The Congressional hearing involving Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee has ended. As expected, nothing exciting or unexpected was exposed. The only question that remains is if we’ll soon see Clemens in a courtroom getting cross-examined by Federal investigators. We doubt it.

The only person who can really foil Clemens’ great escape now from the Feds is Andy Pettitte. But Pettitte doesn’t have the stomach to pursue the matter further, ‘else he would’ve been sitting next to his *buddy* today.

For us, here’s the highlight of the day: Indiana Representative Dan Burton attacks McNamee:

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS is touting an exclusive that Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte got his shipments of human growth hormone from his father Tom.

The statement made its way to the paper and was then given to the House committee grilling both Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee this morning.

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Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee are both taking plenty of bullets at their Congressional hearing today. Predictably, the duo has been exposed for innumerable inconsistencies and lies in previous comments to the press and the Feds.

We’d say that Clemens is making out better at the moment. Before the hearing, McNamee appeared to be the more credible of the two. But after Clemens’ former trainer was absolutely hammered by Indiana Representative Dan Burton for his past lies to the media and Mitchell Report investigators, his credibility looks all the more questionable. Read more…

We’re up early on the west coast to watch the Roger Clemens Congressional hearing. It will be much ado about nothing, but we have found a way to make it entertaining.

Presenting the Roger Clemens Congressional Hearing drinking game - from SIGNAL 2 NOISE (who will be posting on SbB later today).

Roger Clemens told Andy Pettitte he took HGH - that’s according to a sworn affidavit acquired by the ASSOCIATED PRESS on Tuesday.

Details of Pettitte’s affidavit came out a day before Clemens was to testify in front of Congress about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. Pettitte gave the affidavit so he wouldn’t have to appear in person at Wednesday’s hearings. Read more…

Now this is really getting fun sad. A source tells the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS today that “Brian McNamee told congressional investigators Thursday that he injected Roger Clemens’ wife with human growth hormone before she appeared with the pitcher in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue in 2003, according to a Washington source.

“Debbie Clemens appeared with her husband in a photograph taken in Central Park in the magazine’s Feb. 18, 2003 issue wearing a bikini and holding a bat over her shoulders while Roger Clemens reclined on the ground in his Yankee uniform. McNamee testified that he injected her at Roger Clemens’ direction, according to the source.”

Source: “She was trying to get in shape for the SI cover. He (McNamee) told them the story that Debbie took growth.”

With McNamee providing these sorts of details, it’s now clear that steroids and HGH aren’t what’s at issue anymore. It’s about a soul-crushing crusade against everything Clemens holds dear. We can hardly wait for McNamee to next reveal Granny Clemens’ steroid injections after her late ’90s bout with Shingles.

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS reports this afternoon that “Brian McNamee has turned over physical evidence to federal investigators that he believes will show Roger Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs, according to McNamee’s lawyers.”

“ … According to a source close to the former Yankee strength and conditioning coach, McNamee gave the Justice Department’s BALCO investigators vials with traces of steroids and growth hormone, as well as blood-stained syringes and gauze pads that may contain the Rocket’s DNA.”

“Justice Department officials have sent the evidence to a lab for testing, and if the materials do indeed contain traces of drugs and blood, prosecutors may attempt to get a court order for a DNA sample from Clemens.”

Nice timing for Clemens. The day after he lies talks to Congressional investigators about his case, McNamee drops this bomb. We wouldn’t want to be the personal assistant who handles his undergarments right about now.

We know what an arrogant a$$hole Clemens can be, and he has to be to blame for most of the debacle he’s now in. But this also is the worst job of lawyering we’ve seen this side of Marcia Clark and Chris Darden.

Now check out the byline on the piece from the NYDN. We love how they posted the time the story was published (in bold) at the top of the piece. We know that’s becoming a more common practice, but is that also a subtle “F-you” to ESPN or other outlets trying to glom on to the story?

We can see SportsCenter an hour from now, with a phone graphic featuring a shot of Buster Olney, as he “breaks” the story for ESPN via a cellphone from a New Jersey turnpike rest stop.

NEWSDAY reports that Friday night Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee had a phone conversation. No details were forthcoming, besides the obvious fact that the convo was “emotional“.

Tonight Clemens goes on 60 Minutes with 89-year-old Yankee fan Mike Wallace to bear his (Lidocaine for the) soul.

Remember the date with Congress Clemens should have on Jan. 16? Well it now appears that Clemens has an out for that appearance (no, it’s not for a voiceover session for the latest Flintstones vitamins spot).

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.