Rocket Liar, Pants On Fire

Any baseball player who tells you he didn't know he was taking performance-enhancing drugs is lying. No exceptions. In addition, any ballplayer who says he was injecting himself with something other than steroids, like B-12 shots, is probably lying too.

That means you, Roger Clemens.

The lengths some players go through to deny their use of performance-enhancing drugs is comical. These denials reached a new low with the Roger Clemens Debacle. The Rocket, unquestionably one of the most successful pitchers of his generation, has pulled out all the stops to deny his use of performance-enhancing drugs as detailed in The Mitchell Report. Youtube testimonials. 60 Minutes interviews. Statements from his lawyer. Lawsuits against the trainer who betrayed his trust.

I know this is an innocent-until-proven-guilty society, an everyone-gets-his-day in-court society. Nevertheless, I think it is impossible that Clemens did not use some sort of banned substance.

Let's consider the facts.

The most damning piece of evidence is The Mitchell Report. Authored by a former Senator after a couple of years' worth of interviews and investigations, it detailed performance-enhancing drug use by several Major League players, none more prominent than Clemens. Most of the damning testimony against Clemens came from Brian McNamee, Clemens' former trainer. He detailed his frequent injections of The Rocket with banned substances as part of his training regimen.

Since the Report came out, Clemens and his legal team have worked to discredit McNamee. Recently, they revealed that McNamee was accused of lying to police about an alleged rape. Both sides are suing each other for slander. Clemens even taped a recent phone conversation with McNamee in which, judging from reports, he tried to get his former trainer to change his story.

It's all window-dressing on Clemens' part.

First off, Clemens took about a week and a half before he responded to the Report. If he were innocent, he would've responded immediately. However, Clemens bided his time as he and his lawyers determined his defense. If he really were innocent, a denial would've come immediately. I mean, why wait any length of time to clear your name?

Also, why would McNamee lie? Clemens is a legend with tons of credibility and many allies. McNamee is a former trainer who would've remained obscure if it weren't for his connection of Clemens. Clemens is wealthy with a team of lawyers at his disposal. McNamee claims to be broke with a child fighting a serious illness and isn't going to have the same legal resources as Clemens (although there are plenty of attorneys who would be willing to help him since he's become a cause celebre). McNamee had to know his testimony would be attacked by all comers, even if he did have an axe to grind.

In addition, I don't believe you can question The Mitchell Report's credibility. Former Senator George Mitchell knew his report would be examined with a fine-tooth comb. So, I have no doubt he checked and re-checked all of his facts. He had to make sure this report was beyond reproach. Otherwise, it's useless. If one nugget in this 400-page tome is questioned, then the whole credibility of the report is doubted. And, what would be the point of that? In order for meaningful changes to be made regarding performance-enhancing drugs in sports, Mitchell had to make sure all of his i's were dotted and t's were crossed.

Oh yeah, and Clemens says he wasn't injected with banned substances but, rather, with B-12 and licodine because, apparently, he thinks we're stupid.

Clemens' best option would be simply to come clean. His image has already been tarnished by The Mitchell Report and the only way he can save himself is by telling the truth. Because, no matter what Clemens took, he still had to execute. He still had to make quality pitches. And there is no drug that will do that for you.