Roger Clemens’ former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, says he injected Clemens’ wife with human growth hormone before a 2003 Sports Illustrated swimsuit photo shoot.

A brilliant blue sky illuminates the Valley, but the mood is even brighter inside Chase Field. Thousands of fans are on hand for the Diamondbacks’ Fan Fest.

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They wear D-Backs shirts and caps. Their faces are painted with the Diamondbacks logo.

They carry bats and balls and autograph cards and when they see second baseman Orlando Hudson walking along the concourse, they greet him enthusiastically.

“What’s up O-Dog?”

“Hi, Orlando.”

“We love you, O-Dog.”

“We’ve been counting down the days to this since the middle of October,” says Jeff Summers, a Chandler resident who has brought his wife Trina and three of their kids, Tiffany (17), Whitney (14) and Dakota (10). “This is one of those things … I woke up at 3 a.m. and wasn’t able to get back to sleep.”

Summers has been a Diamondbacks’ season-ticket holder since 1998. He reads the papers. He watches ESPN. He knows what the Mitchell Report said and what goes on behind closed doors.

It doesn’t matter. Baseball has a hold on him and it won’t let go.

“It’s a perfect game played by imperfect people,” he says. “My grandfather introduced me to the game. It’s one of the few things that transcend generations. Now I can pass it on to my kids.

“Our oldest daughter has graduated from college and one of the things she always tells us is that going to the ballpark is one of her best memories. It brings back the innocence of childhood.”

Former New York Mets’ clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who implicated several players in the Mitchell Report, was fined $18,575 and sentenced to five years probation for his guilty plea on charges of distributing steroids and laundering money.

Diamondbacks organist Bobby Freeman is playing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and a father standing on the concourse sways to the music and softly sings the lyrics to the young boy in his arms.

“The loyalty from baseball fans does not waver,” Freeman says. “They don’t let the business side of baseball get in the way of their passion for the game.”

Several people tell Freeman they’d like to hear his organ even more during the game.

“It’s tradition,” Freeman says. “That’s what stands out. It’s the spirit of baseball.”

Barry Bonds has asked a federal judge to dismiss perjury charges against him, saying questions asked of him during his 2003 grand jury appearance were vague and confusing.

Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew tosses a whiffle ball at a girl in an Arizona cap. She takes a mighty swing and sends the whiffle ball high into the air and over Drew’s head.

A broad smile crosses her face as she settles in for her next hack.

“I don’t like that all those guys do steroids, but I love baseball,” says Mesa resident Tyler Nudell as he, his wife Becky and daughters Emily (12) and Grace (9) head into the ballpark.

“It’s a good family environment. We had so much fun when we went to a playoff game last year.”

Clemens has been going door-to-door in Washington, D.C., hoping to convince members of Congress that he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs. In response, McNamee has produced syringes and gauze pads he says he used as he injected Clemens with steroids.

A girl climbs the stairs to the Diamondbacks clubhouse, takes a quick look around and exhales. Her blue eyes are sparkling.

“Whoa,” she says. “This is so cool.”

Pitchers and catchers report Saturday.

Thank goodness.