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H-Town Rock
Rock Talk, Vol. IX
Let's play a word association game. Roger Clemens. What comes to mind? University of Texas Longhorn. Fastball. Burnt orange Hummer. 4,672 strikeouts. Houston resident. Major league pitcher.
Another few terms most certainly spring forward: steroid allegations, Congress, Mitchell Report and big fat mess.
Here's the CliffsNotes version for those of you living in a media vacuum in recent years. The use of performance enhancing drugs (PED) had been forbidden in baseball since 1991, but testing wasn't implemented until 2003. A Congressional investigation started with a parade of baseball all-stars (Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmiero, Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa and Frank Thomas) testifying before the House Oversight Committee in 2005. A year later, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig tasked former Sen. George Mitchell to perform an independent investigation on the extent to which PEDs had been used by ballplayers. The resulting Mitchell Report was published Dec. 13, 2007.
Brian McNamee, a strength and conditioning coach and central figure in the report, named PED-using players. One of those was Clemens, who voluntarily testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Feb. 13, 2008, to dispute McNamee's allegations.
Clemens had remained relatively mum as he and his team of advisers prepared for pending litigation. He re-emerged May 12 of this year to appear on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning to reiterate his innocence as a new book, American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime, hit stores.
We told you about the interview. Clemens read our post. And, he responded via email saying, "I welcome the chance to answer the questions of your readers."
Houstonist worked for nearly five weeks with the Clemens team to schedule a phone interview. Although we spoke to Clemens twice, neither conversation was long enough for us to conduct an interview. We finally resorted to an email-based interview so we could get the answers to your questions.
And here they are.
What's the truth? (from: mfib)
The truth is the truth. I've said it many times. I don't know what else to say about that.
You have stated that you never took HGH. However, your wife has admitted she took HGH and that that drug was provided by Brian McNamee. Are you saying that he was an adviser of yours and you let him give your wife a performance enhancing drug that you have never taken? (from: Brian Kist)
First, I did not "let" Brian McNamee inject my wife. As I stated in the congressional deposition, I was not at home when the incident took place. All you have to do is read — just go to the congressional website and spend some time reading.
Why do you believe that Mr. McNamee brought these allegations against you? (from: Cinderelly25)
I believe I do know why he made the allegations, but I am holding on to that due to ongoing litigation.
Regardless of the truthfulness of the claims that have been made about you, how would you go about restoring fans' trust in you? (from: Rob Hays)
I don't think there's a way for me to completely restore everyone's trust in me. All I can do is try to get a proper venue to argue my case. Once I'm able to do that, the fans will know the full story. There's really no way for me to prove a negative.
Do you believe that you will get a chance to present your side of the story in a court of law? And if you do not, what will be your recourse, if any? Will you write a book? (from: Cinderelly25)
I sure hope so. I think that's the only place that we will be able to fully and fairly tell our side of the story.
If I don't get that opportunity, I'm not sure how we'll go forward. That is something to be handled if, or when, the time comes.
I've already written one book earlier in my career with Peter Gammons, and I enjoyed that. At this point there have been many conversations about me sitting down to write another one, and I guess that is a real possibility.
What effect do you feel this controversy has had on Koby's career? What advice are you giving him to deal with a potential life in the big leagues should he make it? Do you feel his chances are any lessened by public sentiment despite his own talents? (from: Mark Rudkin)
Koby is his own man. Remember, he has grown up in this environment and is no stranger to the media. I think the controversy interrupted him for a bit from the media following him around, but they were great to Koby. They didn't hammer him about the situation I've been dealing with, and no, I don't think Koby's chances are lessened. I think he has the same chance as anyone else of making his own way.
Koby also knows a lot about life in the big leagues since he's been with me quite a bit. If he makes it to the bigs, he knows what to expect for the most part, and I will continue to advise him to stay positive and work hard. That's all I can do: be his dad.
What is your opinion of the league's current policies regarding HGH and steroids? And do you have any suggestions for how these policies should be changed in the future? (from: Beau Henry)
I think the league's current policy is good. I think the testing is great. I've been tested many times during my career. I've passed every test I've taken for MLB, and I was tested for the World Games and passed those also.
From your perspective, please describe what a realistic, positive ending to this story would be. And, if I may follow up, what actions are you taking to see that this comes to pass? (from: blueruin)
Well, I'm hoping to be able to clear my name. If I'm given the opportunity, at least I'll know I've done everything I could. All I can do is try to work through the legal system.
Do you think you will ever get into the Hall of Fame? (from: gnipgnop)
The HOF is the final resting spot for players who have made their mark in the MLB, and absolutely, I'd love to be a part of the Hall of Fame. There are bits and pieces of me there now. Having said that, you have to be voted in, and as a player you have no control over that. It's a fantastic place, a fantastic town.
If you could change one key decision you made during your career, what would it be? (from: pedros31)
There are no key decisions that I have made in my career that I would change, because each one led me to something I would have never had the opportunity to do — other than holding back on a key fastball or two to Reggie Jackson, George Brett and Robin Yount, who took me deep. Maybe I should have thrown my change up instead! (smile)
I want to thank the fans and supporters who have been nothing but great to me and my family over the past year or so. I look forward to seeing you around town.
Peace in the Middle East.
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sad don't write a book yet rocket u might have to write another one later. just like pete rose
i was hoping the broken bat question would make it to the interview :(
i still think he is delusional but i really want to believe him. :(
Hey Jason, forgot to ask you this. Were there any questions in the e-mail that he returned unanswered, or is that all the questions you passed on to him?
Why did he contact y'all?
I think he was looking for a non-traditional media channel to address the public. We've got that covered.
Why did you opt for an email interview? "That shit was weak."
I didn't opt for an email exchange. And, yes, you are correct.
I sent over a list of sample questions representing the topics I wanted to cover so that his legal team would approve them, which translates to not wasting time while I had him on the phone asking things he wouldn't answer. We were to have conducted a phone interview once the sample question review was complete.
Why those questions? And, why didn't you ask more questions?
That list was compiled from comments and emails received in reply to the call for questions. Although we quite a few submissions, not all of them were appropriate or relevant so Jim and I screened them. I would have asked more questions had the phoner happened.
So you had a phone interview scheduled?
Sort of. 30 minute conversations were penciled-in twice, but trying to pin down a 100% confirmed time was like trying to eat warm Jello with a fork. Further, I told his his web media management team - his sisters, Brenda & Janet - that my schedule was flexible as long as I had an hour notice.
What did you talk about when he called?
On the first call, we ran through his schedule to sort out his availability. He called the second time to confirm he'd answered the questions in the email I'd received.
He basically said the same stuff he's been saying. Is that what you expected?
Yep. Why would his responses change at this point? I surely didn't expect a Lt. Kaffee / Col. Jessep moment of revelation.