Clemens smelling like a Rose?

Apologies in advance for consecutive posts about sports, but at least this one’s topical*.

I’ve been casually following the news on Roger Clemens and his testimony in front of Congress this week. It’s an ugly situation that’s boiled down to he said/he said. Former trainer Brian McNamee says he injected Clemens with HGH and steroids. Clemens says it was vitamin B-12 (and something called lidocaine). Both men are standing firm.

The likelihood that there’s no physical evidence to corroborate either side means there’s probably no resolution in sight. Which got me thinking. Is Roger Clemens the next Pete Rose?

For years Rose vehemently denied accusations of gambling on baseball. The seriousness of the situation kept Charlie Hustle out of the Hall of Fame (even though he finally fessed up in 2004).

It’s starting to look like Rose blazed the trail Clemens is on.

(It should come as no surprise that I’m not the first person to draw this connection. In fact, I’d be disappointed with today's sportswriters if they hadn’t already written about it.)


* Like the Cream. Or is it the Clear?