 Thursday, February 14, 2008
Clemens' Congressional Circus
I really hoped to sit down Wednesday and do my taxes. I really lost a day of my life and want a huge tax refund as I felt my tax money wasted by our elected representatives.
It was painful watching Roger Clemens, Brain McNamee, Charlie Scheeler (Senator Mitchell's representative), and our elected representatives. I can live with a innocent or guilty Roger Clemens. What I disliked was the trying of this case in the media prior to yesterday's testimony. What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" Everyone deserves their day in court, even one as unusual as a non-traditional courtroom like Congress.
I started taking notes for a post but felt like I was scoring a boxing match. I had hoped to save the boxing report for the Klitschko-Ibragimov fight next Saturday night at the Garden. Here's how I scored it:
Hurt Clemens: (1) Andy Pettitte's and Chuck Knoblauch's testimony. When your best friend goes against you, it's hard to survive it. Pettitte even testified that his Dad gave him the HGH. (2) Contacting his nanny. This doesn't look good as potential tampering of a witness. Helped Clemens: (1) Brian McNamee has much less credibility than Clemens. Where do I start? Congressman Waxman said that "Mr. McNamee has twice failed to tell government investigators the truth."
(A) In the decade since the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal in 1998-1999, we have gone from trying to figure out the meaning of "'is' is" to "It is what it is." If you figure out the new meaning of "is", please feel free to comment in our blog. Many thanks to Steve to troubleshooting the dasBlog issue last week.
(B) His medical credentials: I have heard of correspondence degrees. But PhDs to a university that has no building? Come on. Maybe Congressman Issa was right when he said that PhD stands for Piled Higher Deeper.
(C) Holding onto syringes is the ultimate "get out of jail card." As Congressman Soulder pointed out, what is on them? Are they admissible? (Suggestion: Let's get some conclusive results on these syringes before admitting them as evidence.)
(D) Jose Cancesco's barbecue/"luncheon": Clemens has Blue Jays radio announcer and Roger's golf receipt hurt McNamee's claim that Clemens was at Jose Canseco's house.
(2) Why didn't Senator Mitchell's staff contact Roger Clemens? David Justice went through the same thing on Michael Kay's ESPN 1050 Radio show the day after the Mitchell Report came out. The Players Union did a bad job of representing the players and Clemens paid the price. Andy didn't find out that he was going to be in the Mitchell Report until five or six days before its release. (3) Abscess on Roger's behind: The trainers didn't find it but McNamee did. I can't address this further, more than I want to know. TMI.
(4) The LA Times was wrong with Jason Grimsley's testimony and had to issue an apology last year. Will Senator Mitchell have to issue one if McNamee's credibility continues to be brought into question?
Verdict: This is hard to say because of the following:
(1) This did NOT take place in a real courtroom.
(2) How admissible is the evidence? Not only physical but the "he said, he said" nature of the proceeds.
(3) Cross examinations: Roger's counsel tried to stand up for him but were NOT allowed to address the panel.
(4) Conflict of interest: As I have stated months ago, baseball is bereft with conflict. It starts with Commissioner Selig who transferred ownership of the Brewers to his daughter Wendy. He still maintains an office in the new Miller Park in Milwaukee. He is a fox guarding the chicken coop.
The next fox guarding the chicken coop is Senator Mitchell. As I mentioned months ago, Senator Mitchell has a conflict of interest as a Red Sox Director. How can Senator Mitchell be impartial?
Even Congressman Kanjorski who has known Senator Mitchell for over 25 years and wanted him to be a Presidential candidate had his doubts on other issues. I agree with Congressman Kanjorski that "We would have liked to talked to God." Me too.
(5) What does the House Government Oversight Committee have to do with any of this? Congressman Chris Shays was quoted in Wednesday's New York Post as saying "I feel we've gone beyond our mandate. Our mandate is not to decide the legacy of individual baseball players."
Where Do We Go From Here:
(1) I don't know. We are going into some unchartered territory.
If you can get an impartial jury, is Clemens guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Will he be indicted?
In a weird way, this makes me look forward to a Barry Bonds trial because it will be a circus but in a more traditional legal framework. OK, I am trying to somehow comfort myself and it's not fully working. I will have to get a prescription for Prozac.
(2) Will this really clean up steroids amongst kids? Probably NOT because there are NO enforcement exercises. This is an exercise in futility and another waste of our tax dollars.
(3) Does this better Commissioner Selig's legacy or worse it as he closed the barn door AFTER the horse got out? MLB owners should NOT have extended Commissioner Selig's contract this year. MLB owners should NOT have extended Commissioner Selig's contract this year. Get a truly independent commissioner.
(4) Baseball better clean up or they will have to deal with the Congressional Circus on a regular basis. Just ask anyone affected by Sarbanes-Oxley what government overregulation can do to destroy your industry.
Posted by a disappointed Tank in NY.
P.S. The Senate isn't going to let the House have all the fun. Watch for Spygate hearings in the near future. More wasted tax dollars. I better go back and finish my taxes before the Congress wastes my refund.
 MLB | Steroids
 Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:33:19 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Who is lying: Andy Pettitte or Roger Clemens?
According to the AP: Roger Clemens told Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte almost 10 years ago that the Rocket used human growth hormone, Pettitte said in a sworn affidavit to the US Congress. Pettitte also testified that a few years ago he asked Roger what to say when asked about HGH and Clemens replied that Pettitte misunderstood the previous exchange in 1999 or 2000 and that, in fact, Clemens had been talking about HGH use by his wife in the original conversation. So Pettitte came clean. Pettitte exposes Clemens as a liar and a cover-up artist. McNamee made accusations about both Pettitte and Clemens and team Clemens has went on a smear campaign, saying that McNamee will do anything to discredit the Rocket. Is best friend Pettitte next in the smear campaign? Pettitte has implicated himself, and validated McNamee, in his testimony. Pettitte has everything to lose, nothing to gain, and absolutely no reason to lie about Roger Clemens. I believe Andy Pettitte. Roger Clemens better come clean soon. He testifies in front of Congress today at 9:30 AM EST. If he tells the truth, maybe we can forgive him. But there better be some answers in that testimony. Posted by Steve in New York
MLB | Steroids
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 7:44:20 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Tuesday, February 12, 2008
D-Day for the Rocket
Roger Clemens has to testify in front of Congress, under oath, about his involvement in the performance enhancing drug scandal. He has to be careful, any false move can land him in jail for perjury. Roger's former teammate, Andy Pettitte will not have to testify today, he testified last week and testified counter to what Roger Clemens is suppose to say today. One of them is lying. Considering that Pettitte said he tool illegal drugs and confirmed what was in the Micthell report, my money is that Clemens is lying. Posted by Steve tuned into C-SPAN.
MLB | Steroids
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:25:18 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, February 11, 2008
Why Is Pedro the Fox Guarding the Chicken Coop?
I didn't want to believe my eyes when PermaGuest Outlaw Jack informed me of a YouTube video showing Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez participating in a cockfight in the Dominican Republic.
As I said and wrote about Roger Clemens, Pedro is innocent until proven guilty. The video could have been (a) doctored, (b) used a celebrity impersonator, (c) done long ago before Pedro learned the errors of his way, or (d) some of the above.
Upon further research, I was shocked to read in AM New York that Pedro admitted to it. He was an honorary soltadore, the person who releases the chickens to fight. The chicken that Pedro released reportedly died. Fellow Dominican and Hall of Fame Pitcher Juan Marichal also participated as a soltadore in this shameful event.
Animal cruelty is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated, much less celebrated. Though cockfighting is legal in the Dominican Republic, I will have to boo Pedro the next time at Shea. As an honorary Dominican, he let me and others down.
Posted by a disappointed Tank, animals and humans best friend.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Spring Training This Week
The Mets and Yankees pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Florida this week. The key to the Mets is is Carlos Delgado going to bounce back from an off year, will Pedro Martinez stay healthy and will the bullpen and new ace Johan Santana come through. The Yankees face a bit of a question mark with left field and first base and the rotation will see some competition from the kids. We'll see how it all works out, but with the Knicks a laughing stock and the Super Bowl over, it is time to start thinking about baseball! Posted by Steve in New York
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Amateur Female Jello Wrestling Sunday at 8 p.m. at Arlene's Grocery
Dana Sterling Presents:
Amateur Female Jello Wrestling!
Sunday, February 10th, 8-11:00pm
(6:30 Wrestle Lesson)
at Arlene's Grocery
95 Stanton Street (between Ludlow & Allen), NYC.
Subway: F to 2nd Ave
Hey Ladies, want to wrestle? RSVP at
danasterling@gmail.com
"Think the days of female empowerment through mortal combat were over? Think again--as this tongue-in-cheek sporting event brings ready-made deserts back to the ring where they belong." - TimeOut New York
"Sterling has successfully created a space that gives women permission to forget the hassle of deflecting criticism for their bodies' inadequacies and regress to a time when they felt comfortable being ridiculous. All it took was a creative impulse and the help from a little gelatin." - New York
Press
"After the match all the girls felt exhausted, but empowered (like the feeling you get when you watch the 'Charlie's Angel's' movie- watching fabulous females fighting evil and kicking some badguy ass.) Really makes ya wanna be a Rockstar Fighter Chick and change the world!" – Uncoolkids.com
Friday, February 08, 2008
Shaq Shakes the Suns and NBA
Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns officially on Thursday after passing his physical.
Shaq has had his share of injuries which have been caused by weight as well as wear and tear which The Tank can unfortunately relate to.
However, this trade gives Shaq time to get healthy and in shape for the playoffs which a couple of months away starting in mid April. With Shaq on the floor, the Suns might not run as much but he's there for his low post presence on offense and defense.
Even if Shaq isn't ready this season, watch him push hard in the last two years of his career and possibly Hall of Fame career.
The Heat benefitted by getting younger with Sharion Marion and Marcus Banks to help Dwayne Wade contend again in the near future. We can only hope that they and others stop the third part of the Boston Sports Apocalypse, the Eastern Conference leading Celtics.
As for local teams, the Nets are currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Jason Kidd to Dallas trade rumors continue to linger. The Eastern Conference is so bad that the 14-35 Knicks are only six games out of the playoffs with 33 games to play. I don't think they'll make it, especially with their inconsistent play, but you never know.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
It is getting harder to believe Roger Clemens
I love to read spy novels. There are a few things that are always the same in every spy novel, even if it is written by Tom Clancy or John Le Carre. The spy has a drop box or safe deposit box with states evidence against everyone. He has arrangements with an unknown third party to release the contents of that box if "something ever happens to him." The contents of these drop boxes are also the equivalent of a get out of jail free card if the sh*t ever hits the fan. You get arrested for doing something illegal, you turn states evidence. Sports fans, Brian McNamee has one such drop box. He gave federal prosecutors syringes and other physical evidence his lawyers say back the his allegations of illegal drug use by Roger Clemens. Apparently the syringes were used to inject the Rocket with steroids and HGH. McNamee has turned over the physical evidence. Of course Clemens denies the evidence is real. "Brian McNamee is obviously a troubled man who is obsessed with doing everything possible to destroy Roger Clemens," Clemens' lawyer said in a statement. yesterday. "Roger is looking forward to testifying before Congress next week to set the record straight. He will not waiver, nor will he shrink from this because he is telling the truth. We ask all fair-minded people to listen. It is time for Brian McNamee to be subject to the same scrutiny as Roger Clemens." But after Andy Pettitte confessed to taking HGH injected into him by McNamee, the same McNamee that was introduced to Pettitte by Clemens, it is not looking good for the Rocket. Posted by Steve in New York.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Johan Santana Meets the Mets...
Today the Mets held a press conference at Shea Stadium to introduce Johan Santana to the New York media. Omar started the conference with a congratulations to the NY Giants. Classy. Johan got on the stage and said that "New York is the capital of the world." When asked about adjusting to NY, Johan was very calm and focused and said that he will rely on his teammates for advice on life in the big apple. When Johan was asking about hitting in the NL, he said, "Well I came here to pitch." Then he took a question in Spanish. Steve only caught about ever other word, but he was asked about the Yankees. He said that his preference was to come to the Mets. When asked about the World Series, he said: "That is why we are here. It has to be this year and beyond. We are going to make it very special." Asked about the number of Latino players on the Mets he said while that is cool, playing the game is key. Asked again in Spanish if his arrival makes the Mets a favorite to win the NL, Johan replied: "Johan said that it is a team effort and is looking forward to winning the championship with the Mets." Does Santana make the Mets the favorite in the NL East? David Wright said no, since the Phillies won last year. David Wright, who was on hand today at the press conference, is just hedging his bets, Santana gives the Mets a major boost in an area where they had a major hole. Johan was asked about the pressure of the collapse and the huge contract. He answered with confidence. (Hopefully he will not get booed like Carlos Beltran.) Asked if Shea Stadium will help his numbers he said he is not thinking about that. Overall Santana seemed very comfortable with the media and happy to be here. Posted by Steve in New York (and trying to fix the server problems.)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Eli Manning and the Giants are the Real Super Tuesday Winners
Astoria Pete was one of the million of my closest friends to line the Canyon of Heroes in lower Manhattan to celebrate the Giants victory.
I wasn't able to meet any of the Giants but I found their bus which transported them to New Jersey afterwards for the celebration at the Meadowlands.
Victor made his own Super Bowl trophy.
The NYPD didn't let me or others east of Church Street at Chambers but I was able to get a photos with the bagpipe players who performed for the crowds in lower Manhattan.
Everyone won on Super Tuesday, even Tiki Barber and Bill Belichick. They just saved a ton of money by switching to Geico according to the King of Orange County (NY), Dino the Greek. 
Posted by the Tank reporting live from the Canyon of Heroes in lower Manhattan.
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