Posted on 02/05/2008 2:32:19 PM PST by SF Republican
Roger Clemens spoke under oath for about five hours to congressional lawyers Tuesday, then said he told them he did not use performance-enhancing drugs.
"I just want to thank the committee, the staff that I just met with. They were very courteous," Clemens said after emerging from the offices of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
"It was great to be able to tell them what I've been saying all along — that I've never used steroids or growth hormone," the seven-time Cy Young Award winner said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
IMO, he’s innocent until proven guilty.
I’m so relieved that Congress is doing everything it can to protect the health of baseball’s millionaires from steroid abuse.
Why would Congress not believe Roger Clemens? They believed Bill Clinton.
The Fifth Amendment is your friend...
ditto that..his accuser has been proven wrong twice already
No flame. I just think all concerned, owners, MLB and especially the players union really screwed this up. There is no doubt that steroids have been used for some time and all parties tried to ignore it.
Bonds deserves an asterisk.
McNamee’s lawyer then claimed that Clemens’ suit would fall apart because Clemens would be forced to plead the 5th before congress.
Now Clemens has gone ahead an testified while, according to the article “One of McNamee’s lawyers, Earl Ward, said Monday no decision had been made on whether he would submit to a deposition or transcribed interview Thursday”
Clemens is a big, strong, muscular guy. He doesn’t have the absurd muscles of a Barry Bonds or a Mark McGuire but he is big. He has not, however, changed that much over the years. He certainly didn’t suddenly bulk up the way Barry Bonds did, and I haven’t seen any images that show any significant body change during the time McNamee claims to have given Clemens steroids and HGH.
More details will hopefully come out at the defamation trial, but for now I’m calling BS on the allegation.
While I agree his size has not changed looking at his statistics, from the age of 24-29 he pitched an avg of 210 innings per year; from the age of 39-44 he pitched 207 innings per year. I am not a statistician nor a doctor but for a 40 year old to athletically perform with the endurance of a 25 year old IMHO is not normal. Circumstantial yes but still my opinion.
I’m a Red Sox fan, and thus have mixed feelings about Rocket Roger. But to echo others, innocent until proven guilty. He testified in front of Congress under oath without taking refuge in immunity and denied taking steroids or HGH. No fudging, either. That’s more than anyone else has done.
Provided Clemens did not take the fifth to any questions, then I am inclined to believe him because he put himself at risk for perjury charges if he wasn't telling the truth. Particularly, if his accuser isn't willing to testify under oath.
Admittedly Clemens could have been receiving injections from someone else during those time periods, but otherwise it doesn’t seem like a fit to me.
I believe that juicing was an epidemic in baseball and that it is still probably pretty rampant. I remember being upset when Ken Caminitti admitted using steroids during the year he barely beat out Mike Piazza for the MVP (I am, btw, a Dodgers fan). In retrospect though, one look at Mike Piazza’s arms, just like one look at Jason Giambi, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds or Mark McGuire’s arms, makes it obvious that he was taking something.
Of all the people that have been alleged to take steroids, though, I think the case against Clemens is the weakest. Maybe he did it, but if any of those accused didn’t, it’s probably him.
How normal has Clemens pitching ever been? If he was normal, we never would have heard of him.
Asterisk? Not really. His name should be expurgated from all records.
Well that's quite a statement. It implies, ridiculously, that if McNamee GAVE him steroid injections, that McNamee must have been the ONLY person to do so. That makes ZERO sense.
Clemens turned his career around 180 degrees when he was in Toronto. Since that was before Clemens was with the Yankees, of COURSE McNamee wouldn't have been involved with Clemens then.
So -- your logic train is based on a weird premise, to wit: "If McNamee did inject Clemens, then he must have been the ONLY person who could, or did, inject him."
There's no logical basis or common sense basis for you to assume that -- assuming the OPPOSITE is far more plausible.
The very next line of my post after the section you quoted:
“Admittedly Clemens could have been receiving injections from someone else during those time periods, but otherwise it doesn’t seem like a fit to me.”
He will be an example to future generations. Why not to take steroids.
Muscle size is not always the outcome of usage. If he had have lifted weights everyday you would see the change,
if he just threw fastballs better and healed quickly you would only see a hot head asshole that never was injured for long.....hmmm
800,000 kids are taking steriods.
I was floored by that when I heard Congress cite that number.
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