Roger Clemens has responded to the allegations in the Mitchell Report that he used steroids:
“It is very unfair to include Roger’s name in this report,” said Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin. “He is left with no meaningful way to combat what he strongly contends are totally false allegations. He has not been charged with anything, he will not be charged with anything and yet he is being tried in the court of public opinion with no recourse. That is totally wrong.”
Much of the information about Clemens came from former New York Yankees major league strength and conditioning coach Brian McNamee.
According to the report, McNamee also told investigators that “during the middle of the 2000 season, Clemens made it clear that he was ready to use steroids again. During the latter part of the regular season, McNamee injected Clemens in the buttocks four to six times with testosterone from a bottle labeled either Sustanon 250 or Deca-Durabolin.”
Clemens’ lawyer has a point, and I frankly don’t know what to think about the allegations against Clemens or any of the other players. The idea that the whole thing is made up, though, seems rather absurd.
Let’s face it. Clemens and a lot of other baseball players used steroids at one point or another in their careers. Some of them used it to build up muscle. Some used it to speed their recovery from injuries. Some of them did it before baseball had specific rules against using such drugs. Some did it afterwards.
The question now is what it means for baseball and what happens next.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Clemens is fair game. Yes close to 50% of players probably used steroids and only a few were unlucky enough to get caught up in investigations. However, Clemens refused to cooperate with Mitchell and tell “his” side of the story. So you have to ask if he was clean why not meet with Mitchell. The only unfair thing in this entire mess is the treatment Barry Bonds has received. I wonder how many of those home runs were hit off of juiced pitchers? Thye players union should just admit that the majority of players were using HGH and steroids for years. Lets put an asterix on the whole era and move on.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Now we know why is is 50 years old and still pitching at 90 fricken miles an hour!!! This is the same person who pubicly spoke of Bonds use. What a fraud!! I have a question though….WILL THERE BE AN ASTERISK BY HIS NUMBERS AND THE 3 CY YOUNG AWARDS HE RECEIVED DURING THIS PERIOD? Why wasn’t his name leaked like Bonds so that the idiots could throw syringes at him?
December 14th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Of course Clemens used steroids!Furthermore,Marion Jones obliterated forever the notion of not testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.She never tested positive,yet
finally came clean and admitted to doing so.Prematurely releasing a report implicating so many offenders without specific and overwhelming evidence would set Mr. Mitchell up for all kinds of legal action.There is no doubt in my mind that every single player mentioned IS guilty.
Personally,I could care less.Let athletes do whatever they want.This problem will fix itself when these arrogant men start developing brain tumors,cancer or heart problems later in life.
2 names:Lyle Alzado and Ken Caminiti.
Who really cares.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Roger” it’s not about the money” Clemens needs to quit his crying. If he was as clean as he states he would and/or should have cooperated with the investigation. His claim that he never tested positive is tainted by the fact that much of the testing was not available when the drug use was occurring. He needs to stop hiding behind the players union and tell the truth. Possibly he should have a sit down with the great Nolan Ryan and learn how a real man and “hall of famer” handles himself. I agree, put an asterisk on this era and pick better role models
December 14th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Legalize steroid, that’s what I would say. If the drug can make a superman out of anyone, so be it. Why just leave the producing process to the twin between your legs. Let the pharmaceutical company get in on it and let the athletes reach for the stars.
Legalize it.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
“will not be charged with anything and yet he is being tried
in the court of public opinion with no recourse.”
You’re absolutely right. After they got this information, they should have called him up and asked him to come in and give his side of the story and dispute these claims. Oh, wait…..
December 14th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
If anyone can remember more than a few months ago, both Petite and Clemens were interviewed “at work” regarding using steroids. Petite said “I’ve never taken steroids” and Clemens said “I’ve never tested positive for steroids.”
Kind of an interestingly shaded answer by Roger, huh ?
December 14th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Why doesn’t Roger simply file a civil libel lawsuit against MLB, the commish and the senator. Oh yea, that would mean he has to come with proof that he didn’t use any banned substances &/or refute their proof that he did. Maybe ole Rog has a problem here.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
While I agree with Doug that many used it, Clemens apparently did not do so under advice from a physician or to heal from an injury–which makes it just a bit more unethical. I suppose you could drag out a laundry list of changes over the years to help players get an edge (everything from dietary supplements, to video analysis, to maple bats), but laws were broken. Yes, I doubt any DA would try to prosecute Clemens on the evidence presented…but you know the saying–”if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck–it’s probably a duck.”
December 14th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
With all his money, maybe Roger Clemens should be looking for a new lawyer. “Vehemently, adamently–and all other adjectives–denies” the report, says Clemens’ lawyer. These are adverbs. Not adjectives. Hey Rocket, want to hire me?
December 14th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I think Clemens should lose all of his Cy Young awards, be stripped of all World Series rings, the Yankees should have to give back there rings and he should not even be mentioned for the HOF. If it can happen to Jones and the Olympics it should happen to Clemens. Anyone found cheating should automatically be kick out of the league forever and lose all awards, bonuses, and records. A CHEATER IS A CHEATER no matter if his name is Bonds or Clemens, black, white, spanish or japanese.
I still find it hard to believe that NO Red Sox player was on this list….
December 14th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I grew up a huge Clemens fan and I hate to see this happen to his reputation. However . . .
Clemens denies ever using steroids illegally. If that is the truth, he has a great civil case for slander. Would anybody take a public bashing like that if it were not true? If it were me, I would file a claim the next day. That is what leads me to fully beleive the Mitchell report. Clemen’s lawyer used a lot of colorful adverbs but that’s about it, he never once stated he would look into filing a slander or defamation of character claim against anybody?!
Further, I beleive a person with Mitchell’s experience would never publish anything based on only one person’s account. Mitchell has too much integrity and would never risk the embarrassment of being proven wrong. There’s a good reason it took as long as it did to publish this report. The evidence appears to be overwhelmingly against Clemens.
I bet you will not see any claims filed against Baseball and the committee because everything in the report would be submitted on the court record. None of the player’s would want that info officially to be on the “Record.” Here, the committee simply published a report, it is not “Official”.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
What is aggravating is that there is a trainer that has admitted what was talked or whispered about for years and he did inject Clemens with the steroids. Clemens should be a man and admit it instead of hiding behind a lawyer. Same with Bonds. I get tired of these overpaid athletes thinking they can get away with cheating/braking every rule and then be inducted to the Hall of Fame. It is time to fight for morality in the professional sports arena. We are teaching our kids that it is ok and even acceptable in society to cheat. What role models we have in sports these days. It is scary!
December 14th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Clemens is nothing more than a human being who desired to be one of baseball’s “immortals”…and did whatever was necessary to accomplish his goal. Regardless of how LOUDLY Rusty Hardin proclaims his innocence, there will forever be a cloud over his career. If his age defies his athletic performance, there probably is a very logical reason…one that will keep him out of the HOF, and rightfully so!
December 14th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
These men are so over paid it is absurd, and now it is being revealed that maybe there abilities have been enhanced. What a SURPRISE! If I did not do something I would have met with Mitchell, I would file a lawsuit I would DEMAND complete and total proof that I did this. I would not stand behind a lawyer to plead my case. Everything this guy stands for is being questioned his abilities were enhanced forsure. I dont think he or anyone who cheats should keep any trophies or awards or be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Thier abilities were not genuine but enhanced. It tells are kids if your an athelete or anyone for that fact it is ok to cheat it does not matter or apply to some. Our society is so messed up, we are falling apart day by day. Anything goes we have no morals anymore nothing matters nothing means anything. NO VALUES we are a total mess. It depends on who you are if the rules apply! Our Society is worst than Sodom and Gamorrah. What ever happened to HONESTY? But they will get away with it probably get more money and get more awards, that is what the world has come to. We have gone to HELL in a hand basket. There are so few to look up too, who have integrity. loyalty etc. The only thing they have is way too much MONEY!! I AM SO SAD FOR OUR SOCIETY WE LOOK UP TO THE WRONG PEOPLE. We should look up to our parents our teachers the Lord. Quit snivling and if your innocent prove it and move on.