Innocent? Guilty? Juiced? Who cares?

In light of the latest gong-show about to unfold in Washington D.C. later this week, I guess I should give my two cents. First of all, I'm one of the few idealists who actually is prepared to give Roger the benefit of the doubt. I'm not saying I think he's innocent, I'm just saying that I don't think he's guilty - at least not because Brian McNamee and Sen. George Mitchell say so.

With this in mind, the stage is set for the Rocket, and his former personal trainer to duke it out on Capitol Hill. Only one of the two will be left standing. The question becomes "whom". On one side is former personal trainer Brian McNamee. He comes to the table bringing mostly strong rhetoric. He said he injected Clemens. Clemens said he was never injected with any performance enhancing drugs. If that was all there was to the issue, then, while it wouldn't necessarily go away, it would certainly not make for very interesting argument. He also claims to have old needles, kept for five years, which prove beyond a shadow of a doubt Clemens' guilt. While I'm prepared to admit that Clemens' DNA may be on the needle, and I'm even prepared to admit that there will be HGH, or some other performance enhancing drug, on the needle somewhere. I'm very suspicious as to why someone would keep a used needle from something like that for as long as Mr. McNamee claims to have kept it. Were that the only evidence that McNamee brought to the table, this trial would be neither compelling, nor would it be anything other than a cake walk. Where this trial gets interesting is with the addition of a deposition from Clemens' close friend and former teammate, Andy Pettite. A deposition which clearly states that Clemens admitted to Pettite using HGH. As far as I know, and, from the words of Clemens as seen on CNN's live coverage of the trial, as far as he knows, Pettite has no reason to lie. Clemens argued that Pettite misunderstood, or misheard him during these conversations. I would like to believe that Clemens is telling the truth. That said, Pettite's wife has also submitted an affidavit affirming that Pettite told her of the conversations with Clemens - conversations affirming what Pettite's deposition said.

On Clemens' side is another interesting twist. A BBQ hosted by Clemens former teammate, Jose Canseco - a barbecue where McNamee allegedly was first approached by Clemens for performance enhancing drugs. A BBQ that Clemens, by every single piece of evidence that has been brought forward, including affidavits from host, Jose Canseco and others, never attended. While McNamee holds by his testimony that he saw Clemens at the barbecue, the evidence seems to disagree with McNamee. Given this, it calls into question both McNamee's credibility, and also where McNamee actually WAS approached by Clemens - if he was at all.

Both Clemens and McNamee have shown some credibility issues. McNamee has lied to investigators, lied to the press and openly lied to congress in light of physical evidence. Clemens changed the story in his official deposition regarding discussions with McNamee about HGH. First he said that he never had discussions with McNamee on the subject, and then said that, upon discovery that his wife had injected HGH, he had conversation with McNamee then. To be fair to Clemens, he isn't a lawyer, and he isn't a politician. Most people, when asked that question, would try to answer truthfully in a personal context - and wouldn't think to answer in the context of dealing with another party - even their wife. In this, I'm prepared to accept Clemens' response to the question from the House Committee on this discrepancy that he was answering the question truthfully, but in context of personal use, and prior to his wife's usage. I do not believe this indicates dishonesty on Clemens' part, but simply his being not used to Congressional questioning.

At this point, the hearing is unfolding before my eyes, and I do not know what will unfold. However I do not believe that conclusive evidence will be put forward proving Clemens' guilt. What saddens me the most is that this small fact is irrelevant. Whether Clemens' guilt is proven or not, or even if he is proven innocent, there is nothing to be done to repair the man's reputation. If he is proven guilty, then this is entirely deserved. If, however, as I expect, Clemens can not be proven guilty one way or the other, the damage has been done. One more celebrity crucifixion in the national media, and in the hearts of fans. I only hope that people will rise above the inclination to condemn without proof of guilt, allow Clemens and others like him to retire, properly recognized for the achievements of their careers. Clemens, and other deserving players should be given their day in Cooperstown. I hope he's innocent. But more than that, I wish it would matter whether he was.