I have refrained from commenting on the Roger Clemens situation because I honestly feel that the steroids era should just be left alone.
Why do we like to tarnish the game? Many journalists can find nothing better to do than pit fans against “alleged” steroid users. They insist on regurgitating the issue of steroids over and over and over again. It is just plain silly.
The players and fans are no different. All that anyone seems to talk about is who used, who didn’t, and who lied about using. When, truth is, nobody really knows for sure what went down behind closed doors. Did your favorite player use steroids? Who knows?
The only reason that I feel compelled to comment on this situation is because of the report that photos have surfaced showing Clemens at a party he swears he never attended. Sure, the photos could be fake or from a different occasion, but, if they are authentic, then Clemens is done.
I wanted to give Clemens the benefit of the doubt when the Mitchell Report came out. I really did. I wanted him to clear his name, and I wanted to be able to wear my Clemens jersey in public again, but I just don’t see it playing out that way.
Do you honestly expect me believe that Brian McNamee injected Debbie Clemens in her bedroom and Clemens had no first-hand knowledge of it?
First of all, why was McNamee in her bedroom alone at all? Second, why didn’t Clemens kick his behind when he found out?
I know two things for sure—Clemens is either innocent or the stupidest man alive. There is no in between. If Clemens really is this stupid, then he deserves to be indicted and charged.
Do I think that players should be hung because they used steroids? Not at all. I think the steroids era included thousands of players that we will never know about, but a man who point-blank lies to his fans and the Federal Government deserves everything he gets.
I am tired of hearing Andy Pettitte referred to as a “role model” and “the most honest man in baseball.” Pettitte is as guilty as Clemens when it comes to using steroids, and he lied to the public once before he was forced to tell the truth. Pettitte isn’t stupid, however. He told the truth when it mattered most, and he will be forgiven by the public and his fans.
Either way, I hope that this topic goes away soon. I am tired of it overshadowing the glow that spring training brings at this time of year.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get back to the ballpark where the cost of beer is the most scandalous topic.
16 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Steve Parkhurst about 1 year ago
Good hard hitting column. Glad to see someone finally take on Pettitte. However, I don't think he'll be forgiven. If he gets off to a bad start, NY is going to be his biggest nightmare, that and Roger showing up at his front door in Deer Park.
How can you possibly complain about the $7 beer at Minute Maid? I especially enjoy the $9 super sized Heineken's.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Of course you're tired of hearing about it -- one of YOUR heroes has been caught red handed cheating. As a baseball fan who has long been against the use of PEDs I am grateful for the Mitchell report, the hearings on the report, and the continuing coverage of the story by the media.
And this idea that "we like to tarnish the game" is ludicrous. Utter nonsense. It is the players like Clemens and Pettitte who cheated and tarnished the game. Not the fans. Not the media. The players. The Mitchell report merely revealed where the tarnish was.
This is not going away anytime soon, nor should it. So get used to it, Heather. Your hero boy Clemens is going down for his unparalleled arrogance and lying.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
you are so above everything else. we should all be grateful for sharing with us your golden words.
give me a FC break. Preacher's report. is this all about hillbillies and rednecks?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
junkies junkies junkies.
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mitch reta about 1 year ago
you will never know how many were involved. those who didn't get caught will obviously never stand up and take a "hit". those who got caught will pay for a long time, long long time. roger needs to make amends and well possibly we could see him and bonds on "The Moment of Truth". as it stands, roger and those who have denied it's use has cheated all of us. i hope the up and coming young prospects (high school & college) learn from these mistakes
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T Noble about 1 year ago
Like many sports fans. I grew up watching and playing baseball. After all it was americas past time sport.
In those days there was no such thing as a designator hitter or altered strike zone to give the hitters an edge.
The national league teams played the national league teams and the american league teams played the american league teams.
Also there was the negroid league with black players. Many of whom I think out shined and out performed those players of the major leagues.
None the less throughout these past years. Major League Baseball has grown from being americas favorite past time sport to todays circus.
I for one did not and do not appreciate players who use performance inhancing drugs in order to get an edge. This Steriod problem along with all the rule changes throughout the years has tarnished the essence of the game of baseball.
I truly miss those days with teams coming to town to play in weekend back to back double headers and the squeeze play often used when a pitcher would come to bat.
Now a days the game has changed from a defensive type game with the pitchers having more of a strike zone to work with, to a offensive posture where the strike zone is smaller allowing the batter less stike area to worry about thereby allowing the batter to key in and hit more home runs.
I don't know whats worse !
the smaller strike zone and designatted hitting rule or the player using steroids. Either way the essence of major league baseball and those fans who support it , are cheated, used, and abused.
Thanks for reading my opinion.
T.Noble
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Heather Stidham about 1 year ago
I want to make clear that I do not support the use of Steroids nor is Clemens one of my heroes. My heroes are players like Craig Biggio and Hank Aaron...I am simply tired of hearing about it because it takes away from the fun of baseball. I appreciate the Mitchell Report, but I don't want to miss the game of baseball because people can't get their heads out of their you know whats!
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Mitch Gold about 1 year ago
Ok.. so guess your call to action is that we ought to all stop reading about it/writing about it/ talking about it and I agree. Lets focus on Spring Training.
I do think however that it is a good thing for the report to have come out. After all, a lid has to be put on that foolishnhess out of the love and respect for the game, as well as concern and health of athletes.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Heather, you have a Clemens jersey that you wear in public sometimes and you want us to believe he isn't one of your heroes? Oh, ok.
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Paul Salman about 1 year ago
You peole need to relax. She wrote a good artilce and is obv a Roger fan that wants to just move on because Baseball is a great game. If you people think for a second that some of the jerseys that you may wear are of players who definately did not take anything, you have another thing coming if there is ever a Mitchel report part 2 3...50+ since there are hundreds more guys who used this.
Good article and hopefully one day you can wear your roger jersey as proud and me wearing my pettitte T shirt the other day while visiting Boston. Roger is still the best pitcher ever in my mind who is probably guilty and going about this whole process in a poor way.
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bobby about 1 year ago
I think anonymous commenting that flames the writer is cowardly. Frankly flaming is uncalled for by anyone.
This article was pretty darned good. Its a tough balancing act as to how one should feel about beloved atheletes who have done this.
Bleacher Report should be a place where wirters, like Heather, can pursue the love of sports and writing. Those who choose to be writers deserve commentors who take responsibility for their comments (rather than being anonymous) and do it with a good, healthy spirit as well as a sense of homage to those who overcome their vulnerabilties and are brave enough to write for those of us who love sports.
"Write" on Heather!
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Heather Stidham about 1 year ago
Thank you for all of your comments, good and bad! I appreciate your opinions! (especially Bobby!) I just love the game of baseball and I am glad to have a format to write about it.
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Andrew Perkins about 1 year ago
I think you're right on point with this article. Honesty is a trait that gets lost very easily in sticky situations. Amazingly, it's the one quality that provides the best solution to any conflict. It'd be nice to have somebody step up and come clean.
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Stew Winkel about 1 year ago
Great point about Pettitte - he is no different than anyone else. He denied it until he was caught. Even then, he said he only used it once to recover from injury. And it wasn't until he wanted something in return (to not have to testify at the public hearing) that he came forward with more details of his drug use. I also don't think players should be hung for using steroids. It is disappointing no doubt, but the problem is so deep, that it doesn't make sense to come down hard on some players, while others get away only because they were able to avoid detection. If Clemens, or other stars who have been caught up in this, and just admitted it, I would have less of a problem with it. But for Clemens to deny deny deny and go to the lengths he has, when he knows he is not telling the truth, is simply a disgrace. It shows he absolutely only cares about himself, and has no respect for anyone else, or even the game itself.
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Steve Zawrotny, MS, CSCS about 1 year ago
By the standards of Congress, Andy Pettitte IS a role model.
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Heather Stidham about 1 year ago
You might be right about that Steve! :)
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