That Crazy A-Rod

During Alex Rodriguez's "How 'ya doing" repartee with reporters this morning, he mentioned that he was tested 9 or 10 times for drugs last year.

That high number got the media's attention, including that Journal News beat writer/blog king Peter Abraham. Why would someone be tested that many times if there were no issue. Well it turns out that A-Rod was just being A-Rod, and was making his point by exaggerating a bit.

Since reporters, of course, queried him about the high number, A-Rod felt compelled to release a statement to clarify things.

“My quote from earlier today was taken literally. I was not tested nine or 10 times last year. I was just using exaggeration to make a point.

“My intent was simply to shed light on the fact that the current program being implemented is working, and a reason for that is through frequent testing.

“I apologize for any confusion I may have caused.”

Wonder if A-Rod will be getting a call from Henry Waxman or perhaps Arlen Specter.


"So then I told them I was tested 9 or 10 times."

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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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The Circus is in Town

So today is the day everyone has been waiting for- everyone who wants to waste their time. Lets face it, nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to come out of today's Congressional hearings on performance enhancing drugs. This is the ultimate dog and pony show.

Why will people, us included, tune in? Because of the gossip angle. Will Roger Clemens contradict himself? Will Brian McNamee slither out of his chair? Did Andy Pettitte implicate Clemens in his deposition?

The pols that are running the show are eating this up. They love the attention and the face time, but why are they using our tax dollars for this? They have no judicial capacity. According to committee member Darrell E. Issa (R-Calif), who may have his own agenda, the committee should not be dealing with this matter at all.

"It has jurisdiction to investigate any federal program and any matter with federal policy implications." That's what it says right on the committee's website, backing up Issa's point.

Issa also stated, in an interview with ESPN Radio's Michael Kay last night, that committee co-chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif) promised that no criminal charges would result as part of the hearings. Then why is this even happening? And are you trying to tell us that if Roger Clemens perjures himself, a federal criminal investigation won't be in full attack mode (if it isn't already). In other words, Waxman is really just saying we won't directly begin criminal proceedings.

While this may be entertaining - could it be even more boring than the hearings in 2004? - this will turn out to be an incredible waste of time and money.

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And Then He Said

There's been talk of a big screen movie based on the television series Dallas. Maybe Roger Clemens' chief attorney, Rusty Hardin, will get the role of J.R. Ewing. Representative Howard Waxman, co-chair of the Oversight committee handling the P.E.D. scandal, admonished Hardin for comments he made towards investigator Jeff Novitzky.

"If today's quotation is accurate, however, it goes beyond any personal enmity that exists between Roger Clemens and Mr. McNamee. I do not know your intent in making this statement, but under one interpretation it can be seen [as] an attempt to intimidate a federal law enforcement official in the performance of his official duties."

Waxman took action after Hardin was quoted in the NY Times as saying, "I can tell you this: If he ever messes with Roger, Roger will eat his lunch." Hardin quickly tried to spin the situation.

"What I meant by my less than choice words was that if in days to come Agent Novitzky decided to legally pursue Roger Clemens claiming Roger did something wrong, I believe he would lose. I meant nothing more, nothing less. It certainly was not meant as a threat of personal action against Agent Novitzky."

There has been some controversy surrounding Novitzky as well, particularly his handling of the BALCO case. One of the four judges presiding on the case, Susan Illston has questioned Novitzky's tactics and candor about his investigation.

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Knobby Gets the Call

The House of Representatives Government Reform and Oversight Committee didn't hear back from Chuck Knoblauch, so the former Yankees 2nd Baseman will be getting a formal invitation to attend next months congressional hearings. Committee chairmen Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and member Tom Davis (R-VA) jointly announced today that Knobby had been subpoenaed to raise his right hand and testify under oath.

"The committee has taken this step because Mr. Knoblauch failed to respond to the invitation to participate voluntarily in a deposition or transcribed interview and the February 13 hearing."

Knoblauch certainly hasn't helped himself out with his somewhat belligerent attitude. Considering he has stated that he has no friends in baseball, his testimony could be quite eye opening.

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Tejada Under the Microscope

Miguel Tejada is coming under scrutiny as the congressional committee prepares to meet next month to discuss performance enhancing drugs in baseball. With investigators already checking into claims by Roger Clemens that he did not use steroids, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) has asked investigators to look into whether or not Tejada lied under oath when he testified before congress.

The Mitchell Report , Waxman noted, "directly contradicts key elements of Mr. Tejada's testimony."

Wasting no time, Waxman and Davis dispatched a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey urging a criminal probe of the one-time American League MVP.

You can bet the Houston Astros are sweating right now- in addition to Tejada.

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