The Jock Strap

Earlier this week, 7-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee engaged in a "he said, he said" on Capitol Hill, with both men calling the other a liar. If you're not familiar with the situation, the Mitchell Report, which investigated steroids and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) use in Major League Baseball and was released several months ago, has turned Major League Baseball and the country upside down with big names in baseball implicated for steroid and HGH use at some point during their careers.

Of course, Barry Bonds was implicated and tied up the most pages of any player in the 600+ pages of the report. But, Roger Clemens was also highlighted in the report, with McNamee stating that he had injected Clemens with steroids and HGH several times over a period of years during his Major League career.

While being questioned in a public deposition, both men asserted they they were telling the truth. McNamee saying he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH, and Clemens saying that he never took steroids or HGH during his playing career. From watching the video on ESPN, it is, of course, impossible to tell which man is actually telling the truth. The chilling thing is that we all know for a fact that one of them is flat-out lying.

Now, and I admit that this is nothing but my intuition speaking as part of an opinion, but I believe that it's Clemens who's doing the lying.

First and foremost, what do you expect him to say? "Yes, I took steroids and HGH shots during my career, so please look differently on my accomplishments and Hall of Fame numbers and think of me in a totally different light than you used to." Of course he's not going to say that. He must defend himself and the credibility of his career.

Secondly, what are McNamee's reasons to lie about the situation? What does he have to gain? Nothing more than a little time in the spotlight that comes with more than adequate irritation, being questioned under the spotlight by a Congressional committee, etc., etc. There really isn't any reason for McNamee to lie. Why would he?

Finally, and this is more on a generic line, but usually when someone has very specific details about an incident that occurred or didn't occur, such as the in-depth specifics in the Mitchell Report highlighting supposed facts surrounding McNamee injecting Clemens with steroids and HGH, then they are not lying. When someone lies, they give a glossed-over and generic answer to everything, hoping that nobody will dig into the details, details with which they are not equipped. But, when someone has the truth on their side, they also have details and facts to support their argument, because they were actually there and said what they said or did what they did. Basically, McNamee is giving an incredible amount of specific facts, while Clemens is simply saying, "No, I didn't do it." That's really all Clemens has left at this point, a comprehensive denial of all the accusations pointed toward him.

Now, what McNamee's real reasons are for saving gauze pads and needles from supposed injections of Clemens, I have absolutely no idea. It's disgusting, not to mention possibly harmful with infection and the like.

But, even with that being said, McNamee has the facts and specific details on his side. Agree with me or disagree with me, but I see it how I see it. Fire back with your thoughts on the situation.

"The Bruce"