With the Mitchell Report including Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, we all knew that there was going to be some sort of statement coming from both players.
Clemens’ lawyer Rusty Hardin released a statement concerning Clemens involvement with performance-enhancing drugs:
“I have great respect for Senator Mitchell. I think an overall look at this problem in baseball was an excellent idea,”
“It is very unfair to include Roger’s name in this report. He is left with no meaningful way to combat what he strongly contends are totally false allegations. Hee has not been charged with anything, he will not be charged with anything and yet he is being tried in the court of public opinion with no recourse. That is totally wrong.”
“There has never been one shred of tangible evidence that he ever used these substances and yet he is being slandered today,” said Hardin, who called McNamee a “troubled man.”
Because Andy Pettitte is an active member of MLB right now, he has been advised not to comment. Here is a statement from his agent, Randy Hendricks:
“I have advised Andy that as an active player, he should refrain from commenting until we have had an opportunity to speak with his union and other advisors. At the appropriate time, he will have something to say.”
Was this a desperate plea by Brian McNamee, who named them both in the Mitchell Report, to save his own skin so he didn’t become the next Kirk Radomski? Or was it the truth?
If these allegations prove to be true, what is the recourse since it seems from reading the report, they allegedly used performance-enhancing drugs before they were banned in baseball.
As far as the comments by the camps of Clemens and Pettitte, I am not surprised at all. You have to figure that both parties will deny their involvement in the alleged usage of the drugs.
My feelings are if you did them, then just admit it. We are a forgiving society and will probably overlook the alleged transgressions.
