Roger Clemens Faces New Allegations of Marital Infidelity

According to the New York Daily News, Paulette Dean Daly is the third woman in as many days to be romantically linked to New York Yankees pitcher, Roger Clemens who goes by the moniker "Rocket". Daly is the ex-wife of pro golfer John Daly. In addition, to Daly, Clemens has been linked to former Manhattan bartender, Angela Moyers and former country star Mindy McCready. It is alleged that Clemens lavished these women with gifts and jewelry and flew them around the country in his private jet. Clemens met Daly, in the late 90's, at the Bob Hope Classic golf tournament. Though sources claim that their relationship started after her marriage golf pro John Daly ended, Paulette Daly, would only acknowledge that she and Roger are good friends. When pressed she expressed her discomfort at the line of questioning and refused to respond. Moyers, now a real-esate agent in Pennsylvania refused to comment on the nature of her and Roger's relationship.

Mindy McCready says that she met Roger Clemens when she was 15 years old. Though she has confirmed a sexual relationship with Rocket, she did not make it clear if that relationship started while she was underage. According to a report in the New York Post, McCready's dad, Tim, said that the relationship did not become physical until after she ended her engagement to Lois and Clark star, Dean Cain. In recent months, McCready has sought to revive her flagging music career. She had a No. 1 hit with "Girls Do It All the Time" in 1991. However, a spate of legal and personal problems, including suicide attempts, a drunk driving arrest and battery charges stemming from a fight with her mother, derailed her career. McCready decided to come clean about the affair with Clemens as part of a reality show she is taking part in. Clemens vehemently denies any inappropriate relationship with McCready.

These most recent allegations come on the heels of Clemen's defamation suit against trainer Brian McNamee. It was McNamee who named Clemens in the Mitchell report, claiming Rocket used Anabolic steroids and Human Growth Hormone. Based on the Mitchell report, Clemens was called to testify before a congressional committee, where he denied use of any performance enhancing drugs. The congressional committee is looking very closely at these most recent problems for the Rocket and trying to ascertain whether he committed perjury during his testimony in February.

Life Under a Microscope

Roger Clemens, no doubt, started playing baseball for love of the game, but with his acumen came the celebrity that is part and parcel of being a superstar in whatever your chosen profession. Like any number of stars who live their lives under a microscope, everything he does is subject to scrutiny. With the paparazzi on the prowl to find the latest scandals, and even respectable media outlets vying to deliver the most provocative headlines, it is to be expected that any misstep will be set upon like a lion on carrion. Is this media scrutiny warranted? Is it fair for the public to have expectations of how stars and athletes should behave? At this stage of the game it doesn't matter. That question of fairness is irrelevant. That is the way it is.

Insatiable appetite

Shows like TMZ and Entertainment Tonight continue to be ratings leaders. There is obviously an insatiable appetite for these tawdry details. As long as there are those who want to know about it, there will be those who are willing to ferret it out. The immediacy of the internet and Reality TV further increases the opportunities for people to offer up secret details of their lives for a populace who doesn't seem to be able to get enough. In the case of Mindy McCready, it would seem that she is trading on Roger's celebrity to recoup some of her former glory. At this point all of the charges are allegations. Roger has not been found guilty in any court, except perhaps the court of public opinion.

Surviving the fall

Many stars and athletes seem to fall from grace when they lose sight of their original purpose. Perhaps when Rocket was pitching at the University of Texas, he had fantasies of flying around the world on a private jet and having any number of things available to him at the snap of his fingers. However, I would wager that it was the joy of stepping onto the mound and feeling the weight of the ball in his hand and his wind up before delivering the pitch. Roger is already in the machine. It falls to him now to ride it out and see what the outcome will be. One can only hope that he will be vindicated. For those who come after him, the lesson is to realize that someone is always watching and waiting.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindy_McCready

http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04292008/news/nationalnews/clemens_gals_comeback_pitch_108588.htm

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/04/30/2008-04-30_roger_clemens_linked_to_john_dalys_ex.html