Clemens Makes Innocence Pleas, Sues McNamee

A day after Roger Clemens' 60 Minutes interview Clemens comes out all guns blazing. He filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee and held a press conference to further address his alleged steroid use.

I watched a fair amount of the press conference in which Clemens cursed and 'restrained' himself from who knows what - I think from going into a 'roid rage' (HA HA HA!) - because apparently he is very unhappy with some of those in the media for reporting on the Mitchell Report.

To me, this press conference seemed to implicate Clemens more then vindicate him. Clemens seemed to skirt the steroid question whenever it was posed other than deny ever using it...or at least 'knowingly' use it and I think that will be his ultimate defense, similar to Barry Bonds. In a he said he said dispute, Clemens will ultimately come to the conclusion that..."O.k., yes, this guy did inject me with steroids, but did I know they were steroids? No. So how can I be blamed." Which of course is bullshit.

At the press conference Clemens played a taped phone call with Brian McNamee but it definitely sounded stage and a person could tell that Clemens was trying to lead McNamee into saying something that would clear Clemens' name but it certainly didn't do that.

And where did Clemens get the hayseed of a lawyer that he has? During the press conference there were a couple of times his lawyer made some impromptu remarks meant to be humorous but were way off the mark. Not to mention, wouldn't the best legal advice to Roger right now be to SHUT UP and wait rather then invite the media attention, in which Clemens' seemed irate with.

Clemens is taking the path that already known steroid users have taken...get angry at the media and accusers, then come out and publicly display your anger and outrage. Then in a year or two hold another press conference and tearfully regret that you did indeed use steroids and cheat but of course with a reason...injury, for the team or whatever...but do whatever you can to try and shed the title of rampant steroid user...