Clemens Trial: Not Guilty On All Counts

From The Associated Press:

Roger Clemens has been acquitted on all charges by a jury that decided he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Jurors returned their verdict Monday after close to 10 hours of deliberation. The outcome brings an end to a 10-week trial that capped an expensive, five-year investigation into one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball.

The 49-year-old Clemens was accused of perjury, making false statements and obstructing Congress when he testified at a deposition and at a nationally-televised hearing in February 2008. The charges centered on his repeated denials that he used steroids and human growth hormone during his 24-year career.

The verdict is the latest blow to the government's pursuit of athletes accused of drug use.

And the United States Justice system continues to be an embarrassment to all citizens of this great nation. Clemens cheated, he knew he cheated, and he lied about it to Congress. Somehow the painfully obvious was lost on these 12 idiots.

"Hey Rusty, I can't believe they bought it."

Mistrial Declared in the Roger Clemens Case

For the details, I'll turn to ESPN:

Is this the real reason Pettitte may retire?

This article comes from Bob Klapisch, who wondered how the upcoming Roger Clemens trial may have impacted Pettitte's decision to return or retire.

One theory circulating at Yankee Stadium is that Pettitte is spooked by none other than Roger Clemens. Knowing he’s going to be the government’s star witness this summer might be enough to force Pettitte into hiding – especially if Clemens decides he’s going to take his former buddy down with him.

The trial, which is set to begin in July, figures to be a doozy. Unless The Rocket has a change of heart (or tactics), he’s going to swear he never used HGH or steroids. Those who’ve testified otherwise, including Brian McNamee and Pettitte, will be cast as witnesses with bad memories or are just flat-out lying.

Pettitte, however, gave Congress a sworn deposition, during which he said Clemens talked to him about using HGH in 1999, at The Rocket’s home in Houston.

Clemens says Pettitte “mis-remembered” that conversation. Therein lies his defense strategy: for Clemens to prevail, he’ll have to destroy Pettitte’s credibility. One person who’s known the left-hander for many years said: “You think that’s not weighing on Andy’s mind? Who knows what Clemens is going to dig up?”

Indeed, the dual burden of facing Clemens in court and then taking the mound in the Bronx might be too much for Pettitte. After 16 years, he might be thinking there’s no reason to fight two wars, not this late in his career, not at this point in his life.

Like Klapisch said, they're going to have to "destroy Pettitte's credibility", and it's not going to be pretty. Anything Andy's done throughout his career that doesn't fit the mold that Andy Pettitte represents in public will come out in court, and all thanks to his good pal Roger.

I can't blame Andy for getting spooked. Knowing that potential nightmare was only a few months away would probably drive me into hiding, too.

Clemens Indicted

From Michael S. Schmidt:

A federal grand jury has indicted Roger Clemens on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The 19-page indictment charges Clemens with three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury in connection with his February 2008 testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. According to the United States attorney’s office, Clemens faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine, but under the current sentencing guidelines, a conviction would likely bring 15-21 months.

Clemens’s allegedly false testimony came in a public hearing in which Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee, testifying under oath, directly contradicted each other about whether Clemens had used the banned substances.

“Americans have a right to expect that witnesses who testify under oath before Congress will tell the truth,” United States Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. said in a statement announcing the indictment. “Our government cannot function if witnesses are not held accountable for false statements made before Congress. Today the message is clear: if a witness makes a choice to ignore his or her obligation to testify honestly, there will be consequences.”

The authorities will not seek to arrest Clemens. According to a spokesman for the United States attorney’s office, Clemens will be asked to appear at arraignment through a judicial summons. The spokesman said that a date had not been set for the arraignment although it could be set later today. The congressional hearing at the heart of the indictment came just two months after McNamee first tied Clemens to the use of the substances in George J. Mitchell’s report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. After Mitchell released the report, Clemens claimed McNamee made up the allegations.

The same thing happened to Barry Bonds and it was only a matter of time before these lies caught up with Clemens. Don't look at me for any sympathy, this lying idiot deserves whatever he gets. He'll always be a Red Sock anyway.

But if you thought perjury charges would be enough to get this guy to put a halt on those lies, well you'd be wrong:

I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court.

Rocket

Whatever you say, Roger.

Jeter, Rivera To Testify Against Clemens?

From Nathaniel Vinton:

The Yankees have never relished the destructive defamation suit former pinstripe hero Roger Clemens brought two years ago against his accuser, former Yankee trainer Brian McNamee, but bigger headaches for the club may yet lie ahead according to a new appeals-court brief issued by McNamee's defense attorneys.

A footnote deep in the 60-page brief lists current Yankee stars Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter as witnesses McNamee might call to the stand for sworn testimony about Clemens' purported use of steroids and human growth hormone. Also listed among potential witnesses for McNamee is Angela Moyer, an alleged mistress of Clemens who tended bar near the Upper East Side apartment where McNamee said he visited Clemens after Yankee games to inject the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone (Clemens has testified he thought the syringes contained vitamin B12).

The brief, which McNamee's attorneys sent Friday to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, portrays Clemens' defamation suit as nearly dead in the water. It comes in response to Clemens' appeal of a lower court's ruling last year that eviscerated the suit, which Clemens first brought against McNamee on Jan. 6, 2008, three weeks after a report by former Senator George Mitchell first publicized McNamee's accusations.

Mitchell was also listed as a potential witness. He and the others could also be summoned to testify as part of a defamation countersuit that McNamee himself brought against Clemens last year in a federal court in Brooklyn -- and will likely pursue, at least in order to recover his monumental legal fees.

Great, more steroid nonsense for the Yankees during spring training. What else is new?

Ben, over at River Ave. Blues, sums up the situation better than I can:

If McNamee’s brief is as convincing as the Daily News says it is, the Yankees could be free of having to send their star players to testify. McNamee’s side could file for summary judgment and hope to get the case’s original dismissal affirmed. However, McNamee will continue to push his countersuit in Brooklyn, and only a settlement would stave off a trial.

Not that having these two testify would really hurt the Yankees--there aren't two better guys in baseball that could handle this--but I'd rather not have to hear any more about this crap. Let this case come and go without needing to bring anyone else into the mix. Whoever wins isn't an issue, both Clemens and McNamee are losers in my book.

You know, if they had just kept David Wells the Yankees would never had to deal with any of this. Thank you, Roger.

Boomer: Ban PED Users For Life

David "Boomer" Wells was at new Yankee Stadium on Sunday and had some interesting comments about steroids, Alex Rodriguez, and Roger Clemens. Here's more from Bryan Hoch:

"Just ban them right out of the get-go; I think that would be great," Wells said. "No 50-game suspension. Ban them right away, that would stop it in a heartbeat -- especially with the money they are giving out today. It would be incredible if they did that. You wouldn't have to worry about steroids or HGH."

On the topic of Rodriguez, Wells said that the home runs that A-Rod hit during the years he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs -- from 2001-03 -- should not count. Rodriguez hit 156 homers over that span, but Wells was speaking specifically about the three he served up to Rodriguez.

"He claimed he was on the juice so, no, they shouldn't count," Wells said. "I had a high enough ERA anyway. You can't do anything about it. I guess it really wasn't an issue back then."

Wells said that players who have tested positive or admitted to steroid use should not be admitted to the Hall of Fame, regardless of their career statistics. Wells said that while he feels for Clemens, he believes the mounting evidence makes it appear that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner did use performance-enhancing drugs.

"He's denying, and there are cases out there that are pretty strong against him," Wells said. "Until it all comes out, I don't want to be quick to judge, but he's in a mess, really is. When you got Congress and the Feds and everybody down your back, it's crazy."

Wells said he last saw Clemens at a Toby Keith charity golf event in Oklahoma, greeting him with the old Yankees clubhouse nickname of "Eli." He grinned when asked about the reversal in their stances -- during their playing days, Clemens was lauded for his intense workouts while Wells rarely performed more physical conditioning than running and what he called "12-ounce curls."

"For years, he called me 'Eli,'" Wells said. "You know, whatever comes out of Boomer's mouth, 'He lies.' Well, I got payback. Actually, it was great. ... And Roger didn't like it very much, but he came over and said hello.

"You don't want to criticize too quick, but the facts they have in hand, I don't think it looks good for him. You hope, because of what he did for the game of baseball -- it was pretty overwhelming, but was it clean or was it dirty?"

It would hurt the game in the short-term because there would be a lot of great players banned, but I gotta agree with Wells, in the end a lifetime ban for first-time offenders might just be the deterrent needed to put something of an end to this stuff. It will never happy because of the player's association, but it would probably work.

As for stats, it's hard for baseball to say what should and what shouldn't count. But as far as I'm concerned, Roger Maris is still the single-season home run record holder and Hank Aaron still holds the career mark. I don't really care how baseball itself looks at it. This whole era is tainted, and so are the numbers of any player who cheated.

What do you think about lifetime bans and whether these stats should count?

Clemens Continues to Deny Roid Use

From the NY Post:

Saying it would be "suicidal" for him to take steroids based on his family's medical history, former Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens today again strongly denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.

In his first public comments on the matter since testifying in front of Congress in February 2008, Clemens told ESPN Radio that DNA evidence of his drug use, reportedly provided to investigators by trainer Brian McNamee, cannot exist.

"It's impossible because he's never given me anything," Clemens said on "Mike & Mike in the Morning." "It's as simple as that. He's never given me any HGH or performance-enhancing drugs of any kind, so it's impossible."

Clemens told hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic that taking them would put his health at serious risk.

"Let me just add to it, common sense. Our family has a history of heart conditions," Clemens said. "My brother had a heart attack in his late 40s. My stepdad died of a heart attack. I mean, it would be suicidal to even think about taking any of these dangerous drugs."

And he had this to say about former teammate and current Yankee Andy Pettitte:

"My reaction is the same as before: Andy misremembers," said Clemens, who added that he rarely talks to Pettitte now.

"There's only been a couple of times that I've been in contact with Andy since then because of the legal issues, and we'll let that play out.

"I still consider Andy a friend. We basically talked about how he'll be a center-point and he agreed, but we don't go into that. I asked him how he's feeling, [tell him] go get 'em this year, have a great year. That's really the extent our conversations have had."

And had this to say about A-Rod:

"I wish him the best," Clemens said. "I'm glad he [admitted to using]. a [I'd] tell him to move forward and to continue to do what he's doing. I hope none of the things that he took or anything like that hurt his body to the point where it would hurt his career."

Look, I know everyone is sick of this stuff, I am too, especially regarding Clemens. But at the same time I still felt like I should pass this info along.

Not really a big surprise with his answers here. What, was he all of sudden going to start telling the truth? He appears to be either delusional or he's living in a constant state of denial, but at least he's sticking to his story.

Clemens on Mike & Mike Tomorrow

According to Peter Abraham, Roger Clemens will be appearing on ESPN radio's Mike & Mike tomorrow morning at 8:25 a.m.If you're wondering, ESPN radio is 1050 AM in New York. It will be Clemens' first interview since January.

It should be an interesting interview. You have to assume that they will be allowed to ask him anything, because if they're not it's going to be a pretty pointless interview.

Clemens Had 'Man Boobs' Too

Let me first say that no, I do not think this is newsworthy, but it is somewhat funny so I will post it anyway.

From the NY Daily News:

Alex Rodriguez wasn't the only player in the Yankee clubhouse who suffered from "man boobs," an embarrassing side effect of steroid use.

According to "American Icon," a book by the Daily News sports investigative team that will be released on May 12, Roger Clemens also sprouted breasts as a result of anabolic steroid use. The condition is called gynecomastia, and it occurs in men who use steroids because their bodies compensate for a surge of testosterone by increasing production of female hormones.

"The medical term was gynecomastia, but around the clubhouse they called them "b---- t---" or "man boobs" - and heaven help the player who sprouted them in the middle of his career and then took his shirt off in the locker room," the Daily News reporters wrote in "American Icon." "Roger Clemens had man boobs, and he must have been embarrassed because he was often the first Yankee out of the shower and the first to get dressed after the game

Kids, the moral of this story is don't do steroids. Because if you do you will get "bitch tits."

Gaston on Clemens: He's an A-Hole

Jays' manager Cito Gaston was asked what he thought about allegations in the new Clemens book that Clemens influenced the team to fire Gaston and hire Tim Johnson. Gaston hadn't heard about the book, but still had some interesting things to say. Here's more from Morgan Campell:

"He's an a-----e himself. A complete a-----e," Gaston said with a chuckle. "And I'll say that loud, right in his face. It was all about him. Ain't about nobody else but him."

For the next five minutes Gaston, who is starting his first full season in his second stint as Jays' manager detailed the strained relationship with the star pitcher, who had signed with the Jays before the 1997 season after burning out with the Boston Red Sox.

Gaston praised Clemens for his work on the mound, saying the 354-game winner always gave his best effort on days he pitched, winning 41 games and two Cy Young Awards as the AL's top pitcher in two seasons with the Blue Jays. But for the four days in between starts, Gaston said he couldn't deal with the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.

"When he's pitching, everyone's in the dugout pulling for him, but when he's not pitching he's not in the dugout," Gaston said. "I didn't feel like he supported his teammates as much as he wanted support."

Though Gaston said he didn't know of anything specific Clemens did to get him fired, he said Clemens did flaunt his influence with the club's upper management, even asking Gaston if he wanted to keep his job as manager or lose it.

He also challenged Gaston's authority in front of the team, once questioning the manager's refusal to pull Pat Hentgen from a game. Gaston says Clemens never brought those criticisms to his face, and he regrets not confronting him over it.

"He wouldn't (confront me). One of us would have had an ass whuppin' that day," Gaston said. "It might have been me, but he still would have known I was there."

I liked rooting for the guy while he was a Yankee, but I hated him before, and from everything that's come out over the past two years - mainly the steroid stuff - I can't stand him again. So yea, asshole sums things up pretty well.

Clemens Heartbroken By Video Snub

From the NY Post:

Estranged former Yankee Roger Clemens was "heartbroken" when his former team left him out of Sunday night's Stadium-farewell festivities, which included a video montage honoring the Bronx Bombers' greatest pitchers - but not him, a relative told The Post yesterday.

Clemens was sitting at home in hurricane-ravaged Texas, in front of a battery-operated television on his living room couch, when the team delivered a final crushing blow to its former star.

Clutching wife Debbie's hand on one side and mother-in-law Jan Wild's on the other, Clemens tuned in to his final team's last home game hoping for some recognition for helping win two World Series titles, Wild said.

But that Rocket never launched.

When the team played the video celebrating its greatest players at every position, the steroid-scandal-scarred Clemens was nowhere to be seen.

"Debbie and I held his hand while we watched the game, and he was heartbroken," said Wild, 70. "Not mad. He still loves baseball and the Yankees, but it was sad what they did to him."

Part of me thinks he got what he deserved. Not only did he cheat, but he turned the whole thing into a bigger circus than it already was, and made himself look like a fool with his constant denials.

But with that said, I also feel bad for him. He was always very proud to be a Yankee, and from everything I've heard or read, he loved wearing the pinstripes. So it must have been very hard for him to sit there and watch those ceremonies, especially with other guys who were listed in the Mitchell Report like Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, and Chuck Knoblauch being part of the ceremony.

However, if Clemens was mentioned he most certainly would have been booed, and that probably would have hurt Clemens even more. So maybe the Yankees decision to not mention him was the right thing to do.

Clemens/McNamee Case Updates

The AP is reporting that Brian McNamee has asked that Roger Clemens' defamation suit be thrown out, and that Rusty Harden, Clemens' lead attorney be removed from the case.

Major League Baseball star Clemens claims he was defamed when McNamee, his former trainer, said Clemens used steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-2001.

McNamee's lawyers filed motions in U.S. District Court in Houston on Tuesday saying that because McNamee's statements to baseball investigator George Mitchell were part of an agreement with federal prosecutors, anything McNamee said to Mitchell was covered by "absolute immunity."

"Rather than acknowledging the truth of Mr. McNamee's allegations, Mr. Clemens has chosen to wage a public-relations battle against Mr. McNamee in the media and the Halls of Congress," the motion stated.

McNamee's lawyers asked that Hardin be removed from the case because he also represented New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte for a period last year... "Continuing to represent Mr. Clemens would violate Mr. Hardin's duty of loyalty to Mr. Pettitte," McNamee's papers said.

But wait, there's more.

From ESPN:

WASHINGTON -- A Democratic congressman asked the FBI on Wednesday to drop its investigation of Roger Clemens because the pitching great had suffered enough from the probe into steroid use.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, a candidate for New York mayor in 2009, said the FBI is too busy with more important crimes to spend time trying to determine if the ex-Yankees pitcher lied to Congress about taking performance-enhancing substances.

"Roger Clemens has been shamed. I think the public record is replete with examples of how he did not likely tell the truth. What is the public benefit of continuing with an FBI investigation?" Weiner said.

Weiner also suggested his fellow lawmakers had gone far enough with inquiries into steroids use by professional athletes and should let professional sports leagues handle the matter.

I couldn't agree more.

(hat tip to the Yankees Chick for the links)

Clemens May Face Perjury Charges

From The New York Times:

A Congressional committee has taken the first steps toward asking the Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation into whether Roger Clemens committed perjury during testimony about his use of performance-enhancing drugs, according to three lawyers familiar with the matter.

A draft letter referring Clemens, but not his accuser, Brian McNamee, had been drawn up by staff members for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by the end of last week, according to two of the lawyers. However, all three lawyers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter, said it was possible that McNamee could also be included in the referral by the time it is sent to the Justice Department.

If the committee does decide to refer Clemens alone, it could indicate that the Democratic majority, led by the chairman, Henry A. Waxman of California, had prevailed over any Republican reservations about the truthfulness of McNamee’s statements in the Mitchell report, a subsequent deposition and his testimony at a committee hearing on Feb. 13.

Things are getting worse and worse for the cheating Texan.

Hopefully Pettitte won't be dragged into any of this, but sadly, he probably will.

With Every Passing Day Clemens Lools Like a Bigger Fool

Now it appears that not only was Clemens at Canseco's BBQ, but there are photos to prove it.

From The Daily News:

As the congressional committee that spent nine weeks considering Roger Clemens' attack on the Mitchell Report now quietly mulls referring the entire matter to the Justice Department, federal investigators seasoned in the anti-doping game are ready to hit the ground running.

Their leads could include new photographic evidence that has emerged to potentially undermine Clemens' sworn testimony that he did not attend a 1998 party at the home of his then-teammate Jose Canseco - a party that figured both in the Mitchell Report and the Feb.13 public hearing in Washington.

The photo is owned by a young man who attended the party when he was 11 years old and took photos of his baseball heroes, including Clemens. Richard Emery, one of the lawyers for Clemens accuser Brian McNamee, was aware that such evidence had been circulating this week.

"We have reason to believe it's reliable evidence," Emery told the Daily News on Thursday. "We believe there's photographic evidence that shows Clemens was at a party he says he wasn't at."

Roger Clemens could have admitted he cheated, apologized, and been forgiven. Instead he insisted he was innocent, acted like he was some faultless victim, and forced congress to hold last week’s hearings where he made an ass out of himself. And now there's may be proof he lied yet again.

Andy Pettitte, on the other hand, spoke to the media and fans like a human being. A human being who makes mistakes and has flaws, just like everyone else. "I didn't do it to get an edge," Pettitte said. "I didn't do it to get stronger and faster or throw harder…Yes, I was stupid. Was I desperate? Yes, I probably was."

I know there have been times where I have been stupid and desperate. I’m sure you have had those moments as well. This is why fans will forgive him, and most likely already have. We understand, and can relate to people who admit that they aren’t perfect, because none of us are.

But when you act like you are perfect, you better damn well be perfect, or people will dislike you. That’s Barry Bonds’ problem, and now it’s Roger Clemens’. These egomaniacs who can’t admit that they may have actually done something wrong will never be forgiven by the public.

Sheffield Has Kind Words for Girardi

Gary Sheffield may hate Scott Boras, but he has nothing but nice things to say about new Yankee skipper Joe Girardi.

From the NY Post:

"I think Girardi will do great," the former Yankee told The Post yesterday at Tigertown. "I'm not saying that he's better than Joe (Torre), he's just different. He's an X and O guy, that is something I've stressed and I believe. When a guy is smart about the game, you can never trick him, you can never fool him. He's always prepared and he puts his players in the right spot. It's up to you to succeed. You either do or you don't.

"When you approach the game that way and are that prepared, it just boils down to talent," Sheffield added. "That's how I've lasted so long. That's something my granddaddy stressed to me."

"Girardi is more of a dictator," Sheffield said. "When you are a dictator, it depends on how you are perceived. It's either going to be received positively or negatively. Most of those guys played with him so they know his personality."

Sheff also spoke about comments he made last year when he called Joe Torre a racist:

"If you asked me point blank if I think Joe Torre is racist, I'd say no. But at the same time you don't have to be a racist, but you can be biased."

With regards to Derek Jeter, the Tigers desig nated hitter said he wasn't trying to personally at tack the Yan kees short stop and seemed to regret his comment last summer when he said Jeter, who is bi-racial, "ain't all the way black." He explained Jeter is treated differently because he is Mr. Yankee.

"You can't put Derek Jeter in our conversation because he's been a Yankee from Day 1," Sheffield said. "Derek Jeter is bigger than Joe Torre, why would Joe Torre go after him? People took it wrong. Derek and I have talked since then, but you can tell it's been strained. Oh, well."

And had this to say about Roger Clemens:

Sheffield said he feels for Clemens as a human being and because baseball is a fraternity.

"But at the same time, Roger is getting what everybody else is getting," Sheffield said. "Now he knows what it's like to be us."

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.

Pettitte Told Congress that Clemens Spoke to Him About Using HGH

According to the AP, Andy told congress in a sworn affidavit, that in 1999 or 2000 Clemens talked about using HGH. The AP says the source of this information is a person familiar with the affidavit who spoke on condition of anonymity because the document has not been made public yet.

Maybe Rep. Davis wasn't so misunderstood after all.

Canseco Continues to Defend Clemens

Yesterday USA Today that Roger Clemens' lawyer Rusty Hardin, turned over evidence to congressional lawyers, including an affidavit from Canseco, which supposedly proves Clemens didn't attend Canseco's party.

On Tuesday the AP got a hold of the affidavit. Here are some of Canseco's quotes:

"I have never had a conversation with Clemens in which he expressed any interest in using steroids or human growth hormone. Clemens has never asked me to give him steroids or human growth hormone, and I have never seen Clemens use, possess or ask for steroids or human growth hormone."

"I have played on three teams with Roger Clemens and I have no reason to believe that he has ever used steroids, human growth hormone, or any other performance enhancing drugs."

About the infamous party at Canseco's house: "I specifically recall that Clemens did not come to the bar-b-que. I remember this because I was disappointed that he did not attend. I later learned that he had a golfing commitment that day and could not attend the party."

Rep Tom Davis: I was miquoted and misunderstood about Pettitte's deposition

From ESPN:

A source close to Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., told ESPN.com's T.J. Quinn that the congressman says he was misquoted and misunderstood in a published report about Andy Pettitte's deposition.

Sources told Quinn that Pettitte was not a good witness when he appeared before congressional lawyers during a sworn deposition on Monday. Pettitte often contradicted himself, the sources said, so the committee agreed to his request not to appear Wednesday.

Lawyers familiar with the hearings would not say if Pettitte implicated Clemens as a steroids user in his testimony. However, they said that Pettitte's testimony didn't fully jibe with Clemens' versions of events.

Buster Olney was also interviewed on The Michael Kay Show about Pettitte's deposition and said nothing concrete was said to place Clemens in a position that his attorney could not refute. Basically nothing that directly leads to Clemens. Olney also says that the recent reports about Pettitte’s supposedly incriminating testimony was false and doesn't see anything damaging said by Pettitte. Confirming what Rep. Davis is saying in the ESPN article.

Olney did say that one statement can be interpreted in a negative way, but otherwise all other statements can be refuted.

Canseco: McNamee is a Dirty Liar

From USA Today:

Retired slugger Jose Canseco says Roger Clemens' former trainer, Brian McNamee, lied in the Mitchell Report and is lying when he says Clemens used steroids and human growth hormone.

"Absolutely, he's lying and he's a dirty liar," Canseco said in a phone interview Sunday.

"McNamee is a point-blank liar because Roger never showed up at my house," Canseco said. "It's up to Roger's people to find out why McNamee is saying these things. I think he was pressured by someone into saying them. …

"I'm 1,000% sure Roger never showed up at the party. We didn't talk then."

Canseco, who was a teammate of Clemens with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, told Mitchell investigators he had "numerous conversations" with the pitcher about Deca-Durabolin and Winstrol and how to use steroids.

Canseco wrote in his 2005 book, Juiced, that he didn't have knowledge of Clemens using steroids but that they discussed the subject.

On Sunday, Canseco said his book is accurate, but he only talked to Clemens jokingly about steroids.

"It was never in a sense that he was serious about using them," Canseco said. "It was very simple. Everyone knew I was on steroids, and when we played golf, I'd hit a ball 400 yards, and he'd say, 'Man, that stuff you're taking must be working.'

"I talked to him and a lot of players and coaches about steroids, but with Roger, it was never about how to seriously use them. It was always in a manner of fooling around."

Canseco said Clemens is a friend and he doesn't think Clemens took steroids. "If he had taken steroids," he said, "he would have gotten them from me, just like everyone else."

I find it very odd that Canseco would discuss Clemens with Senator Mitchell, knowing it would probably lead to Clemens being included in the report, yet now he's defending Roger after the fact. I wonder if Clemens had to pay Canseco off to say these things.... Nah he wouldn't do that, would he?

Then again you never know, Canseco could actually be telling the truth. I can't tell who is telling the truth anymore.

This story is making my head spin.