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Clemens apologizes for 'mistakes in personal life'

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 11:15 AM EDT 06/05/08

Seven-time Cy Young Award winner denies having an affair with a 15-year-old ...Read the full article

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  1. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: I feel bad for the Rocket's family. While they sure don't go hungry, it must be tough as a wife or a son to hear of these things thru the media. If all this is true and he's admitted to most of it, the Rocket isn't quite the American legend that he was made out to be.
  2. The one and only Billy Shears from Canada writes: And he never touched steroids either....right? Right? Doesn't anyone believe him?
  3. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: Clemens "apologizes to his fans" for what? Jaywalking? This arrogant man should be known as "Roger the Dodger" ... come on Clemens own up! Your DNA on a steroid needle says more to me than your denial. Your philandering adds weight to your accusers.
  4. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: No, he is every bit of an American legend. Over-hyped, over-commercialized and completely fake - like most American dreams. He is a product of American consumerism and their incessant need to feel good about themselves through their fairy tale heroes until they prove to be pathetic.
  5. bob smith from Canada writes: I would also like to apologize for mistakes I have made in the past. I feel much better getting that off my chest.
  6. Doug Edwards from Rural, Canada writes: You throw enough bean balls on the field and in your personal life and sooner or later some people will start to throw them back.
  7. Gern Blandston from Missasausage, Canada writes: He just doesn't get it. Another rich redneck with mo money than brains. Thinks he can walk on water..I feel bad for his wife and kids. Come clean and gain what little respect you have left for yourself and move on with life. Surely he has the money to live extravagantly...although he may lose 50% :-)
  8. Dwide Schrude from Canada writes: Man, has anyone here ever heard of judge not lest ye be judged?

    We don't know the full story, but it sure is convenient that a relationship that happened ten years ago just happens to have come out now, while the MLB is trying to distance themselves from the only player who hasn't laid down and taken their accusations. Does anyone here really believe that Clemens is the only player in the Mitchell report with past indiscretions? No? Then why is he the only one continuously getting in trouble. The MLB wants him to stay quiet so they're going to bring up his past until he shuts up and relents.
  9. roy f from van, Canada writes: bob smith from Canada writes: I would also like to apologize for mistakes I have made in the past. I feel much better getting that off my chest.
    ----
    I intend to do the same one day, but will save my apology for a time when it would be more stategic.
  10. I_Hate_David Miller from Toronto, Canada writes: A friend of a friend worked at the Skydome Hotel and said that The Rocket was a well know womanizer with a taste for the younger blondes.
  11. DT . from Canada writes: Barry Bonds must be loving this. He needed someone else to take the media heat.

    Now, with regard to Roger, I would love to be proven wrong, but I am sure this guy has more bones in the closet than we can imagine. Unfortunately for him, his opening strategy has been complete denial. You have to be smarter than that Rog! He's painted himself into a corner, and there's no way to get out without losing face, which he is obviously against doing. He probably figures things will go quiet before long, and he can stay under the radar, and maybe pick up some local Houston-area ford dealership promos.
  12. bob smith from Canada writes: Speaking of Barry Bonds, the only good to come out of this is the complete and utter destruction of the myth that he was being unfairly targeted because he is black.

    Everyone is going after Clemens like a speed bag....just imagine how many unauthorized biographies and books about him are in the works as we speak.
  13. Jacques Shellac from Montreal, Canada writes: Hey, it's worked for Christains for a couple of millennia, why shouldn't Roger be allowed to apologize for his sins.

    Us atheists are just screwed.
  14. Larfing Outloud from Virgin Islands (British) writes: B I from Toronto, Canada writes: "No, he is every bit of an American legend. Over-hyped, over-commercialized and completely fake - like most American dreams. He is a product of American consumerism and their incessant need to feel good about themselves through their fairy tale heroes until they prove to be pathetic."

    That's another smug, self-righteous Canadian heard from. No wonder the world pays you no attention.
  15. g h from Canada writes: I would like to apologize for Bob Smith's past indiscretions. I have already apologized to my family for his indiscretions and request that you fans and posters now provide my family and I privacy to work these matters through. Next I plan to apologize directly to Bob's family.
    Bob, I'm going to need your number.
  16. Mark armstrong from writes: Despicable if true. I guess that's why he's given the Cy "YOUNG" award.
    'groans' ;-)
  17. Expert Eel from Canada writes: I didn't know that steroid use turns you into a horny pedophile
  18. Milos Gravity from Canada writes: Expert Eel from Canada writes: I didn't know that steroid use turns you into a horny pedophile

    ___________
    ...with a taste in ugly women.
  19. John S from takeapillville, Canada writes: Okay as far as I've been able to follow, this is Roger's response to Mcnamee's lawyers' revalations. (What're we up to now, 3 "errors in judgement"?). Anyway it's Mcnamee that Roger is suing for defamation...a singularly BAD decision by the way. What was his lawyer thinking? MLB might have started it with the Mitchell report and singled out Roger by coercing Mcnamee into ratting out Roger, but this whole Bimbo thing is Mcnamee's lawyers saying essentially dont even think of suing, you have no credibility.
    As for MLB, well they commissioned Mitchell and after his report and subsequent Congressional Committee debacle, (are there any Republicans left without egg on their faces?) the Department of Justice FBI and IRS are considering charges against Roger for lying to that committee.
    Mcnamee's lawyers mentioned the other day that they'd be surprised if the lawsuit was dropped because up til now Roger's shown no signs of rational judgement.
  20. Simon Cumming from Surrey, Canada writes: Dwide Schrude from Canada writes: Does anyone here really believe that Clemens is the only player in the Mitchell report with past indiscretions? No? Then why is he the only one continuously getting in trouble.

    Dwide: The reason Mr. Clemens is getting into so much trouble is that he refuses to accept any responsibility for his current predicament, and indeed prefers to sue the pants off everyone else for daring to suggest that he's a cheater. To your rhetorical submission, I offer you a counter-question: why is it that Andy Pettite, who was also named in the Mitchell report, is escaping the public scrutiny that Clemens is having to endure? Simple...he freely admitted to using HGH, said it was a mistake, saud he won't do it again, and most importantly, he APOLOGIZED. Clemens' public image would not be taking such a savage beating if he did what our mothers all taught us from a young age: tell the truth. Personally, I couldn't give a rat's behind if he had an affair with a country singer, but it's part and parcel of a curious strategy that Clemens has adopted that leaves a distinctly bitter taste in one's mouth.
  21. Pepper Gee from Canada writes: Enough of this fool. Can we move on now? Other fools are waiting.
  22. George BrownIII from Christmas Island writes: Let him or her who is free from sin cast the first stone.

    And Mr Editor of the G M thank you for having the opportunity to comment on this non sense. After all on controversial stories your readers are not considered wise enough to comment.
  23. Jim Mohagan from steeltown, Canada writes: That's rich! The guy's a regular Alberto Gonzales:"I won't apologize for the things they said I did, but I'm happy to apologize for some other things I did do, but I won't tell you what they are..." ??!!
  24. The Blind Man Is King from Canada writes: I'll avoid burning him at the stake until he's proven guilty of any one of these accusations.

    Most everyone here is far too quick to judge him based on the accusations of his ex-trainer. Who's to say the trainer isn't trying to make some extra money selling a contrived story to the tabloids? The steroids are one thing, but because of it there's blood in the water and the sharks are swarming. I see his appeal to the public as a desperate attempt to save what little respect from friends/family he has left. I wonder what you would do if you found yourself wrongly-accused of the same thing?
  25. D G from Canada writes: I fully expect Clemens' lawyers to resign at some point. I doubt if they gave Roger all this bad advice. I suspect Roger ignored all their good advice and testified before Congress and brought the defamation suit against their advice. The lawyers are looking like buffoons and to maintain their credibility they are going to have to bail (no pun intended).

    I see where they are setting up the dropping of the defamation suit by the fact that they are saying Roger is being picked on by the public and the media. They have to drop it because MacNamee's lawyer will shred Roger's reputation in court. You can't defame someone who cheats on his wife with multiple women but calls himself a family man. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw bean balls!
  26. Paul F. from Canada writes: Although it doesn't look good for Roger right now, I think it is important to keep oranges in the orange column and apples in the apples column. His messing around has nothing to do with steroid taking and visa versa. One should not see guilt with one thing to assume guilt in another. People aren't universally good or evil. It is remarkable that people would think on such a simplistic level.

    Admittedly, his statement isnt' a very smart one, as it could be interpreted as an admission of general guilt. If his lawyers told him to say what he did, he should immediately fire them. Conversely, if he did this without consulting his lawyers yet, he isn't too bright.
  27. Alonso Garnet from Canada writes: If I had his money and celebrity status I would probably be doing some hot chicks too (although they'd be older than 15). Rock on Roger, you're a white R Kelly or Denis Rodman or Kobe Bryant, or Magic Johnson
  28. John S from takeapillville, Canada writes: Blind dude, when they held the congressional committee in feb, Roger went out of his way to invite his ex nanny, a witness before the committee and a woman he hadnt seen for 10 years , to his house for a talk. What it was was a completly illegal attempt to influence her testimony. To her credit she told the truth and said Clemens had been at Canseco's party. As we speak the US Dept of Justice, FBI and IRS are going over his testimony for perjury.
    Further Mcnamee, an ex cop, knew enough to save the syringes. The evidence, if it can be tested, will more than likely show Rogers DNA and steroids. The guy's a snake.
  29. steve allan from Canada writes: This guy is one of the reasons why I no longer watch baseball. He's a big fat obnoxious pile of white trash from Texas. The guy is a liar and a cheat. But I will say one thing about him - he's the perfect representative for a sport full of cheats, liars, and cads.

    I hear attendance is up at MLB parks. That tells you everything you want to know about that severely disturbed society that lies south of here.
  30. steve allan from Canada writes: ------Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: I feel bad for the Rocket's family. While they sure don't go hungry, it must be tough as a wife or a son to hear of these things thru the media. If all this is true and he's admitted to most of it, the Rocket isn't quite the American legend that he was made out to be.-------

    Why do you feel sorry for them? They're no different than him! His wife is a steroid freak herself.
  31. Terry in YVR from Vancouver, Canada writes: They should change MLB to MLE....Major League Entertainment....just like the WWE
  32. steve allan from Canada writes: The same people who think this creep is innocent are the same people who honestly think OJ didn't do it and that Lance Armstrong won seven Tours de France riding clean - in other words the seriously deluded!
  33. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: BI- Nice job trashing all things American based on Roger Clemens getting into the Viagra supply. You are one bitter Canuck. Did you get put down by a 15 year old American Lolita? Sorry dude.Try brushing your tooth next time and show up with a 24 of Labatts. The Steelback looks too cheap.
  34. Runaway 08 from Canada writes: I want to aplogise for the indiscreet Smug Canadians' comments. Of course, none of us has ever taken an illegal drug or cheated on a spouse or girl/boyfriend. WE are cleaner than clean!!

    We don't need steroids to keep our jobs and our families in the lifestyle they've become used to, because we aren't good enough to get those jobs anyway! Us wimmen have never had to contemplate boob jobs or facial work, because it wouldn't turn us into movie stars anyway.

    Those Americans who come up here expecting friendly, passive Canadians should stay home and enjoy their crooked sports stars and politicians. ALL Canadians are straight (not shooters), honest, hard working hewers of wood and drawers of water!
  35. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Steve Allen, it's bad enough the wife finds out she's been cheated on(countless times by the sound of it), but to find out in this public forum is tough. Steriod use aside...I know I wouldn't want the world to find out my spouse was cheating on me...at least not until I found out first anyway.

    I'd say it would be tough as a kid to find out your dad is a dirt bag. I don't care how old you are when you find out. From steriod use to smoking a 15 year old....that's harsh man.

    I'd take the money and live the good life but something like this would be tough to swallow. That's all I am saying.
  36. Edmond Dusablon from United States writes: steve allan - 'I hear attendance is up at MLB parks. That tells you everything you want to know about that severely disturbed society that lies south of here.'

    http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/2000-03attendance.htm

    The link shows that attendance at Blue Jays games has increased every year from 2002 (1.63 million) to 2007 (2.36 million). Who knew that Toronto was a 'severely disturbed society' too?
  37. elwyn jennings from Canada writes: yeah, blue jays attendance is up. why do people still care about baseball????
  38. Joyce Smith from Canada writes: What a tired cliche this man has become.
  39. George Lucas from Canada writes: Roger would have admitted his mistakes before now but he mis-rembered what he did wrong, although on his lawyers advice, he is able to re-remeber he did something wrong, sort of. What exactly it was, is no one's business, according to Roger, hence the press conference?

    No one would care, but Roger and his legal team keep trying convince the world that Roger is some sort of role model.
    Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillies comes across as Winston Churchill compared to Roger. Roger needs better mental hygiene. Maybe its time that he went into therapy like Mel Gibson, Britney Spears et' al.
  40. dick brown from Canada writes: Roger is a classic narcissist. Forgive him as his prognosis is very grim as he ages.
  41. dick brown from Canada writes: ...and as for the anti-american clap trap....do we need to resurrect Ben Johnson et al.....
  42. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Roger, we don't care.

    Be quiet, enjoy retirement, watch some ball.
  43. eddie fitzgerald from toronto, Canada writes: So will Roger Clemens be as harshly treated by the media and "fans" as Barry Bonds was?

    Bonds was made a pariah for "taking steroids". Clemens has the same allegation against him plus MUCH MORE.

    This will be very interesting to watch over then next few months.
  44. dan vanman from vancouver, Canada writes: eddie...the major difference is that Bonds is black though.
  45. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: He "didn't do anything wrong".

    So . . . he is "apologizing" becauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse . . . ?
  46. Compos Mentis from Toronto, Canada writes: Mr. Hardin feels Mr. Clemens is in uncharted territory, if that's the case then Mr. Clemens need look no further than the roadmap provided by other fallen athletes, Marion Jones and Ben Johnson and others come to mind. For guidance from those outside the world of athletics, read a little history, say Watergate, Iran-Contra and other political scandals that involved denials and coverups! In spite of Mr. Hardin's comments the roadmap is very legible, at the end if the road comes the crash and burn of a reputation, built on an aggregate of misremembering, untruths, prevarications, misstatements, misrepresentations and deceit! Such a waste!
  47. steve allan from Canada writes: ----Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillies comes across as Winston Churchill compared to Roger. Roger needs better mental hygiene. Maybe its time that he went into therapy like Mel Gibson, Britney Spears et' al.-----

    You picked the wrong person to compare Jethro to. Churchill was a racist, an alcoholic, a compulsive womanizer and a liar. Hardly someone you want to hold up as a role model!
  48. George Lucas from Canada writes: Steve Allan from Canada writes:
    You picked the wrong person to compare Jethro to. Churchill was a racist, an alcoholic, a compulsive womanizer and a liar. Hardly someone you want to hold up as a role model!

    Sorry I did not realize you had such an affinity for Jethro.

    Most politicians have baggage, but I think that Churchill's can be forgiven for some of his, because he stood up against Hitler, when the vast majority of British society did not.

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