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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > February > 14 > Entry
Roger, the Unartful Dodger
As spring training begins, baseball arrives with two black eyes of blinding proportions. The game’s best all-around player, Barry Bonds, and best pitcher, Roger Clemens, are closer to jail than the Hall of Fame.
Bonds already is under siege for perjury, and four FBI investigators were in the hearing room Wednesday when a stuttering and stammering Clemens dodged questions and gave conflicting answers during his congressional testimony about his possible use of steroids and HGH.
While his accuser, Brian McNamee, was calm and composed throughout the hearings, most of the time Clemens appeared ready to explode (‘roid rage?) the way he did when he picked up a broken piece of jagged bat and threw it at the Mets’ Mike Piazza during a Yankees-Mets game.
If the FBI decides to investigate the truth or lies of Clemens’ testimony - what if they find his DNA in those syringes and bloody gauze pads? - Clemens’ next uniform could be prison blues.
I’m probably not the best and most objective person to weigh in on Clemens, already buried under tons of negative media verbiage.
We, uh, have a history. Goes back a long way, too.
It was in the 1980s after Clemens, pitching for Boston, struck out 20 Seattle Mariners. My paper sent me to Boston to do a piece on Clemens, who, after all, was born in Dayton.
An appointment was set up with the Boston public relations man, who told me to be in the Fenway Park home clubhouse at 2 p.m. I was there; Roger wasn’t. He ambled in at 3:30 and walked to his locker. I walked over, stuck out my hand and said, “Roger, I’m Hal McCoy and I …”
“I know who you are,” he said. “Can’t talk to you today. Come back at 2 tomorrow,” he said.
I was back at 2 the next day when he walked in at 3 and said he had to do a photo shoot for People magazine. When that was finished, he ignored me again, walking into the training room. Again I approached him to say, “Look, I’m only here to do an interview with you. My paper sent me just for that. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll go home.”
He told me to meet him in the dugout before he did his daily run around the park. The interview lasted 12 minutes and was conducted while he laced on his shoes. And the only thing to come out of the interview worth anything was Clemens’ quote about his hometown: “The best thing about Dayton was seeing it in the rear-view mirror.”
Fast-forward to a couple of years ago when Clemens was pitching in Houston and the Reds were in Minute Maid Park. Because I am legally blind, in some parks I use what is called an Ott-Lite, a table lamp brighter than florescent bulbs, to brighten my computer screen. Never had a complaint.
Clemens was pitching that day and the Houston PR person approached me politely and said, “Can you either turn off that light or cover it with something? One of our players says it is shining in his eyes.”
I laughed as I snapped off the switch and said, “Let me guess. Roger Clemens.” The man nodded his affirmative. In fairness, the press box in Minute Maid Park IS one of the lowest in baseball, but in several other games there were no complaints.
So that’s the background as I weigh in on this.
What struck me during the hearings, other than Clemens contradicting himself and backpedaling and doing more hemming-and-hawing than a seamstress, was how he threw more people under the bus than were on the bus.
His agent, Randy Hendricks, is one of the best and most capable agents in the game. Clemens tossed him under the bus, blamed him for not telling him that investigator George Mitchell wanted to talk to him about steroid allegations. Clemens was told; he knew Mitchell wanted to talk to him.
His nanny was tossed under the bus when she confirmed that Clemens was at a party with acknowledged steroids user Jose Canseco, where it is alleged Clemens and best friend/pitcher Andy Pettitte talked about HGH use.
His wife, Debbie, was tossed under the bus when Clemens talked about her using HGH and said he had no idea McNamee injected her with HGH.
And then there was Clemens visiting legislators in their offices before the hearing and some of those elected officials and their staffs asking for autographs.
From what I’ve seen and heard, McNamee was most credible, which is saying something because the guy has been proved a liar. But he told the truth about Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch, both of whom admitted using illegal substances. So why would he lie about Clemens?
And there are too many holes and discrepancies in Clemens’ testimony. He sounds a whole lot like Pete Rose during his 15 years of denials.
As of now, you can add me to the list of writers who won’t vote for Clemens for the Hall of Fame, and the way it is going it might not be long before I send in an empty ballot.
Comments
By Nooner
February 27, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
Found this article thanks to Bill Simmons. Great prose and, unlike the subject, full of truth and integrity. Thank you for writing your thoughts and thank God for the internet.By Dave
February 26, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
I own every one of Clemens’ cards including the 84 Fleer Extended. I used to race to get the paper to see how the Rocket pitched. I now hold him in utter contempt after watching him throw everyone he knows under the bus last week. “…in fact your own personal crusades blind you (no pun intended)” S. McCoy, you are a smudge of rat excrement on the bottom of a discarded shoe. Mark Johnson, way to rally to Clemens’ defense by snarking about Clemens (“reasonably”) not wanting to talk to a blind guy. God help you.By Dave
February 26, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
I own every one of Clemens’ cards including the 84 Fleer Extended. I used to race to get the paper to see how the Rocket pitched. I now hold him in utter contempt after watching him throw everyone he knows under the bus last week. “…in fact your own personal crusades blind you (no pun intended)” S. McCoy, you are a smudge of rat excrement on the bottom of a discarded shoe. Mark Johnson, way to rally to Clemens’ defense by snarking about Clemens (“reasonably”) not wanting to talk to a blind guy. God help you.By Dave
February 26, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
I own every one of Clemens’ cards including the 84 Fleer Extended. I used to race to get the paper to see how the Rocket pitched. I now hold him in utter contempt after watching him throw everyone he knows under the bus last week. “…in fact your own personal crusades blind you (no pun intended)” S. McCoy, you are a smudge of rat excrement on the bottom of a discarded shoe. Mark Johnson, way to rally to Clemens’ defense by snarking about Clemens (“reasonably”) not wanting to talk to a blind guy. God help you.By JH
February 25, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
While the Hall of Fame may call for integrity to be judged while determining whether a player should be elected, numerous examples of cheaters have been chosen. Ty Cobb, for one, was accused of murdering another man and was one of teh dirtiest players ever. However, this does not mean that today’s players should be allowed a free pass. Players such as Clemens and Bonds (and others who have been accused of using performance enhancers) are threatening to drive countless fans away and are continuing to do great damage to the image of the game. As for Rose, he has been punished for over a decade for something that he did off the field, but as far as I am aware, it was never proved his gambling affected game outcomes. Clemens’ (and others’) alleged cheating, however, has tainted the outcomes of thousands of games. If it is found that they are in fact guilty, I feel they should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame. If the Baseball Writers of America allow them in simply because of the attention around them, they will be setting a dangerous precedent that could undermine the wonder and integrity of the Hall.By mahatma
February 25, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
great article hal i agree 100%By miguel
February 25, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
I agree Clemmens is a d-bag. We are missing a big point. All “big shots” are .. from HS to pros. That’s the way it has been for many, many years - fame makes you an egomaniac and Clemmens is the best example. Talk to people who knew him at Texas (even HS) and it’s the same 2-face “con-man”. I don’t know him .. but I know 1,000’s like him from playing organized sports through out my life. Keep him out of the HOF - that’s karma coming back to say “hello” to the rocket.By miguel
February 25, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
I agree Clemmens is a d-bag. We are missing a big point. All “big shots” are .. from HS to pros. That’s the way it has been for many, many years - fame makes you an egomaniac and Clemmens is the best example. Talk to people who knew him at Texas (even HS) and it’s the same 2-face “con-man”. I don’t know him .. but I know 1,000’s like him from playing organized sports through out my life. Keep him out of the HOF - that’s karma coming back to say “hello” to the rocket.By miguel
February 25, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
I agree Clemmens is a d-bag. We are missing a big point. All “big shots” are .. from HS to pros. That’s the way it has been for many, many years - fame makes you an egomaniac and Clemmens is the best example. Talk to people who knew him at Texas (even HS) and it’s the same 2-face “con-man”. I don’t know him .. but I know 1,000’s like him from playing organized sports through out my life. Keep him out of the HOF - that’s karma coming back to say “hello” to the rocket.By N McCoy
February 25, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
S.McCoy- despite how long your post you didn’t even attempt to give one REASON why HIS article was crap. Your claim that many writers are hypocrites has nothing to do with McCoy. Also, you don’t have to be Jesus Christ to be a decent human being.By Mark Johnson
February 24, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this
The Rocket is a great man…this article only adds to his legend. Maybe he just didn’t want to talk to a blind guy?By Jake M.
February 23, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
I haven’t thought much of Roger since I was about 12 years old. My parents brought my brothers and I to Boston from Syracuse to see a game, and we waited outside the parking lot to get some autographs before the game. Most of the players that came through - Mike Greenwell, Steve Lyon, Kevin Romine - signed a few for the mob of kids, and when Roger came walking through I asked him for his autograph. He told me to come back after the game and he’d sign. My brothers and I came back after the game, which he had pitched (poorly), and he came walking out. I asked again for his autograph, and he said, “Not tonight.” I then reminded him that he had told me, a kid, that he would sign my baseball after the game. His response? “I lied.” At least he admitted to it back then.By Sean G., Scituate MA.
February 22, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
I was fortunate enough to see you be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame a few years back and that gave me a desire to read more of your columns and insights, God bless the internet… I’ve had my opinions of Roger fluctuate highly over the last twenty years. My thoughts on his performance as a player have always been respectful even though I wanted to hate him as his pitched for Al East foes… I have to say I took joy in seeing him struggle in those few instances against the sox. Noteably the playoffs in ‘99 and then as he was going for win 300 with that big patch on his glove (which Grady Little protested and was removed)… It all seems to come together now… it is not about baseball.. it is not about the fans.. it is all about Roger. It is according to him “What he gave to the game”. The Roger Clemens I remember is the one who when I went to the park everyday after school to try to get an autograph, that he would snub us. As every other player, Oil can, Boggs, Rice (known as being a bit standoffish), Evans etc. would stop and sign a few autographs (sure not everyone was lucky, Roger would go to the clubhouse, not acknowledge us then perhaps return to his black porsche with the license plate “Super K” and sit and blast his stereo to show it off to everyone twenty feet from a bunch of young kids who idolized him. It all comes together as he throws his wife, his friend, and others under that bus. All that matters to Roger is Roger, and it is nothing new. Your Late colleague Will McDonough had it right when he dub him “The texas con-man”. Best of Luck HalBy JP (Boston, MA)
February 22, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
I found S. McCoy’s post here a unique combination of the moronic and inane. Roger Clemens CHEATED. It’s not about Roger’s personal integrity (which he clearly lacks), it’s about the integrity of the game of baseball. If you watched the testimony, you would appreciate how little credibility Roger Clemens truly has at this point. Pete Rose has a much more legitimate claim to enter Cooperstown than Roger ever will.By Mike
February 22, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Stories like this about Clemens have been circling Texas since he was in college. There is a reason he isn’t revered like Nolan Ryan is in Texas.By Steve
February 21, 2008 7:40 PM | Link to this
S. McCoy-by and large, I don’t like the media and think most are full of themselves. However, Hal McCoy does not fit into that mold. He is, without question, one of the greatest sportswriter ever and this is coming from a non-biased Tigers fan whose lived in Dayton for the past couple of decades. His columns are always nothing but fair and anybody that knows his writing knows this to be true. It’s not about morality: he explicitly broke a rule and now must face the consequences of this (unless of course you are a Rocket fanboy who believes he didn’t do anything). I think the greatest thing about this whole thing is that the same hubris that Clemens showed with McCoy (and probably countless others) will keep him out of the Hall of Fame because of steroids/HGH use and denial of it. Clemens treated like McCoy like crap, like McCoy was someone beneath him but the true justice of it all is that McCoy is immortalized in baseball’s hall of fame while Clemens will probably never receive the honor. And I couldn’t be happier.By Michael Ogden
February 21, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Thanks for your honesty and insights, Hal. You are #1. Clemens and Bonds should be banned from the HOF because they cheated and lied. Case closed.By S. McCoy
February 20, 2008 1:08 AM | Link to this
THIS ARTICLE IS A BUNCH OF CRAP: HERE’S WHY—-Clearly Hal McCoy’s anecdote in the beginning falls into the swelling pile of easily-believable first-hand accounts that Roger Clemens is an a-hole… Many professional athletes also have a similar abundance of stories and anecdotes that tend to indicate that they are a bit unscrupulous (to say the least)… But I think an even bigger problem than athletes being a-holes, and one which is far less mentioned, is the problem caused by blow-hard self-righteous sports writers (not picking on you Hal, or “Real McCoy”, or whatever you like) that also happen to have some serious character defects and moral issues that betray their ability to come across as little more than hypocrites (case in point: Dana Parsons-LA Times)… The fact that a large number of top pro-athletes can be described up as ego-maniacal, selfish, insensitive, and immoral should come as no surprise when you consider the determination, focus, and self-confidence to get to the top. The surprise truly is the short-list of athletes like Cal Ripken that combine all of the mental and emotional abilities necessary to succeed at the highest level with an extraordinary moral compass… Do you catch my drift yet Hal McCoy, McNamee?… (Of course you don’t) in fact your own personal crusades blind you (no pun intended) from the reality that is lying right there in front of you… Jesus , Buddha, Ghandi, Confucious, Socrates, and on and on, are superb moral role-models, they also never sought the life of the professional athlete because they spent the majority of their lives reflecting on life and helping people… Athletes are entertainers first and foremost, they spend the majority of their lives entertaining in the physical realm and we idolize and adore them for these abilities… A problem arises however when we start to confuse them also as idols of kindness and morality. Roger Clemens is not the Son of God, nor is he close by any means, but I would much rather watch Roger Clemens pitch game 7 of the World Series than Jesus… AND THAT’S MY POINT, if we keep hauling our sports stars up in front of the “moral court”, we are going to be disappointed time and time again… And, when you actually look at who’s doing the scrutinizing - i.e. reporter, political savant, moral crusader, you find that they tend to have a lot in common with the ego-driven athletes they condemn, and in reality are anything but the “Real McCoy”…By Tom
February 15, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
If I was a big league baseball player and was clean, I would be demanding the strictest testing standards so everyone would know I was clean. And I’d have no tolerance for players who effectively undermined my reputation due to guilt by association. The fact that they are all defending each other and making excuses for the evidence indicates to me that they’re all using that junk. What a shame.By Dan
February 15, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Guess who was with Roger when he was at the Legends game. McNamee was there during the entire game. What a jokeBy Dan
February 15, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Roger Clemons is a first class punk. Roger sat in a box seat beside out box at a Lexington Legends game while he was there watching Colby Clemons play. Several employees of the Legends told us how he turned down a 12 year when he was asked to sign his baseball. They stated that he was a total diffrent person when the cameras came on. If Roger Clemons makes it to the hall of fame Pete Rose better be right beside him.By Bill
February 15, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
McNamee has no reason to lie, he is already going to jail and he knows it. Roger was amazing during that hearing. So the guy told the truth about not only the other players but Roger’s wife and not Roger? Baloney and I say leave him out of the hall, he cheated period and broke the law.By jamesccm
February 15, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Hal, as a former co-worker, I just have to say how glad I am you are blogging and how pleased I am to see you writing every day. Dayton’s lucky to have your insight and perspective.By Earl from Miami Twp.
February 15, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Hal, I remember a comment from Clemens in an interview with Dan Patrick. When asks about hometown roots and when he had been back. He replied why would I go back to that hick town.By Earl from Miami Twp.
February 15, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Hal, I remember a comment from Clemens in an interview with Dan Patrick. When asks about hometown roots and when he had been back. He replied why would I go back to that hick town.By Ted Lawson
February 15, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Hal: Glad to see the Reds are signing Phillips and was really interested in what you had to say about Cemens.Right on Hal! You got it right and still do the job you do better than any writer in Baseball. A pleasure to read your articles.By Larry
February 15, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this
A 60 minute remark: Mr. Clemens had the gull to say that he was “insulted to believe people are doubting him after he has given so much to the game of baseball”. Give me a break!By John
February 15, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
Proving again you are the best, Hal, even with the adaptation to new technology (your new blog). Couldn’t agree more about Hall of Fame. Sorry Dan and Barney, but the Hall’s rules are clear. Here are the rules on voting. “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” Integrity, sportsmanship and character are right there in plain english.By Joe
February 14, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Hey Dan, Pete should be in the Hall for what he did on the playing field. He got banned for doing what he did as a manager. Roger on the other hand gave himself an unfair advantage on the field. It’s just like throwing a spitter or corking a bat.By Loretta & Frank Turner
February 14, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
We live in Houston, Texas and have a good idea about the ego of Clemens. We think he has been trying to convince everyone he didn’t use steroids by an aggressive compaign to hide the truth. We formerly lived in Dayton for 25 years and unlike Clemens we have good memories and miss numerous friendsBy Barney
February 14, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
I agree with Dan, Hall of Fame status should be what they did on the field, not how the guy treated sports writers.By Dan
February 14, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
I was okay with Mr. McCoy’s article until the end. His hall of fame ballot should include Pete Rose for his performance on the field and Roger Clemens for the same reason. It is a baseball hall of fame not an integrity hall of fame.By Petey in LA
February 14, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Nice article. Another quality piece by Hal.By Ty
February 14, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
Great article Hal. You are a very very respected sports writer and I admire your honestly in all of your writings. I am deffinity not a Clemens supporter and I truley hope the syringes and DNA prove how much of a liar he really is. Well said, I will share this article all of my sport fanatic friends. Thank you.By Bob
February 14, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Good article as usual Hal, thanks. I’m just not sure about any of these guys. It’s hard to know what to believe when these are so many angles & cover-ups & deals going on. Hopefully time will tell……By Phyllis
February 14, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
Clemens deserves the fate he earned. Whose disposition is worse, Clemens or Bonds?By Dave
February 14, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Hal, well said. Let’s put Clemens and Bonds in the same prison.By Dave
February 14, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
1) The charge is perjury, not being a jerk. If being a jerk was a crime, the halls of congress and our streets would be pretty empty. 2) McNamee is getting immunity from prosecution based on naming stars as users of performance-enhancing drugs. They don’t give it for stating that Andy Pettitte used HGH twice to recover from an injury. He has a long history of perjury and plenty of incentive to continue lying. 3) I am not saying the Rocket is being truthful, but it will take a lot more than a couple of offhand remarks several years ago and the testimony of a McNamee to convince any fair individual.By null,preacher,franklin,ohio
February 14, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
send,him,to,jail,geter,done,forjesus,god,bless,you,all