MuscleSport Mag has reached out to RotoInfo and is awaiting a response. The main question on everyone’s mind is who was the original source. None of the names will shock you and many of them appeared in the Mitchell Report.

There does not appear to be any significance in the order of the names, either. It is not listed alphabetically or by position, so it appears to be a general list. The accuracy of it remains to be seen. While it seems inevitable that this list will become publicized at some time, we will not know for sure until then if the one on RotoInfo was truthful or not.

David Ortiz, who has come under scrutiny during his prolonged slump to start the season, was on this list, as was Manny Ramirez, his former teammate who is currently serving a 50-game suspension for a banned substance.

Roger Clemens, Raphael Palmiero and Sammy Sosa appear, and they may have to answer perjury charges for their subsequent denials under oath if this is in fact true. Alex Rodriguez’s name appears, which had already been reported.

The list actually contains only 103 names and does not include Jason Grimsley, who tested positive that same year according to court records. That may account for the difference of one and something that we will look to clarify if a response to our request is received.

Here are the names as reported by RotoInfo:

Source: http://rotoinfo.com/read_article.php?articleId=318

Photo by Bill Menzel

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UPCOMING GUESTS

June 2 – Authors of “American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens & the Rise of Steroids in America’s Pastime”

June 9 – Bodybuilding legend Steve Michalik

June 16 – Former WWF and UFC star Dan “The Beast” Severn

June 23 – Former pro bodybuilder Tom Terwilliger

Once it is all said and done, an old saying may need to be modified. With a federal grand jury commencing in Washington, D.C. to investigate if Roger Clemens lied under oath when testifying in front of Congress last year, it would seem as if the deck is stacked against the Rocket. “You can indict a ham sandwich in front of a grand jury” may need to be modified with ‘Clemens’ replacing that old lunchtime favorite.

Depending on what side of the fence you stand on, it is still being viewed by the majority that Clemens did in fact use steroids. All the denying by him has been almost comical and the testimony of Kirk Radomski and Brian McNamee will in all likelihood sink Clemens.

Even if the same evidence that we have heard a hundred times is presented, that should still be enough for an open-minded and objective group of people to make a determination. There is the possibility that something new will come up and we will have to wait and see on that one.

If Clemens does find himself indicted and behind the eight ball, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Butler, who is presenting the case for the prosecution, can treat himself to a Clemens on rye afterwards.

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.

Just for the sheer ridiculousness of this entire fiasco, it will be a cat fight either way Ellison rules. He most likely will not drop the entire matter and may rule to have the case heard in New York, as McNamee’s lawyer Richard Emery has claimed.

When will The Rocket let the matter go? It is so obvious that he used performance-enhancing drugs and does not have the balls to admit it. Even if every civil court in the country finds him in favor, the court of public opinion is going to be the deciding factor if he is remembered as a juice monkey or arguably the best pitcher of all time.

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.

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.

The Yankees won two straight World Series with Clemens when he was first acquired from Toronto, and also played in two others. He had 14, 13, 20, 13 and 17 wins in pinstripes. Appearing washed up, he struggled to a 6-6 mark in his return last summer.

Always a fan favorite, it would have been interesting to see the reaction Clemens would have received. Unfortunately, we will never know.

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.

The crux of the civil suit is that Clemens’ side has to convince the jury that he never used any performance-enhancing drugs and McNamee’s version “harmed Clemens’ reputation.” In the event that a group of people even less educated than the O.J. Simpson jurors can be gathered together will be the only chance that Clemens has to be believed that he never used any PEDs. Regardless of what state the case is held in, that will be highly unlikely.

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.

Some of this new evidence seems to corroborate McNamee’s claims of Clemens being aware of his wife’s drug use, which he has denied. Clemens has testified under oath that he never used any performance-enhancing drugs or that he knew that his wife intended on using HGH. Having a shipment of that exact substance sent under your name would make that difficult on either end.

Rusty Hardin, who has miraculously remained as Clemens’ lawyer even though he has proven time and time again to be completely incompetent, told reporters that he was unaware of the receipts.

“I can’t imagine that there’s any truth to that at all,” said Hardin. “We’ll find out one day Roger never received or took the stuff.”

If there was a poll taken, perhaps the only lawyers ranked lower than Hardin would be the prosecution team in the O.J. Simpson trial. He has publicly admitted that he is unable to control Clemens, who appears to enjoy challenging the obvious. Any lawyer worth his weight would not allow his client to talk enough to hang himself, this the reason why they have been nicknamed their client’s ‘mouthpiece.’

The United States Justice Department is investigating whether to bring Clemens up on perjury charges, and the discovery of written documentation can only make that happen. What the Daily News report did not state was who did actually sign for the package. Depending if it was Clemens or his wife, that would make a difference in rebutting against Clemens’ earlier testimony.

As the evidence mounts up against the Rocket, it is becoming harder and harder for him and his constantly surprised lawyer to deny this. If you’re expecting either or both to reverse course and admit what we all know to be true, it will be a cold day during August in Texas before that happens.

Photo credit: rotorob.com

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.

“I love my sport, but the business has to come out of the hole,” Robinson said. “All the money that ‘The Classic’ – they used to call it the ‘Arnold Classic’ – is making, that you only have a $150,000 paycheck?

“Bodybuilders have come up to me recently and said they’re not happy,” continued Robinson. “They deserve more. From the Weiders and from the Governor. No disrespect.”

Back in the 1980s, Robinson actually moved out of the United States to “escape the destructive politics of the business,” having strong feelings about corruption in bodybuilding and steroid abuse.

“There’s a lot of drugs in the sport,” he said. “To be 300 pounds and come down to 260 or 250… I think the government ought to do something.” Robinson made his point clear, but also was up front about his own use. “I never took drugs when I came here (to California from Florida) in 1975. The first time I got involved was two weeks before Mr. World. I took the shot – which was primo depot – and remembered going home and sitting down and the whole room started spinning.”

During his competing days, Robinson would not use steroids during the offseason, but said that when he was eight weeks out, he would take something every two weeks.

“I still practiced that until I retired,” he said. “Recently, B-12 was low in my body, and I know that was from steroid use.”

Regarding the popularity of the sport, Robinson feels that the powers that be are deliberately holding it back. “They’re trying to keep it down because of the drugs,” he said. “We’re not in a big light. It’s more of a sub-culture, a cult sport. It’s (stopping steroids) going to take away from it. The government will get involved – like (Roger) Clemens and (Barry) Bonds.”

Robinson feels that the baseball players named in the Mitchell Report are getting a “bad rap,” and all the injuries this season are not a coincidence.

“Take (Jason) Giambi,” he said. “When you use that stuff (steroids), you get blown up. When you stop, you’re weaker.

“Barry (Bonds) got nastier,” continued Robinson. “I love the guy, but c’mon!”

Very opinionated. Very intelligent. And very charismatic. That’s Robby Robinson. A bodybuilder who says that he will continue working out “until the end of time,” and no one would argue that.

Photo courtesy of Robby Robinson. (left to right) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ed Corney, Robby Robinson, Mike Mentzer, Ken Waller