Originally Posted on 1/8/08Awww, Roger... Mr. Clemens, are you serious? Really? Because to me, you're really looking like a kid that just got busted stealing cookies from the cookie jar and you got chocolate all over your face. I want to believe you, just like I want to believe everyone else that refutes the notion of using illegal substances in Major League Baseball. But I've moved on, I've accepted the fact that this era, this period of time (the last 15 years or so) will forever be known as the steroid era. I know not everyone used but big chunks did and some of the users were other Hall of Fame ballplayers just like you Roger.
Let's look at what we have so far. We have one of the most credible names from our political system in former Senator George Mitchell and numerous sources that have been proven to be credible by the athletes that have verified the sources statements and allegations. Heck, even one of your best friends and longtime teammates, Andy Pettitte came clean and admitted your former trainer, Brian McNamee was telling the truth. Roger, you should've too. But instead you're dragging this on and on and now you'll be this huge story along with Barry Bonds and it'll just take away from the game all season. Don't get me wrong, baseball is still a great sport and it will survive this period just like it always has but do we really have to carry on with all this nonsense?
I mean, why would McNamee lie, what good comes of McNamee lying to Mitchell or Congress? Believe me, I want to be wrong and believe McNamee really is lying but why would he? He's not gaining anything for it?
Roger, as for your recent tape of the phone conversation you had with McNamee, I wouldn't have shared that. Your lawyer gave some bad advice there. To me, it sounded like a desperate plea to prove McNamee isn't a credible person but I wasn't fooled. Plus, what's up with all the bleeps and long sections blocked out? You never told him to just come clean and tell the truth that you didn't use. McNamee to me, just seemed upset over the whole situation but had no choice to share what he did. Plus, during your news conference, I couldn't help but think you were on steroids right then and there. I know you're upset about the truth coming out but talk about roid rage?
Roger, here is what you should've done. Admit you used a few times, say you didn't use until 1998 or whatever date was mentioned. Share what McNamee would later tell Sports Illustrated that you only used a few times in July and August during the 1998, 2000 and 2001 seasons. You were overcome by pressure to maintain your level of success and made a mistake. Explain you never took anything in the off-season or Spring Training but instead when your body was tiring and breaking down during the dog days of summer. You were aging and wanted to compete and not let your teammates down. Admit you made a mistake but hadn't used in years and never will again. You're disappointed in yourself and the whole situation, you hope your fans stick by you and that young athletes can look and see you made a mistake for a few years and righted the ship and enjoyed a great career. Continue to help young pitchers aspire to your greatness (non-steroid seasons). You're a Hall of Famer whether you used or not, remember, it's all about the era you played in and Roger Clemens will still go down as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. But, please let it go.
Now, I really hope I'm wrong! I really do... especially if we're really going to go down this road and be dragged into this story each week by the media. Roger, if you're really going to do this then you better be telling the truth! But if when it's your turn to go before Congress and you lie or avoid the questioning because you have some other trial preventing you from answering the questions truthfully then I will no doubt lose more respect for you as a person than I already have. Please just do the right thing and help let the sport that gave you so much move on... you can still come out of this positive by preaching the use of steroids to be harmful.
Until then, enjoy your cookies Clemens.
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