I think one of the more interesting points about the entire Roger Clemens steroid ordeal is the idea that Congress is involved even though “they don’t belong”. Specifically I’ve heard the argument from a number of people, my roommate included (yes, I just called you out Troy), that there are “more important issues to be had” than this steroid issue with baseball.

I’d like to first recognize that this is a specific congressional committee designated to handle internal affairs. There are a number of these committee’s designated to handle anything that holds relevance within the United States, including the drug scandal within baseball. This isn’t a simple situation of Clemens getting caught using steroids. This isn’t an issue of Barry Bonds using steroids and breaking a home run record. The issue goes far beyond that, and for someone to accuse Congress of wasting time finding out if Clemens used ‘roids would be out of ignorance towards the issue.

This issue transcends baseball. This issue is something that has an immediate impact on the younger generation of baseball players who strive to make it to the majors and play amongst the greats. Major League Baseball is, as we often forget, more than a game. It’s a business. It’s a huge business. And if Brian McNamee’s testimony that Union representatives were showing players and trainers how to properly administer steroids, then this has become a baseball-wide drug scandal. Steroids are, after all, illegal. And if Bud Selig and other prominent figures in Major League Baseball knew that such a thing was going on and failed to do anything about it, then the scandal is only further strengthened.

Nobody is entirely sure how this issue will shakedown. Will Clemens get slapped with a perjury charge? It sure seems like a possibility. And though we get tired of hearing about it over and over in the media, the end result of this investigation will be productive for baseball. Hopefully when all is said and done, baseball will go back to the respectable and clean game that it once was, not the abomination that it is now.

Ali-Frazier, De La Hoya-Mayweather and now…Clemens-McNamee. By the time you’ve read this, Roger Clemens will have arrived for an event that could define his entire career. “The Rocket” is set to go before Congress this morning and defend his assertion that he’s never taken a performance-enhancing drug. If what we’ve heard is any indication, Clemens could be in for a very, very long morning in our Nation’s Capital.

Remember the last time Major League Baseball stars went before Congress? All it did was result in the complete self-destruction of guys named Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa. Now we can safely assume that Clemens won’t forget English. We can also assume that Clemens will, in fact, be there to talk about the past. But what will happen next is anyone’s guess.

Unfortunately for Clemens, he’ll have few allies by his side. Former teammates Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch have already come forward and admitted their own ‘roid use. But even more damaging for the Rocket was Pettitte’s testimony, which stated that Clemens used HGH nearly 10 years ago. Not good, Roger. Not good.

In the end, this Congress thing won’t be solving much. We can expect both Clemens and McNamee to stick to their stories. We can also expect this media circus to carry on for a few more months. And unfortunately, this saga will only distract people from some actual good news in the world of baseball. Pitchers and catchers report this week!

Roger Clemens needs to find a deep dark hole and climb inside of it to hibernate for a while. The newly-dubbed face of the steroids era is back to his old antics, stirring up the media and pretending nothing is wrong. Clemens showed up to Houston Astros’ training camp yesterday to work out with the team and repeatedly dodged the issue of steroids.

Look, Roger, we’ve had enough. It was bad enough when you kept flopping back and forth out of retirement and took magical “breaks” from baseball for time that, as we can see now, could have directly correlated with an underground suspension for steroids from the commissioners office. You juiced. You won’t retire. You’re becoming as stubborn as Barroid.

Up until a few months ago, Clemens legacy of being a prick didn’t extend much beyond his Brett Favre-esque indecisiveness about retirement. Now that he’s been indicted for steroid use, his legacy has only gotten worse. And don’t tell me he’s actually thinking about coming back for another season with the Astros. How long is this “door’s always open if you want to come back” policy in Houston going to last. Christ. I thought 2006 was the last time he’d play for the Astros. Probably not.

I’ve had just about enough of the Barry Bonds steroid saga and I’m not sure how willing I am to endure Clemens running the same show. He’ll go down as one of the greatest pitchers to ever toe the rubber, but that doesn’t mean he’s not an attention whore. Give it up, Roger.  If you want the media to leave you alone like you’ve said multiple times, then stop putting yourself under the spotlight.  Stop doing stupid things that grab everyone’s attention.  Go back to spending time with your family only, this time instead of parading around with “personal trainers”, actually do it.

Well, after a ten day period where most guys on the Mitchell report had come forward and confessed their role in steroid distribution and use, Roger Clemens finally has something to say.  It’s about time, Rocket.  If you’re so “innocent” and “never used steroids” then why the hell did it take you ten days to come out and say something to the media.  And why is this a recorded message?  Where’s the press conference, Rocket?  Why aren’t you running around to every major media station in the country demanding your name to be cleared?  Why are you issuing statements through your attorney instead?  Most importantly; why the hell should I believe you?

Yesterday marked the beginning of the Roger Clemens 2007 relaunch tour and, for all intensive purposes, it was a success. Clemens, who media whored his way through the first two months of the season, pitched six solid innings for the Yankees, surrendering only three runs in the process.

Don’t look now but here come the Yankees. They’re 8-2 in their last ten games and, despite still being ten games back of the Red Sox, are only five games out of the wild card. I know there’s still time to screw it up and I hate saying I told you so but…I told you so. Bobby Abreu is finally starting to hit, A-Rod is continuing his torrid pace, and Clemens is back. Even though Rocket only pitches once every five days, you have to see a boost in the clubhouse. The feeling exists that the Yankees certainly aren’t out of it and with Clemens pitching they know they have a chance.

I know I’ve jocked this team pretty hard as of late despite their hardships. It’s still the freaking Yankees and their lineup is still dominant from top to bottom (with the exception of Josh Phelps). Andy Pettitte has to be one of the great stories of the year thus far considering he was toying with the idea of retirement just this past off season. It’s unexplainable how well Pettitte pitches in Yankees pinstripes and Yankees pinstripes only. He was trash for the greater part of his two years in Houston but now he’s back in the Bronx and pitching well.

Count on a media frenzy once every five days when Clemens pitches. It’s going to happen all summer and is unavoidable.? I’m sick and tired of people writing this team off.? It’s freaking June.? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, don’t count this team out yet. The Yankees are far from done.

Roger Clemens hasn’t even made a major league start this year and he’s already a disappointment. Clemens was scheduled to make his first start of the year today, however this start was delayed until Saturday due to soreness in his groin. Clemens is already showing his age, and he’s just made a few minor league appearances. That’s not normally a good sign.

I have to imagine that Clemens future teammates aren’t too happy about this either. He was supposed to start Saturday against the Red Sox, but Joe Torre decided that he liked his rotation as it was. Now this will throw another wrench into his plans to organize his team. The Yankees are facing the White Sox, who certainly aren’t a team that will just roll over. Instead, Clemens will be making his 2007 debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who, let’s face it, aren’t going to be contending like the White Sox.

I know there are some people who are absolutely delighted to see this. Many people want to see Clemens fail this year, and this could be a stepping stone in that direction. At the same time, you have to recognize the fact that Clemens just started on his journey back to the big leagues a few weeks ago, and to get into game shape will certainly take awhile. But once that is taken into consideration, you again have to question, is the money he is being paid worth it?

Regardless of where you fall in terms of support for Clemens, you have to see this as a major setback for him. Questions are just going to keep rising about the worth of this entire deal. It will be interesting to see him produce on Saturday. I would have liked to start off my week with Clemens so as to avoid hearing about him throughout the week, but I guess I’m not so lucky.