Barry and the Rocket

Winston's Empire · Post by **Winston's Empire** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:13 am

To me Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are almost the same story... Both Destined for the Hall of Fame, but ruined by their own greed and desire to stay young and on top of their games forever.

I always thought Barry was a pile of $%&# for his poor attitude, but his ability to play the game of baseball and simply amaze between the lines was undeniable.

Roger Clemens on the other hand, to me at least was above board and simply a big Texas kid that could simply chuck a baseball - The All-American Story!

Who did what and when might never be known, but a little bit of me is kinda sad to see Roger Clemens on trial for lying to Congress today...

swampass · Post by **swampass** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:38 am

whats even sadder is that congress is wasting their time and the taxpayers money debating steriods and whether athletes lied!! umm hello you dim witted idiots.. the fans dont care. we have moved on.. you should too.. you know to more important things like the fricken economy!

people in congress and government lie all the time to the people... and yet everytime they are "investigated" by their counterparts they shockingly just get a slap on the wrist.

stop wasting our money... and please does something positive for the american people with your time besides just lining your pockets and the pockets of your friends.

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:51 am

Roger Clemens "above board?" Really??? The Roger Clemens I know has been a disrespectful, arrogant, dishonest, condescending jerk with delusions of grandeur and an overwhelming sense of self entitlement. He has lied repeatedly, insulting the intelligence of everyone despite the fact that his personal trainer, good friend and teammate (Pettitte), and even his wife have testified about his involvement with PEDs.

I also never cared for the fact that this primadonna would sit on the sidelines while his teammates busted their ass through spring training and half the season and then decide to pitch for the second half for a prorated 20 million if the team played up to his standards and was in playoff contention.

Lastly, though not Clemens fault it always sickened me that he was awarded several Cy Young awards on name recognition alone. He outright stole one from a far more deserving Randy Johnson in 04 (Unit had 2 fewer wins but a much lower ERA, much lower WHIP, more IP, and a lot more k's).

Bonds is a more recognizable jerk who never got along with teammates or the press, but I think Clemens became worse than even Bonds with his God complex as his career neared it's end. Does anyone remember anything positive that Clemens ever did or said other than throw a baseball pretty well? I don't.

Winston's Empire · Post by **Winston's Empire** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:02 am

The Time I most remember growing up and I still considered Clemens "Above Board" was the mid - late 80's and Early 90's before the strike. After baseball's strike, I didn't watch it the game again until the home run race to be honest...

Anyways, as a kid (born in 1978) who collected baseball cards, watched the highlights they gave us, watched the #'s in the newspaper and the playoff's on TV, I didn't know much of what I know now.

The truth about Bonds was always out there, even for young kids to know...

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:06 am

Originally posted by swampass:

whats even sadder is that congress is wasting their time and the taxpayers money debating steriods and whether athletes lied!! umm hello you dim witted idiots.. the fans dont care. we have moved on.. you should too.. you know to more important things like the fricken economy!

people in congress and government lie all the time to the people... and yet everytime they are "investigated" by their counterparts they shockingly just get a slap on the wrist.

stop wasting our money... and please does something positive for the american people with your time besides just lining your pockets and the pockets of your friends. I agree with you that congress has much more important issues to deal with and worry about. No doubt about that. That said, laws do exist and lying under oath is breaking one. Just because he's a multi-millionaire athlete who has been blessed with a charmed life full of experiences, choices, and possessions that most will never share doesn't make him exempt from the laws that all U.S. citizens are subject to. I am not a legal expert, but I am under the impression that Clemens could have plead the 5th so as not to incriminate himself, refuse to testify altogether, or, God forbid, just tell the truth!

Don't blame congress or our judicial system for doing their jobs and don't let Clemens off the hook just cause he lied a couple years ago and you've had time to get over it. Blame Clemens for lying and wasting taxpayer money on frivolous lawsuits. I hope they lock his ass up!

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:19 am

As an example of what Clemens could have done, look at McGwire. Sure, he's been demonized by the press for ultimately refusing to lie, but I always respected what he did. Sure, in a perfect world he would have had the courage and intergrity to tell the truth and admit to his usage, but he could have just as easily lied as many of his peers did. To me, it required some level of courage and integrity to stand alone and not lie. McGwire never allowed his celebrity to consume him into believing he was bigger, better, and smarter than the fans who supported him and bought tickets to contribute to his heavily padded bank accounts accumulated by playing a game.

swampass · Post by **swampass** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:26 am

i can understand what you are saying if people lie under oath then they should be held accountable and prosecuted fairly ... but at the same time the only reason he lied under oath was because people in congress wanted to grandstand and say look at me! im taking these ball players to task!

nobody asked congress to step in.. they felt like they had to because the tax exempt status of MLB, i could be wrong here. im sure someone will correct me.

so again.. my feeling is that congress stuck their nose where it didnt belong and tried to lay claim to fixing america's past time when they should have been worried about the american people and their specific constituents.

Winston's Empire · Post by **Winston's Empire** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:02 am

If MLB is truly a non-profit, does that make Bud Selig the Highest Paid head of a "Non-Profit" in the history of the known world? $18.35 Million in 2007, I am sure its higher now!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:11 am

JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL IN ROGER CLEMENS CASE!

Okay, it's pretty obvious that the government shouldn't be wasting its time trying to convict former baseball stars. They are oh-for-two with Bonds and Clemens and neither is going to jail. It's time for the government to go back to busting gangs and the mafia and leave sports starts to the court of public opinion. Trust me, that's where Bonds and Clemens have been found guilty already.

Hey, if Clemens was lying under oath he deserved to be prosecuted, but the government must not have had a great case or they wouldn't have crossed the line by bringing in Andy Pettitte's thoughts to the proceedings when they were told not to. It's all such a joke and now it's time to let ol' Roger retire in peace and be upset that he will be passed over for the Baseball Hall of Fame for a few times. He might eventually get into to Cooperstown, but the court of public opinion has already handed down its verdict.

Let's enjoy today's great hitters and pitchers and move past the Steroid Era. There's no doubt that Bonds and Clemens were among the greatest players of all-time before they got lumped into this controversy, but they tried to extend their careers and it worked. Unfortunately, now that's all anyone remembers. And because of that it could cost both superstars spots into the Hall of Fame.

You caught a break here Roger. Thankfully for you the government isn't very good at the game of baseball.