PAGE SIX’s spiffy new(?) website shows off photos today of Jason Giambi’s birthday party at the Las Vegas club Body English.

Rappers Chuck D, Flava Flav and Run’s former other half, DMC, were all in attendance. The trio, in town for the ginormous Consumer Electronics Show, also performed together for the first time on stage.

But taking the cake was the … uh … Giambi’s birthday cake, which featured a naked torso of a woman. You might be wondering who the woman is in the photo with Giambi. No, it isn’t his pharmacist. Read more…

In the on-going war of words between Roger Clemens & Brian McNamee, the Rocket’s legal team fired another salvo at his ex-trainer, this time saying McNamee lied about a Florida rape case.

In his defamation suit, Clemens attorney brings up the 2001 incident as an example of how “dishonest” McNamee is. While still a trainer with the Yankees, McNamee reportedly was seen having sex in a Tampa hotel pool, and witnesses said the woman he was with appeared drugged. But McNamee denied he did anything to the woman, and no charges were ever filed.

McNamee attorney Earl Ward argues that the incident “has no relevance” in Clemens’ current suit, and bringing it up is “just an attempt to further damage his character.”

But Clemens & his legal team think otherwise. Laywer Rusty Hardin asks, “The significant thing is, when this guy’s rear end is in trouble, does he lie?”

And now one of Roger’s hometown columnists is also questioning McNamee’s believability.

Read more…

Scott Boras, apparently with some time off after not having to sweat ARod’s negotiations with the Yankees, is now loading up for salary arbitration cases. One of his clients is Rick Ankiel, who finished last season with an astonishing flourish but has since been tainted by his admission of taking HGH and being named in the Mitchell Report.

Nevertheless, the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH reports that Boras, who “has a bunker of computers loaded with nearly 130 years of statistical history and 35 staffers dedicated to prepping arbitration cases,” is ready to haul out the hyperbole for the real-life Roy Hobbs.

Boras gives the P-D a taste of his dress rehearsal, if Ankiel does indeed go to arbitration: “You have a player whose contributions came first as a pitcher, then as a position player. The last player you’re really talking about is Babe Ruth.”

Ridiculous. Everyone knows Ruth spent a lot more time at the plate than Ankiel has (we know, lame).

We know the MLB rookie hazing photos have made the rounds the last few months, and they’ve gotten a little tired. But BUGS & CRANKS uncovers a cache of photos deserving of our attention.

They are from the Phillies this past season, and we must say that we’re in awe of the time, effort and detail that went into the costuming.

Now if we can only get a space cadet suit to be broken out by Darren Daulton at the Phils’ next old-timers game.

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS reports today that private investigators hired by Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte interviewed Brian McNamee, on tape, the day before the Mitchell Report came out. Of course, we want to hear what’s on that tape, but what about Clemens telling Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes that he didn’t know that he was going to be implicated in the Mitchell Report?:

Mike Wallace (5:40): “Did you know ahead of time what was going to be in George Mitchell’s report?”
Clemens (5:44): “I did not.”

From that, it looks like we’ve uncovered the first crack in Clemens’ denials about steroids.

Read more…

Here’s one way for Roger Clemens to help pay his attorney fees for his legal fight against Brian McNamee - sell off some of his balls.

The above horsehide holds the Rocket’s personal John Hancock, along with a signature acknowledging Clemens’ 350 wins and 4,500 strikeouts. The ball can be bought through the Roger Clemens Foundation for only $350. And 12 more bucks can get you a lovely acrylic display.

Interesting that the numbers would already contain *asterisks* - presumably saving any possible purchasers the trouble of adding them on themselves, a la Barry Bonds.

UPDATE: Emailers, we know they’re pluses, it’s a joke. Didn’t realize so many were so thick. If only we’d posted a pic to the right ball!

Guess that “emotional” Friday phone call didn’t patch things up, after all.

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that Roger Clemens is suing the ex-trainer who accused the pitcher of past steroid use.

The Rocket filed the lawsuit against Brian McNamee on Sunday night, saying that the Mitchell Report accusations of Clemens receiving illegal drug injections are untrue. (They were just vitamins, don’t ya know.)

Read more…

A former minor league baseball player says that steroids ruined his chances at a profitable pro career. Not because he took any performance-enhancing drugs, but because other players did:

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS reports that Rich Hartmann may file a class-action suit against Major League Baseball, claiming that steroid use gave some players an unfair advantage of getting a big-league gig.

Hartmann was a pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the mid-1990s, but now serves as a manager at a Manhattan bank. But he feels that drug use by others could have cost him a shot at counting millions of his own money, instead of balancing the bills of other customers.

Read more…

Jose Canseco’s next book is apparently suffering from writer’s block:

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS reports that the former slugger was planning on penning a new missive to follow up his 2005 opus “Juiced”. The new work, titled “Vindicated”, was expected to be released around Opening Day next season.

However, co-writer Don Yaeger has decided to pass on the project. The former SI editor believes that there isn’t enough stuff for another best-seller - especially in regards to Canseco’s claims of juicy material on Alex Rodriguez:

“I don’t think there’s a book there. I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t think he’s got what he claims to have, certainly doesn’t have what he claims to have on A-Rod. There’s no meat on the bones.”

Read more…

Roger Clemens his heading back to the hill - Capitol Hill.

The NEW YORK TIMES reports that the Rocket has been asked to testify before Congress for his supposed steroid use. Scheduled to join Clemens in Washington are former trainer & steroid accuser Brian McNamee, former Yankees teammates Andy Pettitte & Chuck Knoblauch, and Kirk Radomski, a former Mets clubhouse attendant who says he’s given dozens of players performance-enhancing drugs.

The hearing is set for January 16. Although Clemens & the rest are being asked to show up voluntarily, the congressional committee could issue subpoenas in order to force the five to testify.