The term scapegoat has it's origins in Judaism where the high priest would symbolically place the sins of the people in an innocent goat and sacifice the goat to God for his forgiveness. This ritual provides the tradition and the lens through which many throughout history (from Saint Paul to today) view the life and death of Jesus.
To cast Roger Clemens as a scapegoat is wrong. Not because it may be religiously insensitive, but because it bears no truth. To suggest we placed the sins of the steroid era in Clemens and laughed as his legacy dies invokes that Clemens is an innocent, unknowing victim who has been destroyed for our amusement and pleasure. Many call Jesus a scapegoat for our sins because many believe him to be the unblemished, innocent lamb sent to sacrifice. To put Roger Clemens in the position of a pure, unblemished innocent man is preposterous.
I grew up a Yankees fan but always admired Clemens. I owned "Rocket" Baseball for Super Nintendo and wore a Reebok shirt depicting Clemens' face wearing a Red Sox hat of all things. I have a plaque of his "Last Pitch" in the 2003 Series and he was no doubt, my favorite Yankee.
Two years ago I remember listening to an ESPN Radio show where the host was asking why Barry Bonds was being accused every two seconds but Clemens seemed to get a pass. The host's answer was that we liked Clemens better. I was outraged at the comment, in blind denial to the the truth that if you could use Bond's numbers, hat size and longevity to make a case for him taking steroids, then thesame case could be made for Clemen's use of performance enhancers. I didn't listen to the host's show for nearly six months.
The reaction to the Mitchell Report was somber because many of us lost a hero. It was shocking but not unbelievable. The numbers were there (a 6-6 record in the season before his first injection and a 14 - 0 record the rest of season after the injections started). Clemens clearly "bulked up" and seemed ageless.
However, it wasn't at this point we decided to crucify our hero. We waited to see his response and hope that he had an explanation. He did not, he only had an outright denial and a fiery insistence that he was a victim.
This was the last time Clemens could lay any claim to being a scapegoat.
In the months since the Mitchell report Clemens has crucified himself. It started with press conferences chastising the media and playing recorded phone conversations which proved nothing.
It continued with a demand to waste taxpayer dollars in a spectacle where the only "hard evidence" was produced by Brian McNamee and Clemens could only say a few things in different ways.
No one wanted to see Clemens go down in flames or have to dig into his life, but he made them.
In filing a defamation suit against his accuser, Clemens, in the court of public opinion and the legal courts, has called McNamee a liar.
Anyone after being called a liar is going to try to prove the one calling them a liar is a liar. Is anyone shocked or upset that the McNamee camp tried to find items disproving Clemens' credibility?
Let's look at what we have:
- Only "hard evidence" (needles and beer can) goes in favor of McNamee.
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8 months ago
Okay, lets look at what we really have, manufactured evidenced kept by one who was fired by Clemens in May, and digruntled as he was investigated, which landed him in the "nut house" in the same month. That evidence is out. Pettitte maybe a born againer, but on page 21 said he was only speculating about a passing remark made 10 years ago, add to that Roger Clemens is not Andy nor Chuck, who have lied to all for 6 years, and even after the report was released. Clemens worked out, so he is guilty? Nope. If he were a roider he would be huge! Canseco big. We also have no abscess, and 10 witnesses who were threatened with prosecution for lying, all of whom support Clemens story, and refute McNamees'. The problem, and reason that this is an ongoing story, is that there is no proof...still! Other than 24 years of clean urine. All teams admitted that Clemens was taking B-12, so Mac lied about that one; and Dr Litner testified that lidocaine DOES provide for up to 4 hours relief. Gene Moynahan admitted to injecting Clemens with pain killers before a game for the Yankees, and also testified that the Yankees DO NOT even record B-12 (vitamin) shots. Add to that Dr. P Graham said he worked out with Clemens and also took B-12 injections with him. If Clemens was using steroids this long, why is it that only one person says so, and another says maybe (speculation is out in court too). Finally, Mac said he turned down 7 figures for media interviews back in Dec. How many has he done now? He has made a mint, I am sure, off of tarnishing a Legend. He was going to sue Clemens as early as 2001, was letting Radomski launder money through that Vitamin company (reason for law suit threat, Clemens told him not to use his Pic), and has said he would bring Roger down. Mac is way too suspect. So the investigators now have to go to bimbos to try and verify Macs lies...classic. We'll see though. maybe those 10 witnesses for Clemens will actually end up in jailo for lying to Fed. Investigators. Doubt it. Mac has a propensity to lie to authorities while being investigated too...rape case. What are you doing mentioning Christ in this article? BAD FORM
8 months ago
one more thing, next time, find our own pic to use. dont use mine to bash a legend. it goes agasint my grain. Yankees should not bash Yankees
from 8 months ago
Thanks for the comments Patrick and sorry I used your picture, I just typed in the name. This was a respone to Ryan Alberti's article where the words of scapegoat and crucifixion are tossed around. We clearly disagree on this matter but it's nice to know there's a well informed Yankees fan out there.
8 months ago
Fair enough Shawn. Go Yanks!
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