Judge in Clemens steroids case has brush with another baseball star
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton probably feels like he is living and breathing baseball these days. He is presiding over the case about whether former pitching ace Roger Clemens lied to Congress about not using steroids and human growth hormones, and he comes from the same hometown as baseball superstars Ken Griffey Sr. and Stan Musial.
During a brief court hearing on Wednesday, Walton alerted the lawyers involved in the case that he had run into Griffey Sr. a couple of months ago in their tiny hometown of Donora, Pennsylvania, and that the former outfielder remarked that Clemens was “a good guy.”
Walton said that he told Griffey Sr. that he could not discuss the case with him and that “I don’t believe he was seeking to influence me.” The judge said he wanted to alert both sides about the incident so they had the opportunity to raise any objections they might have.
Clemens’ lead defense lawyer, Rusty Hardin, quipped: “Are we allowed to say amen?”
The prosecutor was a little more circumspect, raising no objection about the incident.
The court hearing was held to resolve a potential conflict-of-interest by Hardin who previously was retained by another pitcher, Andy Pettitte, who was also caught up in the baseball steroids scandal and could be a witness for prosecutors during Clemens’ trial.
Hardin said he only worked with Pettitte for about six days. To resolve the potential issue, Hardin has agreed to have his co-counsel, Michael Attanasio, do any cross-examination of Pettitte should he be called as a witness during the trial.
Of diplomacy and baseball…
Timing is everything in diplomacy and baseball.
After months of prickly talks aimed at coaxing Israelis and Palestinians into direct peace talks, U.S. envoy George Mitchell finally had news to share. But when the U.S. mediator par excellence took the stage for questions Friday at the State Department, reporters tossed him one out of left field.
“As tempted as I am to ask you about Roger Clemens…,” his first questioner began, to chortles from reporters and State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.
Mitchell, of course, between peacemaking stints in Northern Ireland and the Middle East, took a stab back in 2007 at resolving the conflict between Congress and Major League Baseball over the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Clemens, one of the best pitchers in baseball history, was named in Mitchell’s report as having taken drugs, but he denied it in testimony before Congress.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of Congress. He faces a $1.5 million fine and up to 30 years in prison.
So it was tantalizing to wonder what the former Maine judge and senator might have to say about Clemens.
Bush looks forward to being a quiet sports spectator again
WASHINGTON – In between packing up to move back to Texas and trying to save the U.S. automotive industry, President George W. Bush squeezed in 40 minutes to talk extensively about one of his greatest loves — sports.
In an interview with a Washington Post sports writer, the former baseball team owner said the financial meltdown would likely cascade down to major league sports, noting that they tend to thrive on regular attendees.
“If you’re unable to get the American family to come to your park more than once a year, you’re going to have a difficult time when it comes to your attendance. Of course this will exacerbate the problem,” Bush said according to the Post.
He made it clear he would like to become a quiet spectator after being in the limelight for nearly eight years and had no intention of returning to the baseball world even as commissioner of Major League Baseball.
“I’m looking forward to getting off the stage,” Bush said. “I have done my duty to my country. I have given it my all. It’s now President-elect Obama’s time. I have had enough of the spotlight.”
He also told the newspaper that he believed more was being done now to rid the sports world of steroids, an issue he raised during his 2004 State of the Union address, but noted that it could get harder to detect them in the future. He admitted surprise when allegations surfaced that pitcher Roger Clemens had been linked to banned performance-enhancing drugs.
“It seems like they are making great strides. [But] are they going to invent detection devices to take care of the next round of exotics?” Bush said in the newspaper interview.
Oh come on. Your emotional diatribe against Bush is not based on one fact.
I know the hatred of Bush is venomous in its spirit and those with liberal tendencies are the loudest screamers. However, he was elected to two terms and he has kept us safe since 9/11. For that I will be eternally grateful.
If you had been dealt the blows he was dealt with 9/11, Katrina, Thailand Tsunami, and the ongoing global war on terror, no one would have done better or worse.
Leave the guy alone, he truly has served our country well. History through the test of time will show that to be true. (All the emotional diatribes will not be clouding the picture like they are now…)
