At trial, the government’s evidence will show that Bonds received steroids from Anderson in the period before the November 2001 positive drug test, and that evidence raises the inference that Anderson gave Bonds the steroids that caused him to test positive in November 2001,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello wrote in a legal filing, according to Reuters.
While it has long been thought to be the case, it is certainly becoming more certain that Bonds took steroids. He did exactly what I wanted Clemens to do: testify under oath that he was clean. The problem with Bonds is apparently, he wasn’t. The federal government is now prosecuting him for perjury.
I’ll await the trial, but it’s difficult for me to see how he can get out of this.
For me, this will taint his entire career. This is Pete Rose territory.
A typo in court papers regarding Barry Bonds filed late Thursday by federal prosecutors touched off a brief tempest over the mistaken belief that he failed a drug test in November 2001, one month after breaking the home run record.
In fact, the government meant to reference a previously reported November 2000 failed drug test, U.S. attorney spokesman Josh Eaton said. That drug test was included in the indictment unsealed last year, when prosecutors said the test was for a player they called “Barry B.”
Someone lied to Congress today. Roger Clemens went under oath today and claimed:
Let me be straight, I have never taken steroids or HGH.
Clemens is not stupid. He has seen that the federal government will prosecute perjury, just ask Barry Bonds. He did what I said he needed to do.
There is one way to clear up the matter for good: put yourself under oath and answer the questions.
I applaud Clemens for what he did today. But consider me still skeptical. Two seats to his right was Mr. McNamee. McNamee claimed today that he injected Clemens many times over the years.
McNamee has credibility issues. So does Clemens. One of them lied; perhaps both. Right now, I am providing Clemens with the benefit of the doubt, but I by no means will declare him innocent. If he had used steroids, he has totally screwed his legacy and should be jailed. Knowing that, how could he have lied to Congress? That’s why he gets my leniency.
I am not a court of law, therefore, I do not need to presume someone is innocent until proven otherwise. Yet, assuming the worst of someone without any proof is hardly reasoned discourse.
A few years ago a buddy of mine took Roger Clemens to task for steroid use. I objected as there had been no whispers that Clemens had juiced. I thought it unwise to smear arguably the greatest pitcher of our lifetime (yes, even greater than Lefty and Seaver) without any proof. A year or so later, the LA Times wrote about Clemens and steroids. Of course, the federal government scolded the newspaper for that recently and the LA Times issued a correction to Clemens the other day for the story it ran.
A front-page article on Oct. 1, 2006, incorrectly reported that in a search warrant affidavit filed in May 2006 in federal court in Phoenix, an investigator alleged that pitcher Jason Grimsley named former teammates Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons as players linked to performance-enhancing drugs. In the affidavit, which was unsealed Thursday, Grimsley did not name those players. The article also said Grimsley alleged that Miguel Tejada had used steroids. The only mention of Tejada in the affidavit was as part of a conversation with teammates about baseball’s ban on amphetamines. The Times regrets the error.
Last week when the Mitchell Report was released, Clemens’ name was the prominent name on the list. Clemens and pitcher Andy Pettitte are linked. Clemens pitched with Pettitte in New York and helped convince him to play in Houston when Rocket signed there. Both pitched for the Yankees again last year. In addition, both Clemens and Pettitte have used the same trainer, Brian McNamee, in both Houston and New York. Clemens used McNamee in Toronto as well.
McNamee is the source George Mitchell used to determine Clemens had juiced. McNamee had also stated Pettitte had illegally used HGH. Pettitte confirmed that.
This is where we are right now:
A source has implicated Clemens and Pettitte
He was correct about Pettitte
Why would he lie about Clemens?
Clemens, to his credit, has vehemently denied he juiced.
I believed a president who wagged his finger and emphatically stated he did not do what he was accused of. Marion Jones vehemently denied taking steroids. She even wrote a book denying it. She has since changed her tune. Barry Bonds, one of the greatest baseball players ever, has denied juicing. He is currently charged with perjury by the United States government.
Consider me skeptical.
I lived in Boston for four years during Clemens’ heyday. Much like my father and I used to time our attendance to Phillies games when Steve Carlton pitched, I saw Clemens every fifth day at Fenway. It was just a couple stops on the 57 bus to Kenmore Square.
Clemens used to come into our restaurant and then later we delivered to his house. He was always generous with memorabilia for our customers (I ran a restaurant partially owned by Bobby Orr and KC Jones). I am a huge fan, despite actually liking Greg Maddux’s pitching style better. I am in awe of his seven Cy Young awards. He was a mentor of Curt Schilling. His work ethic is legendary. He seemed an example of what every pitcher should strive for.
Yet, one is left with plenty of doubt about his accomplishments.
Clemens, of course, has not been accused of anything in a court of law. He is free to ignore this entire episode. He has had his career. He has made his money.
Yet, with a promised interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes, I suspect Clemens is concerned with his reputation. There is one way to clear up the matter for good: put yourself under oath and answer the questions. Absent that, this is all smoke and mirrors. I would prefer to hear nothing, a la Mark McGwire, than to listen to a spin machine.
Mr. Clemens, you have always performed your best. I hope you continue to do so in what is to come.
How can a grocery store be out of buttermilk? . . . Gotta love trolls. They make the world go round. Right BGT? . . . Well, I am rooting for the Rockies, but expect the Red Sox to win (yeah, I know, a little late on the prediction) . . . I am surprised that Van Drew’s campaign funds are not making more of a splash. I really thought that circumventing campaign finance law was illegal; in New Jersey it is business as usual . . . It’s nice to see Roberto back in the blogging saddle . . . It dawned on me this morning as I taught my students how to use parentheses in mathematics, that my hobby and my vocation are merging . . . If you’re not a Thomas Hawk fan, do yourself a favor and look at his photography . . . I don’t have much to say about logbook etiquette, but not to write a detailed log because there is “less chance to be spotted by a muggle if you’re not writing a page of comments” is nonsensical. If the geocache is placed in a location that positively impresses the seeker, writing in the logbook can be done leisurely . . . Considering Rochester in November . . . Tomorrow will probably be the worst day of the school year. Halloween Friday has been every year . . . It’s been more than six years, but I just had a nicotine fit . . . Why is it that Super Cuts expects my telephone number in order to cut my hair? . . . Hmmm . . . tonight’s fortune cookie: A modest man never talks of himself . . .
I have been extremely busy the last week or so. I forgot how time-consuming lesson planning and some other aspects of the classroom are. So much for that 9-4 speil . . . PSU is looking good . . . My Phillies are fading . . . Eagles and Dolphins both came up on the short end of 16-13 games today . . . sounds like Patraeus will have a good report to share. I am certain the majority will spin this as a negative. It sure would be nice to be able to move ahead in politics . . . While I pined for NBC to get the NFL back, employing Madden, Michaels, Collinsworth, Barber, and The Bus makes for a lousy group. I really like Costas, but he is far better working baseball . . . Not much on my mind other than work right now . . .
