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Highlights (and, Lowlights) From Roger Clemens' Congresional Hearing
Clemens' signboard wasn't the only thing blurred on Wednesday at the Congressional Hearing. (AP Images)
Connecticut Republican Chris Shays called it a "Roman Circus" and in the end, that's what Wednesday might go down in history as.
The game of baseball, you see, has been scandaled down to this: One of the MLB's greatest pitchers on the pulpit, defending his honor and integrity against a trainer who - supposedly - injected him with steroids and HGH. This wasn't about pickoff moves, 90 miles-per-hour fastballs and painting the outside corner.
No, this was about used syringes, beer cans, parties at Jose Canseco's Miami home, interrogating nannies and a morning that has left a black mark on the game of baseball for years to come.
On Wednesday, Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee shared a table but little else - no glances, handshakes or recognition of each other - and attempted to sell Congress on their respective versions of the truth. Was it effective? Consider the following passage from ESPN scribe Jayson Stark, who live-blogged the event for ESPN.com:
"So what have we learned? After five hours of questions, five hours of answers, five hours of this particular unofficial juror furiously trying to type and listen at the same time, what have we learned?
We learned that Andy Pettitte -- who once was Roger Clemens' best buddy -- is now his worst nightmare. It may be tough to fully believe anyone else. But it's easy to believe a guy like this, who had so many reasons to defend and corroborate his longtime friend and hero -- but didn't."
The irony is not lost on us here at the Beat - could Andy Pettitte, the guy who begged and pleaded his way out of the Congressional hearing - end up being the shining light? Is Pettitte the only guy telling the truth?
Regardless of who said what and who ends up ultimately being deemed as "right," the damage done here is beyond repair. Clemens will likely go into Cooperstown, albeit with an asterisk the size of Manhattan attached to his legacy. McNamee's career is ruined. He's destined to be the focus of a VH1 "Where Are They Now" special in the year 2018.
Wednesday was not a good day for Major League Baseball. And sadly, it looks like there are many more days like this to come.