Clemens Takes Another Shot

Things got even worse for Roger Clemens yesterday when it was revealed that Brian McNamee wasn't his only performance enhancing drug provider. Kirk Radomski, the primary sleaze bag in the Mitchell Report, reportedly turned over receipts to the Feds for HGH shipments sent to Clemens' house. Oh, and they were sent to the attention of Brian McNamee.

The shipments coincide with the time that Debbie Clemens allegedly used the PED. Just when you thought this would go away, we're right back in.

Source: NY Post

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How Far 'Wood' You Go?

HGH, Anabolic steroids, we've heard all we probably want to hear about them. Well apparently a new drug is now being used as a performance enhancer. Technically it already is that, but it's being used to enhance athletic performance.

If you haven't guessed it by now, we're talking about Viagra. The New York Daily News is reporting that Roger Clemens is one of many athletes now using the little blue pill for off-brand purposes.

Clemens stashed the clearly marked, diamond-shaped pills in a GNC vitamin bottle in his locker at Yankee Stadium, according to a source familiar with the clubhouse, perhaps keeping the drug undercover to avoid the inevitable wisecracks about all the girlfriends he needed to please.

Widespread use of the drug now has anti-doping official scurrying to learn more.

"All my athletes took it," BALCO founder Victor Conte, whose acolytes included Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds and Marion Jones, said of an over-the-counter supplement he claimed mimicked the effects of Viagra.

Off-label uses include:

• Helps build endurance, especially for athletes who compete at high altitudes
• Delivers oxygen, nutrients and performance-enhancing drugs to muscles more efficiently
• Counteracts the impotence that can be a side-effect of testosterone injections

Viagra is also used by athletes in the traditional sense, but because steroids have impacted their sexual effectiveness. Teammates better just look out in the shower.

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Baseball Enacts to Prevent Future Taint

Major League Baseball owners have unanimously ratified the new drug testing policy that was negotiated with the player's union last month. The union is currently reviewing new policy as well and is expected to approve.

The new pact will add a powerful new administrator to oversee the tougher testing policies and the entire program.

The agreement also addressed those identified in the Mitchell Report. Though there will not be any suspensions, those players who are still active will be required to do community service.

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Clemens Delivers a Giampology

As reported by The Journal News, Roger Clemens has apologized to his family and fans for mistakes he made in his personal life. Clemens would not go into specifics of what he was apologizing for and maintained that he never used HGH or steroids.

"Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry," Clemens said in a statement issued by spokesman Patrick Dorton. "I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right."

If Clemens had used this approach in admitting to using performance enhancing drugs perhaps he wouldn't be in the situation that he is now, and his legend may have remained intact.

"I believe my personal life has nothing to do with the accusations of steroid and HGH use," Clemens said. "I have already made clear that I did not use them. Now I have been accused of having an improper relationship with a 15-year old girl. Nothing could be further from the truth. This relationship has been twisted and distorted far beyond reality. It is just one of many, many accusations that are utterly false.

"I realize that many people want me to simply confess and apologize for the conduct that I have been accused of, but I cannot confess to, nor apologize for, things I did not do. I have apologized to my family for my mistakes, and having offered this apology to the public, I would ask that you let me and my family deal with these matters in private."

Rusty Hardin, Clemens' moron at law, said he and his client are reconsidering the anti-defamation lawsuit brought against Brian McNamee. Someone please tell Mr. Hardin that the damage is done.

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Braves Top Prospect to Sit for 50

Atlanta Braves top rated prospect Jordan Schafer has been slapped with a 50-game suspension for using Human Growth Hormone. The Braves released the following statement:

"We are extremely disappointed that Jordan has violated the Commissioner’s Performance Enhancing Drug Policy," Braves general manager Frank Wren said in the statement. "We are supportive of the program and will continue to educate all of our players. Earlier today Jordan asked to speak to his teammates to apologize for the mistakes he has made and for letting the organization and his team down. During his suspension, we will continue to support and counsel Jordan."

After having a mediocre 2006, Schafer shot up the Braves depth charts last season. Whether or not HGH helped, remains to be seen.

Source: Baseball America

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Dirtbag, the Sequel

Jose Canseco won't go away, and neither will his "literary talents". The juice king's new book, "Vindicated" is out and in it the big greaseball claims to have introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroids dealer. From Deadspin.com - The book was erroneously put on sale early in Boston. Erroneously? We think not.

Hosebag even hinted that A-Rod was hitting on his implant laden wife.

Here's A-Rod's reactions per Newsday.

On meeting the steroid dealer:

"I really have absolutely no reaction."

On hitting on Mrs. Dirtbag:

When Rodriguez was told about that, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "He said that in his book?", then said, "I have absolutely no comment."

Apparently everyone wants Hosebag to hook them up, even Mike Wallace.

"When the cameras stopped rolling, Wallace asked me if we could talk, off-camera. He kept me there for another hour, clearly curious about steroids. ... He wondered how the steroids and human growth hormones (HGH) might help him, a man in his eighties, live a longer, healthier life. He wanted to know everything. ... When Wallace was done interrogating me, I could see I had piqued his interest. Whether I'd made a convert of him, I can't say. Still, I know, I was pretty convincing."

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McNamee Lawyers Throw a Brushback

Lawyers for Brian McNamee are attempting to have Roger Clemens' lead attorney, Rusty Hardin, disqualified from the defamation suit brought by Clemens. The reasoning behind it is that Hardin has also represented Andy Pettitte, who would be one of the key witnesses for the McNamee team. This woud, according to McNamee's lawyers, create a conflict of interest for Hardin.

“To successfully prosecute Mr. Clemens’s claim, and consistent with his duty of loyalty to Mr. Clemens, Mr. Hardin would be obligated to disclose confidential information about Mr. Pettitte to undermine Mr. Pettitte’s credibility,” the brief said.

Hardin sent out an email about the case and was a little more subtle than his usual approach.

“Brian McNamee’s statements to the Mitchell commission and others concerning steroid and H.G.H. use by Roger Clemens are absolutely false and the very definition of defamatory,” Hardin said in an e-mail message. “We look forward to trying this matter before a jury rather than in the court of public opinion.”

McNamee's team is also trying to protect their client's statement to federal investigators from being made public.

We can only hope the case doesn't go to trial until the off-season so that Andy Pettitte isn't distracted.

Source: NY Times

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Turning Up the Heat on Clemens

Unless Roger Clemens has the same arrogant, self-denial personality of Pete Rose, the multi-Cy Young winner has to be ruing the way he has handled the steroids accusation heaped upon him. He also has to be wondering if his attorney Rusty Hardin knows what he's doing.

Let's say Clemens is innocent; that he indeed never used steroids or HGH. By taking a holier than thou approach, waving the American flag, and splitting his personality between Texas hayseed and New York wolf, he's made himself look like a fool. Innocent or not, Clemens' reputation has already taken a huge hit and Congress is working to ensure it gets damaged even more.

After the circus they called a hearing back on February 13, members of the House Oversight committee felt that Clemens had lied to them under oath. In a joint statement drafted by committee chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and co-chair Tom Davis (R-Va), Congress has asked the Justice Department to begin an investigation if Clemens provided them with false statements. Any such claims could lead to perjury charges being brought against Clemens.

There has been some backlash from committee member Darrell Issa (R-Calif), who publicly admonished the committee, prior to the hearings, for even considering the matter. Issa feels that right or wrong, this whole thing has been a witch hunt with Clemens as the target. It's hard to disagree with that feeling. And it's an automatic to know that this is a complete waste of tax dollars.

Now Clemens must decide how he is going to proceed. Fight to death or try to salvage what little dignity he has left.

* * *

The Houston Astros may quickly distance themselves from Clemens due to all the negative publicity. Reports came out earlier today that the Astros were thinking of terminating Clemens' 10-yr personal services contract. But this afternoon Astros owner Drayton McClane said he would honor Clemens' deal.

Of course all that could change if charges are brought against Clemens and he's found guilty. There's no reason for McClane to play his hand right now.

* * *

The Yankees, of course, are very concerned about how all of this might affect Andy Pettitte. Hank Steinbrenner and Joe Girardi have already vocalized their feelngs, hoping that Pettitte won't have to be distracted until the off-season.

"I don't give a hoot about Roger Clemens or about (Brian) McNamee or about the government," Hank Steinbrenner said. "I only care about our guy, Andy Pettitte, and how this might affect him - which I certainly hope it doesn't.

"They obviously like him and I hope they don't put him through the wringer again. He may have to testify again, but who knows how long any of this is going to take. It could be a long, long time."

Though some may doubt his veracity or call him a rat, Andy Pettitte is still concerned first and foremost for his friend.

"I don't like anything that's going on," Pettitte said Thursday. "I cannot stand it. I've told y'all how I feel about [Clemens]. It's like a part of my family that's having to go through this."

Pettitte knew that Justice Dept. involvement could become a reality once everything started to unfold.

"To tell you the truth, as far in my mind, I was prepared it might happen," Pettitte said. "I hate it and there's nothing else I need to say. I think everyone realizes how I feel about this whole situation.

"I've got one concern right now and that's trying to help this team. That's what I'm trying to get my mind on."

You can bet the Red Sox are hoping Pettitte gets plenty of distractions.

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To Hell with Texas

If we cross our fingers is it considered lying?





Hopefully Andy Pettitte's press conference is the last we have to hear from him or Roger Clemens for a while. If we hear y'all used that often again, we're going to bite through our tongues. Pettitte's press conference/public apology concluded a short time ago.

As expected Pettitte was humble in his press conference today. He was apologetic, though he still feels that using HGH to rehab an injury is not trying to get an edge. We wholeheartedly disgree with him on that subject. Lets cut the semantic bullshit. If you are using an illegal substance and another pitcher with the same injury is not using any illegal substance, you are in fact getting an edge over that other pitcher.

Pettitte, of course, talked a lot about his faith in God, the bible, etc., to ad nauseum. After saying he would answer all questions, he quickly retreated from any questions about the specifics of his testimony before congress, particularly those involving Roger Clemens. He did answer 95% of what was thrown at him, though most of the questions/answers got highly repetitive after 5 minutes.

Pettitte does realize his relationship with Clemens could be very much hurt by this whole mess and he also felt genuinely bad about Brian McNamee's situation. He also seemed ready to accept any punishment that baseball or others may hand down. Pettitte also realizes it could be very hard this season to keep the low profile he normally maintains.

As we said earlier today, Pettitte has taken a hit in our hearts and minds. He was a player to look up to. Now he's a player that you can never be sure is telling the complete truth.

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Pettitte's Day in the Public Black Eye

Andy Pettitte's deposition before congress may be nothing compared to the scrutiny he will face from the Yankees' beat reporters when he arrives at spring training today. Pettitte's reputation has already taken a huge hit (we've always admired him, but we definitely look at him differently now). He's always been considering a religious, God fearing man, but apparently he came up with the wrong answer when posed with the question, "What would Jesus do?"

Pettitte was named in the Mitchell Report and immediately came out and said, somewhat defiantly, yes I did it, but it was one time in 2002 to rehab an injury; it was a mistake, etc...

But under oath Pettitte copped to a 2nd HGH use in 2004. His reason for not revealing this earlier? He was protecting his father who had actually obtained the HGH from one of Pettitte's former high school teammates.

While we have no doubt about the veracity of his comments concerning Roger Clemens, why should we believe Pettitte now when it comes to his own HGH use? How do we know he didn't use again in 2006, but isn't saying anything to protect his wife or brother or whomever?

The answer is we don't know. We can only hope that Pettitte has now been completely truthful and can put this behind him. He will be vilified on the road, and yes, if he struggles at home, he will be vilified there too, just as Jason Giambi had been in 2004 after his apology for a phantom substance.

The days ahead will be very telling for the future of Andy Pettitte.

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What a Bunch of Boobs

As you know by now, Debbie Clemens and Jessica Canseco have been brought into the fray based on the now famous infamous party at the Canseco house. Also, Debbie Clemens was injected with HGH by Brian McNamee and had a bad reaction. It was reportedly done without Roger Clemens' consent or knowledge.

Now things have really gotten spicy stupid. According to McNamee's recollection of the party, Mrs. Clemens and Mrs. Canseco talked about, and compared, their breast implant jobs.

"...which was involving Jose (Canseco), Jose's wife and Roger's wife when they went inside, when the guys showed up. I mean, they talked -- no disrespect, but they talked about how great Jose's wife's augmentation job was to Debbie and showed her. And then Debbie showed her, her augmentation job."

It's just getting slimier by the minute. What next? Jose and Roger were comparing shrinking kahones?

Thanks to The Big Lead for this find.

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Be Sure to Wash Hands

Well we wasted our morning and afternoon watching the circus they call a Congressional Hearing. Except for a few things, we didn't learn anything different from what we already knew. Brian McNamee's smarmy level definitely went up. This guy is definitely a sleaze and has no problem twisting the truth to save his butt.

Roger Clemens looked bad at times, tripped up on a few items. He's no saint, that's for sure. He came off as defiant, almost belligerent in his opening statements. We're not going to go into full detail of what was said.

But if you'd like, you can look at the Oversight Committee's website for transcripts, depositions, etc... Oh, and yes, a lot of the Congressional reps came off looking like buffoons.

Be sure to answer our new poll question about Roger Clemens over in the right sidebar. Thanks!

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Pettitte, Knoblauch Come Clean

Committee chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif) is still making his opening remarks, but we have already learned that Chuck Knoblauch admitted to injecting HGH several times. Also, Andy Pettitte admitted HGH use again on 2 occasions in 2004 while recuperating from an injury. Pettitte said no one outside his family knew of his HGH use in 2004.

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Another A-Hole Country is Heard From

We already had Jose Canseco representing the slime at the bottom of the fish tank; did we really need someone to join him? John Rocker, he of the big mouth and small brain, came out of the steroid closet yesterday and said he failed a test back in 2000 as a member of the Braves.

Rocker also stated that while a member of the Texas Rangers, he, Alex Rodriguez, Ivan Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmeiro were pulled aside by doctors from management and the players association in 2002 to be shown the proper way to use steroids. Rocker wouldn't mention who the doctors were.

"Look guys, if you take one kind of steroid, you don't triple stack them and take them 10 months out of the year like Lyle Alzedo did," Rocker said the doctors told them. "If you do it responsibly, it's not going to hurt you."

Love a guy who throws names around and lets you just take from it what you want. Rocker also said Bud Selig knew he failed a steroid test in 2000 and did nothing about it.

"Bud Selig knew in the year 2000 John Rocker was taking the juice," the former pitcher said Monday of the baseball commissioner, on Atlanta radio station 680. "Didn't do anything about it."

Also, don't you just love a guy who refers to himself in the 3rd person ("Jimmy's gonna get you, Kramer"). All we can ask of John Rocker is that he crawls back under the rock he came out from.

Source

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Pettitte Contradicts Clemens

We all knew this was a possibility, but now it has become fact. Andy Pettitte was excused from testifying before congress today, but in his deposition last week he made comments that contradicted statements made by Roger Clemens. Pettitte's statements lined up more with Brian McNamee's according to Tom Davis (R-Virginia), the co-chair of the congressional oversight committee investigating the use of P.E.D. in baseball.

Right off the bat, we are a little baffled by Davis' motives in making this information public prior to the hearing. It would have become public once the hearings were held, but the early dissemination of information just makes this look more and more like a witch hunt.

Clemens has already responded that Pettitte's information was incorrect and felt that Pettitte misunderstood conversations they had when discussing medications. It's interesting that Clemens didn't accuse Pettitte of lying- probably because he knew like everyone else, that Pettitte had no reason to lie and would have made himself look bad if he had done so.

Reports came out last night that Pettitte was excused due to too many inconsistencies in his deposition, but that seems to be an afterthought today. In addition to Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch and Kirk Radomski were all excused from further testimony, which means that Clemens and McNamee are the only two left in this congressional clown car.

Source

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Just Go Away

Radomski, Clemens, McNamee, Bonds, Canseco, and your lawyers, your agents, your book writers. We are getting incredibly sick of the daily onslaught of "he said/he said".

The "crazy" meter was pinging off the charts this week. Brian McNamee brought Mrs. Rocket, Debbie Clemens, into the mix by saying that he taught her how to inject HGH.

Meanwhile, Roger Clemens may have a future as a lobbyist in D.C.. He's met with several members of Congress this week to discuss his situation. Somehow autographs and photos have also been a part of it. We're not fans of Mike Lupica (the latest- the Lisa Olsen situation- just further proves with a dick the lip is), but his critical piece on Clemens in today's Post is a good one.

Clemens' lawyers are also out to prove McNamee is a liar by rebuking his claim that Clemens was at a Jose Canseco hosted party in 1998. Clemens' "team" obtained an affidavit from Jose Slime that stated Clemens was not there.

Kirk Radomski, who received 5 years probation on Friday for his part in the steroid scandal, is backing McNamee.

"I'm defending Brian, that is right,'' Radomski told ESPN.com. "I believe him over Clemens and his lawyers. I think he is very believable. He was a cop. He knows the consequences of lying. He has more to lose than to gain by lying.''

There's one little problem with that, Kirksleeze - anabolic steroids are also illegal when not prescribed/injected by a real doctor. The former cop didn't seem to have a problem with that one.

Darrell Issa (R-Calif), a member of the panel that deposed Roger Clemens, expects Congress to turn everything over to the Justice Department.

"I'm convinced that we will." Issa said when asked if the committee would hand up a criminal referral at the end of the explosive congressional investigation. "I'm predicting that now. I hope I'm wrong."

It would seem more appropriate for the Justice Dept. to handle this matter rather than Congress.

And in case you forgot, the Barry Bonds federal case is still in the works.

Bonds' lawyers have asked U.S. District Judge Susan Illston to throw the case out, (nice try), or to order the prosecution team to consolidate the charges. Illston is scheduled to hear from Bonds' legal team on Feb. 29 before proceeding further.

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Debbie Clemens in the Fray

Jim Baumbach of Newsday is reporting that Brian McNamee told congressional investigators that Debbie Clemens used HGH as an anti-aging property. That is the word according to a source familiar with the testimony. Lawyers for both sides would not comment.

The source stated that McNamee showed Debbie Clemens how to inject herself. Roger Clemens has been meeting privately the last 2 days with federal prosecutors.

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Lets Get Physical

The Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee tête-à-tête took a bit of a strange twist yesterday. McNamee reportedly turned over physical evidence last month that will show Clemens' use of P.E.D.

McNamee gave BALCO investigators vials that contained traces of steroids and HGH, as well as blood-stained syringes and gauze pads that may contain the Rocket's DNA. We're not sure which is more disturbing- Clemens using the stuff and lying, or McNamee keeping this stuff.

The evidence was turned over to the Justice Department on December 10 and was sent for testing. McNamee will discuss the evidence when he meets with congressional lawyers tomorrow for his deposition.

Clemens, obviously, could be in big trouble if the tests show his DNA. But his lawyers will most certainly question the validity of the evidence, as it easily could have been tampered with by McNamee.

Just like Clemens' haircut, this gets uglier every day.

NY Daily News

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The Daily Yankeeland

It's hard to get the focus back on baseball today; we're still too filled with glee. But here goes.

Andy Pettitte took his turn in Washington, D.C. yesterday, being deposed in preparation for his February 13 appearance before congress.

Pettitte refused to speak with reporters before or after his 2- 1/2 hr appearance. Pettitte's lawyer re-iterated his client's stance.

“Out of respect for the sensitive nature of these proceedings, and out of deference to the committee’s request for confidentiality, we, on behalf of Mr. Pettitte, will not comment on the nature or specifics of his testimony,” the lawyers Jay K. Reisinger and Thomas J. Farrell said.

Needless to say, Roger Clemens must be sweating right about now, concerned about what Pettitte said in his deposition. Brian McNamee's counsel has been making it known that Pettitte would testify that he discussed HGH with Clemens, contradicting Clemens' statements on 60 Minutes. The Rocket has his turn to be deposed today. NY Times

* * *

On the brighter side, Shelley Duncan has pronounced himself fit and ready to go for spring training. Duncan was treated in the off-season for blood clots.

* * *

MLB.com's Harold Reynolds recently sat down with Derek Jeter for some one-to-one time.

* * *

The Yankees are exploring the possibility of having Kevin Mench as an addition outfielder/right-hander bat for this up-coming season. The downside is listening to Michael Kay talk about how big Mench's head is over a 162 game schedule.

* * *

The final touches on Robinson Cano's new deal will be complete as soon as the Yankees get the results of the physical Cano took last week.

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Jose Can you Extort?

Desperate for money and because he's a piece of scum, José Canseco has allegedly tried to extort money from the Tigers' Magglio Ordóñez. Mags doesn't want to press charges though, so the FBI will not be opening an investigation.

According to a New York Times report Canseco told Ordóñez he would keep him out of his new book, the sequel to "Juiced", if the Tigers' outfielder would invest in a movie project promoted by Canseco. Ordóñez said a friend of Canseco's kept calling him, so he informed Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski of the matter.

“One of José’s friends was leaving me messages,” Ordóñez said. “I told Dombrowski because I didn’t know why he was calling me.”

“I didn’t want to press charges against him,” Ordóñez said. “I don’t want any problems. He is probably desperate for money. I don’t understand why he is trying to put people down.”

Dombrowski wouldn't comment on the matter, preferring to keep it an internal matter. Canseco denied any involvement in the alleged matter as well as any knowledge of possible FBI involvement. He did admit to calling Ordonez several months back to talk about the book.

Canseco responded to a query as to whether Ordonez, his 2001 White Sox teammate, would be in the book, by pushing the tome. “You are going to have to buy the book to see that,” Canseco told the Times.

It would seem doubtful that any other players would step forward to claim Canseco tried to extort them as well, since most don't want to deal with the steroid issue.

Canseco, meanwhile, is having difficulty getting his new book, "Vindicated", into stores. Last week, Berkley Books, (part of the Penguin Group), dropped the project after feeling it would not be ready by the time the major league baseball season opened. But Simon Spotlight, part of Simon & Schuster, picked up the book and will release it on March 31.

Canseco also lost his ghost-writer Don Yaeger at the end of December, after Yaeger had doubts about Canseco's "facts".

“What he sent me was stuff like, ‘Look at the difference in their bodies;’ there were not a lot of specifics,” Yaeger said.

But now Canseco's kicking it up a notch by hiring Pablo F. Fenjves. Fenjves is the former National Enquirer staffer who ghost-wrote O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It". Maybe José will be able to tie the two books together into some 'roid rage killing spree.

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