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Clemens Steroid Case Raises Surprising Questions
February 17, 2008 05:00 AM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Roger Clemens’ testimony before Congress leads some to wonder whether fans are partly to blame. Others suggest lawmakers could find better things to do.
30-Second Summary
Players desperate to live up to the public’s standards may turn to performance-enhancing drugs, theorizes one Washington Post writer.
Roger Clemens’ almost five-hour appearance before a House committee Wednesday brought crowds of fans from all walks of life. Some agreed that the public’s adoration and demands for perfection can be a burden. But they said that doesn’t justify breaking the law.
Others speculate that the American public doesn’t expect honesty in entertainment, sports included.
Meanwhile, the pitcher’s testimony, and that of his former trainer Brian McNamee, was scrutinized by pundits. At ESPN, analysts polled generally agreed that McNamee has a history of lying, but no motive to hurt Clemens’ reputation, especially when he told the truth about other pitchers, such as Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch.
The Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice asks whether legislators should be working on more important matters: “With a war raging and the price of oil soaring, should Congress really be that concerned about whether a couple of millionaire ballplayers cheated?”
Congress has held sports-related hearings many times in the past few decades. This one was called in response to the report George Mitchell, a former senator, wrote for Major League Baseball.
Wednesday’s hearing was well documented, and is available online as highlights or in abridged form.
Roger Clemens’ almost five-hour appearance before a House committee Wednesday brought crowds of fans from all walks of life. Some agreed that the public’s adoration and demands for perfection can be a burden. But they said that doesn’t justify breaking the law.
Others speculate that the American public doesn’t expect honesty in entertainment, sports included.
Meanwhile, the pitcher’s testimony, and that of his former trainer Brian McNamee, was scrutinized by pundits. At ESPN, analysts polled generally agreed that McNamee has a history of lying, but no motive to hurt Clemens’ reputation, especially when he told the truth about other pitchers, such as Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch.
The Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice asks whether legislators should be working on more important matters: “With a war raging and the price of oil soaring, should Congress really be that concerned about whether a couple of millionaire ballplayers cheated?”
Congress has held sports-related hearings many times in the past few decades. This one was called in response to the report George Mitchell, a former senator, wrote for Major League Baseball.
Wednesday’s hearing was well documented, and is available online as highlights or in abridged form.
Headline Links: ‘Everyone Plays in the Blame Game’
Wednesday’s hearing drew crowds of baseball fans who rotated in and out of the gallery in 20-minute stints through the nearly five hours of testimony. Fans commented on the public’s expectations of sports stars. “The standards we hold them to encourage and pressure them to take actions like use steroids,” Tyler Walker, 16, told The Washington Post. “I don't think it's an excuse, but I can see where they get pressure to do superhuman actions, to perform superhuman feats.”
Source: The Washington Post
Do Americans value the truth over entertainment, asks an editorial in The Free Lance-Star. People buy albums with corrected vocals and watch televangelists who use escorts. “If integrity is your Holy Grail, your quest probably shouldn't start in professional sports or any division of the diversion industry,” the editorial says. People, not baseball, are the problem.
Source: The Free Lance-Star
Opinion & Analysis: Skepticism and dismissal
Baseball analysts said neither Clemens nor McNamee were entirely believable, but the pitcher was less credible. “It all boils down to this: Brian McNamee has no compelling reason to destroy Roger Clemens’ reputation, and it's hard to fathom why he would lie about Clemens’ alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs while telling the truth about Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch,” said Jerry Crasnick, one of the analysts.
Source: ESPN
One columnist wondered whether legislators should be holding these hearings, especially when they did nothing after similar proceedings in 2005. Those featured Sammy Sosa and a father whose teenage son committed suicide, probably because of steroid use. “Congressmen made a big show of being sympathetic, but when the cameras were turned off, little happened,” wrote Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle.
Source: The Houston Chronicle
Background: Mitchell report, Congressional summons
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell released the findings of a 20-month investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in December 2007. Some commentators were skeptical about the inquiry's methodology.
Source: findingDulcinea
In January, with the congressional hearing approaching, Clemens ramped up efforts to clear his name in the media. findingDulcinea examined whether his ordeal had already cost him his place in the Hall of Fame.
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: Capitol Hill testimony
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