Clemens Fails to Make Convincing Case

Jan 07, 12:10 AM

Clemens is clearly infuriated and perplexed that so many Americans believe strength coach Brian McNamee and the Mitchell report, and not Clemens' statement that he never has used steroids.

"It's hogwash for people to even assume this," Clemens said during an interview with CBS' Mike Wallace that aired Sunday night. "Twenty-four, 25 years ... you'd think I'd get an inch of respect ... an inch."

Throughout his career as one of the greatest pitchers in history, Clemens often got several inches of respect from umpires, calling his borderline pitches strikes when they would have been balls if they were thrown by somebody else.

But McNamee's accusations that he injected Clemens with steroids from 1998 through 2001 are not open to interpretation, like ball-strike calls. Either Clemens used steroids or he did not, and it continues to look more like he did.

In the interview that "60 Minutes" hyped to drive ratings, Clemens tried to paint McNamee as a disloyal friend and a liar, but he couldn't really do it, not even when he had the home-field advantage.

Wallace not only visited Clemens in his home but questioned him while sitting in a chair that had "Rocket" stenciled on the back_an unquestionably cozy arrangement.

Clemens did his best to paint himself as the victim of a smear campaign, but the interview left far too many questions unanswered, including why McNamee would tell the truth about Andy Pettitte (who has confirmed the Mitchell report findings about his use of human growth hormone) and lie about Clemens.

Afterward, lawyer Earl Ward, who represents McNamee, told ESPN that Clemens appeared "disingenuous and desperate." He said Clemens delivered "an impassioned denial, but it's not true."

Clemens said McNamee did give him injections, but only of lidocaine and B-12, not Winstrol and other performance-enhancing substances, which McNamee said Clemens provided.

Clemens, 45, credited his late-career success to his work ethic, but he's accused of using steroids, not being a slouch _ and the beauty of steroids is they allow athletes to recover quicker from workouts, thus increasing the volume and results of their workouts.

Clemens whined that the American culture is "guilty until proven innocent," but did himself no favors by citing the expense as a reason not to file suit against McNamee or anyone else.

This is a pitcher who has earned more than $100 million from base salaries alone. You'd think he'd be able to spend a little to protect his reputation.

Interestingly, Clemens and McNamee reportedly had an "emotional" hour-long telephone conversation on Friday.

Clemens will hold a news conference on Monday in Houston, but the real fireworks could come next week. Clemens and McNamee are among those who have been asked to testify at a congressional hearing on Jan. 16.

Maybe by then Clemens will have figured out that nobody wins by his joining Barry Bonds on baseball's dishonor roll.

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