Grin and Barrett, 01/28/08

January 28, 2008

A recorded conversation, lies, speculation, and accusations, no it’s not the latest CSI Miami episode, it’s the latest in the baseball and steroids saga.

In America’s Past-time, there are few things that are left honest and real. Roger Clemens was one of 55 names in the Mitchell Report. An investigation headed by former U.S. senator, George Mitchell, that was over years of research and investigating.

Mitchell sounds credible and has a strong resume. But, who do we believe? The list was players who have taken the performance enhancer HGH. I'm not here to say the players did, or did not, take the stuff; but this is the hardest evidence we have so far.

Some of the players have been arguing that the list is flawed and there are some missing things in it, some players have come out admitted to being caught, and some have just remained silent.

To the players who are admitting they've been caught, good for you. You know what you did was incorrect, and you're trying in some way to ask for fans forgiveness. But, parts of these apologies are ridiculous. I'm hearing they took HGH thinking it was legal and it was to help rehab after an injury. Then later, say but I never did steroids, steroids are cheating.

No, anything swallowed to "enhance" your play is cheating. Give me a break; you know what you were doing. You are being paid millions of dollars to play a sport, a game, get out on the field or in the gym like everyone else, or like when you did in high school, when you had an injury and rehab.

To the players who are remaining quiet, we as fans need to come to the conclusion that they are on the stuff. If you're not going to publicly protect yourself and say you didn't do it, what are we to think? Clemens took a week to come up with some release through his agent that said he will go public with a statement when the time is right.

Oh yeah, I feel pretty secure the “Rocket” never took anything with that statement. Clemens was asked by a Texas coaches association to come speak for them, but yanked from this after the report came out. His speech was going to be on his workout plan and how he stayed in the game so long.

Clemens is one of the most beloved figures not only in baseball, but to the sanctity of sports. Well, he was one of the most honored figures, after all this mess. After waiting two weeks to make a public appearance, he gave a personal release on his Myspace page. As unbelievable as that may sound, his next interview was an awkward 60 Minutes interview with Mike Wallace.

Clemens stated he never, ever used any performance enhancer and labeled it as a “quick fix.” This is the same guy who has no problem being injected 15 minutes before the World Series for a knot in his elbow, and he’ll pop a prescription pill like they are M&M’s to play. Now, maybe it is just me, but this sounds like a player who would do anything to play.

The next day he has a press conference live on ESPN where he hides behind arguably the worst piece of evidence in any case ever. Clemens recorded his 17-minute phone conversation with former trainer Brian McNamee and played it.

What were you thinking with that tape? We as listeners learned nothing from it. Not one time did Clemens ask, "Why did you lie?" And, only one of those two gentlemen knew that it was being taped, so why would Clemens say anything to sound guilty? His trainer said nothing guilty, and he was the one unknowing of the recorded conversation.

Clemens and McNamee are set for federal court dates in February. Major League Baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig, and Mitchell have given their statements last week to Congress.

I'm sorry if I sound so upset, but enough already. We as fans must do something. Let's boycott, stop buying the jerseys, stop paying crazy amounts for nosebleed sits, and just change the channel when the games are on. I am fed up with watching millionaires complain they don't make enough millions, and then when they do, they use that money to cheat.

These players are cheating, if you can not go to a drug store and buy these pills out on the floor, that's suspicious. And, let's not be so innocent to think that they have caught the only 55 players, no way, this list only caught players with this drug at this one place. The other 600 players in the league could be just as guilty, and it's so sad to think of a game I used to play and collect baseball cards for has come to this.