SportsGirl

Originally, I was going to post my thoughts under this header about Terrell Owens’ running commentary on how Bill Parcels under-utilized him in the offense. Specifically, I wanted to address his reaction to Keyshawn Johnson’s semi-attack on him. But then the Mitchell Report was released. And while it doesn’t shock me to read some of the names that are tied to that investigation, I am interested that only one person has reacted to the report.

I’ve never been a huge Roger Clemens fan. He’s a helluva ball player but a jerk in regular life. Normally, I’d say the jerk part is overshadowed by the numbers he’s put up over the course of his career, but those numbers are now going to be scrutinized closer than a 32-year-old man looking over his beard to see if those hairs are gray or clear. Now everyone will come out of the woodwork to say they knew it all along. But Roger has struck first in the press, issuing his statement that he never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Forgive the cynic in me for not believe this vehement defense. Isn’t that what Marion Jones said? I don’t believe the “I never tested positive” defense is a strong one. That basically means, I’ve never gotten caught. Now in Clemens defense, he is staunchly stating that he never used the drugs but then the fall-back evidence of that is that he never tested positive. But part of his statement is spot-on. His attorney argues that, since the burden of proof in a slander/liable case is difficult to overcome when you’re a public figure, Clemens basically doesn’t have any recourse. He’ll have to bank on the court of public opinion voting his way and not believing the “facts” of the report. In as objective of an opinion as I can muster, I just don’t know why McNamee would lie about this. You can say he’d be trying to make a name for himself, and maybe it’s the naive person in me that’s thinking here, but what name would that make? Baseball is still a fraternity and if you’re helping to “out” the brothers, you’re persona non grata. So at best you’re looking at a book deal, which is great for a few million maybe. Is that worth it? It makes me tend to believe that McNamee is telling the truth. And there is a paper trail on some of these guys, though it looks like the bigger names were smart enough to pay cash in their dealings. (Aside: how hard is it to know you probably don’t want to buy illegal performance enhancing drugs with a check? Honestly…)

This topic will be the topic of on-going discussion, no doubt, and if any new points are made, I’ll certainly weigh back in. I found it amusing that President Bush felt the need to issue a statement and encourage baseball to take the report seriously but not to punish players without sufficient evidence. You’re the President now, W, you’ve got to leave the baseball owner in you behind. It will be interesting to learn about MLB’s plan for all of this because I think they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t. And honestly, I think most fans at this point are probably jaded enough that they’re surprised that more people weren’t named.

At some point soon, I will post my thoughts on the TO/Keyshawn “feud” because so may people are defending TO and I can’t let that happen. We knew it was coming with him…