Houston, We Have a Problem

For a man that had been given kudos for giving money to vagrants and preferring to be called by his first name, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison seems like a reasonable man. Maybe that is the problem why he has had such a difficult time coming to a decision in the infamous Roger Clemens - Brian McNamee civil lawsuit.

After hearing both sides argue about the case for two hours in a Houston courtroom, ‘Keith’ said, “I really have been agonizing over these claims.” Perhaps many of us would, but it would probably have more to do with the comedic team of Clemens and his band of merry men. Joe Roden - an attorney with the offices of good ol’ Rusty Hardin - is working on this case. Continue Reading »

Future Uncertain with Shaky Second Half

Perhaps it was fitting that Andy Pettitte received the win in the final game ever at Yankee Stadium. Improving to 14-14, the veteran southpaw persevered to even his mark after going winless in his previous five starts. His last win came back on August 20 at Toronto.

It has been a trying season for Pettitte, who had to deal with all the performance-enhancing drug allegations against himself and good friend Roger Clemens. That seemed to be forgotten as he started out 9-5, but since going 4-0 in June, he has not faired as well.

Once the season concludes, both Pettitte and the Yankees need to make some very important decisions. First off, Pettitte has to decide if he wants to return for his 15th major league campaign. At 36, he is not very old, but has obviously passed his prime some time ago. He can still be a good starter in this league and would probably be invited back on a one-year deal with an option if he decides to come back.

Figure on the Yankees to be very active in both the trade and free agent markets, especially for starters. With the opening of the new Yankee Stadium, money will be no object (as if it ever was in the Bronx). Top of the line free agents like C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets will receive offers from the Yanks and they may land one of them.

The Yankees’ general manager situation is also up in the air. Incumbent Brian Cashman’s contract is up and he is no lock to return.

Rocket Not Invited to Pre-Game Reunion

Most of the former players that were held in high esteem were there. Not just old timers like the greta Yogi Berra, but more recent ones such as Paul O’Neill and Bernie Williams. But nowhere to be seen was Roger Clemens, who was an important piece in the Yankee dynasty during his tenure from 1999 to 2003.

A favorite of owner George Steinbrenner, the Rocket even came back out of another brief retirement in glorious fashion in 2007 by making the announcement himself from the Boss’ private luxury box. But even that wasn’t enough to bring him around for one more appearance at his old stomping grounds.

The Yankees’ silence on the subject spoke volumes. By not touching Clemens with a 10-foot pole, they have made it clear that due to his performance-enhancing drug allegations, he is no longer welcome in their home. Regardless of his repeated denials, it is so blatantly obvious that Clemens used them and has hurt his image by not coming clean. Continue Reading »

Roger Clemens’ Lawyer Hardin Files Motion to Keep Defamation Trial in Texas

In a move that merely adds to the nonsense that is Roger Clemens, his lawyer Rusty (Trombone) Hardin filed documents in a Houston courtroom attempting to reject two motions by Brian McNamee, to throw out the defamation case or have it heard in New York.

Hardin claimed that the former trainer’s statements “did cause their greatest harm to Clemens in Texas,” which probably caused U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison to lose his lunch. The only harm it may have caused the ex-pitcher was to uncover the lies that he had been spinning all along. Continue Reading »

Radomski Pulls out HGH Shipping Receipts; Rocket’s Inadequate Lawyer Denies the Obvious

According to a report in the New York Daily News, Roger Clemens’ worst nightmare may have come true. All through his public denials of what everyone else believes to be true, it has mostly been word against word. Lacking documentation, it came down to whom you believed.

Kirk Radomski, a major steroid supplier who eventually cooperated with investigators, recently discovered shipping receipts from 2002 or 2003 for two kits of human growth hormone that he sent to Clemens at his Houston home. While this is no great revelation to anyone other than Clemens himself, it does put another nail in the former pitcher’s coffin.

The report further stated that the package was addressed to “William Roger Clemens (his actual full name), in care of Brian McNamee,” and that Clemens’ former trainer did not sign for it. The unnamed source added that dates coincide with when Debbie Clemens used HGH to prepare for a Sport Illustrated pictorial with her husband. Continue Reading »

“The Black Prince” Throws Barbs at Arnold and Weider, Steroids in Bodybuilding and Baseball

To be considered one of the pioneers and a legend in your sport is something that can never go away. Even if he never picked up a weight again, Robby Robinson would always be one of the elite bodybuilders of all time.

While most men at the age of 62 find more time to sit around than exercise and have a diet that make their doctors turn red, the man known as “The Black Prince” still busts it in the gym and has not ‘enjoyed’ as much as piece of pie in over 20 years.

Never one to not speak his mind during the ‘golden age of bodybuilding,’ Robinson still has that trait and it is part of what has made him so great while being understood in certain circles. He has his own opinion on some of the biggest names in his sport and others, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Weider, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Continue Reading »

Inconsistency Plagues Pitcher as Yanks Need Ace

At the start of the 2008 baseball season, Andy Pettitte seemed to be pitching with his mind elsewhere. Although his numbers weren’t all bad, the inconsistency that was rarely a part of his game seemed to be the only thing consistent during April and May and the beginning of June. One could hardly blame him, with the volatile offseason filled with the George Mitchell investigation and testimony for the congressional hearings starring Roger Clemens.

That all seemed to be past him as Pettitte won four straight decisions to improve to 9-5. Then word leaked out that he may have to testify in the federal defamation lawsuit that Clemens filed against both hurlers’ former trainer Brian McNamee. The following day, Pettitte got pounded by the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Continue Reading »

Steroid Paraphernalia May Be the ‘Smoking Gun’ That the Mitchell Report Wasn’t

If there ever was a perfect topic for the next ridiculous reality television show, it would be the impending defamation and emotional distress lawsuit filed by Roger Clemens against his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. This one has all the characters - the ridiculed ex-jock; his jilted ex; his defiant and defending spouse and his pious best friend who can’t lie for him. Sounds like a winner, or at least one season worth of entertainment

But the only place on TV that you’ll see this soap opera is during the sports report - or maybe of it gets kicked down - in Judge Judy’s chambers. Brian McNamee’s attorney filed a brief in court in an attempt to either get the entire case dismissed or moved from Texas to New York. Even if this case was transferred to Baghdad Supreme Court, a jury full of Al Qaida insurgents would be able to see through Clemens’ lies without a chance of them being “misheard.” Continue Reading »

Attention-Seeking Trainer to Also Testify in Front of Congress

It appears as if Big Brown has one more race in him before being put out to stud. On Tuesday, Rick Dutrow, Jr., the colt’s trainer, said that the horse will be injected with Winstrol over the weekend. If he is healthy, Big Brown will run on either August 3 (the Haskell at Monmouth) or August 23 (the Travers at Saratoga). Now all we have to wait for is for Dutrow to try to take this statement back (as he did after the Preakness) and for the odds makers to figure on a strong bounce back run for the three year-old after receiving some gear.

Dutrow will have a busy week with an invitation from Congress for next Thursday. “Breeding, Drugs, and Breakdowns: The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and the Welfare of the Thoroughbred Racehorse” is the latest interference on the sports world by members of the United States government. Expect him to make a horse’s ass out of himself, similar to Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Raphael Palmiero and Sammy Sosa have in the past. Continue Reading »

The Rocket Killed Two Birds with One Stone with “Blue Magic”

A report in Tuesday’s New York Daily News brought Roger Clemens to the forefront once again, this time claiming that the star pitcher also used Viagra to enhance his performance on the baseball field. The Rocket is not the only major leaguer to have turned to the little blue diamonds for more reasons than erectile dysfunction.

According to Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, all of the big name athletes in his stable used a similar supplement. The News article quoted Conte as saying as such, and that he felt that it was a “bigger product in nutritional supplements than creatine.” Viagra, in addition to it’s intended results, will also help build endurance; deliver oxygen, nutrients and PEDs to muscles more efficiently; and combat the side effects of testosterone injections. Clemens was reportedly using Sustanon 250, an anabolic steroid that includes different forms of test, so this would seem to add up. Continue Reading »