Roger Clemens, To Be Or Not to B12
Roger Clemens still has a thing for vitamin B12.
The legendary (and embattled) pitcher loaded up on B12 -- in the form of a big beef sandwich -- the night before his first day of meetings this week with members of Congress who are investigating drug use in Major League Baseball. On Tuesday night, Clemens and his legal and public relations team headed to the Old Ebbitt Grill, where "the Rocket" inhaled the restaurant's braised wagyu beef sandwich, according to eyewitnesses.
Clemens had just flown in from Houston with his lead attorney, Rusty Hardin, who told reporters this week that allegations by Clemens' former trainer that he routinely injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone are "the second edition of the Duke case." In other words, he said, "a fabricated story." (Clemens has admitted only to taking injections of the painkiller lidocaine and vitamin B12, which may explain the beef sandwich.)
The Rocket and Hardin were joined at Old Ebbitt by Clemens' Washington counsel, Lanny Breuer, and public relations guru Patrick Dorton -- a relaxing strategy session in advance of two days of face-to-face meetings with lawmakers. Besides trying to clear his name with members of Congress, Clemens also signed his fair share of autographs -- including on baseballs -- for Capitol Hill police officers, congressional staffers and kids on the street.
Clemens, whose career is in limbo after returning to the New York Yankees last season from a 38-game winning streak with the Houston Astros, will be back in Washington for more next week. He's scheduled to testify under oath at a public hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, along with Yankees pitcher and fellow Houston resident Andy Pettitte, who has admitted taking HGH injections.
When he's not lobbying Congress, signing autographs for local fans or chowing down on beef sandwiches, we hear Clemens is staying in shape by working out at his Washington, D.C. hotel gym.
Which hotel? Sorry, our source won't say. All we're told is that Clemens is making use of the hotel gym's treadmill.
By Mary Ann Akers |
February 8, 2008; 5:03 PM ET
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Posted by: HH | February 9, 2008 10:29 AM
A reader interested in the serious subjects of performance enhancing drug use among sports stars who serve as role models for youth, or of congressional testimony where accused pro athletes will now be sitting in the seats where executives of big tobacco lied shamelessly, turns to this article with serious purpose only to find 350 words of fluff that amounts only to a calendar notation for something yet to occur. Mere gossip about what the subject had for lunch merits the cliche: where's the beef?
Posted by: Anonymous | February 10, 2008 4:13 PM
A reader interested in the serious subjects of performance enhancing drug use among sports stars who serve as role models for youth, or of congressional testimony where accused pro athletes will now be sitting in the seats where executives of big tobacco lied shamelessly, turns to this article with serious purpose only to find 350 words of fluff that amounts only to a calendar notation for something yet to occur. Mere gossip about what the subject had for lunch merits the cliche: where's the beef?
Posted by: Philip Dow (Napa, CA) | February 10, 2008 4:23 PM
It amazes me to see that there are people who get so emotional if they are faced with the truth.But they dont`t seem to even look twice if the are told one lie after the other. Why is it wrong to call a thief a "Thief" and a liar a "Liar"? Why is it wrong to call a government that spies on your mail and your internet connections- "Orwellian"? That is exactly what it is. I also find it significant, that a lot of the opponents to mr Reid`s remarks, don`t hesitate to use much worse werbal attacks on posters who don`t agree with their(in my humble opinion)- very strange views. When I look at the Bush- Gang that has conned the Americcan people for the last seven years, I ask myself: What does the "Con" in conservative stand for? Is a "Neo-con" a new -or aspiring convict? If a neocon has a son, is that a future "convict. I do find that the "Con" part of conservative is very approprate.
Posted by: Svend Ove Jensen | February 11, 2008 12:45 PM
Just when you didn't think this column could get any worse ... a 38-game winning streak? Are you kidding? Does anyone edit this garbage ... at ALL?
Posted by: BMac | February 11, 2008 2:41 PM
Congress can't pass a budget for a year and a half, but they can whine and complain about sports.
Posted by: useless | February 11, 2008 4:09 PM
Svend Ove Jensen, how is it that you aren't being waterboarded in Guantanmo right now?
Posted by: dumb swedes | February 11, 2008 4:17 PM
Let's face it. If Roger Clemens looked liked Barry Bonds, the media would see
him guilty no matter what.
Posted by: drumb | February 11, 2008 7:28 PM
38-game winning streak? when was this? that is such a non-sequitur that i can't even think of an actual streak that you might be confusing it with. Please offer a correction.
Posted by: Jason | February 11, 2008 11:36 PM
Is it remotely possible that anyone on Capitol Hill thinks they are going to hit one out of the park with Clemens pitching to them with expensive lawyers by his side? They need to get busy with something they can really accomplish like taking a nap or taking someone to lunch.
Posted by: Phillip Lewis | February 12, 2008 1:06 PM
Clemens has been working out? He looks like he has eaten half of his Yankee team mates! Clemens is a liar and all this guy cares about is himself.
Posted by: Diana | February 12, 2008 1:10 PM
Clemens won 38 games as a Houston Astro. I believe that was where the confusion came from.
Posted by: Bob Timmermann | February 14, 2008 1:01 AM
Roger..Jimmy Kimmel had it right Rocket...i just can't believe you. i'd like to it but if i had to bet my life on your testimony..i'd be a gonner. you guys cheat.. what's new??? nada. "if ya don't cheat..ya can't win" the american way!!!
Posted by: paul davin | February 14, 2008 9:45 PM
what a waste of time and taxpayer money
Posted by: Anonymous | February 15, 2008 3:12 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Roger never ceases to amaze..Roer's wife is now in th spotlite - when she prepared for the SI swimsuit editon foto session five years ago..