From the Pressbox

read very closely...

No drug policy = No wrong doing.

That's the end of the story. Leave Clemens alone.

Diane from Vancouver:
Conversley by your argument; what does Roger Clemmens have to gain by taking HGH? According to McNamee this all started in 1998. By that time Roger had 14 seasons in the league, 6 All-Star appearances, 4 Cy Youngs, 1 each; Triple Crown, Players Choice award, and League MVP. Comparing before and after '98 stats: 7.3 vs 7.0 innings/game; 47.3 vs 52.6% winning%(dont forget he only made the post-season 4 times '86-'98 vs 8 times post'98); .92 vs .93 K/inning; and 2.93 vs 2.67 K/BB. As a matter of fact, the only real change in his stats was complete games dropped from 114 to 3, and shutouts from 44 to 2-something like you would expect after you hit 36, and are still playing with 20 year olds.
At the time he was ALLEGED to have taken HGH, he already had more predigree than many pitchers already in Cooperstown, and enough fire left in the tank that a World Series win was a matter of picking the team he wanted to play for.
It amazes me that people are so quick to beatify athletes and then can tear them down on the first McCarthyesque smear they hear. If I'm wrong I'll eat my words; but, until I hear proof that isn't hearsay I'll stay convinced that Roger Clemens is a thorougbred and deserves better for all he has given us.

These guys injecting the stuff are all such liars and flakes looking for their day in the spotlight, who are we supposed to believe ??

I've never liked Clemens. He has an ego the size of his mellon head and fat ass. I hope he gets
what he deserves.

Anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit about the all drug olympics.I think if all the atheletes used steroids then these types of stories would'nt happen and sports would probably be more interesting as a result.Never mind about the health problems that would occur later on in life,these dudes will make enough money during their careers to cover their medical woes.

Hey, what a waste of time and energy. I want to see the anything goes (steroids, HGH, whatever works) Olympics, football, boxing, weightlifting, lawn bowling etc. Then lets see who the networks would cover, the "Clean Olympics" or the "Monster Olympics". I predict the FREAK show would have more viewers.

When we watch a hockey game from the Air Canada Centre the background sounds of the crowd drown out the commentators and we can't hear what they say. Wonder if you have had any other complaints about the sound. Anywhere else the hockey game is broadcast from the sound is fine.

Thank you Patricia

Sigh .... To tell the truth I don't particularly care about professional atheletes taking preformance enhancing drugs. I suppose they realize there are some pretty serious side effects when making such decisions and have determined that making the big bucks is worth it. What I don't like about it all, is the lying. Professional sport is a whole different thing than Amatuer Sport ( or at least it was ). We are talking about grown-up people in the world of Professional Sport. Therein lies some difference in the choices. Of course if the drugs are banned they are banned but I'm not so sure all of these WERE actually banned at some of the times mentioned. In fact I am quite sure, back in the McGuire/Sosa battle McGuire was quite candid about using some steroids .... this was a little before there was more definition about which were "legal" . I KNOW I heard him say outright that he had no problem using ... although all these recent statements has me thinking I dreamed it all.
The lying upsets me. But I am also sorry that it is the players who are taking the brunt of all this ... not the owners who most certainly were a party to it, or the Bud Seligs of the world ..

Those who have cheated should be punished as harshly as possible. It is entirely the fault of the player's union and MLB for the mess they've put themselves in. By not adopting a real drug testing program 15 or 20 years ago, they've now got a complete and utter mess.
They have all been so stupid throughout the whole affair that I don't care what happens at this point.
Bug Selig should of been fired long ago and a independant body created to run the league in spite of the idiots who both play in it and own the teams. It's their fault and one shouldn't shed a tear for either side.

What would McNamee have to gain from lying? Clemens is trying to save his rep and his legacy! When he said in an interview the other day that he didn't care about the hall of fame, sure he doesn't!

Innocent until proven guilty is a fundamentally important legal principle- emphasis on legal. It applies in a court of law as it should. In the 'court of public opinion' people are perfectly free to draw whatever conclusions they want based on the information they want. And many people have already identified why they would find it persuasive that Mr. Clemens could have done what he is alleged to have done. It is silly to suggest that innocent until proven guilty has to apply in the 'court of public opinion'.
Speaking of courts of law- I do hope, in fact, that Mr. Clemens is willing follow through on his expressed willingness testify under oath (be it in a court of law or some other environment such as a congressional committee)- answering all questions in a straightforward manner while not pleading the fifth. In light of Mr. Bonds' current indictment, I'd take Mr. Clemens attendance and responses (and his knowledge that a failure to answer honestly could constitute perjury) very seriously. Until then- I take Mr. Mitchell's statemens seriously (although not infallible) and Mr. Clemen's current response strategy as little more than banging a tin drum.

Here, here Roger. And Kudos to you for writing on this blog to defend your name. I truly am sick and tired of this endless witch hunt that has destroyed so many lives and families. Whatever happened in pro baseball happened, let the past lie, change the regulations and testing standards and move on. What they are doing is destroying major league ball and destroying peoples lives.

Congress can't clean up their kitchen, let alone baseball.

This just goes to show that EVERYONE needs to be tested on a regular basis, more often then a cycle would run. Screw the owners: it's their fault and theirs alone that baseball players are paid so much. If nobody was willing to give A-Rod hundreds of millions of dollars, you'd soon see how quickly he lowered his personal valuation.

Folks - the reason for all of this is quite simple- in just one word- " money". Its all about the money. It has little to do with sport or professional. By enhancing ones performance the athlete has better access to big contracts, huge endorsements= multi millions of dollars in their pockets. The integrity of ' sport' has taken a back seat to the 'business' side of things. And we all know business is about money, no matter if you are an owner or an athlete/professional. The priorities have shifted from ' honest' competition to how one can attract the most money. Thus the new era of sport has arrived. With all its warts and impurities.

Well said Elliote. Guilty until proven innocent, one of the many reasons I think the Jays also have to start thinking about their image. They are progressive enough to wear throw back jerseys every friday or whatever it is, but they also keep Troy Glaus and Gregg Zaun around after this dirt has been thrown. Zaun seems a good guy, but for some reason Glaus has always irked me. You have any take on that?
Keep up the good work.

Roger was the best there was for a number of years. That should have been enough.
His desire to preserve that edge and maintain his dominance overcame any thoughts of ethics he may have had.
No one stays number one forever. He couldn't face that and it is coming back to bite hime inthe @$$.
Fess up, take the consequences and let the world continue its travels around the sun.

I find it hard to believe he is innocent .
It makes it very difficult when all the
previous cheaters in sport declared their
innocence and lied and then admit guilt.
Clemens whining about having to spend a lot
of money to prove his innocence. I think he
has the spare change for legal bills. I'd
support a lifetime ban once any athlete is
caught. Zero tolerance. If these guys don't
care about the records they achieve, then it is all about money and nothing else matters.
For those admitting their guilt and not hiding or lying, they are cheats as well , and in no way should be held in higher
esteem.

For those who are always so quick to jump all over the athletes, just remember this: steroids only help strengh and the healing process. They do not help with pin-point control, mental toughness, properly executed game plans for opposing players, throwing a devasting breaking ball, etc., etc. Pitching is much more about these aspects than just throwing a 100mph fastball (everybody who is reading should know this!).
Even with Barry Bonds - does anybody give him credit anymore for the fact that he has the best eye of anybody in baseball history? Which allows him to let tough pitches go when other hitters are swinging wildly. This is a huge part of why Barry hit so many home runs. It's not just about his size and strength, its because he gets pitchers into jams with his patience and good eye better than anybody in history.
So even though the cheating is disappointing, let's not be so darn quick to throw their career numbers out the window. They would have been amazing players in any era, STEROIDS OR NOT!

While playing in the MLB, I used HGH and Steroids on about 12 separate occassions with the full knowledge of staff and trainers.

Oh, sorry, I am lying.

After reading all the comments over the last few days I'm struck by how many people choose not to believe Clemens out of hand.

I believe there is a good chance that Clemens may have done this, that he may be lying. But really it is the word of one man (and Canseco, but lets not count him as I think he named me once...). Is that what it takes for proof these days? I see people saying that he should just tell the truth. But what they seem to mean is that they know he did it so anything other than an admission (even it is not the truth) is what they want to hear.

Clemens isn't like Bonds, he didn't double in size in a short period of time. His numbers did not explode the way Bonds did. He just got named as a user by a trainer who MAY have a reason not to be truthful.

Point is that we really don't know, all we have is opinions. And I don't think we can demand the truth when no one here knows what that is.

I say let them take whatever steroids/enhancements they want. It is 20 years since Ben Johnson and little has changed. It's the same game just different drugs. I believe we will be watching this silly cat-and-mouse game, between athletes and anti-doping authorities, 20 years from now.

And why? Why do professional athletes have to be held to such a high standard? We all use drugs to varying degree in other professions without any repercussions. Caffeine, anti-depressants, sleeping pills, and ADHD medications are examples.

The current environment dictates that athletes that choose to take steroids must choose among options that are difficult for authorities to detect. If they were given carte blanche, the set of options available to them would increase. Then perhaps they might choose options that are less detrimental to their health. They could get proper medical guidance. Usage could be tracked to enable a quantification of the actual risks. Finally, a significant amount of resources that are soaked up by anti-doping authorities (WADA for example) would not be wasted.

Opening the floodgates, to me, seems like a better alternative. If athletes are going to continue to take enhancements regardless of the rules why waste the time or money fighting it?

Why should I or anyone care that people who make their money entertaining those preoccupied with this diversion, have been using steroids? What they do is meaningless. The only thing more meaningless than time a pro athlete invests in their sport, is the time invested by those obsessed with them.

At one point in my life I would have railed against this agruement, but not anymore, not for a long while, I completely agree with it. Sports and this obsession with clearing it up or making sure everyone plays by the same rules, is just a waste of time a resources, about the same as watching it is. If people, governments included put half as much time and energy into making theie little part of this planet better as they do on this nonsense think of where we'd be.

Everybody and their mothers cheat at something. Palmero, McGuire, Pettitte have all been outsted in baseball, Bonds and Clemens seem to think theres not enough evidence against them, so they defend their self percieved innocence.

I mean what would you seriously choose, to keep quiet and remain a popular, athletic figure who is still a hero to some but is shouded in contoversy like Bonds, or a washed-up, has been druggie, like Marion Jones who becomes a hero to nobody and has her life achievments wiped away with an admission of guilt ??

This is ridiculous...only a criminal court should be allowed to find innocence or quilt. Charge him, try him and let the result stand
- Simpson case aside.

...The most concerning part about this, to me, is the fact that there is a trickle down effect which has been infiltrating our children’s athletics for years. Minor hockey, travel baseball, high school track and field – no sport is unaffected. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a steroid-related death or other catastrophe to trigger someone to implement more testing and screening at these levels. Even more unfortunate is that something terrible will have to happen before our children’s athletic communities do something about it.
I don’t have any answers, just a lot of concerns. In my opinion, answers should be coming from these governing agencies who have the funds and ability to cure the problem, but need to overcome their greed for the health of our athletes – future and present.

Why are we persecuting these players when they did nothing illegal according to the rules of Major League Baseball? Idiotic? Yes, but if anyone should be penalized for the stupidity of their actions it should be Bud Selig who kept dragging his feet on this issue. Those players found guilty since Selig outlawed the use of these drugs should be punished. However, the guilt prior to that must rest solely with MLB's weak Commissioner.

Having studied sport and it's history I can tell you with the utmost confidence that performance enhancers have always been a part of sport - especially at professional and elite levels - from the first Olympics to the first years of hockey and baseball. Although governing bodies have always APPEARED (or attempted to appear) to have policies set in place to keep their respective sports "clean", this is all too often just a façade used to curb suspicions of drug use. Drug testing has a historical (and current) reputation for being a joke amongst athletes; likely because they’re all well aware that their sport’s governors really don’t WANT to catch them. They would much rather do some half assed testing, appease the critics, and continue impressing the naïve with their “product” (the sport, or it’s individual athletes). If any of these organizations were serious about keeping drugs out of their sports, they would take their testing a LOT more seriously. For example, instead of testing for only a few substances, they would test for multiple substances INCLUDING masking agents. Instead of doing a handful of “random” tests throughout the season, they would multiply the number of tests 10 fold. But these things would not only cost them money up front, but also cost their sport’s reputation and possibly overall revenue (when athletes begin being exposed), so of course the governing agencies don’t want to do it.

If Roger is so innocent, then I would assume that he would be willing to testify under oath?? When he does that, then maybe, just maybe, there would be some consideration of him telling the truth.

Some critics are correct, this is similar to the McCarthy era, where you have to prove your innocence and not be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Mitchell report proves one thing, this is just the tip of the iceberg that plagues pro sports! You ain't trying if you aren't cheating!!

With any crime the prosecutors look first to motive. What is McNamee's motive for lying. Roger was very good to him, why would him take him down. He wouldn't, except he had to tell the truth in order to save his own butt.
Roger's motive- save a stellar reputation as the best pitcher of a generation. The ONLY way that could be accomplished is by denying the allegations. Fess up and the reputations' tarnished.

I hope he denies it under oath and he and Barry learn some life lessons in jail. Like start with honesty is the best policy, and finish with take accountability for your own actions. I'd have a lot more respect for both players if they came out and admitted their drug use, and talked of the incredible peer pressure to keep up with all the others who were doping. This at least would put some of the responsibility back where it belongs, on the commissioners lap, for not dealing with the pervasive drug issue strongly enough.

I refuse to ever trust him or any other baseball player that denies taking steroids for one simple reason... even if they are telling the truth,they know for sure someone else that is taking steroids and have helped keep their secret.

Baseball players have gone through life as King's because they can hit a ball, not because they were ever considered overly smart people. Unfortunately they seem to think the rest of us are as stupid as they are to believe the excuses and stories they come up with.

Congress will clean up baseball?
Congress is a mess making mess!

Who makes steroids? Big Pharma, so congress is going to straighten them out!!!

Hey, lets test congress for performance "Dehancing drugs", how about the white house(hells all-star lineup!).

Hey baseball's on steroids and the presidents on crack! In other news vaccines are no longer optional!!!

I find it ironic that anyone here can blame a man and condemn a lifetime of achivement based on nothing more than a statement made by another man.

Sure, there's always a possibility that he's lying. One of the two definately are; however, shouldn't it be proven before all these accusing fingers are pointed?

I believe your article is bang on! Especially the part about Selig. He's the one who should be banned from baseball!

Money.....it's all about the money, take steroids to get stronger to make more money...Funny how Mark Mc(I worked out a lot) Guire has been as quiet as a mouse. Next we will see Brittany win the Mother of the year award.
Folks it's all about the MONEY. Stop paying such ridiculous salaries to athletes and make the work for a living, then steroids/drugs won't be as public.

I feel very sorry for Roger. His poor judgement managed to get himself into this no outs-bases loaded jam, and now he will have to try get himself out of this image saving situation. I agree that he is probably a bully, in the respect that he can do no wrong. It is that do no wrong ego that got him through a lot of tight pitching games. However, I don't believe he has it in him to get out of this bases loaded jam. This is subject matter that few forgive. Bottom line, nobody likes a cheater. If he didn't do it, you have to have faith that the truth will come out, but it does not look good for him. He rarely showed compassion for anyone but himself, and he now needs to show a little genuine compassion for the situation. Don't get me wrong, I admire him. I watched him at Yankee training camp at Legends Field what now seems like a lifetime ago and I thought he was old then, but he seemed to be the only one staying later and he seemed to be working harder than the other, younger players. I respected that. He had a passion, no doubt about it. But really, what does his ex-trainer have to gain by naming him? Nothing. He has likely lost the respect of his peers. He ultimately did wrong himself and that should be remembered as well. Roger is upset about his tarnished image, and don't be fooled, the only thing left for him to look forward was to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame to show his worth. His huge ego has taken a huge hit and it will take a huge turn of events to save his game.

Elliott,

Your point on Selig looking tough on steriods is bang on. The spotlight and questions should be falling on Mr.Selig, his team of people surrounding him in government and the team owners as well as the players involved. Mr. Selig should resign his position. This all occured on his watch...and for years now.

I would take a look at his baseball cards. If he suddenly gets a huge upper body its probably due to steroids. I grew up in a small rural Manitoba town. Kids in high school took steroids back in '93 to get into university programs. They literally doubled in size over night.

I am appauled that everyone has jumped to conclusions based on a report that has shown to have no credibility. Yes, there are a lot of players, in baseball and otherwise that have lied about taking steroids only to be proven wrong. Is there a single shred of evidence, other than verbal testimony from a desperate man, PROVING that I took steroids... NO. We are talking about a person who, until the Mitchel report came out, was a GOD, and living legend of a baseball player. Anyone who has ever played with or against Roger Clemens has only one thing to say, that he is the hardest working baseball player they have ever met. For years his workout regiment was touted as being the most physically demanding of any. For the love of god... Someone take a step back and think before rushing to judgment. Regardless of the accusation... he is INNOCENT until proven GUILTY!

Ken Warren

Brilliant.

Listen to the tape conversation between Clemens and Mcnamee - Clemens does not once confront him and say " you lied" he never calls him a liar. Ofcourse this would have been confrontational and ruined the idea of taping it. Mcnamee would have said " what ?". He was prepped by his legal team not to talk about wether Mcnamme lied or not. It was all about Roger " going to tell the truth" This taped conversation is a dagger in this guys heart, a fatal and stupid move.

baseball should initiate the annual cheaters allstar game. roger could throw out the first pitch. then they could start the cheaters hall of fame, and roger would be inducted on the first vote.

I always thought Clemens was for himself first; everyone else, including his team-mates, trailed in the distance.

He milked every team for every dollar, including 'coming back' for a part season with the Texas team at a ridiculously high tariff. Greed personified and simply full of himself. That's Clemens.

Is he lying now? Ask yourself "does the Pope drink wine"????

Charles

Sports have become a bill board for drug abuse. The monetary rewards are so great and the greed so pervasive that the attraction of the easy fix is irresistable. It's frightening to think that our children are watching these people who are so lacking in integrity and using them as role models. It's clear from the names of the players in this latest group of accused that this is not an activity for the 250 hitter or 10 game winner. I believe Roger is a user and a cheater. I also believe he's not alone and that MLB has done nothing to stop this. When Dick Pound relentlessly pursued drug cheats at the Olympic level, he was widely and vigourously critisized from all quarters. MLB as no one who could carry his bags!

It is my fondest wish that North Americans recognize their unhealthy obsession with sports. Whether it be the olympics, NBA, MLB, or our "beloved" NHL. People/athletes will do anything to win and succeed where money is involved and sports is no better than Microsoft, Esso, The Royal Bank or State Farm.
It's all meaningless if the participants are honest, even moreso if they are liars. Go read a book or play road hockey with your kids. These people add nothing to your life. Stop giving cheaters your money. The olympics is an especially wonderful cash grab, what a waste of time.

I beleive Roger Clemmens. Yes, his comback was an incredable feat, yes he defied all the odds, and yes, it smacks of a "roid return" but his delivery to the media was 100% sincere.

If he was lying then he is the best actor ever of any major sport.

This guy is a winner. It's too bad other cheater has made the fans so cynical and jaded. But beleive it, Clemmens is for real.

I'm still unsure of who to believe. On one hand you have the trainers, who are basically being entrusted with these athlete's bodies - they aren't doctors, there are no checks and balances as to what they're giving these guys. They could be telling the players that they're injecting them with B12 when really they're being pumped full of steroids. Obviously some athletes out there have been doping, and it's unfortunate that something like the Mitchell report comes out and presumes guilt on a bunch of guys before hearing their side of the story. In the case of Roger Clemens, I'm leaning towards giving him the benefit of the doubt - because as convincing as the evidence of doping might be to such a tremendous athlete - I just don't believe that he'd set such examples for his children, who are obviously in line to follow in his footsteps. It's a completely different situation if it's revealed that Clemens was unknowingly injected by McNamee however.

I have been a fan of baseball since growing up in Montreal and watching the Expos at Jarry Park. Never did I hear that steroids were not allowed- not as an official policy of MLB. What gives baseball the right to harm the careers of players, memories of fans and interest of future fans of the game if they never really banned the steroids? Seems like they are penalizing players because of public scrutiny. Make a rule- then act tough and enforce it. Seems baseball powers want to enforce a non-existant rule, retroactively. It is time for MLB and the Clemens of the world to realize- soccer and Nascar and basketball will take away your audience even more than they already have, unless you shut up, play ball and enforce all your stated rules as of 2008. Or else the players, managers, owners and fans will all be talking about the demise of baseball at the hands (or needle point) of drug use.

I remember reading in, I believe, Reader's Digest of all things, a short piece on how to tell if someone is lying. I believe police interrogators will say the same thing I am saying now. If when you ask someone a direct question, and they look down and to the left when they answer, there is a good chance that they are lying. Look at Roger Clemens' eyes when he answers the direct question, did he use steroids. His eyes went down and to the left.

Roger Clemens is one of my favourite pitchers of all time, one of my favourite ball players of all time. He was the most dominant pitcher of his generation, a generation among whom, I am fairly confident in saying, the use of performance enhancing drugs was rampant. It gives me no pleasure to think this, but I am fairly certain that Roger Clemens was lying in that interview. I hope I'm wrong...

I read the script to the convo between Roger and McNamee. Wow. Roger wouldn't outright ask McNamee to say he's innocent, he kept walking around the issue. Never did he say "you know I didn't take steroids buddy! So why did you say that". He said "I want someone to tell the truth". McNamee's take on things and his tone in the convo was more "shit, we're caught... so here we are... it effects our kids buddy... sorry I spilt the beans, but we're here now and it sucks". He never said, "OK, OK, I'll tell the truth". Win at any cost is the pro athlete's way these days, always was, always will be. Make an example out of Clemens and see what the result will be. Next stop, go after that other 'amazing comeback' athlete, Lance Armstrong.

They're all cheats... being number 1, unfortunately, means juicing.

Unlike Mike, I'm not convinced that "Congress"
will clean up baseball. Unless there is proof of their guilt, the likes of Clemens have nothing to lose by lying, if indeed they are guilty (which most of us believe they are)!

It isn't too hard to believe Clemens did drugs. Most athletes at the upper echelon cheat, but often don't look at it that way, it's simply something they're doing to be competitive. Why would those two people who said he cheated lie? What does it matter? Clemens has lots of reasons to lie, but the trainers? Keeping their mouths shut means nothing, lying can be a jail term, telling the truth causes them grief.

Moving forward, the only way to clean up baseball is the same way they cleaned the sport up in the '20s with gambling. Give a pardon to anything that has happened in the past. But from this point on, if you are caught using any illegal performance enhancing drugs etc.,you WILL be banned for life from the sport. that will stop this issue on the spot.

It's the Salem Witch Hunt all over again. History repeats. There's a lot of innocent people died then and their will be a lot of innocent people's careers go in the toilet now. Guilt by media! Good people's lives destroyed because nobody believes them.

I don't believe his guilt is in question - that is pretty obvious, and the conversation with McNamee only solidifies (as Tony from Ottawa accurately pointed out). I can't help but feel that the thing that bothers people the most is how the current era affects the record books & hall of fame (e.g. Bonds in the record book - yeesh). Perhaps we should pick a year (1970?) and close the record books there. Then start a new book of records (call it the chemical years?) that clearly will be filled with those who found ways to improve their game.

Ever since Ben, I have been waiting for a denial that turns out to be the truth.

Is Roger Clemens's denial the one?

It's at the point now that you don't know who to believe. Someone must be lying....they all can't be telling the truth. I hate to paint all ball players with the same brush but the only way to clean up the game is put everyone, players, trainers, and management under the same microscope. Make everyone submit to manditory testing to begin the season and then random testing throughout the season. Of course, that would be a hard sell to owners because they would live in fear of having their multi-million dollar investments (players)being caught. This would certainly have a major impact on their bottom line. However, if you ever going to clean up the most drug laden sport of any pro short you'll have to hit them where it really hurts.

I am developing a sense of empathy for the role model/public figure who, when confronted with evidence of their own human frailty elects to remain silent. No umbrage, no indignation, no spin doctoring and no attack on their accusers. Surely this is superior to what is becoming an all too familiar hypocricy. Sadly though, this decline in my expectations seems to parallel our society's steadily diminishing set of values. People see themselves as victims and use this to reduce their sense of responsibility and personal culpability. Once upon a time a person's integrity rested on their honesty, their loyalty and their courage. Other than Andy Pettitte the only so-called celebrity I can recall who once implicated actually followed some ethical code and accepted full balme for their actions was Jeffrey Daumer. What does this say about Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, Marion Jones et al? As usual another fine article and even better insight Elliotte.

It is irrelevant ! Most Professional sports to-day are played by overpaid,spoiled players that were introduced to the God status during junior or college levels. The ( games )or sport themselves have taken a back bench to the people that play these ( games ).
Drugs , gambling , violence and cheating are now part of all professional sport , and the fans are paying more and more to watch this . The crossover to the Jerry Springer show can't be that far away.Sport is business and business only,and if the leagues think taking drugs by their players will bring in more viewers / fans then that's O.K. too. That's probably why there was more concern by showing a breast during a half time show than the brutal torture and killing of dogs!

I don't believe these athletes are guilty of anything! Baseball didn't have a drug testing policy, nor did they have a ban on specific substances like HGH. Some of the greatest basball players, many of whom may be in the Hall of Fame, may have used steroid, but who knows as there was no policy or testing. How can we say for sure if any player used steroids when they never tested positive? I believe that this problem is that of the MLB for not having a policy and not testing their athletes.

I watched the 60 Minutes interview & I don't believe Clements.
Firstly, what did McAnamee have to gain by exposing Clements. He already had included other players including Petite. He had to tell the WHOLE truth to save his butt.
Secondly, Clements body language gave him away.
Look at re-runs & you will see his Adams apple going up & down when the tough questions came up. That's an indication of nervousness.
In any case, even if he is found to be guilty, I am sure he will receive CLEMENCY or is that CLEMENTSY!

2 questions:

what did McNamee gain from spilling the beans on Bottle Rocket Clemens?

what are the odds that McNamee does not know the difference between a B12 shot and steroids?

Clemens is trying to save a legacy. A tainted legacy. It's quite enjoyable seeing such a character squirm in the face of having his whole life's work reduced to : cheater, druggy and liar.

Friends, Baseball Lovers, lend me your ears. I come to praise our game, not to bury it. There are those who wish to destroy its purity. But not Roger, for he is an honourable man. True, he was injected in the rear, but he was up front about it (a week later) because he is an honourable man. It wasn't steroids, but something for my health, he said. And we believed him because he is an honourable man. He stabbed his trainer because the man had lied. We don't like liars, so we understand Roger's honourable thrust. He wears the Crown because he is the best; is, was, and always will be the best, and honourable too. "Just keeping them honest," Rog would say, as he fired another beanball. Honourable even on the mound!

The next inductee into the Liars & Cheaters Hall of Shame, Roger Clemens.

Pathetic! Get a backbone and tell the truth!

I must admit I was willing to give Clemens the benefit of the doubt if for no other reason than it was only Brian McNamee's word against his...until I heard that taped telephone conversation!. What was that all about?? How can anyone think that helps Clemens? He sure didn't sound to me like a guy who was upset with his old trainer for telling lies about him. Given the gravity of the situation you think he would be yelling and cursing at him for lying. He never once said anything like, "You lied, I didnt take what you said I did." McNamee said he would do anything and asked "what do you want me to do, Roger?" To me, the logicial response would have been something like "Go out there and tell you you lied about me!..tell them what you said is not true ..tell them I was clean!", but Clemens never said that.
I agree with Elliotte..McNamee was being apologetic and Clemens knew was in no position to deny it or actually called him a liar.
I now think he is guilty and was trying to fabricate a conversation to make it look like he's not, but without anyone really saying it.

Asking politicians to "clean up" something or other is like asking fish to play a concerto- it just can't happen because they are not equipped to do so: politicians = many bloodsuckers (they are in it for themselves; funny so is Clemens)and about as straight as a pretzel

Elliotte the problem with RC is he is a bully. He was and never will be a nice guy. He has enablers where ever he goes. The problem being is he skills had failed. Enter McNamee the enabler. With him he was able to do all that he wanted. The myopic American press only wants to talk about wins, the don't care how they are made[Merriman]Roger needs to go to congress and says what is on his mind. It will be interesting to see if he bails by using the "I am suing and cannot explain" idea or not. Or does the Jose Canseco thing and tells the truth.

Elliotte Friedman is right; "The accused are guilty until proven innocent."
I have no evidence to his guilt, but I don't believe Roger Clemens.

Welcome to the Irrelevant Club.

This is where things can end up when one delusion follows after another. How about a little perspective? Sport is socialized warfare. War isn't fair. Nor is war worthy of celebration. It is also secretive, dishonest and in the end like sport, war is about money.

Why should I or anyone care that people who make their money entertaining those preoccupied with this diversion, have been using steroids? What they do is meaningless. The only thing more meaningless than time a pro athlete invests in their sport, is the time invested by those obsessed with them.

Baseball has it all wrong. They should do what the NFL does and reward their steroid users with commercial deals (ie. Shawne Merriman)...

The only way I will believe R.C. 100% is if he takes a lie detector and testifies to tough questioning in front of Congress without evading the questions they pose. He is an amazing athlete but at the end of the day how much more superior is he than you and I. Is it feasable to come back from an injury at his age and have the career numbers he had just because he ate right, had B12 and painkiller shots and willed himself to be better. I think not. However since he is what America likes and their baseball hero\icon he will get less scrutiny than Barry Bonds. Also, because he is what american society puts out their as the person everyone wants to be he will be protected and society will suddenly lower it's standards to now say, well if Roger is guilty let's allow a grandfather so all the drug users can get into the Hall of Fame. Disgusting, we teach our kids not to do drug but then allow it to infultrate the adult sports scene as long as everyone can hide it and lie well enough to not get caught or convenors look bad.

One word will clean up baseball:

Congress