Clemens is as guilty as they come

A day following the news of a possible criminal investigation for perjury, Roger Clemens is at Houston Astros’ training camp with his oldest son, Koby, who is getting ready for the new baseball season.

Yet as Clemens tries to distract himself with his son, he also seems to be trying to distract the media, which is still hounding him.

“I think you ought to be asking baseball questions,” Clemens told reporters at the camp on Feb. 27. “I think it's time to move on and get on with baseball.”

No Roger. I think the media really wants to know how much longer until you break. Till it is finally revealed that you did in fact use performance enhancing drugs.

Let’s look at the facts for a second. You are Roger Clemens, one of the greatest pitchers, if not the most prolific pitcher in baseball history. Now you are defending your career, credibility and maybe most importantly, your reputation after the crackdown of major leaguers because of the Mitchell Report.

The 409-page report that was conducted by Sen. George Mitchell was released Dec. 14, by request of baseball commissioner Bud Selig. It names more than 80 players past and present, who have been found to use performance-enhancing drugs. Yet the biggest name linked is to it is the “Rocket.”

The link led to suspicion about Clemens, which began on Jan. 6 on “60 Minutes.” Clemens told interviewer Mike Wallace that trainer Brian McNamee said that he injected him with HGH “never happened.”

Then on Feb. 5, Clemens gave an advanced deposition to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Eight days later, Clemens testified to the Congressional panel stating he had never taken HGH or steroids, even though McNamee stated he injected Clemens with drugs 16 to 21 times. All the events lead to Feb. 29, when the FBI launched a probe to investigate whether Clemens committed perjury.

With such star players like Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, already named, and a criminal investigation on the horizon, what is so different about Clemens that he cannot come out and state the truth? It will come out eventually and when it does, the media will say they were right all along.

The truth is most of the media can dissect what evidence is out there and distinguish between truth and lies. Between the facts and half-truths. Most are already convinced by their own admission that Clemens is lying.

I spoke to some people covering the story including bloggers and columnists. Lisa Horne, a FoxSports.com contributing writer and blogger has followed the Clemens saga from the start. She points to three undeniable questions that prove Clemens is not being truthful about his possible connection to steroids.

The first is that Clemens claims the only injections he received from trainer Brian McNamee were for vitamin B-12 which were accompanied by Lidocaine, or a local anesthetic.

“The fact that he had a shot in his posterior and had it accompanied by a local anesthetic does not make any sense,” Horne said. “That is why I said, this guy is lying, it is unethical.”

Horne also finds it hard to believe that Clemens’ wife, Debbie, could take HGH, or human growth hormone, before a Sports Illustrated photo shoot without the knowledge of her own husband. She also offers that Clemens made the biggest mistake by committing perjury if all he took was HGH.

Many star athletes have already come out by admitting to taking it and have not been in trouble. But why lie about it if you did?

Another FoxSports.com blogger, Ed Hardiman, also says the same of evidence that can be brought against Clemens, most of which is physical data.

“The syringes, gauzes, MRI's, and now photos all go against Clemens assertions when taken together,” Hardiman said in an e-mailed statement. “They are fairly and consistently damning.”

Underlying evidence is also what Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Dwyre points to when discussing the issue. However, he feels it may be hard for Clemens to find redemption by apologizing.

“I think it’s almost too late,” Dwyer said. “We like to embrace people when admitting they’re guilty because that is the American way. But, every day that goes by is a lost opportunity for Clemens.”

With lost time comes the potential for more trust lost. As a result, Clemens’ credibility concerns could hurt his Hall of Fame prospects.

“I don't think he has a chance in hell of getting in,” Dwyre said.

As for his record and accomplishments, Clemens might face the same criticism that Barry Bonds faced when he hit his record 756th home run. Those records like being part of 4,000-strikeout club in addition with seven Cy Young awards, may be accompanied with an asterisk.

Without a doubt, Clemens’ best bet is to admit his wrong doings and confess to federal authorities. It is going to be hard to fight all the physical evidence, testimonies from McNamee, teammate Andy Pettitte and others who have already denounced Clemens. Clemens’ lawyers have a tough task ahead but why not make it easy by letting their client come forward and admit the obvious.

However before that happens, most people in the baseball world will already be convinced that Clemens is as guilty as they come.