"There are rules that we play by and those rules are designed to make sure both sides receive a fair trial," Walton told the jury, saying such ground rules are critically important when a person's liberty is at stake.
"If this man got convicted, he would go to jail," Walton said.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton started into the jury selection phase of the trial against Roger Clemens- trying to trim 125 to 12 and four alternates. The judge has said he hopes to start by early next week for a trial that is expected to last a month or so.
Clemens has not been charged with drug crimes, but is accused of lying about drug use-telling a House committee under oath in 2008 that he never used performance-enhancing drugs. That self-assessment flies in the face of testimony from trainer Brian McNamee and teammate Andy Pettitte.
Clemens is charged with six felony counts, including perjury, false statements and obstruction of Congress, which carry a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine. Just know, though, that he won't go that long in prison if convicted since he doesn't have a criminal record...
Just good ol' fashioned Texas bravado...
Here's enthralling video of Clemens walking into the courthouse this morning...
We will soon know probably a little more than we might like to about retired baseball superstar pitcher Roger Clemens.
That's because Clemens' perjury trial starts today in Washington D.C.
For the few of you unfamiliar, let's catch up with things. Clemens was accused a couple years ago of using steroids to enhance his performance. His former "Personal Trainer" Brian McNamee was the man making the accusation. The investigation was a part of a federal investigation into steroid use by professional baseball players, something roughly akin to what Barry Bonds was dealing with.
During the series of investigations, and really before McNamee came out and made his allegations, Clemens spoke to Congress about an anti-steroid lifestyle. According to the government investigators and NcNamee, he lied about it under oath.
Read a brief primer from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE
FBI Investigators have spent 3-years trying to dig up evidence against Clemens and quite honestly, nobody is really sure what they've found.
We know McNamee says Clemens began taking steroids some 10-years ago while pitching in Toronto. And according to the variety of stories done on him, there's a pretty big trail of evidence. Clemens himself hasn't helped his case by giving often confusing or conflicting statements about whether or not he did anything wrong.
Over the next couple of weeks, we should find out if he lied about it and we are a bit conflicted over this. While yes, we probably want to know if he was "Juicing" to make himself a superstar longer, it's been a long time since it happened. It's over with. And the government is spending an awful lot of money to prove a case that will just essentially say Clemens lied.
Really, for that, Clemens will get probation, a fine or at worst, spend a few months at Club Fed. And we wonder, aside for tarnishing memories, what really will it prove?
Here's the testimony that kind of got this whole thing going back in 2008:
Clemens swearing to Congress/Courtesy: Simon Bruty/SI.com
It must be nice to be a multi-millionaire celebrity or former athlete.
Roger Clemens, facing a federal indictment on 6 felony counts including lying to Congress, is scheduled to be arraigned early Monday afternoon.
That unto itself is a big deal. Not only as a big story, but for most people, that would indicate that there is a really good chance you may be in a bit of trouble.
Well, not our pal Roger. Sure, he'll be in Washington to face a judge in federal court. But as soon as that formality is over, it's time to get on a private jet and fly to Myrtle Beach so he can be in a golf tournament. No, we aren't making this up.
More details on the Rocket's adventures from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE
Well. It's good to know that Roger is concerned about all of this. Granted, like we said, it is a formality. Just an opportunity for a judge to say "Do you understand these charges?" But, it is still a pretty big deal so we probably should not try and judge here, rather...just read the story and judge for yourself.
If this trial really happens, it's going to get ugly. Fast. The last thing that anyone should want is a circus around this. Heck, we would wager that the New York Yankees especially would want this done since if it goes to trial, Andy Pettite will be a central character to the drama.
Here is some video of Clemens' opening statement when he testified to Congress back in 2008. Thanks C-Span and YouTube:
By now, most of us know what is going on with Roger Clemens. He is due to be arraigned on Monday for charges that he lied to Congress about steroids. That unto itself promises to be a hell of a spectacle.
On the heels of this comes word that of all people, Pete Rose, has some words of advice for the aforementioned Mr. Clemens. In an interview, he tells ESPN that Clemens should just tell the truth and admit what he did, but also adds, he thinks Clemens will stubbornly refuse to do that.
Read the entire interview with Johnette Howard of ESPN.com RIGHT HERE
More on Clemens's legal issues from CBSNews.com RIGHT HERE
We actually, in this instance, agree with Rose about this. While Clemens maintains his innocence, the evidence to the contrary is pretty overwhelming. We aren't saying that Clemens is guilty...we wouldn't convict him before his trial...it's going to take one hell of a legal effort to prove his innocence.
What Rose says is true. Rose is still paying the price for being stubborn. The Reds, just got the ok from the league to honor the day he broke the all-time hit record, and even that has some controversy attached.
Either way, we look forward to seeing what happens. Stay tuned. Monday should be fun.
Here is why Mr. Clemens is in trouble in the 1st place. Thanks YouTube:
The New York Times reported on its website that federal authorities have decided to indict Roger Clemens on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Michael Schmidt's piece says it based its report on information from two sources briefed on the matter and said an announcement should come fairly soon.
Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, testified under oath at a hearing before a House committee and contradicted each other about whether Clemens had used the banned substances. Clemens denied and claimed McNamee "misremembered."
The committee held the hearing in February 2008. Here's Clemens opening statement, thanks to our friends at CSPAN
McNamee has told federal agents, baseball investigator George Mitchell and the committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-01.
Here's coverage from our friends at MyFoxHouston and Fox26... Sibila Vargas takes the lead indoors...
Jose Canseco was interviewed in the Justice Department building in Washington DC this morning.The interview went all afternoon with Federal officials including Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Butler.
Canseco stands by the affidavit he filed concerning the 1998 Clemens-Canseco barbeque, his presence there, and the idea that Canseco stands by his assertion that he never saw or gave Roger Clemens steroids.
Former Clemens trainer Brian McNamee testified he saw the two of them talking at the barbeque, and after that, Clemens brought up the idea of taking steroids.
Roger Clemens' former personal trainer sued him Friday over allegations of steroid use, claiming the Major League Baseball star ruined his reputation by branding him a liar.
The defamation lawsuit filed in federal court in Brooklyn alleges Clemens launched an "intense and co-ordinated public relations offensive" against Brian McNamee ((pictured, thanks Chip Somodevilla/Getty)) after the trainer told federal investigators and Congress that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 through 2001.
In his own testimony and interviews, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner has repeatedly denied using performance-enchancing drugs.
"Rather than acknowledging the truth of McNamee's allegations, Clemens waged a defamatory public relations campaign against McNamee," the suit says. "Clemens' campaign ... was intended to deceive the public and Congress into falsely believing that McNamee is a liar."
The lawsuit quotes Clemens saying in a YouTube video in 2007 that McNamee "did not inject steroids into my body either when I played in Toronto for the Blue Jays or the New York Yankees."
It also cites an interview with ESPN in May in which Clemens, when asked about McNamee, responded that it was a case of "somebody out there that is really crawling up your back to make a buck."
The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims Clemens' statements have "humiliated McNamee, destroyed his reputation, both personally and professionally, and caused him severe emotional distress."
The former pitcher's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said the suit wouldn't hold up in court. "I mean, think about it," Hardin said. "Essentially, we have a lawsuit saying (McNamee's) reputation was harmed by saying, 'No, you, you did not give me illegal drugs."'
Clemens is under investigation by a federal grand jury in Washington that is trying to determine whether he lied when he told a congressional committee in 2008 that he had not used steroids.
He has a pending defamation claim against McNamee in a Houston court.
We figured we'd also go ahead and re-post the interview Clemens did with Mike Wallace and "60 Minutes." Here's Part 1, thanks to our friends at CBS
The much anticipated book on Roger Clemens comes out today titled American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America’s Pastime.
The book, written by the New York Daily News sports investigative team, Teri Thompson, Nathaniel Vinton, Michael O’Keeffe and Christian Red, paints a damning picture of the former MLB pitcher of a life on drug use and sex. Put those two subjects together and you get a best seller.
Tuesday morning Roger Clemens was on the radio with his side of the story or as he said "to talk about the garbage in this book." Clemens was a guest on Mike & Mike In The Morning on the 4-letter radio and didn't have a whole lot to say about the book or the authors or as he called those "People crawling up my back to make a buck."
While Clemens felt it was important to get his story out he denied ever taking steroids or having it injected by Brian McNamee, who has said he has done so and supplied DNA samples. Clemens said that was BS and or got his DNA because "he never injected me with HGH or steroids."
When asked if he supplied a DNA sample when asked Clemens response was yes he did and has done everything asked of him.
Clemens is screaming at the top of his lungs that he was clean and that the book is a bunch of lies. What to you think?
Federal authorities have found performance-enhancing substances on the materials Brian McNamee said he used to inject Roger Clemens, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
McNamee turned over the syringes, vials and gauze pads to federal investigators last year, after he told baseball investigator George Mitchell he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone. The Washington Post reported February 6 that tests linked Clemens' DNA to blood in the syringes given to investigators by McNamee.
Clemens has said repeatedly that McNamee, his former personal trainer, injected him with B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine.
"I assumed, and I am not surprised, that the tests were positive for both DNA and for performance-enhancing drugs, because that's what Brian said all along, and there's not much doubt that Brian's been telling the truth," McNamee's lawyer, Richard Emery, told the Associated Press. "The confirmation of that fact, once again, just seems to me to be another significant step towards jail for Clemens."
A federal grand jury in Washington is investigating whether Clemens lied when he told a congressional committee last year that he didn't use illegal performance-enhancing substances. McNamee, testifying before the same committee, said he repeatedly injected Clemens with steroids and HGH.
Rusty Hardin, Clemens' lawyer, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
Have baseball players found a loop-hole in the war against performance enhancing drugs?
With the NY Daily News reporting that Roger Clemens had a stash of Viagra hiding in GNC pill bottles in his Yankees' locker, Pandora's Box has been opened.
Viagra was obviously intended to aid men in the bedroom but are players really using it to... ahem... build bigger muscles or swing a bigger bat... on the field?
According to the report "Vitamin V" is rampant in baseball. In fact, athletes in many sports are said to be using the little blue pills because they can help build endurance and counteract impotence that can be a side effect of taking testosterone, another performance enhancer. Even BALCO founder Victor Conte, who worked with the likes of Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi, admitted all of his athletes were using it.
If you think about it, it's not unlike Jose Theodore's situation a couple of years ago when he tested positive for a banned substance when trying out for Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey Team. The banned substance happened to be Propecia, a hair growth drug, something the goaltender had been taking for years. The IOC had no problem with Theodore's desire for a thick head of hair, but the trouble was, Propecia can also be used as a masking agent to cover up steroid use. Theodore applied for a TUE, a Therapeutic Use Exemption, and continues to be a poster boy for Vidal Sassoon.
So what if athletes are really using Viagra for its intended purpose? Would MLB or WADA be overstepping their bounds by banning it? How can you tell men, who potentially legitimately suffer from erectile dysfunction, who have finally been given a new lease on their love life: "No more Viagra. You can get to second base, maybe even third, but no more home runs."
Maybe, as it turns out, in more ways than one.
This blog is reprinted with permission of the author.
A guest to OSG, read the rest of Martine Gaillard's blog at sportsnet.ca!
Have baseball players found a loop-hole in the war against performance enhancing drugs?