The Congressional Hearings Of Roger Clemens Vs Brian McNamee Thus Far

9:55 A.M.

Well, right now we are just moments away from the big show. The ESPN guys are speculating and filling in time until the congressional hearing begins.

Something new and interesting was revealed though. Andy Pettitte, in his statement yesterday, said he took HGH in 2004....and his father provided Pettitte with those steroids. Imagine that.

I agree with the statement that this is reality television at its finest.

10:11 A.M.

Chairman Henry Waxman, among many claims, made the statement that the sole purpose of this congressional hearing is to confirm the accuracy of the Mitchell Report (not to make Clemens look bad, which will probably happen). Roger Clemens promptly denied steroid use, despite his name being listed 82 times in the Mitchell Report. Therefore, the committee wants to be certain whether they made any mistakes in the report or not. McNamee and Clemens claim to be telling the truth, yet their accounts are completely different. There is nothing in between. After this hearing, there will be no more hearings on steroids in baseball or the Mitchell report, or so Waxman claims.

10:20 A.M.

I agree with ESPN's Jayson Stark's point. This is clearly a lopsided hearing in McNamee's favor. Within the first two minutes of his opening remarks, Rep. Henry Waxman called the Mitchell report "impressive and credible." That tells you exactly what Rep. Waxman believes, and, more importantly, whom he believes.

It's as if the committee has already made up their mind before this hearing started and they are only entertaining Clemens to keep him temporarily at bay. After all, the members of the committee are the ones who assigned George Mitchell to create his report, or so I believe.

10:36 A.M

Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee just swore to tell the truth UNDER OATH. Why do I point this out? Because this is the reason why one of the two men is going to be charged for perjury.

Also, Clemens' lawyers helped talk Waxman out of not canceling this hearing, saying it would be "unfair" to cancel the hearing without giving Roger a chance to testify publicly.

Clemens, in his opening statement, firmly DENIED using steroids or HGH.
McNamee, in his opening statement, CONFIRMED injecting Clemens, Pettitte, and Chuck Knoblauch with steroids and HGH. He also made an apology statement.
Rep. Waxman made it obvious somebody is going to be charged with perjury once this hearing concludes -- because "it's impossible to believe this was a simple misunderstanding. Someone isn't telling the truth."

Now stop right here.....Why would McNamee claim to have injected Pettitte and Knoblauch with steroids (both of which have been confirmed to be true), but for some reason make up a story about injecting Clemens? That makes no sense and McNamee has no reason to lie. That's enough evidence for me to believe Clemens is lying, unless he can prove me wrong in his later testimony.

10:51 A.M.

That was laughable. Clemens agreed Pettitte is a very reliable man based on numerous sources, but then Clemens said Pettitte was wrong about their conversation involving steroids. Clemens said Pettitte "misremembers" the conversation. Can you say "contradiction" on Clemens' part?
Don't you think that's odd? I mean, how can you forget a conversation like that. Well, one thing is sure....Pettitte's testimony really did come in handy and it's making Clemens look stupid. Even Pettitte's wife's testimonies are damaging Clemens' credibility.

11:11 A.M.

I don't understand the whole Clemens bleeding through the pants angle and buying bandages. Is that supposed to be a joke back in 2001 or some kind of evidence?
Rep. Davis reported that McNamee had testified that Mike Stanton once noticed that Clemens was bleeding through his dress pants -- which caused him to start carrying band aids around, presumably for his bleeding butt.
Prompting the following exchange: Rep. Davis: "Mr. Clemens, do you recall bleeding through your pants in 2001?" Clemens: "I do not." Yet, you can't just imagine this stuff.

Also, Jose Canseco claims in his statements that Clemens never went to his barbecue in 1998 and Clemens proved he was playing golf that day. However, I do not believe this is critical evidence in Clemens' steroid use.

11:20 A.M.

Very interesting how Clemens admits to taking B-12 and says McNamee injected him with B-12. McNamee, however, denied injecting Clemens with B-12.
Also, Clemens denied talking to McNamee about HGH 3 times in the early part of his deposition, but in his later deposition he talked to McNamee twice about HGH in regards to his wife getting the injections from McNamee. We have some credibility issues on Clemens' part here.
Make this clear...if you're going to lie, make sure you remember what you said.
Give Clemens some credit though....he's keeping his cool under the hot lights.

11:32 A.M.

Brian McNamee kept the needles he used to inject Clemens because he claimed to be Clemens' friend, but yet had deep mistrust for him. He also kept Chuck Knoblauch's needles too. He felt horrible about being in the position he was in and didn't give the needles to Mitchell immediately when he was making his report. Basically, McNamee admitted to lying on numerous occasions and the congressman actually stated he doesn't believe McNamee at all. This is actually a strong testimony to help Clemens.
Rep. Dan Burton was all over McNamee, wondering about a question many of us have asked: Why would he ever have held onto vials and syringes for five years that could implicate a friend? "He was my employer," McNamee answered.
Burton: "You do this to all your employers?"
McNamee stammered an answer about how he'd "done things before for other people and gotten hurt by it, so I might as well hold onto it."
Burton asked why he didn't give this evidence to the Mitchell investigators immediately. "Because I felt horrible being in the position I was in," McNamee said.
Burton: "You kept needles for five years ... and kept working for him ... and now you say you felt bad?"
McNamee: "No, sir."
Burton: "My goodness."
However, that congressman really annoyed me with his rant about how the law works and how McNamee is trying to breakdown Clemens' career. That wasn't the purpose of this current case and its looks like he just wanted to get that off his chest.

11:48 A.M.

Clemens' side effects from recovering from an injury, based on MRI results from a very reputable doctor and McNamee, was more likely caused by steroids, rather than B-12 shots. Clemens denied that these side effects were from steroid shots. However, no one can seem to remember Clemens' side effects, except McNamee. The congressman is firm in saying that Clemens had to have received a B-12 shot. Score one for Clemens?

Interesting, I didn't know McNamee was a former police officer. Why would a police officer, who is supposed to uphold the legal law, give players illegal steroids? What irony. That's like a fire truck catching on fire.

12:10 P.M.

A very good point was made. Nowhere in the Mitchell report does it say, regardless if Clemens' showed up at Canseco's house in 1998 or not, that they discussed or shared steroids. So, throw that whole Canseco argument out the window.

12:20 P.M.

Clemens claimed 6 times he had no idea Senator Mitchell wanted to talk to him when his report was released, but on 60 Minutes Clemens told Mike Wallace that he knew Mitchell wanted to talk, but his council advised him not to. I don't know how this helps, but I thought I'd mention it. I guess, if anything, this is an attempt to damage Clemens' credibility

12:45 P.M.

The most pointless 5 minutes belongs to Rep. John Mica. He spent his entire line of questioning trying to determine the color of the various injections these two guys claim were given.
For anyone interested, Winstrol is a "powdery white," while testosterone was "oily" and "honey-colored" and HGH, when added to water, was "clear." And Clemens testified that B-12 was "red or pink."

Whew, a 15 minute break. Well, if Clemens does go to jail, at least he'll go to heaven, according to a congress woman. So far, Clemens appears to be squirming more in his seat than McNamee.

Roger Clemens' Interview On 60 Minutes

This article is from ESPN in regards to Roger Clemens' first interview since being accused of taking steroids:

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.

I don't know if I can defend myself. I think people -- a lot of people have already made their decisions.

--Roger Clemens

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."

A Preview Of The Interview With Roger Clemens And CBS' "60 Minutes" Has Been Released

Roger Clemens says he was injected with "Lidocaine and B-12" and not steroids or human growth hormone by former trainer Brian McNamee, according to a portion of an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" released Thursday.

"Lidocaine and [vitamin] B-12. It's for my joints, and B-12 I still take today," Clemens told Mike Wallace in the interview, which is scheduled to be shown Sunday night. It is Clemens' first interview since the release of the Mitchell report in December.

In the Mitchell report, McNamee claims to have injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001. He said he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with HGH in 2000, according to the report.

According to CBS, Clemens calls the accusation that he used steroids and HGH "ridiculous" and says he "never" used any banned substances. The interview was conducted last Friday at Clemens' home in Katy, Texas, a suburb west of Houston.

Wallace asked Clemens if he swears he didn't use banned substances. "Swear," Clemens responds.

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that can be used by dentists and in minor surgery. It also is available as part of ointments used to treat skin inflammation.

Clemens is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday, the day after the interview is broadcast.

Earl Ward, an attorney for McNamee, said his client stands by "everything he said to Senator Mitchell and federal investigators."

"Brian has a master's degree in sports medicine," Ward told ESPN The Magazine's Shaun Assael. "He knows the difference between Lidocaine, B-12 and testosterone. What he injected into Roger Clemens wasn't Lidocaine or B-12. It was testosterone."

Another lawyer for McNamee, Richard Emery, has threatened to sue Clemens for defamation.

"I think that this is a lawyers' game, which allows him to try and attempt to say that McNamee didn't know what he was injecting or that at least Clemens didn't know what he was injecting,'' Emery said.

"It really depends now on how the whole interview goes, and whether he goes after Brian. Look, I don't care whether Clemens used Sodium Pentothal. I don't care if he used strontium 90. My only concern is for Brian's well-being and his future.''

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told The New York Times his client has nothing to hide.

"I believe a client who's telling the truth should tell the world the truth," he said. Of Clemens' 60 Minutes appearance, Hardin said, "I think [Clemens] expressed himself very emotionally, and it'll give the viewer a chance to look at Roger and make up their mind."

On Thursday, Hardin added: "In his interview with 60 Minutes Roger told the truth. It is that simple. I encourage Mr. McNamee to watch the program."

Emery said a decision whether to sue won't be made until after the 60 Minutes interview is broadcast.

"It really depends on what a reasonable person would take away from the entire interview as to whether he's going to damage Brian. And we can't tell until what we see happens on Sunday,'' Emery said. "But it is fascinating. I think that Hardin and Clemens are responding to the fact that McNamee is going to defend himself aggressively by them trying to parse this closely and issue this statement through CBS. So it's fascinating, and I'm glad to see that they are responding to Brian's notice to them that he is not going to be trashed by them.''

Also on Thursday, the New York Daily News reported that Hank Steinbrenner, the New York Yankees' senior vice president, said Clemens will not be back in pinstripes.

"I'm not signing Clemens," Steinbrenner told the Daily News in a telephone interview.

Steinbrenner said the team has Andy Pettitte, who is also mentioned in the Mitchell report and who has admitted using performance enhancing drugs, signed for one season.

"Andy is [signed] for one year and he's only 35 and he knows how to pitch in the big games," Steinbrenner said, according to the Daily News. "Roger does, too, but let's face it, he's going to be 46 [in August].

"Pettitte is just as good with the young pitchers, though Clemens was great with the young kids last year. I don't think Roger is going to come back anyway."

When Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for steroids in 2005 and was suspended for 10 days, he said a tainted vial of B-12 given to him by a teammate -- later identified as Miguel Tejada -- might have caused the doping violation.

Shortly after the Mitchell report's release, Clemens issued denials both through Hardin and in a video posted on his Web site.

"Let me be clear, the answer is no. I did not use steroids or human growth hormone, and I've never done so," Clemens said in the video, released on Dec. 23. "I did not provide Brian McNamee with any drugs to inject into my body. Brian McNamee did not inject steroids or human growth hormones into my body."

Baseball players and owners did not have an agreement to ban steroids until September 2002, and they didn't ban HGH until January 2005.

Emery wouldn't say whether McNamee did inject Clemens with Lidocaine and B-12.

"That's much too specific. That evidence has yet to be developed,'' he said. "There is a ton of evidence that the Mitchell report failed to explore that will corroborate Brian, and so it would be foolhardy for Clemens or Hardin to allow Clemens to trash Brian.''

Emery said it was unlikely McNamee would sue CBS. He also hasn't decided whether a suit would be filed in New York or federal court.

"Either court in New York would be perfectly acceptable,'' he said. "No New York jury is going to be hoodwinked by this claim if he ends up defaming Brian.''

Mike Wallace actually came to my university to give a presentation and I got a chance to meet him. He's a tough, in your face, no-nonsense type of guy. If anyone can dig and claw the truth out of Clemens, my vote would be for Mike Wallace to do it.