Clemens and McNamee Before Congress: Recap

I gave a little recap on the previous steroids timeline in a previous post. So I won't get too deep into the past here because the meeting today didn't really bring anything new to light.

One of the intersting choices made was that the only people present were Roger Clemens and Brian Mcnamee and Charles Scheeler, one of the authors of the Mitchell Report. First off where the hell were Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch. Second and possibly even more questionable, if the Mitchell Report needed a representative, who do you think we shoudl go with for that. Gee I just can't decide, hmmm I don't know how 'bout SEN. MITCHELL

The biggest thing I noticed was that throughout the course of the hearing the body language shifted. While Clemens seemed to grow stronger and more confident as the questioning continued. While Mcnamee seemed to wilt as the questioning went on. While Clemens certainly seemed to have some issues. Most notably the fact that the Chair of the Committee, Henry Waxman, seemed set against him. The Major set backs seemed to be on McNamee's side.The lowest point for McNamee is debatable but it was likely at the point Rep. Christopher Shays accused McNamee of being a "drug dealer," which finally got McNamee fired up.

"I only did what players asked," McNamee said, "and it was wrong."
When McNamee tried to claim that because of that he wasn't a drug dealer, Shays pounced.
"You were a DRUG DEALER," he bellowed. "You were dealing drugs."
"That's your opinion," McNamee retorted.
"No," Shays snapped. "That's not opinion. You were dealing drugs. You're telling me that as a former police officer, you weren't dealing drugs?"
"Dealing in them?" McNamee answered. "Yes."
"Were they LEGAL drugs?" Shays went on.
"No," McNamee said, almost in a whisper.
Shays shook his head, like a teacher who had just caught a kid in the back of the class trying to fake an assignment.
"Then you were a drug dealer," he said.

If that wasn't the low point for McNamee then it possible came when Dan Burton began his alloted 5 minutes

''That's a lie, right?'' he said after reading his comments back to him.
''This is really disgusting,'' Burton said. ''You're hear as a sworn witness yet we have lie after lie after lie. I don't know what to believe. I know one thing I don't believe. That's you!''

Other than a few exceptions, the attitudes ran down party lines. With the Republicans seeming to support Clemens other than notable exception Rep. Mark Souder. Souder seemed upset with Clemens as well as MLB owners and Bud Selig. Judging by Souders remarks I am guessing he is looking to make a whole new subcommittee solely for over seeing baseball. Good god let it go.

The Democrats seemed to fall in behind McNamee, with their exception being Rep. William Lacy Clay. Not only did Clay pretty much say "why don't you use my 5 minutes to give a little speach about how this is all about the children" When Clemens only used four and half minutes. Clay used the remaining 30-seconds to ask "A colleague of mine, Mr. Capuano of Massachusetts, wants to know what uniform you're going to wear to the Hall of Fame." Really!? I can't imagine why people are upset that congress is wasting time on this.

While I watched this all morning I followed along as ESPN.com senior writer Jayson Stark described all the action My favorite gem form all this was

Just a thought as the questioning of the Rocket gets rolling:
Since he's under oath, any chance one of these congressmen could ask Roger what the heck actually happened when he threw that bat at Mike Piazza?
He didn't really think that was the ball, did he?
Sorry to digress. Just thinking.

If you like this blog Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe by Email
Learn more about RSS

Being a Narc Get's Rewarded

Today was sentencing day for Kirk Radomski. Roadmoski is the former mets clubhouse attendant who is seen is the main distribution point for the steroids that we have all come to know(and be brutally bored by) from the Mitchell report. He supplied some of the steroids Roger Clemens is alleged to have used. No word yet on if he is tied to that miller lite can, I'll let you know as soon as I read the transcripts from court.

So Radomski's got his sentance today and it was a big fat goose egg, zero, nothing. That's right kids roll over on your friends, tell all, if you can, save the evidence. Because while Marion Jones got 6 months for her use and lying about it. Dana Stubblefield who plead guily recently is expected to get a similar sentance. While BarryBonds sentance could go even longer than that.

Guys like Radomski and Brian McNamee are now being rewarded for giving up the names and places of famous people. I understand that some people get a lighter sentance by way of giving up the bigger fish, but that isn't the case here. This is a matter of the bigger fish, the dealer, giving up the user. This is only happening because the users in this case are famous.

I just hate everything about this whole trend. More than anything I hate the fact it continues to get drawn out. I am right now hearing that McNamee injected Clemens wife. Is there some reason McNamee can't just tell us everything at once. It just seems more and more like PR to save himself every time the next little bit leaks out.

McNamee Evidence: Chain of custody?? How bout that Miller light can

Brian McNamee's attorneys showed pictures of evidence today. I mean there were some questions on chain of custody. I guess we have those answered.

Apparently what happened was, Clemens had put his needles in a crushed Miller Light can. Then that was placed in a trash can. Apparently McNamee went digging through his friends trash to collect them. Some of the other items that were photographed, Clemens had on him as he was a bout to fly to Houston. He then gave them to McNamee to dispose of.

Sounds totally reasonable, I got through my friends trash all the time. I also frequently take a hold of their drug paraphanelia in the event they forget to empty there pockets of syringes before they take a flight. I know they usually want me to dispose of it but I like to keep it. You know, I am sentimental that way.

When McNamee's attorneys were questioned as to why he hadn't turned this evidence over in the begining stages of the Mitchell investigation, they responded by saying that McNamee had made some "Omissions". Omissions that were necessary in order to keep from "burying Roger Clemens". Everytime I hear something from McNamee and his camp he sounds less credible. Also this pretty much invalidates the claims of Senator Mitchell that we should believe McNamee because he was testifying to stay out of jail. Really if I was trying to stay out of jail I wouldn't be sweating how much damage I did to Roger Clemens' public image.

If you like this blog Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe by Email
Learn more about RSS

Brian McNamee Creepily Psychotic or Psychoticly Creepy

Roger Clemens former Trainer Brian McNamee has apparently turned over physical evidence to the justice department. (ESPN)

Apparently he has turned over needles, syringes, and gauze pads. He believes these items will contain traces of both Clemens DNA and Steroids. Through DNA testing they may be able to trace these items to Clemens. So what will happen, do the needles have DNA? Is it Clemens DNA? What about the Chain of Custody? Look I am not doctor or a lawyer. I do have some questions of my own.

Hey McNamee, Captian Creepy.

• This all happened around 2000. You are telling me you hung on to this nasty used medical equipment for almost a decade. Why? Becuase you were worried about proving it I am sure. So then first 3 years pass and then 5 years pass, you don't think to start cleaning house a little.



• You happen to have Clemens equipment? If it really is Clemens' this leaves only two possibilities, the very unlikely possibilty that you happened to hang on to the gear of the one guy you would call out and then have refute your claim. OR you have rooms and rooms full of different gear for all the guys you have injected. Since I am not buiying the first one I am disturbed by the warehouse o' bloody gauze you must have stashed.



• This one isn't just for McNamee it's for congress and baseball, and Balco if they want some. I am TIRED of this. Stop letting the next domino fall. If Roger had that taped conversation(Which was useless) why did it take a week to air it, if Mcnamee had evidence why are we hearing about it now. Get it out and get it over with, and let me get on with my fanhood

If you like this blog Subscribe via RSS or Subscribe by Email

Learn more about RSS

Goodell Called Before Congress To Discuss Spygate

I despise the fact that congress got involved in steroids. I mean they have plenty to worry about. Even if they didn't it still isn't really in the scope of congress' job to oversee baseball.

While I have constantly held that position I have over the last few months been somewhat swayed by the argument that it's all about the kids. You can't deny that the example professional athletes set affect the youth of our country. It goes beyond that though, forget the example set for youth. The fact is one guy does it to make the league now the next guy has to do it to make the league.

So I am starting to come around to Congress' involvement. Then what do I see crawling across ESPN's Bottom line. Congress has called Roger Goodell before them to investigate the destruction of the tapes and the Spygate issues in general. I'm sorry, what!? Explain this one to me someone, who is this protecting. Are they going to look into the widespread allegations that every team does it. This is just the most blatant attempt to get around history. Look the Superbowl winners go to the White House every year. Congress, if you want to get around the NFL and it's players then invite them, they would probably show up. But abusing your position in Congress is just phenomenally weak to me.

How Much is Bud Seligs soul worth

So Bud managed to wrangle a new contract yesterday, taking him through 2012 as the commissioner. This comes days after he faced congress in relation to MLB’s involvement in steroids. A showdown which featured Selig admitting to his responsibility in the steroids scandal. It also comes a year after the fact that he said he wasn’t interested in continuing past 2009.
I could live with him going back on what he said, I mean this is professional sports. I even understand them extending his contract, who else is going to take that job right now. What I can’t deal with is the raise, somewhere in the 2 million a year range which would bump him up to 16.5 million.
Are you serious!? Don’t start rattling off about increased revenue, and the popularity of the sport. If you want to hand out 2 mil a year for that go ahead and address that check to former Balco boss, Victor Conti. The man who skyrocketed the use of performance enhancers in baseball. I don’t know his address but you can send it to the Federal Prison system and I am sure they will get it to him.
Just curious Bud, when you sold your soul to the steroids devil, did even you think that came with a raise.