Follow us on

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | 10:26 p.m.

Web Search by YAHOO!

Updated: 7:26 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2012 | Posted: 7:25 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2012

Commentary: Clemens trial has entertaining moments

By Sean McClelland

Staff Writer

Mainly for its comedic appeal, the ongoing Roger Clemens perjury trial needs to be on TV. I might even pay to watch it.

This is shaping up as the most entertaining high-profile courtroom drama since O.J. Intermittently entertaining, at least; some parts have been so tedious as to put multiple jurors to sleep.

At least the judge has a sense of humor, speculating the trial might last “forever” and showing little patience with defense attorneys’ tricks.

The purpose here is to determine whether Clemens, the Dayton-born former major-league pitcher, lied to the government when he said he never took steroids.

Here’s a hint: Of course he took steroids, and of course he lied about it. Case closed, at least in the court of public opinion.

But Clemens won’t be found guilty because his self-confessed former steroid stooge, trainer Brian McNamee, comes off as such a buffoon.

To say McNamee has a few credibility issues would be the understatement of our time. Like saying LeBron James has a few haters.

McNamee’s wife basically called her husband a liar on the witness stand, saying she never encouraged him to save medical waste from steroid shots administered to Clemens. And, presumably, she never would have urged him to save the syringes IN A BEER CAN, as McNamee claims to have done.

Of course, we later learned the McNamees are trudging through a contentious divorce, meaning Brian hardly could count on his wife’s unwavering support.

Friday, speaking of spouses, Clemens’ wife Debbie took the stand to talk about the shot of human growth hormone she received from McNamee once upon a time.

Of Roger’s view on HGH, Debbie said, “I don’t think he thought it was bad. It wasn’t like doing heroin.”

And you thought soap operas were falling out of fashion.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDaily News.com.

More News

 

Videos

Hot Topics