As I read the reports on Roger Clemens and other alleged steroid users, I find the choice of words by individuals fascinating. I also find the comments by fans and other athletes amusing at best. Here are a few of the comments and facts in the latest news story on Clemens that I find to be a bit odd.
“In a search warrant affidavit signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky,”
I find it very peculiar that an IRS agent is the one investigating steroid abuse. This is the same IRS agent who is involved in the Bonds’ indictment. Is Roger being pursued for Tax Evasion as well? It seems if you want to get to the bottom of anything just go after a person's taxes.
Clemens said he has been tested "plenty of times" and passed every test.
I have news for you Roger, Barry passed every test too! The problem here is that no one is being tested for HGH. The tests that Roger and Barry have passed have been for traditional anabolic steroids and not for human growth hormone. This is the drug of choice for most MLB players because the agreement between the players’ union does not allow for blood tests.
Gibbons has said he has passed every test administered by baseball.
"We've had steroid testing, and I've taken all the tests," Brian Roberts told The (Baltimore) Sun.
Hey guys, of course you passed. It’s called selective testing and by selective I mean the type of test MLB chooses to
"For the people involved it is very dangerous and malicious and reckless on the part of somebody ... to put something out there with somebody else's writing on it," Clemens added.
Clearly Roger thinks someone else is doctoring Grimsley’s affidavit.
Grimsley has complained to friends, the Times said, that federal agents attributed statements to him that he did not make.
Randy Hendricks, who represents Clemens and Pettitte, told The Associated Press he questions the conduct of the federal agents.
Apparently Grimsley and Hendricks agree that the federal agents are on a witch hunt and may have altered his statements. If these agents can wrongly indict Clemens and Pettite, is it possible that they have been unfair with Bonds? After all, it is the same lead investigator for both cases. Could some of the “leaked” grand jury testimony have been falsified?
In a search warrant affidavit signed by IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky, the Times reported, he said Grimsley identified other players who had used drugs. Those names were blacked out when the document was released.
If those names were blacked out then I would assume it is a small pool of people that knew the actual names on the list. It seems to me it would be easy to find who the mole is, but that is assuming they want to find the source. Funny how Greg Anderson goes to jail for not giving up information and yet the Game of Shadows authors are still free even though the judge ruled them guilty. This whole game of leaking information is growing very weary.
Andy Pettitte said, "I've never used any drugs to enhance my performance in baseball. I don't know what else to say except to say it's embarrassing my name would be out there.”
Great line Andy! Did you borrow that one from Rafael Palmeiro? In your next briefing why not say that you have never used steroids but you have received vitamin B-12 shots from a team mate.
Well, I am sure we have not heard the last of these stinging allegations, but I for one am enjoying seeing someone else squirm besides Barry Bonds. I also think it is high time that the conversation now turns to the records of some of these “juiced up” pitchers. If we don’t acknowledge Barry as the new HR king then surely Roger does not deserve all of his Cy Young awards.
Lastly, I think this just proves how great of a hitter Barry was/is considering he hit so many HR’s against juiced up pitchers.
SoCalSportsFan
*All quotes are from the Fox News Story that I linked in the first paragraph.*
Socalaports Once again what we're seeing is a Justice Dept., that is at a loss as to how best proceed in this case. It would appear that most of the evidence that they have in their possession is merely circumstancial and might just pass the litmus test if it were any other case. One has to wonder how they were able to obtain a grand jury indictment in the first place ?
I can't do the little german soldier from Laugh-in who said: very interesting How the Hell is an IRS agent investigating steroid use, unless he was investigating tax fraud by all these guys & came across it.
I think the damm thing has become a witch hunt that is going no where,so they release it to the media, trial by public opinion
I think one of the cardinal rules of police work is to follow the money trail. It looks like maybe that's what they're doing in this case, although it's hard to imagine the connection between steroid use and nonpayment of taxes, that's a head-scratcher....
I picture the Feds in a room with this guy, he’s been interrogated for 10 hours. Their screaming give me names, he gives them a couple. They say that’s not good enough, so he blurts out Clemmons and Petit just so he can go to the restroom.
Clemmons looked poised in the short interview but Petit looked nervous.
I think the only thing those two are guilty of is taking money from the Astros.
Well considering the IRS is an illegal organization to begin with. Why are they still around. They were created, if I am wrong plesae tell me, to collect taxes during the war and were to be abolished soon there after. Am I wrong in saying this?
No, LSU, you're not wrong. Federal income taxes were not supposed to be permanent, but like just about every government program ever created, it's just become bigger and bigger. Never believe your fearless leaders when they tell you sopmething is just temporary....
Mircale, I watched Pettitte, (four T's, can you believe that) and he did sound extremely nervous. Roger has balls and everyone knows that, of course maybe they have shriveled up a bit from too many steroids. I for one believe the Rocket was using and has for many years, but he is not the only pitcher that has been using.
Half and LSU, the IRS is the biggest threat to our government. It controls everyone including the presidents. No one has the gumption to disband it. We have to have taxes to pay for the military and infrastructure, but everyone is afraid of a flat tax because it takes the control away from the IRS and because it is the most fair way to tax everyone.
The original income tax law was passed as a temporary tax to pay for World War One!! Sheesh!!
But now it pays for our war of terror, welfare programs, educational systems etc etc. Hell, I even have to pay taxes on my Soc Sec disability, but without a better system, what can you do?
fuzboss If this is the only way that our Justice Dept can go after these alleged steroid abusers where does this leave us on the 'War on Terror' ? Eiter they have enough eveidence to prosecute ot they do not but don't act on the aspersions of one player's allegations without tantamount proof. It shouldn't be what our justice system should be about.
And I'd also like to thank the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins for turning up for yesterday's games and for putting up such a lackluster performance for which they ought to be ashamed of themselves.
And thank you Lawrence Maroney and Corey Dillon for providing the naysayers with proof that the Patriots do have a ground attack. Furthermore showing the Bengals that they're good but they can't yet come to play with the 'big boys' until mamma says that they can.
I thought so. A 15 % across the board flat tax would do nicely..lol and be plenty.
Anyways back to sports and IRS inquires. What does the IRS have to do with steroids? How about black mail? I mean what does one have to do with the other, except for a FED guy to say: "give us names or prepare for an audit." It makes no sense for the IRS to be involved, unless these players were already in trouble with the IRS before all this came up. What are the chances of that?
To be honest I use to care about Bonds' deal alot but like someone said, in the grand scheme of things it really does not matter anymore. So much haze has been thrown into this whole steroids thing that the endgame is at best wishy-washy. yeah the guy cheated, but nobody will ever be able to get it out of him. They have come as close as they can with his "unknowingly taking steroids" statement.
All I know is when I talk to my kids about the greatest record in sports I will say that record unofficially belongs to Roger Maris b/c of the abuse of steroids throughout the 1990s and how some of the other greatest HR hitters like McGwire, Bonds, and Sosa were involved in the biggest baseball scandal since the Black Sox. Though baseball recognizes them as the new record holders, they were not honest in their presentation and respect for the fans or the game. How one acts when nobody is watching is where true character lies. Character is more important than a dollar sign or any record. And none of those 3 hold any character in my eyes.
For what good is a record if you know you did not earn it respectfully. That is what I will tell my kids one day soon. In all this, there is a very important lesson to teach a kid. Do things honestly and correctly the 1st time so no questions can be asked later.
It is honestly sad to see the guys I grew up with, whom I saw as the pinnacle of the game I played turn out to be a bunch of bozos. So much time spent trading baseball cards, showing what card I had compared to my buddies, etc. All for what? To have a finger waved in my face denying everything, only to turn up positive for steroids. So they could make a few more dollars? Meh, I guess that is why I have sold half my cards at a garage sale this past weekend. Baseball is the greatest game out there still but until the MLB cleans up its act and Selig gets kicked out or thrown in jail I will not be part of anything MLB.
LSU, I agree wholeheartedly with you about character and about the role models I set for my children. What I do differ on is that men like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and others were great players but not men of character either. Ruth was one of the greatest hitters ever, but a sad example to our youth. He slept with prostitutes, gambled, drank, and was immoral.
Bonds is the greatest hitter in my book and character not withstanding, I can appreciate that part of him. Steroids are a part of his era just like alcohol and women were a part of Ruth's.
As for Maris, I have heard nothing but great things about him. Aaron's feat was mired in an age of amphetamines and so it is impossible to know if he used those or not. Guys like Rose, Cobb, and Cy Young all had issues but all belong in the HOF for who they were on the field. In my book Barry and Pete belong in the HOF.
Oh wait, you are the hard hitting in depth analysis guy. I forgot...
First, nice job on BOTD...and recognition as a top 5 Blogger. Well deserved...
I really didn't read anything about this issue, other than your posts. I'm assuming Brian Roberts was named also? Everyone will say, "oh, that makes sense". A sudden boost of power, now he's back to being human.
An interesting topic...if hitters like Barry were "juiced", but many pitchers were too...what does that do for the record books? Maybe a juiced Barry could have hit 90 HR's against non-juiced pitchers...
I think all the players from the steroid era should get together...and make sure their story is the same.
"I never knowingly took steroids...but it might have come from some vitamins given to me from...uhh, Miguel Tejada."
The only way anyone from the era will be exempt from rumors is if they had urine samples collected and tested every single day of their career...and had the Pope present to verify the integrity of the test. Aside from that, anyone can be a target.
Thanks Shooter. I will give Craig Counsell a free ride too, but not Brian Roberts.
As for this being a hilarious post, well, I say alot of things tongue in cheek that are humorous to me, but biting to others. Hope this doesn't end up biting me in the...
Lots of good stuff here, even Shooter's ......!
Top it's about the only avenue left open to the Feds to get Bonds and all the rest they want to target, since steroids weren't illegal and the Grand Jury testimony is evidently tainted/Had not the testimony been leaked, it might have been proven in one way or other that false testimony was given, thus Federal Perjury charges would be filed;these are killer charges//does anyone remember seeing the movie about Tailgunner Joe and the blacklisted actors, directors, writers etc/Contemptof Congress, failure to testify killed careers of good people then;
Whether Bonds, etal are good people remains to be seen, but everyone deserves the right to face their accusers/this ain't happening here, \folks.
Now it appears that the only way to "get" Bonds and all those alleged to have used steroids etc is go after them for tax evasion//have you guys always been 100% honest in declaring all income, did not take exemptions that you were not entitled etc etc. The most powerful government entity in the U.S., if not the world is the IRS, it is not the CIA, FBI, not even the NSA;for sure it isn't Homeland Security, which is a joke. The IRS has the right to audit anyone, anytime,without probable cause/they can arrest you, take your property, harass you, relatives, employers, employees with impunity. My mother had a cousin who worked for IRS, he & I were fast friends and he told me of several things he was able to doin the name of justice,when finally it weighed on him and he transferred out to a lower tier job. IRS agents do get paid bonuses base
based on the number of convictions garnered thru their testimony, investigations etc. Remember big Al Capone/he was convicted of Tax Evasion only. He didn't file, couldn't file, tax reports on illegal income, so they estimated his income and said he evaded the tax/off to Alcatraz for Big Al.
Given all the above, which is rather lengthly reading, what way you go after someone, by trying to prove steroid etc usage, or a sure bet of Tax Evasion??
It could be the IRS is involved because they are going after the steroid supplier by putting pressure on the users. There is likely some big money involved and the supplier isn't likely to have filled out a tax return with "steroid supplier" listed as an occupation.
Somehow all this, even the Bonds part, seems to be more about income taxes than steroids. They would appear to be casting a wide net at the users, letting the law of averages take effect. The players have good lawyers, so it's down to a test of will and resources. Probably not much will come out of it.
Dudski, you are right on the money/that is how it works!!! I took the long way around in explaining it, as I usually do, hoping that the detail will give better understanding to the subject matter.
Rule of thumb; if you can't get them for murder, assault etc etc, try the RICO Act (Racketeering & Conspiracy), if that doesn't work, you can always use Tax Evasion.
GUYS SUGGEST EVERYONE LOOK AT EDHARDMANS BLOG ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF A SUSPECT IN FLORIDA (suspect had shot a Deputy & then was later shot by copos)
fuzzboss I know we've got to use every avenue that's open to our disposal but tax evasion in the case of Bonds I understand. But where does this have merit in the other cases ?
Hiya! I have great news, I placed second in my other fantasy baseball league and just got a check for $270.00. I couldn't believe I held on to stay in the money because I was ravaged by injuries, Manny Ramirez missed the last month, Perdro Martinez missed two months and came back injured which only hurt me more, I lost Papelbon for over a month....anyways I could go on but you get the point! I am elated!! I look forward to reading more of you now that you and I have both returned 'full time'!!
-also I have read that Grimsley is on record as saying that there is no way Clemens and Pettite would use roids, it will be interesting to see what happens.
Last edited by born2playin69 on October 5th at 3:15 PM.
