankees, along with Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir, for Sterling Hitchcock and Russ Davis. Martinez was the key to the trade, as he was chosen as the successor for legendary Yankees first baseman and team Captain Don Mattingly.^[2]

Martinez helped lead the New York Yankees to World Series championships in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. He also won the Home Run Derby in 1997.^[3] Martinez hit two memorable home runs as a Yankee in the World Series. The first came off Mark Langston in Game 1 of the 1998 Series. The Yankees had tied the game earlier in the inning with a Chuck Knoblauch 3-run home run. The following three batters got on base, and Martinez came to the plate. After taking a very close ball 3, he hit a grand slam into the upper deck on a 3-2 count, giving the Yankees a four run lead. The second came on October 31, 2001. With two outs in the 9th inning and the Yankees trailing by two runs, Martinez came to the plate with a runner on. He hit a home run to right center off Arizona Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim. The feat was repeated the following night by Scott Brosius. However, the Yankees would lose Games 6 and 7 and thus, the series.

His best season statistically came in 1997, when he was second in the American League in home runs and RBI (with 44 and 141 respectively), and finished second in AL Most Valuable Player voting. In 1998, he was hit in the upper back by Orioles pitcher Armando Benitez, which resulted in a huge brawl between the two teams.

In the 2001 World Series, Martinez's Yankees faced off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The series went to Game 7, which Arizona won when Luis Gonzalez, Martinez's best friend, hit a game winning single off Yankee closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th inning. Gonzalez later recalled that when he went back home to check his answering machine, the first message of congratulations was from Martinez.^[4]

During most of his time with the Yankees, Martinez resided in Tenafly, New Jersey.^[5]

St. Louis Cardinals[link]

After the 2001 season when the Yankees elected to sign Jason Giambi, Martinez went on to play for the St. Louis Cardinals for two seasons, once again replacing an aging legendary first baseman, Mark McGwire. His production during these three years declined, and he went through several prolonged slumps.

One of his most memorable moments during this tenure with the Cardinals came when he returned to Yankee Stadium during Interleague play. An emotional Martinez was driven to tears when he went to bat as he was given a standing ovation by the Yankee fans who appreciated the integral part he played during the team's last dynastic run. In the second game of the three game series, Martinez hit 2 home runs off former teammate Andy Pettitte to a loud thunderous ovation both times. The Yankee fans cheered him for a curtain call, a rare occurrence in honor of a visiting team's player.

The Cardinals eventually traded Martinez to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when they decided to have Albert Pujols switch from left field to first base.

From home in Tampa to "home" in New York again[link]

Martinez eventually returned to his hometown with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 where he was reunited with Lou Pinella. Martinez hit 23 home runs while serving as a mentor for the team's many young players. His family lived just minutes from the Tropicana Field and he was popular with the Devil Rays fans.

Martinez returned for a second tour of duty with the Yankees for the 2005 season. From May 7, 2005 to May 11, 2005, Martinez hit 5 home runs in 5 straight games, which is one more than his previous record set from June 27, 2001 to July 1, 2001. While held homerless on May 12, 2005, Tino hit two homers on May 15 to give him 8 HR in 8 games. On November 8, 2005, the Yankees declined their $3 million option on Martinez, making him a free agent. On Wednesday February 15, 2006 he officially decided to end his playing career. Martinez confirmed the decision in the St. Petersburg Times, telling the paper that he will begin his broadcasting career at ESPN. Martinez said that the offer from ESPN made his decision to retire a lot easier, as he would work on Baseball Tonight, do some radio work, and broadcast a few games.

In his 16-year Major League career, Martinez hit .271 with 339 home runs and 1,271 RBIs. During his seven years with the Yankees, he hit 192 home runs and drove in 739 runs.

Coaching and broadcasting[link]

In 2008, Martinez agreed to be a special instructor for the Yankees to help their first basemen with defensive skills.^[6] After Spring Training, he was named Special Assistant to the General Manager.^[7]

Starting in Spring Training 2010, Martinez became a color commentator for the YES Network, replacing the departed David Cone.^[8] He made his regular season debut on April 9, 2010, when he called a game between the Yankees and the Rays that was coincidentally played back in his home area of Tampa Bay.

Prior to the 2004 Summer Olympics Games, the host nation Greece, trying to build up their chances of winning a medal, decided to put together team of North American baseball players of Greek heritage. Martinez, having some Greek ancestry, was approached by the Greek Olympic team manager Rob Derksen and asked to play for the host nation. Martinez, along with fellow MLB players Eric Karros and Aaron Miles, declined the offer because the games were in the midst of the Major League Baseball season.^[9]

Life outside Major League Baseball[link]

Tino has been married to the former Marie Prado since 1991. They have three children: Olivia, Tino Jr. (TJ), and Victoria. The family currently resides on Tampa's Davis Islands.

The premiere of Yankeeography: Tino Martinez appeared in early May 2006, on the YES Network.

On April 2, 2007, Martinez received the 2007 Pride of The Yankees Award at the New York Yankees Homecoming Banquet.

In 2008, during the final season of the old Yankee Stadium, Tino Martinez participated in his first Old Timer's Day. In a Yankees vs Orioles preseason game on March 13, 2010, it was mentioned by Yankees play-by-play announcer, Michael Kay, that Tino is a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and is also a season ticket holder.

Tino also participates annually in a golf tournament in Tampa.

Martinez, who left the University of Tampa after his junior year to pursue professional baseball, received a bachelor's degree at UT in liberal studies on May 7, 2011.^[10]

Tino participated in the Yankees' 2011 Old Timer's Day on June 26, 2011, where he was given one of the loudest ovations. Tino came up to the plate during a scoreless game with his former teammate, Bernie Williams on second base after hitting a double. Tino hit a 2 run homer off of former teammate David Cone. The stadium erupted as Tino gave his team the lead just like old times. These were the only runs of the game and Tino once again led his team to victory as the Bombers defeated the Clippers 2-0.

See also[link]

• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall at eTalk in 2008.
Background information
Birth name	Jason D. Harrow
Born	(1976-05-12) May 12, 1976 (age 36)
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Canadian hip hop, Dancehall
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter, record producer
Years active	1994-present
Labels	MCA Records, Kon Live Distribution, Geffen Records, Konvict
Associated acts	Akon, Black Jays, Sean Paul, Colby O'Donis, Rihanna, 50 Cent, T-Pain, Nottz

Jason D. Harrow^[1] (born May 12, 1976),^[2] better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall ( /kɑrdɨˈnæl oʊfɨˈʃæl/),^[3] is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.^[4][5]

In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album, Eye & I, on independent label Capitol Hill Music, to critical acclaim.^[6] In 2000, he released the EP, Husslin', also independently on Figure IV Entertainment, which helped establish him as one of Canada's best hip-hop producers.^[7][8] The same year, Kardinal signed with major label MCA Records, and released his second album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001. The lead single, "BaKardi Slang", became his first single to appear on a U.S. Billboard chart.^[9] After releasing the single "Belly Dancer" in 2003, he left MCA Records after it was absorbed by Geffen Records.^[10]

In 2005, Kardinal released his third album, Fire and Glory, on the Canadian division of Virgin Records.^[8] The single "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" became a top twenty hit in Canada. In 2008, his fourth album Not 4 Sale was released on Kon Live Distribution, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. The album was a critical success, spawning the hit single "Dangerous".^[8] The single was his first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five.^[9] Kardinal will release his fifth album—his second under Kon Live Distribution—Mr. International in 2012.

Biography[link]

Early life and career beginnings[link]

Harrow was born in Scarborough, Ontario,^[11][12] in Toronto's east end, and raised by Jamaican immigrant parents. From the ages of 2 to 13, he lived in the city's Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. He moved back to Scarborough for two years, before finally settling in Oakwood–Vaughan, in the city's west end.^[13][14][15] While in high school, he would throw parties at the Alexandra Park Community Centre.^[14] He also is a former York University student but did not complete his degree.^[16]

He started rapping at the age of eight and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. Also at the age of 12, he performed live and on stage for the first time, with Nelson Mandela in attendance during Mandela's first visit to Toronto.^[8] By 1993, he decided to change his alias "KoolAid", and went by the moniker "Kardinal Offishall" after being inspired by the great 17th century French politician Cardinal Richelieu.^[17]

[edit] 1996-1999: Eye & I

Kardinal was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Canada at the age of 20.^{[citation needed]} In 1996, he released his first single "Naughty Dread", which was featured on the Rap Essentials Volume One compilation and earned him a Juno Award nomination for Best Rap Recording. In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album Eye & I on Capitol Hill Music. The only single from the album, "On wit da Show", had considerable video play on MuchMusic. The album received rave reviews from music critics.^[18][19] Allmusic stated that Kardinal "blended soul, dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, and a wholly inventive approach to beats on his 20-track debut album, Eye & I."^[20] Unfortunately, the album was poorly distributed in Canada, and a lack of radio support resulted in the album receiving limited commercial attention.^[18][21] Over 4,000 copies of the album were sold in its first three months of release.^[8] In 1998, he was featured on the Juno-winning single "Northern Touch" with the Rascalz, Choclair, Checkmate and Thrust.

[edit] 2000-2003: Husslin' and Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1

Husslin' was an EP, released April 11, 2000. It was released independently on Figure IV Entertainment and distributed by Fat Beats Records in the United States. The title track, "Husslin'", was one of the hottest 12" singles of 2000.^[22] "And What?", featuring Saukrates, was released as a single in 1999. "Husslin'" and "Mic T.H.U.G.S." also appear on Kardinal's second studio album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. An updated version of "U R Ghetto When", known as "U R Ghetto 2002", is on the Quest for Fire album. In 2000, Kardinal signed with MCA Records. He released the album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001, which spawned the hits "BaKardi Slang" and "Ol' Time Killin'".One year after its release, 25,000 copies of the album were sold in Canada.^[23] It received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The Source gave the album 3½ out of 5 mics.^[23] RapReviews.com gave it a 7/10 rating, calling it a "mixed bag," and stating "there are also some perfect 10's to be found here."^[24] The A.V. Club gave the album a favorable review, praising it's "impressive musical and lyrical consistency."^[25] Allmusic gave it 2½ out of 5 stars, noting that Kardinal "displays only flashes of promise here."^[26] The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 2002 Juno Awards.

After MCA folded in 2003, Kardinal's highly anticipated follow up album Firestarter Vol. 2: The F-Word Theory was shelved along with the single/video for "Belly Dancer" featuring Pharrell, and Kardinal eventually found himself without a label. Had the album been released, there would have been production from Timbaland and The Neptunes, among others. He released an independent mixtape titled Kill Bloodclott Bill

[edit] 2004-2007: Fire and Glory & Not 4 Sale

in 2004 with his production company, Black Jays, and he also released his second major-label album titled Fire and Glory on November 15, 2005, through Virgin Records in Canada only. Hits on Fire and Glory include "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" and "Heads Up". RapReviews.com gave the album an 8.5/10 rating, stating "Fire and Glory is a better album than Firestarter Vol. 1," and "aside from having better lyrics than most of his counterparts, Kardinal's unique style also sets him apart."^[27] The album was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2006 Juno Awards.