Roger Clemens has at least one fan left
The real world is bending me over its unforgiving hip today, which is why I’ve yet to chime in on our fair site. After all, R doesn’t pay me in anything more than compliments, and while those are nice, they don’t accept compliments in exchange for goods at the grocery store. (Fortunately, they do accept food stamps.)
Anyway, while I haven’t been able to see much of anything sports-related today, this abomination (via BBTF) caught my eye. It’s the Times Herald-Record’s Michael Geffner and his spirited, though ultimately futile, defense of Roger Clemens. And so it begins:
Of course, as he continued to show last night in his mano-a-mano interview with Mike Wallace, appearing so tightly wound and furious that you thought at any second he might just spring straight up from his chair, Clemens refuses to accept this fate without a good fight, going on the attack all alone on the national stage, defending not only his career and legacy but his life — even if the whole thing is an exercise in futility before a public so hungry to find performance-enhancing bums in every clubhouse.I couldn’t applaud Clemens more for doing so, and when he swore, steely-eyed, bluntly, adamantly, that he didn’t do anything wrong, that he never had himself injected with anything but B-12 and the painkiller Lidocaine, that everything else said of him was “hogwash” and “ridiculous,” I truly believed him.
It’s clear Geffner’s about to launch into his defense of Roger Clemens, and therefore will provide sound, solid reasoning for his beliefs. Get ready:
I know that we’ve seen the wagging finger of denial before and we’ve heard the flaxseed oil defense, as well. But this is different for me.
This is someone I’ve spent considerable time around, someone I’ve gotten to know and observe up close and personal for years, someone I even once, at his request, had dinner with, chomping down ribs and sharing laughs together at a low-rent barbecue restaurant he picked out in Tampa.
I’ve always admired the Rocket as man of character who cared deeply about the game’s history and who utterly revered its traditions and who prided himself on being the greatest workaholic of his generation.
Cheating would go against everything he has stood for, wouldn’t make one bit of sense from every action I’ve witnessed over the last couple of decades.
A-ha! Because he once “chomped down ribs” with Roger Clemens — ribs sound delicious right now, by the way — Geffner is absolutely positively one-hundred percent sure Clemens didn’t use performance-enhancing drugs during his career. Because the great Roger Clemens deigned to eat in a low-rent ‘que spot, he should be absolved of all suspicion. Because Clemens was nice to you over an extended period of time, you can be sure it’s him telling the truth, not the former trainer under risk of perjury. Because Mike Wallace grilled Clemens oh-so-hard last night, that carries more weight than the report a well-regarded Senator staked his reputation on.
Come now, Mr. Geffner, and be realistic. Clemens got the benefit of the doubt when he deserved it — before he was named in a MLB-commissioned steroids report. Now he assumes the burden of proving that he didn’t use steroids, that Brian McNamee is truly lying, and that he deserves to keep his name PED-free. Until he does that — and stops publicly flailing about like an angry teenager — no reasonable person should be inclined to buy his denials.
Finally, the real kicker in this column is not that defense of Clemens. Others have defended Roger too, albeit far more successfully. No, the real kicker here is Geffner’s hero complex. Observe the column’s close:
Call me a bleeding-heart liberal.Call me blindly naïve.
But if I have to be the last man standing who believes strongly in a clean and honorable Roger Clemens, as well as in the wonderful principle of our democracy called the presumption of innocence, then so be it.
I’ll stand out there fighting all alone, just like Clemens.
You know why? Because THIS IS SPARTA! FREEDOM! KERPLAH!!!!!! ROGER CLEMENS IS AN INNOCENT MAN JUST LIKE MY CLIENT AND YOU NEED ME ON THAT WALL!!!! STOP MAKING FUN OF ROGER!!! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!
Feel better now, everybody?
BetUS.com
BarrysTickets.com
VividSeats.com
Popular Tags
Bob-Knight Boston-Red-Sox Chicago-Bears Chicago-Bulls Chicago-Cubs Chicago-White-Sox Cleveland-Cavaliers ESPN Jay-Mariotti Kobe-Bryant LeBron-James Michael-Jordan New-York-Yankees Ohio-State Ozzie-Guillen Phoenix-Suns Rex-Grossman Super-Bowl Tiger-Woods World-Cup-2006Blogroll
| Awful Announcing | Ball Don’t Lie | Can’t Stop the Bleeding | Dan Shanoff | Deadspin | Detroit Bad Boys | EDSBS | FanHouse | Foul Balls | Free Darko | Fynal Cut | Kissing Suzy Kolber | Larry Brown Sports | Lion In Oil | Mister Irrelevant | NBX | Shutdown Corner | Sports By Brooks | Storming the Floor | The Big Lead | The Big Picture | The Mighty MJD | The Sporting Blog | True Hoop | With Leather
IS THIS THING ON
TicketLiquidator.com
RazorGator.com
TheSeats.com
Sports Web Sites
TicketLiquidator.com
Sell Tickets
I love Roger Clemens, I have been following his career since i was 13 years old i am now 28. To me he is THE greatest pitcher of all time and I DO NOT believe he injected himself with steroids. He was good as a youngster, he adapted to the game and new pitching standards and became an expierenced leader. My heart will break if he did but I do believe Bonds did, McGwire did and if i was Baseballs commisioner i would strip them of their uniforms and their titles, the Home Run Record belongs to Aaron ALONE! and to me no body has beaten it. Thanks. Pitch on Roger! You have at least 2 fans
Geffner drives a dodge stratus. And can do 100 push-ups in 10 minutes.
Oh, and I think Shirley missed the sarcasm. Either that or I missed the point.
I support Roger Clemens!!! I beleive he has not used drugs or HGH. He is a man of honor and integrity.
he is the MAN!!!!!!!!! the best pitcher ever!!!!!
when you are in sports there will
always be people who will find ways
to discredit you.so roger clemens join
the club.your are not the first one
Jesus Christ was WOW what a club to be
in.
archie p. chisholm
Roger is the man!!! Our media has nothing better to do than try to tear down all of our hero’s. Show me the drug test that he failed because you are innocent until you are proven guilty. I coach youth baseball and have no problem telling my pitchers to be like Roger with his work ethic and integrity he is a great roll model. I can not say the same about most of the people that are accusing him.
I tend to believe Roger Clemens. I don’t know at this point whether he did or didn’t - perhaps time will tell. What really upsets me are the media hacks, especially the sports writers of the Houston Chronicle, who are so quick to accuse, believe the worst and pontificate. Why didn’t he do this or that or to give advice saying he should do this or that. Do they have any idea what they would do if they were accused by a friend of something equally offensive to them - plagiarism, bed wetting and other more horrid things come to mind. Would they bluster about denying it to everyone in sight. Or would they take a more considered approach and seek counsel and look at the options before doing anything. Color me sick and tired of 90% of the sports media.
Roger is telling the truth, people need to leave him alone, enouggh already,macname is lying trying to save his own tail…
Roger,
I have followed your career. No I know you never did anything like what they are accusing you of. I understand why you stated,”your guilty before the trial”. now society tries individuals publicly versus legally. People just need to leave you alone. Macwhatever needs to tell the real truth. He is only lying to get out of going to prison. I have seen a lot of people like that throughout my career as a substance abuse counselor.
What the hell is going on here? Since when did AOL commenters start reading us? I’m SO CONFUSED
Oh and by the way people: Roger Clemens doesn’t read this site, nor does he write for it. You know, just to clear that minor fucking detail up for you.
Roger,
I have just watched your press conference, and I just wanted to let you know that you do still have fans out there that support you and believe you. We are not only die hard Yankee fans, but also die hard Roger Clemens fans, and we also know what it feels like to be accused of something that you are completely innocent of. We are behind you Roger, keep fighting….there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Staples Family
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Yea umm… Roger is guilty as sin and all these commenters need to pull their heads out of their butts. This is Palmeiro redux, but with a lot more mindless defenders of the athlete under questioning.
I mean seriously he claims he only took B12 from a guy known for distributing illegal drugs. If all he needed was B12, why go to a purveyor in illicit steroids? I don’t call a crack dealer when I’m low on Centrum.
Blithering idiots. All of you. The only sensible writer here is the bloghost.
Yes! You have comments from total fucking morons! This is a happy day, indeed.
Hello Roger, it’s me Starrdog,
I know it’s been a while, and don’t think I haven’t been meaning to call or write, I have. I still have your sweater and that copy of Confederacy of Dunces you lent me - if you want me to send these to you, let me know. Don’t think I’ll ever make it through…
Anyway, gotta go back to work but just wanted to touch base. Hope everything is great with you and the family! Happy (late) Holidays! Mrs. Starrdog sends her best!
Starrdog
Dear Roger,
I know you are making the rounds on blog comments today, so I just wanted to tell you that I think you are guilty. You took steroids to enhance your performance and if you would have admitted it right away, I would not have given a crap because everybody was doing it. Now that you are lying to my face though, I do not like you anymore and think you are a untruthful meanie head.
Your ex-friend,
Jason
ROGER, IF I WAS YOU I WOULD TELL CAPITOL HILL, GEORGE MITCHELL, BUD SELIG, THE IDIOTIC MEDIA AND WHO EVER ELSE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED TO KISS YOUR ASS. THATS THE WAY WE DO IT IN TEXAS.
As a ex-pro soccer player and a good judge of characture. I 100% belive and support Mr. Clemens. I like his forth coming and straight forward approach. He has to answer to no one. Go get them and that weasel. The world seams to be full of them. 1000 bucks says he writes a book and trys to profit from this and you where the biggest name he could use.Good luck and GOD bless
Roger Clemens is a big fat LIAR, and i hope he rots in jail with maximum sentencing. he is a disgrace to the sport of baseball. maybe he should take the needle out of his butt long enough to tell the truth. o and dont worry, there will be more than a just a needle in his butt while he is in prison. fuck u roger clemens u son of a bitch
roger clemens is a piece of shit. eat shit and die roger.
and for all u stupid roger fans that r waiting in line to suck his dick, wake up! he is roid maniac.
and for all u stupid roger fans that r waiting in line to suck his dick, wake up! he is a roid maniac.
its sorry to hear,in this day and age,all of the hatred and anger over this story.there is an old saying.money is the root of evil.as i watched roger,and the accuser sitting down in congress testifying about themselves,and each other,this should have not been done at the taxpayers exapence.is it not tough enough that there are a lot of hard working people out of work,and just getting by.can you imagine the price tag,it cost to have congress get involved in this?how many people do you think,could have been able to keep from losing there holmes,if the money used for this,was used to help them.i beleive there was some lying on both sides.i beleive these two guys made a lot of mistakes.we all do.and to hear them both being torn apart by politicians?i beleive the woman with the curly hair said it right.we should not be here,haveng this?we have more important matters to attend to.we are suppose to be doing what we are paid for .solving the countries problems.its very important to send a strong message,to our young people out there.seems to me,like maybe some of this blame should be tsken off of these 2 guys,and put on the owners of the teams.no one knows what pressure is put on these guys,but them,and their familys.seems to me,everyone wants an edge.im not saying all the team owners are like this?but,you would have to admit?to some of them,im sure they are told,winning is not an option,its a must at all costs.i still like roger clemmens,and i hold no anger towards his accusser.as one of the congressman said.he apologised to this guy,for he was not a celebrity,just someone doing what a lot of other people do,that never get caught.calling this guy a drug dealer?sure was not a star baseball player or athlete of any kind.and im sure he never donated money to any senetors campaign?but im sure,like hollyeood stars,athletes are no different.i think they donate money to help politicians.some just to help the campaign,and others,because they,may need a favor some day.no matter what the out come of this?lets face it.you have a mind of your own,and if someone tries to tell you different,the bottom line is,your gonna do whats in the best for you.there is only real truth,about this.and if you are capable of talking to the man upstairs?then you will hear what he has to say?yes our children need role models.i think,we do not give our children the just do credit they deserve.im sure some of them,do not have any role models.you know why?they have enough confidence in themselves,that they are their own roll models.all of these celebrities,love to be in the spotlite.they make millions of dollars.these people should be helping the far less fortunate.donating money to help flood victims rebuild their holmes,helping people with their medical bills,they have to choose between food or medicine.some people would say,thats not there problem?sure it is.its the fans who make you a star player.not the owners,or anyone else.when all is said and done,go to the website,www.dashpoem.com.thanks for looking,and i hope someday,our children get it right for the sake of mankind. remember,the greatest of all,is not money,material things,or hatred,but it is to have the most powerful part of love,and that is forgiveness.we do not know how someone feels,untill we have been in there shoes.the world has far more problems today than ever.if anyone has the answers,i would like to hear them.happy valantines day,and may god bless you all.otis
IF YOU HAVE HALF A BRAIN, YOU KNOW ROGER IS A BIG LIAR. HE HAS NOTHING TO LOSE AT THIS POINT, THAT IS WHY HE CONTINUES TO DEFEND HIMSELF. HE’S TRYING TO SAVE HIS LEGACY. BUT GUESS WHAT? ROGER WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A CHEATER AND A LIAR. AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! THE REPUBLICANS WERE A LAUGHINGSTOCK YESTERDAY, STAR STRUCK BY THE ROCKET…AND HE WAS HOB-KNOBBING WITH THEM BEFORE HIS TESTIMONY AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PARTY CLEARLY SHOWED WHY THE REPUBLICANS WERE SO ON HIS SIDE AND UNBALANCED IN THEIR QUESTIONING. I’M A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN AND AM ASHAMED AT YESTERDAY’S PROCESS. WHAT A FRIGGIN’ JOKE. SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE MAN IS CLEARLY LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH. THROWING HIS WIFE UNDER THE BUS WITH THE HGH!?? WHAT A BIG, TEXAS MAN’S MAN. HAHAHA! AND ROGER SOUNDS ABOUT AS SMART AS A DOORSTOP, I KNOW HE’S JOCK, BUT HE CAN BARELY SPEAK. HERE’S TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GOING AFTER HIM FOR PERJURY. YOU CAN’T ALLOW HIM TO LIE LIKE THIS IN EVERYONE’S FACES AND GET AWAY WITH IT. HE HAS PERJURED HIMSELF AND SHOULD BE MADE AN EXAMPLE OF, JUST LIKE BONDS WAS.
I have watched Roger Clemens “The Rocket” since I was little and I even met him once after a Sox game at the Hard Rock in Boston I walked up to him at 5 years old and asked for an Autograph he said “not now kid” and I went crying back to my table my mother stood up and walked up to Roger and came back 5 Minutes later with autographs for me and 3 of my friends on Hard Rock menus. I continued to watch him throughout his carrier and met him again outside Yankee Stadium when he was going for 300 and he stopped and shook my hand and 2 other friends I was with and said “thanks for coming out” I can chalk his brashness when I was 5 to a bad loss or a bad day or him just being young…or just tired of having to constantly put his life on hold for autographs. He is a Hero to me that I watched intently because he was so dominant and electrifying. I for one believe his statements on HGH. Even if I am wrong I will never forget the 354 Wins the 4672 strikeouts and 709 games that The Rocket took the mound and that I got to be in the presence of greatness. No drug can do that.
I support Roger Clemens and for that he needs to blame it on a black man so he could be free well if Barry Bonds is already in the Yankees then Barry will be in jail already and I think blaming it on a black man to free Roger Clemens is the perfec defense for him.
Да Вы писатель , как я посмотрю
Народ в подобных случаях говорит - Ахи да охи не дадут подмоги.