The United States government spent $20 million producing The Mitchell Report, which catalogued steroid use in Major League Baseball. The report profiled 89 players, including Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Mark McGwire. All of whom, in my opinion, used performance enhancing drugs. Recently, Roger Clemens was acquitted in court on perjury charges. He was not on trial strictly for steroid use, at least this last time around. In previous trials and Congressional hearings, Clemens testified that he had never used any performance enhancing drugs, despite the overwhelming evidence against him. Pettitte, Clemens’ friend and former teammate, not only with the New York Yankees but also with the Houston Astros, testified that Clemens had used human growth hormone (HGH) to speed up recovery time. Clemens claims Pettitte’s memory is inaccurate and maintains his own innocence. Former athletic trainer Brian McNamee testified that he personally injected both Clemens and Pettitte with performance enhancing drugs. Pettitte has admitted to using HGH in 2002 to assist in his recovery from an elbow injury. So the question is, why would Pettitte, who is friends with Clemens, admit to using steroids himself and then lie about Clemens steroid use? He wouldn’t. How many people have to testify that they talked with Clemens about using steroids, saw Clemens use steroids or personally injected them into his ass until he will finally just admit it? If the government spent as much time, money and effort trying to fix the economy as they have investigating steroid use in America’s slowest game, unemployment would be a thing of the past. Despite his acquittal, Clemens is not out of the courtroom yet. He is still in the middle of a defamation lawsuit with McNamee. If Clemens didn’t use steroids, then it should be an easy conviction for his legal team. But if he did, then we should expect to see McNamee acquitted of defamation charges. Only time will tell if Clemens actually used performance enhancing drugs since the testimony of former teammates, trainers and locker room staff doesn’t seem to be enough. Roger Clemens is white trash that made it. Between steroids, statutory rape charges and his incessant denial of any wrongdoing ever, it’s safe to say he just sucks. C’mon America, let’s just be honest with ourselves. Michael Jackson molested those kids, Casey Anthony killed her baby and Roger Clemens used steroids. The enormous amounts of media attention these cases get only work in favor of the defendant. Jurors are forced to play devil’s advocate in order to appear unswayed by popular opinion. You don’t have to be athletic to play baseball. Look at Babe Ruth, the most well-known player ever, with an enormous beer belly. Any sport where a borderline obese person can be the best ever can’t require much athleticism. Mr. Clemens, just admit it. If your friends can admit they did it, why would they lie about you?
Parker Cramer is a 21-year-old political science senior from Houston. Follow him on Twitter at @TDR_pcramer. 
 
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