You have to realize that he largely brought this on himself. Lots of other guys were named in the Mitchell Report and kept their mouths shut in the wake of it, neither confirming or denying. In legal terms this MIGHT be a bit like pleading “nolo contendre” or “I’m sitting this one out.” But Clemens set out to prove his innocence which provoked those who are charged with investigation and enforcement to counter his claims. Mitchell himself did NOT want the players named in the report (which likely depicts only the tip of the steroid/hgh iceberg) to be subject to punishment for past deeds. This is also *not* the “media’s fault.” And Waxman himself thinks Congress getting involved was a mistake. So despite Clemens wrapping himself in motherhood and apple pie, let’s not politicize it. It isn’t a witchhunt. It’s about one man’s enormous ego…the kind of overwheaning pride that has felled heros since time immemorial.

Given the prevailing anti-Clemens sentiment in the media, how do you think Clemens *should* have handled the whole situation, from a PR standpoint. Would he have been better off taking the Fifth in front of Congress? Or at least not being so public with his denials?

http://www.startribune.com/sports/15617617.html

My favorite part:

“[Mike] Barnicle’s demise at the Globe did not lessen the appreciation for an observation he offered on Roger Clemens in 1997, after The Rocket had departed for Toronto.

‘If Clemens had not once been able to consistently throw a baseball 95 miles per hour past men with bats in their hands, he would be wearing bib overalls and sitting on a milk crate at the open end of a trailer somewhere, brushing his tooth, while shooing away flies from his head,” Barnicle wrote. “The man is a complete dope.”

Come on: do you believe Pettitte “misunderstood” poor Roger. Poor, hardworking, “I deserve everything I’ve got” Roger?

Nah, I just make things up as I go along.

I’m gonna have to respectfully disagree a little bit on this one. There were times during the hearing (especially towards the beginning) when Clemens was really stuttering through his words.

I also notice at times Clemens wouldn’t directly answer the question…or…he would briefly answer the question and then go on one of those (“I’ve always been a hard worker”, “Had I known what B-Mac was telling Mitchell”, “I’m a forgiving/trusting person”) pity speeches.

As we learned from the Hearing, McNamee is indeed a slimeball. To me, that’s what gives this a whole new twist. Knoblauch, Pettite, why are so many testifying that the slimeball is right?

This is going to be a very enduring battle for both of these individuals and I have trouble seeing either of them walking away with a victory, no matter who is telling the truth.

The truth is, for the most part, the fans have forgiven MLB for the steroid era, its the media that are fixated on it. Players are human and humans aren’t perfect. If we were put in the situation and millions of dollars were at stake I don’t think many people would have been able to say no to performance enhancing drugs.

Just admit it Roger so we can begin to forgive you. Look at Giambi and even Pettite now! There reputations took a hit, but ultimately we understand their motivations and respect them as human beings.

The thing I hate is this is going to drag on for months and won’t ever really go away… Some players report the end of this week. Let’s start talking about that!

Leaning?…JC, I’ve been going through the slop all night and I’m guessing it’s running about 75-80% against Clemens.