Ex-Trainer: "I'll Go To Jail" For Clemens

Amid Steroid Allegations And Lawsuit, Phone Conversation With Former Trainer Made Public

(CBS/AP) 
The suit states that when McNamee told others that when he first was interviewed by federal law enforcement last June, he denied Clemens had used steroids or human growth hormone. The suit quotes McNamee as saying he was pressured by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella and IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky - key members of the BALCO prosecution - to implicate Clemens. The suit did not attribute where the quote from McNamee was obtained.

"After this exchange, and for the first time in his life, McNamee stated that he had injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001," the suit said. "Following his recantation, McNamee has relayed that he magically went from a 'target' in a federal criminal drug investigation to a mere 'witness,' so long as he continued to 'toe the line."'

The suit said that when McNamee initially refused a request from federal authorities that he speak to Mitchell, he was threatened with prosecution. Clemens said McNamee decided only then to cooperate with Mitchell, and the suit said McNamee told other the interview "was conducted like a Cold War-era interrogation in which a federal agent merely read to the Mitchell investigators McNamee's previously obtained statement and then asked McNamee to confirm what he previously stated."

Clemens asked that damages be determined by a jury.

"Clemens' good reputation has been severely injured," the suit said. "McNamee's false allegations have also caused Clemens to suffer mental anguish, shame, public humiliation and embarrassment."

Emery said McNamee was threatened with prosecution for steroids distribution unless he told the truth. That, according to Emery, was when McNamee implicated Clemens.

Emery also challenged Clemens' assertion that he didn't know in advance that he would be named in the Mitchell Report, releasing a pair of what he said were Dec. 11 faxes from Clemens and Andy Pettitte acknowledging a pair of private investigators worked for them.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner, who was scheduled to hold a late afternoon news conference Monday in Houston, sounded indignant and defiant in a segment of CBS's 60 Minutes broadcast Sunday night, his first interview since McNamee accused him. The two are approaching a potential confrontation if they testify under oath at a Jan. 16 hearing on Capitol Hill.

The most prominent player implicated in last month's Mitchell Report, Clemens steadfastly maintained his innocence and called McNamee's allegations "totally false."

"If he's doing that to me, I should have a third ear coming out of my forehead. I should be pulling tractors with my teeth," said Clemens, who wore a lavender button-down shirt during the interview, taped Dec. 28 at his home in Katy, Texas.

On Friday, when the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform invited Clemens and McNamee to testify, the pair spoke by telephone, an individual close to the situation said, speaking on condition of anonymity because public comments weren't authorized. The conversation first was reported Sunday by Newsday.

The individual would not say what was discussed.

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told the Houston Chronicle that it was McNamee who arranged to talk to Clemens on Friday but instead of getting back to Clemens the conversation was leaked "with spin" to Newsday.

During the "60 Minutes" segment, Clemens said he might be willing to take a lie-detector test and was "shocked" Pettitte used HGH. He said - again - that he probably will retire.

A fiery look in his eyes and stubble on his face, Clemens told CBS's Mike Wallace that he would have spoken with Mitchell had he been aware of McNamee's accusations.

"I thought it was an impassioned, disingenuous and desperate plea," said Earl Ward, McNamee's primary lawyer.

One of the few revelations in the much-hyped interview came when Clemens was asked whether he conceivably would take a lie detector test.

"Yeah," he answered. "I don't know if they're good or bad."

After Monday's news conference will come the congressional hearing. Pettitte, former Yankees teammate Chuck Knoblauch and former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who allegedly supplied McNamee with performance-enhancing drugs, also were asked to appear before the committee.

Lawyers for Clemens and McNamee have said their clients are willing to testify but Hardin wouldn't commit to the date.

Emery said he wanted to hear testimony from Clemens.

"If Congress calls him, he pretty much has to take the Fifth, and if he takes the Fifth, nobody will ever believe him again and all this effort has gone down the drain," Emery said. "And if he doesn't take the Fifth, it's very hard to imagine that a prosecutor isn't going to pursue this. So I think he's put himself in a terrible corner."

Clemens said his lawyer advised him not to speak with Mitchell, who spent 20 months on his investigation.

"If I would've known what this man, what Brian McNamee (had) said in this report, I would have been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it," Clemens said.

Only two active players, Jason Giambi and Frank Thomas, spoke with Mitchell, a Boston Red Sox director and a former Senate majority leader.

In excerpts of the CBS interview that were released Thursday, Clemens said McNamee injected him with vitamin B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine. In the full 14-minute broadcast, Clemens also said he was given an injection of toradol under the supervision of the New York Yankees.

McNamee told Mitchell he injected Clemens with steroids and HGH about 16 to 21 times during 1998, 2000 and 2001 - before baseball players and owners agreed to ban performance-enhancing substances.

Eighth on the career list with 354 wins, the 45-year-old Clemens said he was angered McNamee's accusations have been accepted as truth by some.

"It's hogwash for people to even assume this," Clemens said. "Twenty-four, 25 years, Mike. You'd think I'd get an inch of respect. An inch."

Clemens said the descriptions McNamee gave Mitchell of injections "never happened."

"If I have these needles and these steroids and all these drugs, where did I get 'em?" he said. "Where is the person out there (who) gave 'em to me? Please, please come forward."

[slippy54]

As a former lawyer I can tell you that information given as a result of a plea bargain or immunity deal usually isn''t worth the breath used to make the accusation. It''s basic human nature to do or say anything to save oneself. I do believe a man is innocent until reliable substantiated proof is provided to establish actual guilt. That so far is wholly lacking here.

[excoachken]

Roger is a liar.

[realtalk5950]

HE DID IT

[bobnjersey]

[You''''re a good pitcher but as a person you really disappoint me.]
[Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH at 02:08 PM : Jan 08, 2008]

how do you know him as a person? from the cbs interview? from his standing on the mound?

why do you care what he is beyond his sporting accomplishments?

[smiley676]

I''''m hoping that it will be proven that you are innocent but even if that happens my respect for is gone (except for your pitching).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH

I''m sure he doesn''t care if he has your respect. I''m not making a statement on whether he did or did not do something wrong. What I''m saying is, why do you people think that movie stars, athletes, etc. care about your respect.

Who are you to judge anyway? Are you perfect? NO

[dgermenis]

You''re a traitor, Roger! You should be on the Astros. You went to Spring Woods High School in HOUSTON, remember??? You''re not "back home"!!!

[guysdigdirt]

Clemens said "LANACANE" not lidocane - any idiot KNOWS you walk into a drug store and buy LANACANE to rub on itchy rashes (it''''s a cortisone based cream) and while you are in the store, you can also buy B-12 capsules. Why would you have an INJECTION of a vitamin??? Posted by kevzgrl

You are such a richard cranium.

Since you will never be on a national television show you will never know the stress that can induce, so for him to say the wrong word and you castigate him for it, you are an imbecile.

Do your homework, vitamin B in a liquid form is more potent and effective than a pill.

[realtalk5950]

They should steroid test everyone in MLB and NFL. that way so many players will be banned they will shut down both leagues and it will be great because they are both filled with a bunch of ''roided up maniacs.

IF YA SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLL WHAT THE MLB AND THE NFL ARE COOKIN''!!!!

[redbarron73]

Posted by leafsntrees at 12:33 PM : Jan 08, 2008


Must be a sad life you''re living when all you do is spew a bunch of nonsense under multiple ID''s on CBS comment boards.

[smiley676]

So much for that. Also, why would they inject lidocane (although if you LISTEN to what he said, it came out LANAcane) into his BUTT for a pain in his ARM??? That is a local anesthetic, not systemic


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Posted by kevzgrl

This would be a good point if Clemens was a doctor. He''s a baseball player, they tend to take advice from their trainers without double checking. It is entirely possible that he was injected with steroids without knowing it. It is also possible that his trainer just lied to get a deal. And it is also possible that Clemens is lying.

But that''s not for any of us to judge. This is clearly a case of defamation if his trainer is lying and a court will have to make that judgment. Getting your information from the press is not the best way to get the facts.

[bobnjersey]

[They have a forced statement from one person who was threatened with jail if he didn''''t say what they wanted him to say. Bring the proof before you judge someone. Without proof your as dumb as that rat Dan Shaunghnessy at the Boston Globe.]
[Posted by notmudrose at 11:56 AM : Jan 08, 2008]

well said ... too bad you''re in the minority

[kevzgrl]

To squidly8: You said Clemens has the right to face his accuser and see the proof of his claims. He HAD that opportunity, Mr. Mitchell told all the players involved what he had and gave them the opportunity to come in and present their side and SEE/HEAR what he had, and Clemens'' attorney TOLD HIM NOT TO!!! "Clemens said his lawyer advised him not to speak with Mitchell, who spent 20 months on his investigation.

"If I would''ve known what this man, what Brian McNamee (had) said in this report, I would have been down there in a heartbeat to take care of it," Clemens said."

So much for that. Also, why would they inject lidocane (although if you LISTEN to what he said, it came out LANAcane) into his BUTT for a pain in his ARM??? That is a local anesthetic, not systemic

[kevzgrl]

I listened to AND watched the 60 Minutes interview - when Mike Wallace asked about injections, Clemens said "LANACANE" not lidocane - any idiot KNOWS you walk into a drug store and buy LANACANE to rub on itchy rashes (it''s a cortisone based cream) and while you are in the store, you can also buy B-12 capsules. Why would you have an INJECTION of a vitamin??? He couldn''t maintain eye contact when he was answering the hard questions - kept looking down or away each time he denied using anything to enhance his performance. That says more to me than his hollow-sounding denials. I say let them polygraph him and ask those questions again, see what that shows - ooooh, I forgot, his attorney won''t let him do that, just like he told him not to cooperate with the Mitchell investigation.....

[bobnjersey]

[Steroid use in sports is cheating ... Baseball is passe anyhow.]
[Posted by jh6379 at 09:17 AM : Jan 08, 2008]

so having a team of strength trainers, excercise phsyiologists, and full time professional sports professionals around you 24/7 is wholly within the bounds of fair play?

why are steroids where the line is at?

[ajaxtheleast]

No no, what''s good for the goose is good for
a "queer" gander.

[ajaxtheleast]

The only thing I can see is Mitchell not wanting to show up at the news conference saying "I have worked
on this investigation for a full year, I turned over every stone, searched every nook and kraney, exausted my physical and mental self and here''s what I got for you . . . . Knoblok.".
If Rodger cant prove that Mitchell needed a "name"
then it''s a sad end for ol'' Rog.

[Krazcarl]

I''ve had 15 surgeries {disabled} anytime I was injectected with anything I KNEW what it was except after a brain anyorism I was in a drug induced coma for a month or probably would have died.

[allunknowing]

lol

We''re only reading abbout this "front page" article because:
1. news IS entertainment now.
2. lawyers make far more money suing all-star athletes than they do persuing trailer park pedophiles.


This "news" is a joke. I am embarassed that I read it with interest.

[kattyclayz]

I really hope that Clemens never took steroids, cause if he did, he could''a at least gotten as bulky as Sosa or McGuire or something. Sheesh, if you''re gonna do something, do it right.

Steroids to baseball is like beer to NASCAR fans. It just makes it that much more interesting.

[dgermenis]

You''re a loser, Roger! You''re from Houston, not New York! You should have never left the Astros! You''re a loser!!!