January 6, 2008

CLEMENS BACKDOORS HIMSELF DURING 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW

      While Roger Clemens tried valiantly to contain his emotions during his post Mitchell dialogue with Mike Wallace, and attempted to choose his words judiciously, in the end he put phrases and descriptions together that disproved his argument and gave credence to the claims of steroid use.   Denying every accusation and utilizing a simple “never happened” when confronted with the reported instances Clemens took the expected stance of believing that his years of service should be enough proof while decrying the nation’s knack for its immediate judgment of guilt before innocence. 

      Clemens knew in advance that his accuser, former trainer Brian McNamee, was considering suing for libel and was careful not to use slanderous words like “liar” and  “hypocrite”.  The interview, conducted by someone Clemens considered a friend, was benign in its format and unquestionably proved that Wallace, who had built a legendary reputation as an outspoken and confrontational interviewer, should stay retired. 

       But Clemens, during one of his denials, insisted that he had been shot up countless times with painkillers and had popped anti-inflammatories like they were vitamins all for the sake of performance.  He insisted that this was all part of being a major league pitcher and that it was necessary because he was paid extremely well and that the organizations and his teammates counted on him.  He even went into specifics and described one particular World Series game when then manager Joe Torre was concerned about Clemens’ health and whether the pitcher would be able to perform to expected levels.  Clemens took a painkiller and went out and performed. 

      This is where Clemens’ arguments take a turn.  Clemens went into specifics about the painkillers, injected with needles and taken orally with pills, which he said were needed so he could perform.  While I do not believe that Clemens would inject himself—or have someone else inject him—with steroids or HGH over a long period of time, his absolute insistence that he needed to be out on the mound in spite of any injury he was suffering at the time indicates that he would have done anything to ensure a performance.   Including being injected with a PED.  Clemens’ determination to prove he was as tough as his hero Nolan Ryan—who pitched into his late forties—would seem to confirm that he would have done whatever was necessary to keep pitching. 

       That’s the reputation he built for himself, and insisted on maintaining even as his career was coming to a close.  The better avenue for Clemens to take would have been, like his good friend Andy Pettitte, to admit that he had tried HGH on occasion to assist in the recovery from an injury.  He should admit that he is actually just a human being who made some mistakes.  But Clemens’ reputation is about being superhuman—and he feeds off this.  To admit mistakes, and admit fallibility, would refute his belief and damage the storybook life and legend of the Rocket.

 --Raptors stumbling toward mediocrity.

      Exactly when did the Toronto Raptors reach a point of success where they believed they could win by playing only a portion of a game?  I hope that the entire Raptor organization is as ticked off as I am after watching that putrid performance against Cleveland.   It’s possible to excuse veteran clubs that have been winning for a while—like Detroit and San Antonio—if they get lulled into a sense of comfort during games and become lackadaisical.  However, those clubs would never believe that a game is won long before it is over the way the Raptors did against the Cavaliers.  Somebody should point out to the local hoopsters that an NBA game is 48 minutes, not 40 or 41, and that if they believe that they are a contender—which at this point they are not—then they have to play with effort and intensity throughout.  Just watch the way experienced clubs, like the Celtics play.  When Boston takes a 10 point lead they push to make it 20.  When they reach that 20 point lead they continue to push until that lead is 30.  That way when an opponent makes their run there isn’t any danger in losing the game—the way the Raptors lost when the Cavs made their run in the fourth quarter.  The Raptors played hard for the first six minutes of the game and took a nice 14 point lead.  Instead of doubling that margin they began to coast.   And giving someone with the all-world skills of a Lebron James an opportunity to pull the game out is a mistake worthy of grade schoolers.

       I hope this was a hard lesson learned. 

      --Hey, JP, do you think your club can compete with the Yanks and Sox now that you’ve signed David Eckstein?  Maybe you can bring back Esteban Loiaza to be your fifth starter.

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