HOW would you like to be heading for court, the defendant in, say, an alimony dispute, when, as you pass the judge’s chamber, you see your ex-wife and the judge making out?
Welcome back to “The Roger Clemens Variety Show.” It makes “Curb Your Enthusiasm” seem like “This Old House.”
First, there was that news conference at which Clem ens’ attorney, Rusty Har din, played that “Aha!” tape of Clemens’ phone chat with Brian McNamee, a tape that was supposed to provide strong evidence that McNamee lied about Clemens.
But it turned out to be a “Huh?” tape, thus casting doubt on Clem ens.
Then, over two days, late last week, Clemens and Hardin stopped by the offices of mem bers of Con gress. And what a coinci dence, the 19 they succeeded in chatting up are all on the committee that this Wednes day is assigned to pull from Clemens his sworn testimony on drug use.
Yup, as long as he was in the neighborhood he figured he would stop in to say howdy.
Though at least several of those Congressmen, including Brooklyn’s Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y), seemed swayed by their private time with Clemens – good grief, Towns’ deputy chief of staff posed for a picture with Clemens, his arm around her shoulder – all have created a public contamination of the process.
Are all of those Congressional members, having allowed themselves to be personally lobbied by Clemens, now, five days later, supposed to be seen as uncompromised? Those Congressmen have allowed themselves to be perceived as too lacking in discretionary wisdom – too short on basic foresight – to credibly serve a sub-committee on stubborn grease stains.
Those who received Clemens, last week, who this Wednesday seem to “go easy” on him, will be regarded with great and deserved suspicion. And then there are those who received Clemens who may now be forced – for the sake of appearances – to cast him in a bad light.
How many now must consider how things might appear – as opposed to pursuing the truth? How many put celebrity ahead of sense?
How many personal autographs and photo poses did Clemens provide to Congressional members days before he sat before them? Why didn’t they refuse to meet with him at such an hour? Have they no sense of their positions? The issue? Have they no sense of common sense?
But might such a contamination have been the goal of Clemens’ visits? Hardin, who had to know that what he was doing was, at best, inappropriate, described the Congressmen who met with Clemens as “very responsive.” He characterized their time together as “fun” and “social.” Geez. You think such fun and social time – and access – would be available to McNamee?
“Congressman, Roger Clemens is here. He’d like a few minutes of your time, just a friendly visit.”
“What! Does he think I’m an idiot? Five days before I take his sworn testimony? Get rid of him. Tell him it’s entirely inappropriate – for both of us!”
Instead, nearly half of those who shortly would solicit Clemens’ sworn testimony, said, in essence, “Send him in!” Gee, Roger Clemens. Wait’ll they tell their kids!
What should have not happened with one congressman or congresswoman, last week, happened with 19. And all 19 who played ball with Clemens – with contempt of Congress and/or a federal perjury charge eventual possibilities, no less – should now disqualify themselves from this investigation.
You think that days before committee investigations into organized crime, reputed mob bosses, subpoenaed to testify, stop by for some fun time with those Congressmen who will be asking them questions?
Is fundamental, right-from-wrong discretion dead everywhere, or has everyone gone nuts? Or maybe everyone’s on HDH: human dope hormone.
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If Russ Salzberg hadn’t been on the scene, Channel 5’s and Channel 9’s coverage of the Giants’ Manhattan victory parade wouldn’t have been able to distinguish Kevin Boss from Boss Tweed. . . . Tonight during Phoenix-Dallas, Versus will have Wayne Gretzky wired.
Though logically anticipating the live reaction shot of Steve Valiquette after he shut out the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday, MSG cut to and stayed on a shot of an expressionless Tom Renney. A graphic explained: Renney just tied Phil Watson for sixth place for wins by a Rangers coach. Oh.
Superb, eye-opening piece on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” yesterday about the legal international gambling scene in pro tennis. That small fortunes are bet on early-round matches played by virtual unknowns seems to ensure more fixed matches than previously imagined.
Last week TNT announced an extension of Marv Albert‘s deal through the 2015-16 NBA season (when Albert, who counts backward, turns 30). This week, SNY will announce an extension of Keith Hernandez‘s deal (anticipated annual suspension not included).
Baylor’s women’s team defeated Texas Tech on Saturday on FSN. When the cameras showed Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey, she was seen in a frilly white blouse – that carried a Nike swoosh. Nothing to identify her as Baylor’s coach, just a Nike coach.