Down in the dirt with Roger Clemens

The New York Daily News' story that Roger Clemens may or may not have had sex with a 15-year-old country singer doesn't seem to have much legs. But, I observe in my latest for the Guardian, that's really the least of the Rocket's problems these days.

The ugliest turn yet for Clemens

The New York Daily News shimmies nearly all the way out to the end of the limb today. Let's not kid ourselves: Weasel words aside, you are instructed to believe that Roger Clemens started having sex with country star Mindy McCready when she was 15 years old. It depends on what the meaning of "romance" is, I guess.

What do you suppose Clemens' lawyers are doing today? Researching libel law, or the statute of limitations? This is so ugly that the steroid allegations pale by comparison.

Roger Clemens' crash landing

I was working and didn't see any of Roger Clemens' testimony. But this, from the New York Times, is enough for me:

Mr. Clemens testified that in those conversations with Mr. Pettitte, he was talking about his wife's use of H.G.H. one time and on another occasion was referring to something he saw on a television show. Mr. Clemens sought to rebut Mr. Pettitte's sworn and damaging statements to the committee that Mr. Clemens told him point blank that he had used H.G.H.

But Henry A. Waxman, the California Democrat who chairs the committee, clearly did not believe Mr. Clemens, and pointed out that Mr. Pettitte's wife, Laura, had also given an affidavit in which she confirmed that her husband told her about his conversation with Mr. Clemens shortly after it took place.

As ridiculous as Clemens' insistence that he didn't use performance-enhancing drugs may be, you certainly couldn't throw the book at him on Brian McNamee's say-so. A lot of observers have fallen for the ridiculous notion that McNamee had no incentive to lie. In fact, he had every incentive to say what prosecutors wanted him to say. Pettitte, on the other hand, is a longtime friend of Clemens who is facing no legal consequences for any of this.

It's over. Never mind whether Clemens will go to the Hall of Fame. He could soon be facing much more serious problems. To quote U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., "Mr. Clemens, once again I remind you, you are under oath."

Of pitchers and Patriots

This Sunday we can finally get that Super Bowl thing over with and start talking about baseball. Spring training's just a few weeks away. Two quick hits this morning:

• I'm actually glad that Johan Santana has gone to the Mets, preferring to watch the Red Sox win (or lose) with the kids. As Tom Werner says, at least he's not going to the Yankees. And I know Pedro's near the end of his career, but can he handle not being the Man?
  
• Roger Clemens' protestations of innocence don't add up, but he's made them so vehemently that I had decided to suspend judgment. But if Andy Pettitte is ready to say Clemens used steroids and human growth hormone, it's lights out.

Oh, one other thing. Go Pats.