Clemensy

Main Entry: clem·en·cy

Pronunciation:

\ˈkle-mən(t)-sē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural clem·en·cies

Date:

15th century

1 a: disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due
b: an act or instance of leniency

Roger Clemens is looking for exoneration, but clemency may take on a new spelling in the future. Clemens has now become a target, just as Barry Bonds had before him. The Rocket better be telling the truth when he says he never took anabolic steroids, or he could meet a fate that has befallen Pete Rose and may yet hit Barry Bonds.

So far, Clemens is behind in the court of public opinion. His tirade in front of reporters on Monday didn't help his cause any either. His lawyer tried to tell us its because he's so impassioned. It looked more like someone cracking under the weight of what is going on around him.

The pundits of course are not holding back their opinion. Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says, "move over Barry, Roger now baseball's biggest jerk". You went a little crazy there Scott. While Clemens may or may not be telling the truth, he is revered by fans in more than just his home ball park. He is revered by his teammates, many of whom look at him with awe. Barry Bonds is universally hated outside of San Francisco, and inside his own locker room.

Clemens best be prepared when he sits before Congress in February. The Feds are using the extra month to dig deeper into Clemens' past. If any of Clemens' past teammates witnessed him taking steroid injections, it could prove fatal to Clemens' legacy. Then again if there are no other witnesses other than McNamee, Clemens has a good chance for the exoneration he seeks.

No failed blood tests, no witnesses, no money trail vs. the words of one man with his back against the wall. You decide.

photo courtesy of SI.com

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