Clemens, McNamee become focus of Wednesday's hearing after Pettitte, two others dropped

Baseball Betting Lines

02/12/2008 -

WASHINGTON (AP) -Now this much is undeniable: Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee will be the focus of Wednesday's congressional hearing about the Mitchell Report.

``I guess it's showtime, isn't it?'' said Clemens' lead lawyer, Rusty Hardin.

Clemens, the accused, and McNamee, his accuser, will be the main witnesses at the public hearing after the New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte and two others were dropped Monday night.

Former Clemens teammate Chuck Knoblauch and convicted steroids distributor Kirk Radomski also were taken off the list of those testifying. One new witness was added Monday: a lawyer who worked with former Senate majority leader George Mitchell to produce December's report on drugs in baseball.

But everyone surely will be focusing on Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, and McNamee, his former personal trainer. McNamee said in the Mitchell Report that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Clemens' denials of those allegations drew the attention of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Clemens - who ranks eighth in major league history with 354 wins - was to resume his face-to-face lobbying efforts of committee members Tuesday, after the panel's planned hearing entitled, ``Myths and Facts about Human Growth Hormone, B12, and Other Substances.''

The 45-year-old pitcher spoke with nearly half of the lawmakers on the committee during a two-day tour last week.

McNamee also accused Pettitte of using HGH - and Pettitte acknowledged he did for two days in 2002 to deal with an elbow injury. Before Pettitte spoke to committee lawyers under oath last week, one of McNamee's lawyers, Earl Ward, said he thought Pettitte would tell Congress he discussed HGH with Clemens between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

With Monday's decision, Pettitte was spared the potentially difficult situation of having to deliver public testimony that could hurt the position of Clemens, a friend, past teammate and former workout partner. Portions of Pettitte's sworn deposition, though, may be read aloud at the hearing. And the committee's ranking Republican, Tom Davis of Virginia, said in an interview with Newsday that Pettitte's account matches McNamee's in most details.

Radomski - sentenced Friday to five years' probation after pleading guilty in April to distributing steroids and money laundering - has said he had no direct contact with Clemens. Knoblauch's knowledge appeared to be peripheral.

Pettitte gave his deposition Feb. 4, followed the next day by Clemens, and McNamee later in the week. Knoblauch, a four-time All-Star who played on the Yankees with Clemens and Pettitte and like them was named in the Mitchell Report, was interviewed by committee staff last month. Radomski had been scheduled for a pre-hearing interview with committee staff Tuesday.

``Mr. Knoblauch and Mr. Pettitte answered all the Committee's questions and their testimony at the hearing is not needed,'' Davis and committee chairman Henry Waxman said in a statement. ``Mr. Clemens and Mr. McNamee have also cooperated with the Committee in its investigation.''

Following Pettitte's deposition, his lawyers asked the committee to excuse him from the hearing, a person familiar with the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations weren't made public.

Pettitte's attorney, Jay Reisinger, declined to comment after the announcement. Pettitte's request to be excused was first reported by The New York Times on its Web site.

A lawyer for Radomski did not immediately return a phone message left at his office Monday night.

``I'm not disappointed,'' said Knoblauch's attorney, Diana Marshall. ``I know Chuck is not disappointed.''

The new witness is Charles Scheeler, a partner with Mitchell's law firm, DLA Piper. According to the firm's Web site, Scheeler mainly works in commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense.

Asked about Scheeler's addition, Hardin said: ``I look forward to hearing what he has to say.''

Clemens' camp disputes several elements of the Mitchell Report's sections about him. Clemens said he repeated under oath during his closed-door deposition what he previously had said in various settings publicly: ``I've never used steroids or growth hormone.''

If the committee believes Clemens or McNamee made false statements under oath, it could ask the Justice Department to open an investigation. This is the same House panel that - after the Mitchell Report came out - asked Justice to look into whether 2002 AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied when he told committee investigators in 2005 that he never took performance enhancers and had no knowledge of other players using or talking about steroids. The FBI's field office in Washington is handling that inquiry.

``We've always known that one of the potential possibilities, one of the possible results of Roger testifying differently than the Mitchell Report, could be a criminal referral,'' Hardin said. ``That's an option the committee's always had.''

---

Blum reported from New York. Fendrich reported from Washington.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

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Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

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