Roger Clemens Telling the Truth?

[Sam]

From Badjocks.com:

Roger Clemens to Congress: "I Never, Ever, Ever Took Steroids'

Former Trainer to Media Afterwards: "I Saved Bloody Bandages and Syringes From 2000 With Roger's DNA on It"

On Tuesday, Major League Baseball pitching ace Roger Clemens gave a deposition to attorneys with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and denied, under oath, having taken steroids or HGH.

On Wednesday, his former trainer Brian McNamee disputed that claim once again and this time claimed that he also had physical evidence that would tie The Rocket to the use of performance enhancing drugs.

More specifically, McNamee turned over "vials with traces of steroids and human growth hormone, blood-stained syringes and gauze pads that may contain the seven-time Cy Young Award winner's DNA."

According to former federal prosecutor Brian Lysaght, "If Roger Clemens' DNA is on that used needle, that's the functional equivalent of the little blue dress in the Monica Lewinsky case that forced Bill Clinton to admit his affair."

Another former prosecutor says that if the DNA matches, Roger is in "high jeopardy" of a criminal case if he's lying.

Apparently, Congress doesn't like it when you lie to them.

Imagine that.

[burleytog]

It seems the Rocket also told Andy Pettite that he took HGH.

APNewsBreak: Pettitte tells Congress that teammate Clemens revealed HGH use in conversation

By RONALD BLUM, and

February 13, 2008

HOWARD FENDRICH

AP Sports Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Roger Clemens told Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte nearly 10 years ago that he used human growth hormone, Pettitte said in a sworn affidavit to Congress.

Pettitte disclosed the conversation to the congressional committee holding Wednesday's hearing on drug use in baseball, a person familiar with the affidavit told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the document had not been made public.

According to the person familiar with the affidavit, who said it was signed Friday night, Pettitte also said Clemens backtracked when the subject of HGH came up again in conversation in 2005, before the same House committee held the first hearing on steroids in baseball.

Pettitte said in the affidavit that he asked Clemens in 2005 what he would do if asked about performance-enhancing substances, given his admission years earlier. According to the account told to the AP, the affidavit said Clemens responded by saying Pettitte misunderstood the previous exchange in 1999 or 2000 and that, in fact, Clemens had been talking about HGH use by his wife in the original conversation.

"We don't know what Andy said," Clemens' lead lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement e-mailed to the AP by his spokesman. "We look forward to hearing tomorrow."

The existence of the affidavit first was reported by The New York Times. The details of its contents were first reported by the AP.

The news came on the eve of Clemens' much-anticipated appearance to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. His former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, is Wednesday's other main witness. McNamee told baseball investigator George Mitchell that he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH at least 16 times from 1998 to 2001. Clemens repeatedly has denied those allegations, including, he said, under oath in a deposition last week.

Pettitte also sat for a deposition at the beginning of last week, and had been scheduled to testify at the hearing. But he asked the committee to allow him to give an affidavit instead of appearing at the hearing, the person familiar with the document said. Pettitte was dropped from the witness list Monday.

McNamee also accused Pettitte of using HGH, and after the Mitchell Report's release in December, Pettitte acknowledged that he did.

On Tuesday, Clemens made the rounds on Capitol Hill one last time, wearing a gray pinstriped suit and squeezing face-to-face meetings into the busy schedules of committee members. He met with five lawmakers over a four-hour span Tuesday, on top of the 19 he saw Thursday and Friday.

"I enjoyed talking with him," said Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., who said the discussion included baseball stories and personal accounts about the Sept. 11 attacks. "It's always good to meet the person who is in the spotlight. ... I told him, 'This is not a trial."'

But it might very well feel like one when Clemens and McNamee sit at the witness table and -- under oath -- offer what will surely be contradictory versions as to whether Clemens used steroids and HGH.

"I couldn't tell you who's telling the truth," Watson said.

Before Pettitte's affidavit came to light, Clemens got some help in his public relations push from a different ex-teammate Tuesday.

"I have never had a conversation with Clemens in which he expressed any interest in using steroids or human growth hormone," Jose Canseco said in a sworn affidavit, dated Jan. 22, that was submitted to the committee. "Clemens has never asked me to give him steroids or human growth hormone, and I have never seen Clemens use, possess or ask for steroids or human growth hormone."

In his affidavit, Canseco disputes various statements of McNamee's in the Mitchell Report. The affidavit also says "neither Senator Mitchell nor anyone working with him" contacted Canseco to attempt to corroborate things McNamee said.

Canseco's book about steroids in baseball, "Juiced," drew Congress' attention in 2005, leading to that year's hearing.

The anticipation of Wednesday's hearing rivals -- if not surpasses -- that of the hubbub before March 17, 2005, when Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro testified before the same committee in the same wood-paneled House hearing room. McGwire avoided answering questions about steroid use that day by repeatedly saying "I'm not here to talk about the past" -- and his reputation has shown no signs of recovery.

"I think Roger's fully prepared to testify fully and truthfully," Hardin said. "He IS here to talk about the past."

McNamee has kept a low profile in the buildup to the hearing. He gave a closed-door deposition under oath last week, two days after Clemens did, and has been waiting until the hearing itself to retell his story.

Clemens didn't have much to say Tuesday as he walked the hallways from appointment to appointment. He said he was getting a chance to meet some "interesting people," and he waved appreciatively when two bystanders yelled: "We love you, Rocket!"

The only scheduled witness besides Clemens and McNamee is Charles Scheeler, a lawyer who helped produce the Mitchell Report.

AP Sports Writer Joseph White contributed to this report.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A0WTeTx5s7JH1DQB2wg5nYcB?slug=ap-steroids-clemens&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Popeye]

Ironic, isn't it when Congress doesn't like someone lying to THEM. They are ALL members of the PLA: Professional Liars Association. IMO.

However, since this thread is about Clemens: he's most likely lying. Why should he be any different than anyone else who's legacy/butt is on the line.

[CJ]

It's a mess.That's all I'm gonna say. :-X

[rondef]

Andy Pettit turned on Roger, in his deposition (Andys) he stated how Roger told him that he was using HGH.  It sure looks like Roger is a liar and he is no better than Barry Bonds.  I hope the same thing happens to Roger, charges filed against him for lying if he doesn't admit the truth today.

[Tin]

As much as I don't believe him remember, innocent until proven guilty. :

[CJ]

Funny how cheating was taken lightly in the 60s and 70s.How many known ball doctoring pitchers are in the hall?

Even worse,HGH wasn't banned in 2000.Therefore Clemens wasn't breaking any rules.

[Tin]

I'm also curious why someone would keep bloody band-aids and needles from over seven years ago. :-?

[dave]

I'm also curious why someone would keep bloody band-aids and needles from over seven year ago. :-?

Me too!

[Guest muddy]

Put that in the same catagory as to why would Pete Rose pay a bookie with a check, and what bookie in thier right minds would take it.

[tntitans21399]

He is guilty, if he didn't then you wouldn't be worried and just sit back and let things work them self out because he wouldn't have anything to hide.  But he is going around Congress talking to each person because he is guilty and he is trying to get a friend level or saying he is a good guy so they don't look into him as hard or give him as hard of a time.  

I've never said done steroids, so if someone accused me I wouldn't be worried or do anything because I have nothing to hide.  But I do drive a little fast, so if accused of speeding and I didn't want someone to know, then I would try anything to prove I didn't even thou I have.

[Hawgin]

I'm also curious why someone would keep bloody band-aids and needles from over seven years ago. :-?

Black mail?

[Guest muddy]

Good Article from NY DAILY NEWS; by my favorite Sportswriter MIKE LUPICA

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/02/13/2008-02-13_either_roger_clemens_or_brian_mcnamee_wi.html

[GitRDoneIke23]

Here's my take on the whole thing.......

A while back for school (it was like the 6th grade) I did a book report on an biography about Roger Clemens. In that book I remember one of his teamates, I think he was with the Blu Jays at the time, was AMAZED at how much he "punished" himself during his workouts. He recalled one piece of equiptment the had in the gym. The Guy's called it the MOUNTAIN. Most guys would get on it for 25-30 mins. and stop. Clemens would get on there and keep going for about an hour every time. Sweat pouring down his face, This guy WORKS everyday!!

His workouts are the most strenuious of most any athlete out there!

Also about the bandgages and all that CRAP that's going around, Why would anybody save thoose things for 8 years? I'm sure McNamee thought that in 8 years Roger Clemens would be under a Federal investigation regarding steroids, and figured he'd save it just in case. ;D ;D (*Sarcasm mode off now*)

I've stuck by Clemens from the beggining and I'll stick by him till the end. It'll be intersting to see how it all pans out.

[Dean]

Roger Clemens is probly gonna end up in the slammer. Just my take.

[rondef]

Clemens told Andy Petite in 2000 that he used HGH and Andy testified under oath to that. In 2004 Roger told Andy that it was his wife that used the HGH back then not him. In a Mike Wallace interview Roger stated that his wife started using HGH in 2003. Wow there is quite a bit of discrepancies in this story and the Congressional panel picked up on that this morning. I think Roger is no better than Barry Bonds, he is guilty.

I also was a Clemens fan until he told my son FU when he was only three years old back when he pitched for the Boston Red Sox. My son and my nephew were calling him to get an autograph 2.5 hours prior to the game and we were the only ones in the stands. I lost all respect for him then and I think he is a real low life for doing that, you do not act that way to little kids. Joe Morgan even came over and appologized for Rogers behavior and signed the two balls.

[Matt Fly]

If you saved all that evidence for one player.    Why wouldn't you do that for all the pros you supposedly help do Roids?  

Why just Clemens?   He was involved with lots of players.

As for the hard workouts, that what those kind of performance enhancing drugs do.    Provide more energy and power.    Allowing you to be Superman!!!!!!

I mentioned the time line before and some of his stats towards the final years of his career, or what we thought was gonna be the end of his career.   Enter Jose Canseco on the Redsox team, and Gagne and Clemens both found a new career.         Roger and Jose both went to Toronto after leaving the Soxs.      

     If you are going to jail for along time, you may sing and dance.

If you are not guilty, your gonna defend your self.        Based on his career, I'm gonna say he did use something.

    Birds of a feather flock together.      

Also, in TExas, we have seen many variations of the story being released about conversations between Roger and Andy.    Who knows.

[Guest muddy]

This ain't Texas

[ba7ss3in]

I do not advocate steroids. MLB and the Commish new that this was happening for a long time but they enjoyed the fact that people were comming to the parks putting $$ in their pockets. I enjoyed watching Sosa and Big Mac go at it but thought that they were using roids and that's from just seeing them on tv not in person.

[CJ]

If you would have seen Big Mac in person you would have knew.

[WIII-60]

I think Roger is no better than Barry Bonds, he is guilty.

This is the only statement in this thread that I'm gonna dis-agree with. Barry continued to dance around all over T.V. and do his sobbing interviews on T.V. and compare himself to hank aaron on T.V. That guy is one of a handful of people that make the bad part of sports everything it is today.

We had a similar experience with George Brett that you had with Clemens. It's a bummer that people act that way when they get paid that much to play a game.

[CJ]

Ya'll should have tried to get Silent George Hendricks autograph.

Vince Coleman threw fireworks at some of his fans.

Bad attitudes have long lived in baseball.I agree,Clemens may be a jerk,but I don't feel he shares the same level of humility as Bonds.Ironically,Barry signed 2 times for me in the early 90's.

[Fish Man]

i think that clemons is lying

just my 2 cents

[Matt Fly]

Not a Barry fan at all, but he was harassed for a long time compared to what Clemens is just now going through.

I say pardon all athletes.  

The commish looked the other way when he knew what was going on.     By his looking the other way and not persuing the real issues, he basically gave the green light to all who wanted to use.

The commish failed to govern his league as hired.      He's not much better than a pusher, he allwoed it to go on for years.

    Now he tried to sweep it under the carpet.

The commish deserves to be fired and prosecuted.

[Guest muddy]

PARDON NO ONE< ILLEGAL DRUGS < ARE ILLEAGAL DRUGS,

What troubles me is that bopth the owners and the players union are treating this midlyu. The owners and the Commish , turned their eyes away, because all the big guns knocking out them homeruns, put the sfannies  back into the seats and then some, that they lost because of the strike. The players, looking for lucrative rewards were injecting illegal drugs. So any kid looking to become a MLB player would have some pressure on him to do so, and that is the thing that scares me the most.