by Digger

Rocket's Red Glare has a new meaning. One of baseball's best starting pitchers of my generation was exposed as an alleged performance enhancing drug user. Ever since, he has been attempting to vigorously defend his name and legacy.

In a previously written blog from December 13th, I held back no punches re: MLB's Mitchell Report on HGH (human growth hormones). This opinion piece points out how the very brief (and unproven) list of exposed players was nothing more than red meat thrown to blood thirsty reporters and fans all wanting to know the games cheaters. One problem with this incomplete list, Mitchell states every single team in MLB had players abusing performance drugs. However, he only listed a few names taken from indicted informants. One of Mitchell's most glaring flaws, which screams for attention while being ignored by mainstream journalists, is the ommission of first hand witnesses beyond two pleading for their freedom. If all teams had juiced players, certainly he could have cut a deal with at least one locker room attendant or bat boy or team trainers. Afterall, this farce of an investigation played out over a year and lacked any true substance beyond recommendations for the future. Mitchell should have provided player names from teams league wide instead of mostly from his hated rivals in New York (Mitchell is a Boston Red Sox Executive) out players from every team of kep naming names from all MLB clubs or none at all beyond those players already admitting involvement.

Back to the point at hand. How does one (Clemens) defend his name if truly innocent? The damage has been done. Clemens and others had their names exposed and splashed from headline to headline. Some players admitted trying or using. Most will remain silent. Roger Clemens has flatly denied ever using foreign or illegal substances. He's in the process of suing a former friend turned government witness and held a somewhat animated press conference this past week addressing this accusation.

Upon conclusion of Rocket's press conference... sports reporters remained skeptical and many have spoken of how Roger has yet to say anything to sway their personal beliefs. If Roger is innocent, how does he defend his name without creating further doubters? Guilty by association seems to be ruling the day in baseball. As a league, they've earned it. As individuals, time will tell.

For a decade the likes of Pete Rose denied betting on baseball before finally admitting he broke the games cardinal rule. Barry Bonds apparently lied to a Grand Jury and is now facing Federal perjury charges. McGwire flat out refuses to address his past. Palmeiro's finger waving at Congress. Blatent skepticism and denials towards Jose Canseco's tell all book had drive by media types painting him as a loon. Turns out, he was right on (and denied entrance to Mitchell's public news conference). Time and time again, guilty parties always profess "not guilty" until evidence or a new book evokes an admission.

So from where I sit, at least for the short term, Roger Clemens is in a no win situation until one of two things takes place (if ever). Clemens needs to show evidence of being set up or MLB needs to provide evidence he took HGH (by cancelled check, purchase order, delivery receipt etc). Reality dictates, niether will ever happen and it will be left up a skeptical public to believe or discard.

George Mitchell completely slimed his way thru this bogus report. He offered very few original opinions or facts regarding alledged abuses and relied heavily on testimony from indicted men trying to trade their way out of a jail sentence. Hand selecting a choice few names instead of fulling his duty for which he was charged is unacceptable.

Roger may never clear his name from skeptical minds. Damage to public opinion has already been done. Unless a dramatic turn of events occurs... he's probably forever associated with doping... guilt or innocence not withstanding. There will be no trial. He is charged with no crime. Clemens verdict rests solely with public opinion.

Good luck Roger... one way or another you're going to need it.