Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Coverage of the Congressional Hearing on Steroids

Rick Carpiniello of The Journal News is live blogging the hearing.

WCBS Radio is offering streaming audio.

(Hat tip to Peter Abraham for the first two links)

The AP also has live coverage of the hearing.

So does MLB.com.

It Is About the Money, Stupid also has many updates about today's hearings.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has all of the depositions and documents up on their website.

The NY Times baseball blog has a run down of the days events as well.

Here are some updates as they happen:

- Andy Pettitte admitted to the committee that not only did Brian McNamee inject him with HGH in 2002, but he injected himself in 2004.

- Pettitte told the committee on three separate occasions that Clemens told him he used HGH.


-Pettitte also remembered a conversation in 2005 about HGH. During this conversation, Clemens told Pettitte that he had misunderstood him the first time and that is was his wife Debbie who used HGH. Clemens denies remembering the conversation, and again denied that his wife used HGH.

-Pettitte's wife was deposed, and stated, under oath, that she remembers Andy telling her about BOTH conversations.
Pettitte proved one thing about himself today, if your his friend, don't tell him any of your secrets.

- Clemens admitted that his wife Debbie Clemens used HGH in 20003.

- Clemens continues to deny everything, saying Pettitte "mis-remembers" what he heard when he spoke to Clemens about HGH.

- Brian McNamee continues to stand by everything he has said.

- Rep. Davis said that all evidence obtained by the committee shows that Clemens was not at Canseco's BBQ/Party. Canseco, his wife, the Blue Jays catcher at the time, Jays trainers, and the Jays traveling secretary, all say that Clemens was not there. Clemens provided a receipt showing that he played golf that day, and at the time a TV broadcast also mentioned that Clemens didn't show up at the party.

- McNamee admits lying to investigators in Florida in 2001 during an investigation into a rape case. He also admits withholding information from federal prosecutors last year.

- McNamee also admits lying to the New York Daily News in 2006 when he told them that he only gave Clemens and Pettitte vitamins.

- The Committee members, specifically rep. Dan Burton (who seems like a big Clemens fan, calling him a “titan in baseball”), are destroying McNamee's credibility. McNamee admitted to lying at least seven times, and the Committee members don't seem to believe a word he's saying.

- The Toronto Blue Jays were asked for medical records, and provided two, one from
July 28th 1998, and another, that both stated that Clemens did have "palpable mass" on his right buttock . And on another record there was a "similar mass on the left buttock". In the July 28th record it states that seven days prior he had received a B-12 shot which could have caused the "palpable mass." Doctors and trainers told the committee that they do not believe that a B-12 could have caused this reaction.

- Rep. Davis says that Dr. Allen Gross, the only one who actually viewed the "mass" and said in a deposition that said that he didn't see an abscess.

- Several Blue Jays medical staff members had no recollection of Clemens having any abscess during the time in question. There was some sort of injury, but nothing shows that there was an abscess, they said that the "mass" could have just been a bruise.

- McNamee said that Clemens' nanny would have known for sure that Clemens was at Canseco's party. Rep. Waxman said that Clemens' lawyers would not provide the committee staff with her name and information until Monday. Finally they were able to speak with her and she said that Clemens, his wife, and his kids were all at the party at the Canseco's. She also said that Clemens called her on Sunday and invited her to his home, but did tell her to tell the truth to the committee. She also said that investigators from Clemens' defense team called her and asked her a series of questions after the meeting at Clemens' house. - This upset Rusty Hardin very much, he got up and got a little confrontational with Rep. Waxman.

-
Many Congressman seem to be defending Roger Clemens, and they continue to point out that the only evidence against him comes from a single compromised witness. They almost seem to be Roger Clemens fans. Very unprofessional if you ask me.

That's it for now...

I want to believe Clemens, but it's very difficult. There are inconsistencies on both sides. But one thing I can't get past is why would McNamee lie about Clemens, but tell the truth about Pettitte and Knoblauch. Also why would Andy Pettitte lie about the conversations he had with Clemens? He wouldn't lie to hurt a friend. Clemens is the only person involved in this who has anything to gain by lying, which is why I believe he is lying.

2 Comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't understand how you or anyone could still have doubts. Andy Pettitte's testimony confirms that Roger Clemens is lying. Clemens took steriods, and told Pettitte as much.

Cased closed IMO.

Greg Cohen said...

All I said was "I want to believe Clemens". I know he cheated.