I know it probably seems like a lifetime ago for Roger Clemens, but you’d think that in 1989, only four years into his prolific career, he would have taken some notes from Pete Rose’s mistakes.
In 1989, after Rose denied ever betting on baseball, then-commissioner Peter Ueberroth dropped the investigation but was replaced by Bart Giamatti. Just three days after taking the position, Giamatti assigned Washington, D.C. lawyer John Dowd to investigate the charges against Rose, which later led to placing him on baseball’s permanently ineligible list on August 24, 1989. To this day, Rose is still pleading to now-commissioner Bud Selig for reinstatement.
Now, almost 20 years later, Clemens is finding himself in a similar situation, though it will likely not end as unjust as Rose’s plight.
The first allegations came from admitted steroid user José Canseco, claiming that Clemens had expert knowledge about steroids and suggested he had used steroids.
He continued to face accusations when Jason Grimsley reportedly named him as user of performance-enhancing drugs. Grimsley stated in a signed affidavit that he received the drugs from a person referred to him by Clemens’ trainer, Brian McNamee.
Next came the Mitchell Report, an investigation into the illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs, conducted by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, where Clemens’ name was mentioned 82 times. The report also mentioned former New York Mets’ employee Kirk Radomski and McNamee.
Clemens nonetheless continued to follow the textbook written by Rose and continued to deny all of the allegations, including via a segment on 60 Minutes. Clemens and McNamee, both under oath, later called each other a liar. The most recent episode of this daytime soap opera has Radomski finding a shipping receipt of human growth hormone to be sent to Clemens' Houston home during the 2002-03 season.
I'm not here to conduct a history lesson on how not to handle serious allegations, but I am here to ask if Clemens remains eligible for the Hall of Fame, managing, etc., why shouldn’t Rose?
Did Rose bet on baseball? Of course he did; he finally owned up to it and said it is one of his biggest regrets not doing so in the first place. Did Clemens use human growth hormone? All signs are pointing toward yes. McNamee was also Andy Pettitte’s personal trainer, and when Pettitte was also mentioned in the Mitchell Report, he admitted to using HGH two times in 2002, saying it was only under pressure to return from an injury.
There are too many things not going Clemens’ way, and, as baseball is on the verge of completely (as much as possible) cleaning up the game, I feel Clemens will somehow get away with cheating the game, the public, and himself. Selig, it is up to you to right the wrongs, whether it is reinstating Rose, or staying consistent to your ways, and banning Clemens.
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2 months ago
Maybe you need to do more reseach before you write more half truths regarding this subject.
I guess this you are waiting for a new fifth version of Brian McNamee story to stay out of jail. Why don't you listen to the audio tape from when McNamee was talking to Clemens on that Friday night before Clemens Monday press conference and you will learn more regarding this subject if Clemens knew Radomski. I proves Clemens did not know Radomski ..Your only going to find facts by looking for them ..And of course Radomski has already stated he never knew Clemens as well to the Federal Investigators and why does he not know what date is on these found receipts . Is it 2002 or 2003 why because there is no date on the receipt ?
from 2 months ago
Kirk Radomski and Brian McNamee are friends and has backed McNamee in the accusations against Roger. Both of them were steroid dealers so Clemens didn't have to know if it was coming from Radomski or McNamee. The audio tape doesn't clear anything up. Clemens saying "I need someone to tell the truth" doesn't say much. He might as well have said "I'm not here to talk about the past." To think that Clemens didn't use HGH is almost as ignorant as thinking McGwire or Sosa never used steroids. Roger doesn't have anything going in his favor.
from 2 months ago
I think you guys are looking at half truths that people write and believe them to be 100 % truths.. but then lets test to see what you really know as fact or what you believe to be fact..OK
When Roger Clemens stated in his testemony to congress that Andy Pettitte has stated " he misuderstood what Roger Clemens said regarding Roger using HGH " Was that a true statement or a false statement... I can't wait to see the answers we get ....This will surely be inlighting to many I think.
from 2 months ago
WELL IF THE MEDIA HAD READ MCNAMEE'S TESTIMONY THE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS IDIOT IS A LIAR CONSISTANTLY BUT OF COURSE THEY EITHER DID NOT READ IT OR HAVE AN AGENDA. MCNAMEE STATES HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW DEBBIE GOT THE HGH BUT ADMITTED IT LOOKED LIKE KIRK'S STUFF. THAT BRINGS IN TWO QUESTIONS WHY WOULD KIRK SEND THIS STUFF IN CARE OF BRIAN MCNAMEE IF BRIAN HADN'T ORDERED IT. TWO HOW WOULD KIRK KNOW MCNAMEE WAS AT CLEMEN'S HOUSE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME IF MCNAMEE HAD NOT CALLED HIM AND ORDERED IT.
2 months ago
you are stupid if you think Roid boy didn't partake. Think logically, can you honestly say to yourself he didn't use performance enhancing drugs....idiot
2 months ago
Clemens tried panning it off on his wife's use of HGH. Class act. Fact is that Pettitte asked McNamee "How come you don't give me the stuff you give Roger?" McNamee said "Because it's illegal." At that point, he would have not reason to be any animosity against Roger. Who do I believe? A man who if lying goes to jail or a man if lying, just looks like another athlete. I'm going to believe the guy who has much more to risk than a phony career.
2 months ago
Roger needs to get some balls. He blames his wife for using HGH?! Come on! That's ridiculous. Just take accountability for your actions. That's the problem with society today. Everybody tries to deny their actions. They feel like their situation is unique and they shouldn't have to take accountability for their actions. Be a role model...fess up to your mistakes you big sissy.
2 months ago
Is anyone going to answer true or false or are you going to keep babbling and not answer the true or false question.... what are you afraid of ? That's ridiculous is not a answer ! Don't be a phoney answer the question !
from 2 months ago
To answer your question Charles, it is a true statement. Roger won't go through half of what Pete Rose has gone through and probably will EVENTUALLY become a Hall of Famer. Rose on the other hand, according to the Dowd Report, never bet against his team and is still to be reinstated. I just hope I don't see Roger Clemens on some WWE event like Rose did but I sure wouldn't put it by him.
2 months ago
Thank you Michael ... for your Correct and honest reply ..... I think I scared everyone from answering because they were afraid to learn correct facts about the case by stating " This will surely be inlighting to many I think" in my original post.
2 months ago
Pete Rose: denied betting, was proven by investigators to have made bets, refused to admit it.
Roger Clemens: denied doping, probably will never be proven by investigators, baseball's hands are tied.
These are two different problems and frankly they would deserve two different punishments anyway. Rose broke rules, but never cheated. Clemens cheated but never broke the rules.
from 2 months ago
I would say that is partially true. Clemens broke more than just rules, he illegally obtaining steroids. Steroids have technically been illegal since 1991 when Commissioner Fay Vincent sent memos to all teams reminding them that players were forbidden from taking any illegal substance. He specifically mention steroids in the memo and encouraged the clubs to take a get-tough policy on players thought to be using steroids. They both broke rules but I feel Roger will get of the hook with a much lesser punishment than Rose has seen.
2 months ago
Roger's a friggin banana head. 1st he throws his poor mom under the bus for those damn vitamin B supplements she gave him as a kid. Then bury's his wife for her lying sneaky ways of doing steroids behind his back. C'mon, does this guy really believe we the public are that dumb to believe anything that comes out of his mouth now. It's actually kind of sad watching this once huge icon figure trying to wiggle his way out of this whole mess he's created. If his lawyer Hardin had any brains himself, he would be negotiating some kind of a plea bargain with the feds to lessen the blow for when the hammer finally comes crashing down on poor Rocket Man.
Vinnie
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