Do you believe him?
-
- January
- 6
Roger Clemens said the people who know him will believe him, but the others have already made up their mind.
Clemens gave a lot of denials to Mike Wallace tonight on “60 Minutes,’’ but really didn’t have a story of his own. Congress will have a lot of interesting follow-up questions.
Among them: Why would Brian McNamee tell the truth about Andy Pettitte but lie about Clemens? Clemens gave a tepid response of not knowing what Pettitte was doing, but Wallace never pushed it. Wallace didn’t push a lot of things. Instead of asking Clemens to swear he didn’t take steroids, he should have made him “pinky swear.’’
What I believe most about what Clemens said tonight was that he’s already been convicted in the court of public opinion. If anything, his hole is deeper. I believe McNamee and don’t think Clemens said anything to change my mind.
How about you?
Also, vote in the latest poll.
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on Sunday, January 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm by John Delcos.
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hey it’s interesting, but there are many comments about this on the lohud yanks blog. when clemens asked why the people who “supposedly” sold him the drugs hadnt come forward yet, it reminded me of whitney houston saying that if she bought so much crack, where were the receipts? are they serious? also interesting was him laying down his “vioxx” excuse for why his body breaks down. bet he never sues the makers of vioxx either. he tried hard, but that was one unconvincing performance. and what was that about steroids making a third arm grow out of your head? i think wallace gave him many free passes.
Because the game ran into 60 minutes I did watch Roger’s performance and I don’t believe a word he said. Arrogant and stupid are how I would describe him and that’s a nasty combination. I’m still curious about the ‘news conference’ tomorrow – where will it be held, and who’s invited?
Below is an article from this mornings’ Post.
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE
CLEMENS HAD PLAN BEFORE MITCHELL REPORT
By BRAD HAMILTON
ATTACK! Some close supporters of Roger Clemens advocated a full-out attack on Brian McNamee before the Mitchell Report was released.
January 6, 2008—Roger Clemens’ next attempt to clear his name comes tonight on “60 Minutes.” But well before the Mitchell Report accused Clemens of using steroids, the pitcher and his advisers were working on a battle plan to save his reputation.
Clemens knew the report would include scandalous allegations by his pal, Brian McNamee, who told investigators he injected the hurler with steroids and human growth hormone multiple times.
Some close to the pitcher advocated a full-out attack even before the report was released on Dec. 13. The idea was to leak news of Clemens’ alleged steroid use – and use the opportunity to slam McNamee.
The result would have been to question whether the ex-trainer – who has had two drunken-driving arrests, was once accused of rape and faced federal drug charges – could be believed.
But Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, and his agent, Randy Hendricks, rejected that strategy and instead advised the Rocket to stay quiet and endure the fallout.
That strategy backfired when Andy Pettitte, Clemens close friend and training partner, came out two days later and admitted he twice took human growth hormone, supplied by McNamee.
Pettitte’s statement was followed by a public appeal from Lance Berkman, Clemens ex-teammate, that the Rocket come clean – and by fresh steroid admissions from other players.
When Clemens finally denied the accusations on Dec. 18, five days after the report, it was far too late for some of the pitcher’s friends and family members.
“He should have issued [his denial] the day the report came out,” said a Clemens supporter. Some urged Clemens to dump his lawyer and agent, calling the two “Dumb and Dumber.” Clemens’ denials also drew the attention of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has invited Clemens, Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch to testify on Jan. 16. Despite the turmoil, Clemens himself appeared unconcerned.
Interviewed by The Post near his home in Piney Point Village, Texas, on Dec. 18, Clemens smiled and claimed, “I feel great!”
Asked if he took steroids, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner told the reporter and a photographer, “I’m not talking to y’all about it. We’ll handle this our way.”
The public relations battle this week saw McNamee’s side threatening to sue Clemens and both camps claiming to have launched private investigations of the matter.
Neither apparently found anything.
Hardin’s partner wouldn’t say if he had uncovered new evidence and McNamee’s lawyer, Richard Emery, asked what he had done to prepare for a possible suit against Clemens, answered, “nothing.” Clemens will follow his interview tonight with a news conference in downtown Houston tomorrow. A spokesman for Clemens’ attorney said the meeting with the media will go on as planned, despite Congress’ new involvement.
Meanwhile, Newsday reported today that Clemens and McNamee had an “emotional” phone conversation Friday, their first since the Mitchell Report was released. It was not known who initiated the phone call.
– Additional reporting by Brian Costello
i have a different purview of the issue clemen——cy
HELL.
NO.
I didn’t see the interview but that isn’t going to stop me. As Phil Mushnick asked in the Post yesterday, why would a multi millionaire athlete have a personal trainer inject him with even legitimate drugs. Aren’t there real doctors (even sleazy ones who gave Mantle a bad shot in 1961) who can do that? Plus this is a long time associate of Clemens, not a guy who he said a routine “how are you?” on occasion. Plus the last 10 years of his career, like Bonds, are just too good. What other power pitcher had such a record? Nolan Ryan, maybe. I suppose I can’t blame Clemens for not talking to Mitchell if his lawyer advised against it, you should listen to experts you hire. But he must have had an inkling this would happen..his name and Andy Pettitte was leaked last year in connection with Jason Grimsley.
Now comes word of him filing a lawsuit and testifying in Congress (still no NFL players being called. Now there’s juiced up freaks with a history of roid rage). This will end the day the tabloids stop writing about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
All of his non-verbals—eye contact, movement of his Adam’s Apple, the motion of his arms when speaking—suggested he was hiding something. And the accompanying verbiage (Vioxx, Pettitte is a separate case) did little to detract from this impression. In short, he offered no reason, verbally or otherwise, to believe his story.
As I watched the schoolyard bully desperately search for an alibi, I couldn’t determine whether it was sad or humorous. Probably a little of both, I guess.
Benny,
if you ever watch Bill OReilly on Fox news he has a woman who comes in from time to time and discusses non-verbal cues of various celebs.
I wonder if she will be on this week and talk about Clemens.
It was so obvious he was lying its not even funny. Why you ask? because of that way he made it seem like he deserved the benefit of the doubt because he’s ROGER CLEMENS!!! That basically means, hey, I did them, but c’mon, i’m a freakin’ hero of the sport, go easy on me, lets forget all of it.
Is it the same woman with whom he had the loofah shower fantasies?
Absolutely NO!!!
NOW WE KNOW WHY CLEMENS THREW AT PIAZZA
WE KNOW WHY PIAZZA HAS NO “RESPECT” FOR CLEMENS
WE KNOW CLEMENS NEVER GAVE A LOGICAL REASON FOR THROWING AT THE HEAD OF PIAZZA
WE KNOW CLEMENS’ INTENTION FOR THROWING THAT BAT SHARD AT PIAZZA
WE KNOW WHY THE YANKEES WON IN 2000
STEROIDS.
Mets sign Sanchez
Getting back to the Team that this blog is about—-Mets sign Sanchez to one yr deal.
Hopefully he is close to his 2006 self. No taxi rides!!
Mets alos sign a bunch of other guys to minor league deals,
including Juan Padilla (the original goggles man)..
Hope Duaner’s contract includes provision for a driver.
Enough with Clemens. Let’s just start a rumor that he had an affair with other circus act of the week, Britney Spears or her sister for that matter, and complete the media frenzy for further verifying the self importance of these individuals who believe that the rules for every other human being do not apply to them. This used to be a Mets blog. Would love for it to return to being one.
stillsane,
or that he has provision in deal for paying tips on late-nite take in room dinners so he doesn’t have to go out for food.
Stillsane,
how about a rumor that Clemens and Lance Armstrong double-date the Olsen twins??
Then they can start a reality show, “PEDs: rich and famous and date girls half your age”
Scoop,
I like the way you think! Fox should be calling any time now!! Maybe Dr. Phil could host.
HOF vote just came out. Rock got robbed. Goose is the only one in. I think Blyleven should be in also.
20 years ago I was figuring Dwight Gooden would be getting the HOF call about now. And Gregg Jeffries would be closing in on Rose’s hit record. Gossage is a good choice but are people really aware how close he came to being the goat in the Bucky Dent game? If Piniella, normally a bad outfielder, hadn’t decoyed the potential tying run from not going to third on a “lost it in the sun” base hit. And Don Zimmer came thru having Bob Stanley pitch to Jackson who homered when team captain Yastrzemski advised him that Andy Hassler was tough on lefties before the game?
What do you all think about Tom Nieto replacing Rickey Henderson??
http://theropolitans.com/index.php?entry=687
Andrew: I think Ken Oberkfell got screwed.
Clemens needs a lawyer who will tell him to just shut up. Maybe bloggers, newsies, and sports guys wouldn’t be spilling all this ink over him if he would just keep his mouth closed.
Note that none of us are talking about Paul LoDuca even though LoDuca is featured in the same report (though, in a different, perhaps arguably more positive, light). But Paulie, God love him – never one to keep quiet about anything, is keeping his mouth shut. Right now, he’s the smartest man in baseball.
We need a new topic. I just heard that there are talks of bringing back Valentin with his possible use as an extra outfielder. Any thought to the acquisition of these additional outfielders, as well as signing of Wise, Sanchez, etc…, as the prelude to some possible trades?
Do you really think that getting fringe players, would have any impact on a major trade??? You are spending too much time reading metsblog Stillsane. The Mets alweays stock up on old junk. Omar and the Wilpons then have a seance and hope the guy sparkles for a while and say what a genius that Omar is. That genius cost us a pennant last year.