Roger Clemens and Why You Shouldn't Believe Him

Yes, I know that in this country you are innocent until proven guilty, but I'm going to tell you why I think it's safe to skip the trial and form an opinion now.

As you probably already know, Brian McNamee was Clemens' trainer when Clemens played for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. When questioned in conjunction with the Mitchell report (baseball's investigation into steroid use), McNamee stated that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

McNamee also provided evidence against Clemens' workout partner and best friend Andy Pettitte, as well as former Orioles' first baseman David Segui.
Both Pettitte and Segui admitted to taking some form of HGH though Segui claims he did so only under doctor's orders. (See Pettitte's statement here).
So McNamee named three players and two quickly came forward and supported his claims at the expense of their own reputations. The third, Clemens, denies everything.

According to Senator Mitchell, McNamee was given full immunity under the stipulation that he tell the truth. If he was later found to have lied, he would then face jail time. Seeing as how Roger Clemens was a closer friend to him than Pettitte or Segui (or any other player), why would McNamee lie and put Clemens in harm's way? It just doesn't make any sense.

There was a recent taped phone call between Clemens and McNamee in which it was quite obvious that McNamee was upset about having to give up Clemens' name. According to Clemens and his lawyers, Clemens called McNamee because he was concerned about McNamee's sick child. Listening to the tape, it seems at first that nothing was said to help either side. Both men seemed vague. McNamee even expressed concern about having someone else on the line.

Although there were no direct accusations, at one point you can hear McNamee say "the truth is the truth, it is what it is".

There are also many strange points in the tape that raise some questions. At one point Clemens is talking about the L.A. Times report from 2006 that said Clemens and three other players had been named in the affidavit given by former Arizona Diamondbacks' reliever Jason Grimsley. The LA times later apologized to Clemens when the report was found not to be true. In the taped phone call, Clemens says:

"It never seems to get behind me. I had to deal with the bulls--- from the L.A. Times story; and all I got was an apology when they found out that wasn't true."

McNamee's response to Clemens disgust?

"That was the greatest thing in the world!"

Huh? why was that the greatest thing in the world? Clemens just got done saying how frustrating it was to just get a small apology and McNamee thinks it was the greatest thing in the world??
In my opinion, it was the greatest thing in the world because they both knew Clemens was using performance enhancing drugs and was getting away with it.

As the tape was played in the press conference, Clemens could be seen wincing a bit as line came from McNamee's lips.

There were also several instances on the tape when it sounded like McNamee was about to say something incriminating and Clemens cut him off abruptly.

One point people tend to bring up when arguing for Clemens is that he never actually failed a drug test. It should be noted that very few players failed drug tests in MLB...ever. The reason for this? The teams were actually warned prior to the testers arriving at the ballpark. According to baseball commissioner Bud Selig, the testers would call ahead in order to secure parking passes. Somehow this trickled down to trainers and clubhouse attendants and the players were warned.

One such trainer was Kirk Radomski, formerly of the New York Mets. In the taped phone conversation between Clemens and McNamee, Roger tries to tell McNamee that he never even heard of any such trainer. McNamee denies it and describes the scene when he warned Roger's people of an investigation of Radomski. He even remember the yellow legal pad the notes were written on as he spoke. McNamee tries to continue on but Clemens cuts him off.

So we all know that Clemens and his lawyer set up the phone call and secretly recorded it, but how did it get leaked to the press so quickly?
According to Hardin, Clemens Lawyer, they don't know how. They were the one's with the tape, yet they still try to blame McNamee's lawyers.

Another discrepancy is whether or not Clemens and his lawyer knew he would be on the Mitchell Report. On Clemens' 60 Minutes appearance, he stated he had no idea and was surprised by it. During his press conference a few days later, Clemens lawyer states that they DID know a few days prior and chalks up the discrepancy to a formality saying they didn't know if actual names would be on the report.

It was widely known however weeks prior to the report being released that names would be on the report. It seems to me that everyone in the world knew that fact except Roger Clemens and his lawyer.

During Clemens' 60 Minutes interview, he stated that he was willing to take a lie detector test. During his press conference though a few days later, his lawyer said that he will not be taking any such test. His reasoning? "Lie detector tests aren't accurate".
Perhaps Clemens' lawyer should tell that to every major police department in America.

Even if you somehow throw all of this aside and still believe Clemens, take a moment and look back at the history of the game of baseball. How many players maintain their level of performance despite age? Roger Clemens in more than 46 years old! He has cut back on innings pitched in the last few years, but his numbers beyond the age of 40 are very comparable to those when he was 24. How does Clemens do what no other player (besides maybe Barry Bonds) has been able to do in the history of the game?

As hall of famer Goose Gossage said recently, "It's kind of weird that these guys had some of their most productive years as they got older when most guys during the history of the game saw their own talents diminishing."

It's really a shame that the great game of baseball has come to this. Roger Clemens has put so much effort into this lie that it's clear he'll probably never come forward with the actual truth. It's too late for that. I'm holding out serious hope that he's somehow caught in his lie. I can't wait to see him crash and burn.