Today's hearings on Capitol Hill were fascinating to me. I couldn't get away from the TV. I couldn't believe the first five minutes of the testimony. Both Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens take an oath, swear to tell the truth and then sit five feet apart telling two totally different stories. I think you could put two ten year olds in that same situation and they wouldn't even do that.
The entire time I was watching I was thinking that any second McNamee or Clemens was going to stand up and say "alright, I did it or didn't do it, I'm not telling the truth." Obviously, that never happened and I am still caught in the middle after listening to both guys for five hours.
I met Roger Clemens a couple of years ago when he came to Troy to watch his son Koby play for the ValleyCats. I thought Clemens was great, very cordial and willing to answer questions from the media. I've also been impressed with the way he's worked with younger pros and college kids.
I really want to believe what Clemens is saying about not taking steroids. Obviously, there is some pretty damaging evidence to suggest otherwise. The part I still can't figure out is why Clemens would go through this media blitz and a possible perjury charge if he wasn't telling the truth. He's not only messing with his Hall of Fame plaque and reputation as one of the game's best pitchers, but he could be bringing his advisors and family down with him. Clemens is a smart guy, he knows the impact this could have on his son Koby, who could have a Major League career some day soon.
Back to today. I'm not sure we learned much, other than one of these men is a pathological liar. Also, there will be new word added to Websters dictionary -- "mis-remembered." Who would have ever thought that Jose Canseco would be more credible than Roger Clemens??
We did get reminded of how poorly our government runs sometimes. Can't our lawmakers do anything without personal platforms, propaganda and party lines getting in the way? Why this became a Democrats against Republicans debate is beyond me. Chairman Waxman was supposed to provide over the hearings, not be the judge. I couldn't believe his closing remarks which included an apology to McNamee and his thoughts on who was guilty. Keep in mind, Clemens attorney verbally attacked Waxman earlier in the week.
This entire Clemens issue is a finger pointing special with no end in sight. I don't think we'll ever know 100 percent of the truth which makes today as much a waste of time as it was fascinating and riveting tv.
