"Shortcuts were never an option"

Both Roger Clemens and trainer Brian McNamee testified this morning at a congressional hearing on the Mitchell Report to clear up the glaring contradictions between to two men's testimonies.

The Mitchell Report, released in mid-December, is a comprehensive report linking a number of MLB players, both past and present, to steroid and human growth hormone (HGH) usage.

Clemens, who was a focal point of the report, said in his opening statement, "I have never used steroids, HGH or any other types of illegal performancing enhancing drug."

The seven-time Cy Young winner said that he would never be able to clear his name, no matter what the results of this situation. Clemens said people have told him to admit to using the steroids to end this circus, but that he could not admit to something he did not do. Plain and simple.

Brian Mcnamee, though not as fluid a speaker as Clemens, gave an opening statement that clearly covered many question marks involved. He made clear the fact that of the three players he claimed to have injected, two have come clean--Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch--and that it is unfortunate that Clemens has decided to not tell the truth.

Not only did Andy Pettitte admit to the HGH injection in question, he offered up another time in which he injected himself with the drug. He gave a deposition stating that he and Clemens had spoken about HGH use on separate occasions and that he knew Clemens used HGH, but did not know from where he obtained them.

Representative Elijah Cummings noted that many players and coaches have called Pettitte the most honest guy in baseball and that he had no reason to lie about his friend Clemens. But Clemens said he believes Pettitte misheard him or does not completely recall the details surrounding their conversations.

McNamee said he had evidence to implicate Clemens., and was grilled about withholding evidence and lying to investigators. He said he saved syringes used on Clemens because the injections took place when the steroid issue was becoming real. He said he never considered using it until Clemens had a personal conversation recorded and McNamee realized Clemens was "looking out for number one."

He was berated particularly by Representative Dan Burton, who--for all intents and purposes--called McNamee a liar and Roger Clemens "a titan" of baseball.


*I unfortunately am not able to follow the remainder of the hearings. Should anything change or come about, an update will be posted later tonight.