Posted on 01/06/2008 5:06:34 PM PST by kellynla
NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens might be willing to take a lie-detector test, was "shocked" close friend Andy Pettitte used human growth hormone and, in his first interview since the Mitchell report, said -- again -- that he probably will retire.
Clemens told CBS's "60 Minutes" in the interview, which was to be broadcast Sunday night, that he would have spoken with baseball drug investigator George Mitchell had he been aware former trainer Brian McNamee accused him of using steroids and HGH.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner, the most prominent player implicated in last month's Mitchell report, steadfastly maintained his innocence and called McNamee's allegations "totally false."
In excerpts of the Dec. 28 interview that were released Thursday, Clemens said McNamee, his former personal trainer, injected him with vitamin B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine. In the full broadcast, Clemens also said he was given an injection of toradol under the supervision of the New York Yankees.
McNamee told Mitchell he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH about 16-to-21 times during 1998, 2000 and 2001 -- before baseball players and owners agreed to ban performance-enhancing substances.
"If he's doing that to me, I should have a third ear coming out of my forehead," Clemens said, according to a transcript released by CBS. "I should be pulling tractors with my teeth."
He said his lawyer advised him not to speak with Mitchell.
"If I would've known what this man, Brian McNamee had said in this report, I would have been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it," Clemens said.
Only two active players, Jason Giambi and Frank Thomas, spoke with Mitchell, a Boston Red Sox director and a former Senate majority leader.
On Friday, Clemens did speak with McNamee by telephone, an individual close to the situation said, speaking on condition of anonymity because public comments weren't authorized. The conversation first was reported Sunday by Newsday.
The individual would not say what was discussed between the two.
Clemens is scheduled to hold a news conference Monday in Houston, part of his campaign to clear his name. In addition, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has asked Clemens, Pettitte and McNamee to testify under oath at a Jan. 16 hearing.
Former Yankees teammate Chuck Knoblauch, McNamee and former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who allegedly supplied McNamee with performance-enhancing drugs, also have been asked to testify.
"I don't know if I can defend myself," Clemens said. "I think people -- a lot of people have already made their decisions."
One of the few revelations in the much-hyped interview came when Clemens was asked whether he could conceivably take a lie detector test.
"Yeah," he answered. "I don't know if they're good or bad."
Eighth on the career list with 354 wins, the 45-year-old Clemens told CBS's Mike Wallace he was angered McNamee's accusations have been accepted as truth by some.
"It's hogwash for people to even assume this," Clemens said. "Twenty-four, 25 years, Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch."
Clemens said the descriptions McNamee gave Mitchell of injections "never happened." McNamee said Clemens asked him to inject him in the buttocks because Clemens did not like belly-button shots he presumably could inject himself.
"If I have these needles and these steroids and all these drugs, what, where did I get 'em?" he said. "Where is the person out there [who] gave 'em to me? Please, please come forward."
McNamee said he obtained the drugs from Radomski or Clemens supplied them.
"Why didn't I keep doing it if it was so good for me? Why didn't I break down? Why didn't my tendons turn to dust?" Clemens said.
Shortly before Mitchell's findings were released Dec. 13, Clemens said McNamee e-mailed him asking where Clemens bought fishing equipment in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, but never brought up the upcoming report.
McNamee told Mitchell he injected Pettitte with HGH in 2002. Pettitte issued a statement saying he took two HGH injections while rehabbing his elbow.
"I had no knowledge of what Andy was doing," Clemens said.
Asked why McNamee would tell the truth about Pettitte and lie about Clemens, Clemens said Pettitte's case was "totally separate."
"I was shocked to learn about Andy's situation," Clemens said. "Had no idea about it."
Clemens also discussed his use of Vioxx, an arthritis medication withdrawn from the market in 2004 because a clinical trial revealed increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
"I was eating Vioxx like it was Skittles," Clemens said. "And now that, now these people who are supposedly regulating it, tell me it's bad for my heart."
Clemens has said he was retired after each of the past four seasons but came back each time, spending three seasons with his hometown Houston Astros and then returning to the Yankees last year. He said "you'll never see me pitch again," but hedged slightly and said "probably."
Clemens wouldn't say what penalty should be assessed on an individual found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
"I think it's a self-inflicted penalty. They break down quick. It's a quick fix," he said. "They're in and out of the game."
not these days.
The first rule is "suspect the accuser."
His trainer.
More steroid-hysteria prolefeed. Steroid abuse by high-schoolers and older amateur competitive athletes is nearly non-existent.
I find it surprising that Clemens didn’t know what Andy Pethte was doing. They are only the best of friends. But the trainer is equally culpable too.
I am gonna go with Clemens on this one. I really don’t believe he took them.
Both Petite and the trainer said he only did hgh twice - easily hidden. What no one says if hgh does any benefit as their is no studies to say it is of benefit to adults. Think of it this way, if it was a fountain of youth as it claimed to be, we would all know someone using it. Cocaine of our time.
It’s only baseball. Who cares?
I find that the one who profits from such a late, after the fact, finger pointing , come to Jesus revelation is usually suspect.
Are there not tests to detect drugs in ones system that uses hair or biopsy etc that can go back as far as a year or more ??
I believe the trainer. Why would he tell the truth about Andy Pettitte, but make up an elaborate lie about Clemens? There’s a guy on Comcast Philadelphia, named John Marzano. He’s a former backup catcher for the Red Sox in the early 90’s, now turned talking head for Comcast and MLB. They asked him about it, first he said the normal player CYA, can’t believe it, etc, etc, but then said if it was only B-12 and Lidocaine that was being injected, why was the personal trainer injecting it? These teams have doctors, that would have been the doctor’s job.
“Who cares?”
Who cares? what are you a Commie or something? LMAO
Practically every red blooded kid and quite a few of us who played growing up in America “cares” about baseball!
The majority of the male population and many of the female population in America “care!”
gezzzzzzzzzzz...what rock have you been under all your life!
“who cares?”
I'm with Clemens all the way on this and any drugs taken such as Vioxx for pain I can accept. Steroids for muscle bulk for a pitcher? No way! Bulk is not conducive to flexibility in bio-mechanics which is what a pitcher relies on......If Clemens did take steroids then all they accomplished was to increase his appetite as evidenced by his very muscular midsection.......LOL!
Where's the FReeper who is fixated on Tiger Woods being hooked on steroids?
I believe Clemens. He brought up a good point: If the juice was helping him so much, why didn’t he take it all the time. And how did he win the C.Y. Award without it?
Fat lazy baseball players taking steroids is ridiculous. They work less than ballroom dancers and seldom break a sweat.
Brain McNamee said on tape to Roger Clemens, “The truth is the truth.” and Roger had no come-back.
Brian McNamee asked repeaatedly, what do you want me to do? Roger NEVER said — just admit that you didn’t tell the truth. Roger refused to answer the question.
The recorded telephone conversation tells the story. Brian McNamee knows he injected Clemens with HGH, and Roger knows it. They skirted it. If McNamee was lying, Roger would have confronted him. He didn’t.
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