Rocket's "Pitch" Misses Target, Government Gets a Walk

"At the end of the day, I have been accused of doing something that I did not do. I have been asked to prove that I did not do it. How in the world can I prove a negative? No matter what we discuss here today, I am never going to have my name restored. I know that a lot of people want me to say that I have taken steroids and be done with it. But I cannot in good conscience admit to doing something that I did not do; even if it would be easier to do so."

Waxman, a Democrat from Beverly Hills, stated after hearing testimony from both men that, "If Mr. McNamee is lying, then he has acted inexcusably and he has made Mr. Clemens an innocent victim. If Mr. Clemens isn't telling the truth, then he has acted shamefully and has smeared Mr. McNamee. I don't think there's anything in between."

"Somebody's not telling the truth today," added Mark Souder, an Indiana Republican. "It's better not to talk about the past than to lie about the past."

Dan Burton (R-Indiana) engaged McNamee directly on his credibility, stating, "You've told this committee and the people of this country that Roger Clemens did things. I don't know what to believe, but I know one thing I don't believe and that's you."

McNamee's issues stemmed partly from stating he had received a Ph.D., when, in fact, he later admitted to having received his award from a degree mill. Clemens stated he stuck wiht McNamee because he believed McNamee did, in fact, have a doctorate degree.

Another area which divides truth between McNamee and Clemens is a birthday bash Jose Canseco held in 1988.

McNamee stated that his former nanny was in attendance at the party and recalled precisely what she was wearing ("(She was) chasing after a young child and she was wearing a peach bikini with green in it with board shorts.")

Clemens contacted his former nanny before the committee called her, something which Waxman chided Clemens for, stating, "This action means there's always going to be a question of whether you tried to influence her testimony. And I gather your lawyer thinks..."

Clemens interrupted Waxman, stating "Mr. Chairman, I was doing you all a favor, as far as I was concerned. I haven't seen this lady in a long time. She's a sweet lady. And I wanted her—to get her to you as quick as possible if you had any questions for her.

"And, again, I'm hurt by those questions that I would get in the way of finding anything that you guys were looking for. That's—I'm hurt by that statement."

Waxman said that the nanny didn't recall the party but confirmed she stayed at Canseco's home with Clemens' wife, Debbie, and children, and "Clemens was at the home during relevant time period."

The "relevant" time period is to have been a luncheon Canseco was holding in June 1998 where McNamee and Clemens are purported to first have discussed performance-enhancing drugs.

The woman said to a Houston newspaper

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