Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Ex-major leaguer and seven-time Cy Young winner, Roger Clemens, plead not guilty today to charges that he lied to Congress about whether or not he took steroids.
The 11 time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion nicknamed “Rocket” was indicted on three counts of making false statements, two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of Congress.
“Not guilty, your honor,” Clemens said powerfully with his right hand on the lectern. Those words could be the most important words ever uttered from his mouth.
The hearing lasted less than 14 minutes but could end up costing Clemens a shot at the Hall of Fame and quit possibly some time in a federal prison.
If Clemens is found guilty on all charges, he could face up to 30 years in prison and have to pay the hefty fine of $1.5 million. Although due to federal guidelines, Clemens would more likely spend 15 to 21 months.
Clemens stands by his statements that he has never taken steroids or HGH and said he plans on fighting the case.
“I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial,” Clemens wrote on Twitter after the indictment. “I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court.”
The case seems to be a battle of his word versus theirs. Former trainer Brian McNamee said that Clemens used both steroids and HGH and that he personally injected Clemens himself. Former teammate Andy Pettitte also told Congress that Clemens told him that he used HGH. The “Rocket” says that Pettitte “misremembers” the conversation.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who presided over the arraignment hearing, was given access to the grand jury testimony and FBI interviews that were used to indict Clemens. He was also able to view a 34-page master index and 12 computer discs of evidence.
“There’s a good deal of scientific evidence that needs to be tested,” Clemens lawyer Rusty Hardin told the judge. “We’re at the mercy of the experts.”
Walton set the jury selection will begin April 5th, the first week of the 2011 MLB season and around the same time all-time home run leader Barry Bonds perjury case could be coming to a close.
Clemens recorded 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.12 during a dominant 23 seasons in the MLB.
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about 1 year ago
It's Roger, not Rodger. You should try doing your homework MM. I thought a blog was supposed to be your opinions on events, not just reporting the news. How about grow a back bone! Take a stance! Taking dictation while watching Sports Center in unoriginal and cheap. If you refuse to do your job, then I will.
WHAT A FARCE! The first thing you see with a guy on PEDs is a dramatic change in the athletes physic, such as Pitt Bonds and San Fran Bonds or Seattle A-Rod and Texas A-Rod. The Rocket went from a big, scary guy in Bean Town to a big, fat, scary guy North of the Border. Take a look at the 'Roid HOF: Bonds, Sosa, Canseco, McGwire all GIGANTIC guys. Clemens does not fit into that category. furthermore, if a pitcher is on the juice, wouldn't his fastball get more dominate later in his career i.e. Kevin Brown and Eric Gagne. Roger's steady decline from 97 to 95 to 93 and his ability to throw in the mid 90's when he only played home games and for 5 or fewer innings shows his lack of use of steroids and/or HGH. This is nothing but a smear campaign led by the MLB to tarnish the name's of the greats who unfortunately played in the * era, GUILTY OR NOT, so they can erase our minds of our childhood hero's and usher the "Clean" stars of today into our heart's and mind's. This is a once great game that is now the "Latin" American Pastime, has failing attendance records and who's ratings bow to that of the NFL. The good ole' U.S. of A. no longer yearns for great athletic feats, but to drudge up negativity on any man, woman or child who commits them or tarnish their legacy in the pursuit of gossip. That's how you get attention and ratings these days and its deplorable.
This so called "Blog" will surely be a precursor to a career for me and not you. I thank you in advance and eagerly await your comments.
about 1 year ago
Hooey,
Thank you for your comment. Too bad you had to be some pathetic loser who thinks he will have a "career" because he came on my blog and bashed mine. In your blog you can write whatever style you would like. I didn't realize there were rules to writing my blog. In the Clemens case, I chose to write a summary of the events taking place. Like it or not, Its my blog. How can you say this guy didn't take steroids? His head grew to the size of a melon. Maybe you guys have something in common. He had his lowest ERA at age 42. He progressively got better and was still throwing heat into his forties. He was on the Mitchell Report which is practically a sure call he was on the juice. All the other guys of the steroid era have come clean, its now time for Clemens to fess up or face jail time.
Once again I thank you for your comment and I wish you the best of luck in your blogging career. May I ask the great one where his blog is by the way? Couldn't seem to find it…
about 1 year ago
Hooey,
Think about it. Why would the MLB waste their time and money if they were only trying drag down one of their great pitchers? Last I checked, the MLB is a business, and while Selig may not always be on par with good business practice, I'm sure he isn't going into this with a vendetta against Clemens.
about 1 year ago
Aklett,
They are a business and have realized that they are in a dieing business. they are taking a page out of entertainment's playbook, All press is good press. No one cares anymore is the problem and American's attention span last a millisecond. The MLB is getting free press, and this makes them seam like a hard nosed organization. When Bonds was indicted there wasn't near as much fuss as there is with Clemens. Why? Because if the MLB and ESPN made a huge spectacle of Bonds, then it shows that the best power hitter in the game was an outright cheat, Clemens is maybe a top 10 all time pitcher. That's not the same as #1. You can crucify a great player and get away with it but you can't with the greatest.
Mike,
yes it is your blog, But that doesn't mean that I can't disagree with it and share my opinion. Also when Clemens was 42 he went into closer mode. He knew would only have to throw a fraction of his usual work load so he could throw as hard as he wanted and in a pitcher's ballpark, when had had always pitched in smaller hitters ballparks. Clemens is a big name and he is very image conscience, and after seeing the effect that lying and/or denying had on so many other ball players, you would think that he would have gone another route and come clean like A-Rod. A-Rod came clean and no one cares about it anymore. So like the title of this piece "Innocent until proven guilty"
about 1 year ago
Hooey,
Sorry but I'm having trouble reading this mess you just posted. Your thoughts are across the board. For someone who claims that "This so called "Blog" will surely be a precursor to a career for me and not you," you should work on your sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and collection of thoughts. This is kindergarten crap you keep posting.
When Bonds was in the same position that Clemens is in now, it was just as big as a spectacle, if not bigger. Bonds was changing history with his home run record at the same time being accused of taking steroids. ESPN covered this story non-stop. Any time you turned it on, there he was.
Your "theory" on the MLB plotting to revamp a dying business is absurd. Major League Baseball in no way, shape or form, want these witch hunts for steroid users taking place. It’s bad for business and is tarnishing the game.
Roger Clemens had one of his best statistical years ever at age 42. He posted a 13-8 record, an ERA of 1.87 (the lowest of his career) and struck out 185 batters. How does someone at the age of 42 seem to get better and post these ridiculous numbers?
Before the World Baseball Classic in 2006, every player was tested for steroids, and everyone was found clean. Clemens struggled in the WBC. His fastball was sluggish, and his off-speed pitches were meager at best. This is another sign that Clemens took steroids and needed them to compete in his forties.
I have no problem with you disagreeing with me; in fact, I find it fun to debate about sports. But your first post was slanderous and attacking.
"How about grow a back bone! Take a stance! Taking dictation while watching Sports Center in unoriginal and cheap. If you refuse to do your job, then I will." – That is not a debate. That is an attack.
Well Mr. Hooey, if you feel so passionate about sports, I encourage you to write your own blog and quit wasting your time with mine. Again, I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.