Silent Rocket

CLEMENS QUIET AMID CACOPHANY OF CRITICISM

FITSNews – December 19, 2007 – It’s been five days since the Mitchell Report effectively exploded the myth of Roger Clemens as the greatest pitcher of all-time, painting him unambiguously in the public consciousness alongside disgraced slugger Barry Bonds as just another chemically-enhanced fallen hero. Today, ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski stepped up to the plate against the legendary hurler, and took him deep for his extended silence amid accusations that he took steroids:

You take your time and let us know when it’s good for you. We’ll just sit here, maybe do a Sudoku, and wonder why the supposed greatest pitcher of our generation is taking so long to step in front of a microphone, look America in the eye, and answer every question anyone has about the allegations made by your former trainer, Brian McNamee.

Interesting how this works out. You ask us not to be influenced by the accusations, and yet your legal mouthpiece made sure to carpet-bomb McNamee’s credibility by calling him “a troubled man” who divulged your alleged involvement with performance enhancers “after being threatened with possible prison time.”

Yes, well, that’s sort of how it works with the feds. They find pressure points and then push. Your mouthpiece knows that, and if he didn’t then you need a new lawyer.

Clemens may not be talking to the press, but there’s a good chance that he’ll be called to testify before Congress à la Mark McGwire two years ago. McGwire, who broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record back in 1998, never directly answered questions about the steriod accusations leveled against him during his Congressional testimony, and as a result probably cost himself a spot in Baseball’s Hall of Fame.