Full Court Press

so roger the last few seasons that you played and started well behind all of your teammates was that just away to skirt mlb drug testing to say your "retired" , juice it up, clean your system, comeback and amaze all of us with your once in a generation stuff? anyways i always liked maddog more, who would have thought a guy who works with only his god given talent. something real in a sport that was almost ruined by these frauds.

He looked like he ate all the evidence!!!

In middle school and High school, I modeled myself after Walter Payton. Although, I was not a running back, I considered him the purest, most natural football player I would ever have the honor of watching in my whole entire lifetime.
In the mid/late eighties, players started to get huge,and the game of football transitioned to what we see today. Athletes trying to be football players, not football players trying to be athletes. I was determined to not cheat myself, because Walter would never do that. I never took steroids, and eventually I could no longer rely on my natural ability to keep up with the monstrocities that lined up on the other side of me. After a short stint in Arena football avoiding cocaine and speed, my career ended amongst men; semi-pro football.
I never had a single regret, I was burned out and happy at the age of 25 to finally enjoy an autumn. Then I heard the News. No Not of Walter Payton's death, but that he was accused of being a loyal consumer of steroids. This was more disappointing then when I found out Santa Clause did not exist. I had a huge chip on my shoulder, and always asked my self-"what if"? The tear that would drop on my cheek whenever someone would insist that Jim Brown was better then Walter Payton was no longer from frustration. It was because I felt I could no longer defend Walter Payton.
Today, I have a beautiful wife and kids and pets. I have never had an injury in my life and I have no health problems. As I matured, I realized this was because of Walter Payton's image that forever burns sacred in my memories. It is this man, who graced my life with dreams of wanting to be him. My ethics and morals were all built at this impressionable time of my youth as was most of ours. As I am getting older, I no longer ask my self "what if I would have taken steroids?", but instead thank the good lord for the 'image' of Walter Payton. For it is this 'image of purity' that would not allow me to cheat myself. It is this very 'image' that Roger Clemens is protecting. Why must we exploit it? So that we have someone to blame for our kids temptations? Please, let a man of Roger Clemen's stature continue
on its path. We should be defending the positive images of Roger and Barry. Let those tears roll down in a stream of passion, rather than a stream of anger.

I would first patronize him & then deliver a zinger.

Roger, I understand your point of view. This amounts to McNamee's word against yours and he's already been proven liar in other aspects of his life. The only reason why the benefit of the doubt isn't on your side is because of the rampant use of such drugs in MLB. Guilt by association if you will. I'm sorry that you are now suffering from that reality.

There is a way to fight that won't cost you an arm in our legal system. Would you be willing to give full disclosure of your medical records during the time in question? By full disclosure I mean all trainer reports, team doctor reports, personal physician reports, or just about any one that was responsible for your daily health. Would you be willing to make public the results of any blood tests, stress tests, or any other tests taken during that time?

Roger, if you are indeed innocent then showing the American people you have nothing to hide is the best way to gain the benefit of the doubt in a sport smothered in guilt.

I think I'd focus on a lot of the same questions but rather make sure that they get answered. There were more than a few times where his good friend "Mike" could have stepped on the gas and made sure his question was answered but instead he just moved on to the next question/topic. This Clemens thing has me really worried. If Clemens was willing to roll the dice by going on 60 Minutes and have a press conference tomorrow, I wonder how confident he and his legal staff must be that there is no way he's going down for this. He must know that it's going to be too difficult to nail him on this and he's just beginning the restoration of his image/legacy before most other athletes presumably would begin to do so. Kind of scary. Some schmucks may be won over by his comments on 60 Minutes but I think there a lot of people like myself that percieve his performance in that interview as validation to a hunch he is guilty. But in the absense of concrete evidence against him, I suppose he can stand up to Congress and lie all he wants.

Stuck - Great Post. I believe in all individuals being an example for others to admire. It breeds hope. But You can only control YOU and judge yourself in the end. If your expectation for others is PERFECTION, that is what YOU are supposed to live. Special athletes are that because they do posses God given talent. The day comes where they meet their match and try to level the playing field - by any means necessary. This is about money, fame and human pride. Its all vanity that could end in the early termination of your life.

Roman that is a brave ommision, but like I have said many times - you are consistant and fair about these things. No need to ask him any questions because really - nobody cares about Roger. Nobody cares because he is not eclipsing their hero. HE IS their HERO so he is going to get a pass. And I understand it too! Because I feel the same way about Kobe Bryant! I cannot stand that guy and cannot imagine him breaking the records of hoops legends I adore. But I would never harm the man or wish harm upon him - to the point of lying about the man or doing something. Nor do I have any real power to do anything about Kobe. But on the flipside there are those who have POWER to protect their heroes and they use it to their full extent!!

Free Sosa!!!!

I'm not definding any of the current players under investigation, but, who's to say Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Gabby Harnett, and other old-time greats never took any enhacing drugs to help their play?

I'm not definding any of the current players under investigation, but, who's to say Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Gabby Harnett, and other old-time greats never took any enhacing drugs to help their play?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/5432752.html Clemen's files suit against McNamee & vows to appear before Congress without immunity or any special considerations.

Being more open-minded than many of you I'm going to give Clemen's the benefit of the doubt until McNamee can substantially prove his allegations. Take the blinder's off & think for a minute. If the usage was as rampant as McNamee says then there must be a paper trail. McNamee has already confessed to supplying other's so why wouldn't he try to profit from Roger in the same way?

IMO, the part of McNamee's story that doesn't fly is the idea that Roger was his own supplier of steroids & just asked McNamee to shoot him up. That makes no sense at all.

I think we need to redefine the term "performance enhancing"

I mean...

B12? Lanocane shots? Pain Pills? Faster Recovery Medicine? Building more muscle mass? HGH? Steroids? The Clear?Creotine? MeterEX? Myoplex? TrioPlex? Gatorade? Ben Gay? I mean...where is the line?

Can anyone answer that?

you know what...F it, im with Keith now..

Bonds never broke any rules, and is a hell of a guy!
Just 100% victem of Whitey or the Man's lust for white men only to hold the records (forgetting that it was not Babe's record that Bonds broke, but Hank Aarons) but lets forget that totally relevant point, cause it doesnt fit our view of the world. No see, its the white mans desire to keep Bonds down and to tarnish an otherwise IMPECCABLE career.

And Clemens....see....he...is loved by US (by US I mean...of course...me and other white guys)....so...why would we care?? He is MY HERO..cause..he is white...flat out!!! Forget that I said i thought he was a jerk and a DB and threw a bat at someones head and a pompus NY/Boston jag bag, I look the other way on that....cause...he is white and my hero.

Since it is now so clear to me. What else can we talk about?

Jaun...you just dont hate on Clemens cause his last name sounds like Clemente' ....it is so obvious!!!

Lie detector tests can give false readings. The results of a lie detector test have to be "interpreted" by an expert, and so the results are not necessarily 100% correct all the time...it's partially based on the interpreter's analysis and subjectivity.

I'm no fan of Roger Clemens-I think he's an egotistical "me first" type of guy-but I'll admit that it's probably a good idea for him NOT to voluntarily take a lie detector test. The results might show that he's telling the truth, it might indicate he's lying. Why would he take the chance of a bad result? If I was his lawyer, I wouldn't let him take trhe test.

But a do think he's lying, by the way.

Bculz I AM DYING LAUGHING!!! Everything is not black and white. Sometimes a guy is a jerk and you just don't like him. Sometimes a guy is a cheat and you just don't like him. All I am saying is consider what has gone on with Barry and try to put that in to context with what is happened to Roger. Folks came down on Bonds. And Now the Federal Government is after this man. Nothing of the sort is going to happen to any other athlete. Its wrong man. NOBODY is trying to figure out how big Roger's head is or any of that foolishness. That was reserved for ONE GUY. Now chew on that and get back to me. I am going to reread you post and finish laughing!

Harry, your last name sounds like a pistol!!

He looked like he ate all the evidence!!!

Posted by: bculz | January 6, 2008 10:16 PM

HA! How did I miss this one first time around?

Culzie I really loved your post - LOL! I love that sarcasm man. That is EXACTLY how I felt about Bonds-Gate! Guy is a bonefide jerk, but the reaction was off the chain. Broke the Richter!! But ole Clementine-cocktail is not going to register compared with what's been written and reported about Barry - and they even got MORE evidence on him than they do Bonds. I'm waiting on almost 200 blogs on the issue, the Headsize science (my favorite), the Federal Investigations, the Fireside chats devoted exclusively to him, and the venom.

Maybe i am missing something (chew)...but..is not EVERY radio station and ESPN and sports talking head discussing Roger Clemens lie/no lie at this very moment??? I have heard of Lie Detectors, Voice Scanners, Brain wave monitoring...i mean....i think Brain Wave monitoring is a bit more intrussive than discussing HAT SIZES? dont you????? Maybe I am wrong, but I think that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT called Clemens in front of a congressional hearing??? Umm....how do you just over look that??

It appears that both Barry and Roger are in a load of trouble and have a lot to lose. Both are less than reputable characters...and both have HUGE HEADS.

I think that Barry reaped what he sowed...I dont think 1 ounce of the trouble he got into was anything other than his OWN DOING.

Surely you are not insinuating that Bonds was set up? I mean....come on.

Besides....the Feds are not the one's who forced him to wear a dangling earring either. Which is his biggest crime in my book!!!!

bculz...Barry Bonds is under indictment for PERJURY. That's lying under oath, and that's a crime. After he testified to the grand jury in the BALCO investigation, evidence came forth that suggests he lied while under oath. Prosecutors believe they can prove that he lied, so THAT'S what he's been indicted for-LYING, not steroids. Nobody else has been indicted because nobody else lied under oath!!! It has nothing to do with "whitey" trying to keep the black man down. That's ridiculous. If Bonds would have told the truth, he wouldn't be under indictment now. Get your facts straight before you make ridiculous statements about "whiteys"!

And in case you haven't noticed, Clemens is white. But he's still going to be in trouble. Race has nothing to do with it.

Can we at least agree upon one thing?

After Clemen's goes before Congress & denies any usage of these enhancers the tax payers will fit the bill for a new federal investigation vs a MLB. If nothing comes of the Fed spending another few 100 mil on this can we agree he deserves the benefit of the doubt then?

Do you think Roger Clemens thought if he was successful in getting Brian McNamee to admit to lying, he was he going to try to make him confess to the JFK assassination, Jimmy Hoffa's whereabouts, and if he was D.B. Cooper?

Keith the federal investigation against Bonds grew out of his ties to prominent members at BALCO. BALCO is not a battle of words. The fed uncovered plenty of physical evidence of their wrong doing. In Clemen's case there is no BALCO. As of right now there is no phyiscal/written evidence at all. McNamee did not make written notes about said usage. It's just his word against Roger's.

So what do you guys make of the phone conversation Clemens had with McNamee on Friday before the interview? McNamee basically admitted he was lying. He said to Clemens he'd do whatever he wanted, but when Clemens said all he wanted was for him to just tell the truth, he said he couldn't do that. Hmmmmmm.................. I don't know what to believe now, because I, like the majority of people, think (thought) Roger was guilty. Now I'm actually starting to feel bad for Roger's kids, y'know the ones with all the "K" names.

Brilliant analysis Juan!

That simple act would settle matters conclusively.

The fear of doing something like that is the reason that we still know nothing about John Kerry's medical record while he was in the military; and consequently the main reason that we got stuck with Bush.

"McNamee basically admitted he was lying"...

uhhhhh.....WHAT?

A completely scripted call by Clemens with his lawyers in the room, and the guy on the other end of the call seemed to feel bad that he gave up his buddy. At what point did he admit to lying?

Juan you should know America by now. They get who they REALLY want rather its Bonds or the President. It's hard to believe something like that happens in a democracy, but like my pastor always says...if you don't believe it now - stick around a little longer and you will see with your own eyes. A skilled attorney could get ABRAHAM LINCOLN to lie under oath. And if the Feds want Roger, they will GET Roger, but I can tell you now that they won't get Roger the hero because they HAVE who they won't. They wont Kaiser Soze - aka - BARRY BONDS!

Culzie I cought that segment of ESPN and MIKE GOLIC was RIGHT. He said he was going to hold his comments on Bonds a few months back because he was waiting for a famous white player to be named so he could check the response of the media and fans. And just like he thought - folks are biased. There are a different set of rules for Bonds because they don't "like him". I give Golic big ups for even saying it. It certainly needed to be said, and by someone who has integrity.

I JUST WISH WHOEVER POSTED THIS WAS MAN ENOUGH TO PUT THEIR NAME...SO I COULD LAMBASTE THE HELL OUT OF YOU!!! YOU DUMB MORON...CANT YOU TELL I WAS BEING SARCASTIC..>YOU IDIOT. GOOD THING YOU DIDNT PUT YOUR NAME...CAUSE I WOULD NEVER LET YOU FORGET HOW DUMB YOU ARE.

bculz...Barry Bonds is under indictment for PERJURY. That's lying under oath, and that's a crime. After he testified to the grand jury in the BALCO investigation, evidence came forth that suggests he lied while under oath. Prosecutors believe they can prove that he lied, so THAT'S what he's been indicted for-LYING, not steroids. Nobody else has been indicted because nobody else lied under oath!!! It has nothing to do with "whitey" trying to keep the black man down. That's ridiculous. If Bonds would have told the truth, he wouldn't be under indictment now. Get your facts straight before you make ridiculous statements about "whiteys"!

And in case you haven't noticed, Clemens is white. But he's still going to be in trouble. Race has nothing to do with it.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 8, 2008 10:30 AM

I agree with Tommy...

Julie, if Roger is the victim here, why didn't he ask him "why are you making this sh!t up"???!!! Instead we got these vague statements, "I just want the truth out there"...

This guy is as dirty as Bonds.

Julie's right. While the call transcript doesn't show McNamee is lying outright, it does strongly suggest he was co-erced by the Fed in making the statements against Roger. I am now convinced it was the call that led Clemen's side to quickly file a defamation of character suit against McNamee. If you read the excerpts of the suit they are essentially alledging that the Fed co-erced McNamee into this.

Don't feel sorry for McNamee either. His legal team had to know this call was going to happen & prepared for it. What does it buy him? If his team can prove that the Fed co-erced him into the case will be dropped.

You don't have to take my word for it. Just sit back & watch the response from McNamee's legal team.

Seriously though...K your trippin'

when I google "clemens" name..

no less than 4 pages of NEWS ARTICLES pop up for the last 24-48 hrs.

Here are 6 from the last couple hrs....

I dont see how you dont see that clemens is taking MAJOR HEAT for this???

Clemens is no different from others who fixed games
SI.com - 1 hour ago
If Roger Clemens ---- or any other player named in the Mitchell Report ---- is guilty as charged, then he cost other teams their fair due. ...
McNamee's character at heart of Clemens' defamation lawsuit Los Angeles Times
Clemens' latest denials Houston Chronicle
Won't be fooled again For all the heat he's taking, Clemens should ... San Francisco Chronicle
Dallas Morning News - USA Today
all 2,581 news articles »

MLB.com On Baseball Pettitte Plays A Pivotal Role For Clemens
New York Times, United States - 4 hours ago
Charter members: Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire. Keep up with the latest postseason news on The Times’s baseball blog. ...
Gossage: Cheaters should come clean MLB.com
Unconvincing Portrait of an Angry Victim New York Times
Issue May Really Be How Far Players Will Go to Gain an Advantage New York Times
all 13 news articles »

Deadspin Segui defends Clemens' former trainer McNamee
Newsday, NY - 11 hours ago
But when Segui was asked about Brian McNamee, the trainer involved in a messy battle with Roger Clemens, his tone changed completely. ...
Roger Clemens, Chasing The Dragon Deadspin
Roger Clemens' And Brian McNamee's Curious, Yet Close Relationship ... AOL SPORTS
Lawyer: Clemens Facing 'Pinstripes In Prison' WCBS-TV New York
WCBS-TV New York - Times Herald-Record
all 20 news articles »
Steinbrenner: No clue on Clemens
SI.com - Jan 7, 2008
(AP) -- Hank Steinbrenner isn't sure whether Roger Clemens used steroids and human growth hormone. The New York Yankees senior vice president thinks others ...

Pittsburgh Pirates News Pettitte undecided on attending hearings
MLB.com - 18 hours ago
Roger Clemens and Chuck Knoblauch have also been invited to Washington, along with Brian McNamee -- the former trainer of both Clemens and Pettitte -- and ...
Pettitte's lawyer says pitcher uncertain if he'll testify at ... ESPN
Report: Pettitte may skip congress National Post
Pettitte retains Sosa's lawyer for appearance before congressional ... The Canadian Press
7Online.com - News 8 Austin
all 105 news articles »

that's simple, Roman....On a nationally televised interview..lol..I'd ask... Roger, do you swear on your kids lives that you never took anything you're being accused of...and could you please use the question in your answer?

or better yet...I could go all "Pope of Greenwich Village" on him and ask him to say...."If I'm lying to you right now, may my children die a horrible death from cancer"

Or...I could go "Mr Blonde" on him......

Listen Roger, I'm not gonna bs you, all right? I don't give a good (bleep) what you know, or don't know... I'm gonna torture you anyway... regardless. Not to get information outta ya...You see.. It's amusing.. to me.. to torture...people like you. You can say anything you want cause I've heard it all before. All you can do is pray for a quick death.. which.. you ain't gonna get.

You ever listen to K-Billy's "Super Sounds of the Seventies" weekend? It's my personal favorite.

You know who else got off easy??

Mark Villano...

I destroyed you with two posts, that Roman "Keith Oberman" Modrowski didnt see fit to post to counter your Bush Bash.

Man...it was good too!!!

Thanks Juan. I also think it sounds like McNamee was going to tell the investigators what they wanted to hear in order to save his own skin. Why would he continually repeat that he was trying to keep Roger in the dark about what he told the Feds? Believe me, I don't feel sorry for Brian McNamee, although I do think it's very sad about his son. But he was clearly buying and distributing illegal steroids to somebody. Namely Andy Pettitte, Roger's best friend and teammate, and this is where the story gets kinda gunked up for me. Pettitte came clean though, and somehow I find that refreshing compared to this mass denial and PR campaign to try to clear Clemens' name. If they both sit before Congress and say what they've each been saying, then one of them is lying - committing perjury - a federal offense for which Barry Bonds was indicted. I'd bet one of them changes his tune before the hearing though. Actually, I don't think either one is currently telling the whole truth. It just doesn't seem to all add up. Why throw Clemens name into the mix if he was clean? He had already provided other names and information. And, unfortunately, it seems that if a player is rumored to have used steroids, it usually turns out to be true.

Julie good post 1-9-08 9:31pm. Roger had one good statement going for him in all of this - "shouldn't I be given the benefit of the doubt". And that is the problem I have with ALL of it. Unless a player admits guilt or there is concrete evidence - he should NOT be condemned. And that is the major issue I have with the whole Mitchell report. I certainly don't trust humans, and especially big organizations and companies like Major League Baseball. I HIGHLY suspect that the Mitchell report OMMITTED or purposely did not investigate several folks. If they did it RIGHT, MLB would come apart at the seems!

I think Mike Golic of ESPN has it right - you have to either give EVERY player in baseball during that era a pass, or convict them all. It gets shady because - people want to single guys out - and ASSUME that their heroes are clean. You call in Bond's and Roger's record's into question - I say lets call in Cal Ripken Jr's records - and Jim Thome's and Greg Maddux, and Frank Thomas's - and AAAALLL the rest!!!

In America, (most of the time) if you don't have evidence, you are supposed to be INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty - even in the court of public opinion. EVERY player in MLB should be held to the same courtesy. You want to go after someone - go after those who said "I did it", or those who say they "think" someone did something without PROOF! Unless you got proof - and buy that I mean film, photos, affidavits, BLOOD TESTS, possession, audio, undercover sting - evidence - you got nothing. We used to BELIEVE - "out of the mouths of 2 or 3 witnessess let every word be established". Now we believe "I don't like him". The sad truth is the guys who have admitted what they did are being treated BETTER than the guys who say they haven't done anything. And that is dead wrong. I admit - it ought to be harder for those who LIE and are guilty, but we have to wait for that PROOF first before we come after them. And the real kicker is that there are a bunch of no talent players that have taken and used and nobody cares AT ALL about them. They only care about the guys who are famous and have broken their hero's records. And that is wrong.

Looks like Clemens will have to testify under OATH!!!

Keith?

FREE OJ!!!!!!!!

Julie good post 1-9-08 9:31pm. Roger had one good statement going for him in all of this - "shouldn't I be given the benefit of the doubt".

I give you:
- Marion Jones - anyone remember that charade?
- Rafael Palmeiro - Bill Clinton finger pointing wannabe
- Floyd Landis - any other excuses Floyd?

If you ain't cheating, you're not trying. When someone catches on ...DENY, DENY, DENY