Clemens to be indicted for lying to congress

[Rice14]

A federal grand jury will indict Roger Clemens on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs, The New York Times reported, citing two sources briefed on the case.
An announcement of the indictment was expected in the near future, according to the report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5476761

[hardrain]

Roger, Roger...you delusional fool...

[fredgmuggs]

Roger, Roger...you delusional fool...

It's not a lie if you've convinced yourself that it is not. Sometimes I really do believe Roger has a skewed viewed of reality.

[Yankees1962]

Just remember it's very difficult to prove perjury beyond a shadow of the doubt.

[Steve Dalkowski]

Just remember it's very difficult to prove perjury beyond a shadow of the doubt.

If they indicted him, they've got the case. He's toast.

[JL25and3]

Just remember it's very difficult to prove perjury beyond a shadow of the doubt.

Reasonable doubt, not a shadow of a doubt.

They also only have to prove that one thing he said was a lie. In this case, they have other sworn testimony that directly contradicts Clemens's statements. If they've got evidence to support that testimony, that could amount to a pretty strong case.

[roblyo33]

Reasonable doubt, not a shadow of a doubt.

They also only have to prove that one thing he said was a lie. In this case, they have other sworn testimony that directly contradicts Clemens's statements. If they've got evidence to support that testimony, that could amount to a pretty strong case.

One can only hope.

[hardrain]

and to think Duquette was right all along.

[Yankees13]

Should have just admitted it and moved on.

[35Knucklecurve]

I forget which MLB analyst it was, but he stated back when this whole thing hit the fan was that the difference between Clemens and all the others who've either been associated with or admitted using PED's is that Clemens actually believes he did nothing wrong.....simply because, he is Roger Clemens. I don't know if I'd take it that far, but I do think that Clemens thought he could get away with lying to Congress because he is Roger Clemens.

[Snatch Catch]

I forget which MLB analyst it was, but he stated back when this whole thing hit the fan was that the difference between Clemens and all the others who've either been associated with or admitted using PED's is that Clemens actually believes he did nothing wrong.....simply because, he is Roger Clemens. I don't know if I'd take it that far, but I do think that Clemens thought he could get away with lying to Congress because he is Roger Clemens.

Many baseball players felt this way. It was an entitlement that was fostered by the way the MLBPA protected them from testing, and the Commissioner's Office looked the other way.

[Rice14]

I think Clemens knew that perjury charges are very difficult to prove and decided to go for it. By suing McNamee, lying to congress, refuting Andy Pettitte, etc. I think Clemens is trying to win in the only court he really cares about-the court of public opinion.

Let's face it, it's much easier for guys like Giambi and Pettitte to admit it because they were not the same caliber player that Clemens was. Before the Mitchell report, people debated whether Clemens was the best right handed pitcher of all time, for a guy with his ego, it's got to be crushing that now he's just thought of as a cheater. A-Rod is not a bad comparison to make to Clemens, because A-Rod too is considered by some to be GOAT, but A-Rod actually flunked a test. That's a little harder to deny (Insert Ortiz joke here).Further, A-Rod may have been able to minimize his usage when he came clean.(He could have, not saying he definitely did). Clemens had a guy laying the whole thing out, he couldn't claim "I did it once" or "Just for two years" or "I didn't know what it was." For Clemens to corroborate McNamee would mean admitting usage for at least seven or eight years. That's a good chunk of his career. The best comp may be Bonds, and Clemens is headed down the exact same path.

All he could do was deny, deny, deny...

[sweet_lou_14]

A-Rod is not a bad comparison to make to Clemens, because A-Rod too is considered by some to be GOAT, but A-Rod actually flunked a test.

I think the only comp for Clemens, really, is Bonds.

[C4v]

Seriously, what the hell was he thinking? Who was he trying to fool? He should've just admitted it like andy, arod and giambi did and the whole thing wouldve went away. Now hes about to go to jail. What a idiot

[Steve Dalkowski]

Anyone have a list of the Congressmen who kissed Clemens' ass on the day of his testimony, apologized to him, etc?

[Dave Visbeck]

Anyone have a list of the Congressmen who kissed Clemens' ass on the day of his testimony, apologized to him, etc?

http://cartoonistgroup.com/cards/vie...e3d422f5f730a8

[DontHateOnNumber2]

It's a shame former Red Sox ace Roger Clemens had to stoop to lying to the government. He could've avoided all of this just by thinking.

[Meecham4ever]

It's a shame former Red Sox ace Roger Clemens had to stoop to lying to the government. He could've avoided all of this just by thinking.

He insisted that he wanted to go in the HOF as a Yankee, but now, thankfully, he'll never get the chance.
ESPN, of course,makes this a Yankee story, pointing out that McNamee was a Yankee trainer, and interviewing Posada, Berkman and Pettite for the article.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5476761

[BronxYanks45]

ugh, this will get ugly, should have just admitted and moved on

[nnysiny]

hes so stubborn that he might just bury himself

[Bronson'sCornrows]

This whole thing makes me genuinely happy. Watching him dig himself deeper and deeper... throwing his wife and close friends under the bus... lying through his teeth...

Holy crap, it's just soooo entertaining to watch someone you so thoroughly dislike to not only make a gigantic idiot of himself, but to prove on a NATIONAL PLATFORM, why everyone should dislike him in the first place. Man, this just feels sooooo good.

[ny]

Holy crap, it's just soooo entertaining to watch someone you so thoroughly dislike to not only make a gigantic idiot of himself, but to prove on a NATIONAL PLATFORM, why everyone should dislike him in the first place. Man, this just feels sooooo good.

I feel the same way about Ortiz and his BS denials.

[Bronson'sCornrows]

I feel the same way about Ortiz and his BS denials.

No, you don't. Ortiz told a stupid lie to some newspaper reporters, stuck with it, and made himself look like an idiot. Fair enough.

Clemens told a stupid lie in front of Congress, ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, threw his own wife and several close, personal friends to the lions in a desperate bid to save his own skin, and is now being indicted for perjury.

I'm sure the Ortiz situation was exciting for you, but this is like comparing an RBI single that cuts the deficit to 1-run to a walkoff grand slam in the playoffs. Completely different levels of awesome.

[JDPNYY]

I don't think Roger is lying.

[ny]

Clemens told a stupid lie in front of Congress, ON NATIONAL TELEVISION

Meh big deal its not like he's the president or anything like that, personally I enjoyed the big fellas time in the Bronx, thanks for memories Rocket

[ojo]

No, you don't. Ortiz told a stupid lie to some newspaper reporters, stuck with it, and made himself look like an idiot. Fair enough.

Clemens told a stupid lie in front of Congress, ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, threw his own wife and several close, personal friends to the lions in a desperate bid to save his own skin, and is now being indicted for perjury.

I'm sure the Ortiz situation was exciting for you, but this is like comparing an RBI single that cuts the deficit to 1-run to a walkoff grand slam in the playoffs. Completely different levels of awesome.

if you're completely honest, that is only because baseball and those that report on the sport CHOSE to give ortiz a pass. presumably because they didn't have the temerity to call him on his own bold lies. probably for fear of alienating the witty bitty defenseless people who speak Spanish and don't know what big, bad steroids are.

[4bronxbombers]

I feel the same way about Ortiz and his BS denials.

Yup. I wish he would get called on the carpet.

[C4v]

The thing that truly makes this funny is HE was the one who demanded that meeting with congress. Despite there being overwhelming evidence against him, he actually had the nerve to get those people together so he could lie to their faces and now he's about to go to jail for it. The arrogance and foolishness is just astounding. I hope they throw the book at this jackass

[35Knucklecurve]

The thing that truly makes this funny is HE was the one who demanded that meeting with congress. Despite there being overwhelming evidence against him, he actually had the nerve to get those people together so he could lie to their faces and now he's about to go to jail for it. The arrogance and foolishness is just astounding. I hope they throw the book at this jackass

From today's Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/sp...html?th&emc=th

Some lawmakers said they were inclined to give Clemens the benefit of the doubt, noting that his reputation outshone that of McNamee, an admitted steroid dealer. And Clemens and his team clearly wagered that his fame would work in his favor — the week before the hearing, Clemens worked the halls of Congress, posing for photographs with members of the committee investigating him.

But that bravado also rubbed some the wrong way. “Sometimes fame brings an arrogance with it,” said Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Iowa, adding, “They were convinced that the hearing was a chance to clear the air and tell his side of the story, and I think the problem is in an atmosphere like that, that the truth does tend to come out.”

Mark Souder, a Republican member of the committee who resigned from Congress in May after he acknowledged having an extramarital affair, said he read Clemens’s tour of Congressional offices as “I’m trying to use my fame to kind of bowl over you stupid Congressmen.” Clemens, Souder added, failed to follow a basic rule for public figures who are caught up in scandal. “When somebody confronts you, lying doesn’t work,” he said.

I always thought that Clemens made a huge mistake (in addition to all the others) by trying to use his fame to blind members of Congress before the heaing. If I'm innocent, I certainly am not going to "bribe" my prosecutor(s) with a steak dinner days before I am to go on trial. I don't need to......if I'm not guilty. That just further solidifies the fact that Clemens truly believes his mere presence alone is enough to sway anyone.

[ToneinTO]

Damn. Well its not like we didn't know this was coming. However now that it finally has, its hard to believe.

[Blazer]

I want to be the first to volunteer to look after that cute little lady of his while he's in then pen.

[Norge]

He's so screwed.

[flymick24]

icey hot on the nads will quickly become the new prison fad

[ThePinStripes]

I'd love to be the prosecutor on this case.

[roblyo33]

I despised Roger as a Red Sock, hated him as a Blue Jay, was embarassed by him as a Yankee, cared less about him as an Astro and will enjoy him as an inmate. He represents everything that is bad about celebrity, IMO.

[ArodEra]

[False1]

Take Clemens out of it, I still think the fact that any of these guys - Giambi, McGwire, Palmiero, etc. - HAD to testify in front of Congress is an absolute fricking joke.

[mentalgidget]

Anyone else hear Rusty Hardin yesterday? His defense boils down to this:
Clemens must be innocent because he's still denying it even though he's facing jail time.

[JL25and3]

Anyone else hear Rusty Hardin yesterday? His defense boils down to this:
Clemens must be innocent because he's still denying it even though he's facing jail time.

So every convict in the country really is innocent.

[mentalgidget]

So every convict in the country really is innocent.

They must be super-innocent if they're still saying so even when they're IN jail.

Seriously though, this is the best this guy could think of?

[mjdlight]

Take Clemens out of it, I still think the fact that any of these guys - Giambi, McGwire, Palmiero, etc. - HAD to testify in front of Congress is an absolute fricking joke.

Clemens wasn't subpoenaed by Congress, he came and testified of his own volition. He probably thought that by flatly denying it under oath, he could clear his name forever. He didn't quite account for McNamee (the blue dress of his scenario). Oops.

[JL25and3]

Clemens wasn't subpoenaed by Congress, he came and testified of his own volition. He probably thought that by flatly denying it under oath, he could clear his name forever. He didn't quite account for McNamee (the blue dress of his scenario). Oops.

I think the biggest miscalculation wasn't his failure to account for McNamee, it was his failure to account for Pettitte. If it were just Clemens' word v. McNamee's, it might have been different.

[mjdlight]

I think the biggest miscalculation wasn't his failure to account for McNamee, it was his failure to account for Pettitte. If it were just Clemens' word v. McNamee's, it might have been different.

Good point...he was banking on his BFF status with Pettitte.

[snarkerella]

I think the biggest miscalculation wasn't his failure to account for McNamee, it was his failure to account for Pettitte. If it were just Clemens' word v. McNamee's, it might have been different.

Supposedly Pettitte was a major part of this whole thing because if it was just Clemens vs. McNamee, they couldn't do much with it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/m...ory?id=5479748

[False1]

Clemens wasn't subpoenaed by Congress, he came and testified of his own volition. He probably thought that by flatly denying it under oath, he could clear his name forever. He didn't quite account for McNamee (the blue dress of his scenario). Oops.

Ok, so turn it around. Congress has openings for people to come schedule themselves in to clear their names? Baseball players and steroids? I got accused of cheating on a math test in the 5th grade. Can I use Congress to clear my name?

Bottom line is Congress should have never been talking to baseball players about steroids. Utterly ridiculous.

[montrealer]

I wonder which hat he`ll want to wear in jail?

[JL25and3]

I wonder which hat he`ll want to wear in jail?

Jacques wins thread, hands down.

[ojo]

i'm no lawyer, but how is this not malpractice?

if you conscioniably understand that the tack a client chooses is the absolute WRONG one, aren't you compelled to step aside?

[nnysiny]

i'm no lawyer, but how is this not malpractice?

if you conscioniably understand that the tack a client chooses is the absolute WRONG one, aren't you compelled to step aside?

if youre referring to Brian McNamee, im pretty sure he has immunity as part of his cooperation with the Feds

[TheoShmeo]

i'm no lawyer, but how is this not malpractice?

if you conscioniably understand that the tack a client chooses is the absolute WRONG one, aren't you compelled to step aside?

No. The lawyer's obligation under these circumstances is to give his client his full advice and let the client make judgment calls.

Also, as much as it's obvious to us that Clemens was lying throughout, Hardin -- unless he has access to some super duper truth serum -- likely never had definitive knowledge that Clemens was making it all up. My million mile away take is that Clemens believes his own lies.

Last, are you really surprised that the media goes easier on guys that they like?